International Women's Day!

Once again, International Women’s Day is upon us. This is a special day that is not only celebrated here in Canada, but also all around the world, including in Vietnam! The CBT Vietnam team would like to celebrate all of the women that we have had the privilege of working with over the course of this project. To all of the women that have helped us to make this project the success that it is today, we truly wish to thank you.

Vietnam has a long history of trying to create a gender-equal society that surpasses many countries around the world. Women in Vietnam have many guaranteed rights that include property rights, policies for political participation, maternity benefits and rights to make reproductive decisions¹. Additionally, there is not much difference in the labour force participation, with 83 percent working-age women in the work force compared to 85 percent men. In 2006 - 2007, Vietnam made another step in the right direction for women's rights by establishing both a gender equality law and anti-domestic violence law; this is something only a few countries have enacted ². Way to go Vietnam!!

On International Women’s Day in Vietnam, men and other women show their appreciation through flowers, cards and kind greetings. So get out there and show your love to the women in your lives, be it your mom, sister, daughter, wife, girlfriend or friend! Trust me, it won’t go unnoticed. Now, excuse me while I go phone my mom...

                                                                                       

¹ Wells, Melissa. Viet Nam Gender Situation Analysis. (2005). Asian Development Bank. Retrieved from http://doc.iiep.unesco.org/wwwisis/repdoc/SEM313/SEM313_17_eng.pdf

² Kelly, Kristy. (2011). Vietnam Case Study: Women in Educational Leadership and Management. UNESCO. Retrieved from http://doc.iiep.unesco.org/wwwisis/repdoc/SEM313/SEM313_17_eng.pdf 

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Black Hmong: Ma's story

It's been a few weeks since I returned from Vietnam and found that I was missing Vietnam’s culture and nature, but mostly it was the connections with the people. While sorting through my pictures, I was back with the Hmong and remembered learning a lot from this minority group while staying with a young Hmong woman named Ma.

Ma a trekking guide for the FAM trip

Ma is a trekking guide and has just started a homestay in Lao Chai. During our first introduction, she invited me to stay with her and was very eager to get to know me. During our time in Lao Chai I spent a night at her place and was amazed by her great English skills and her sense of humour. Ma is only two years younger than me and although we are from very different countries and cultures I realized that we both share similar values.

Family is an important aspect of my culture as well as for the Hmong. Ma believes in family bonding and support for one another. In Hmong culture the whole family works together whether it's building a home or planting rice. Ma stayed with her family-in-law for three years while everyone helped build her new home. I was impressed with this cultural behaviour since it would be uncommon to find this level of support from people in my culture.

Ma’s house and rice field

I have worked many summers on various farms and developed an appreciation for nature. The Hmong people also value their natural surroundings for its diversity and balance. Ma thinks that letting her children play outside is good for them. It allows kids to experience danger themselves and have a better understanding of their environments. In addition, since Ma is also a farmer, nature becomes a necessity, she learned to respect the land at a very young age.

Another value Ma and I share is our open-mindedness. We are both curious about each other’s culture and we appreciate each other’s differences. Ma questioned me a lot about my life back home, especially about my diet and my family. During our goodbyes, she once again amused me when she spontaneously told me that I should have children soon while my body is still young. I laughed, but quickly felt sad to realize that I will deeply miss my new friend.

Ma and I before trekking the Muong Hua Valley

Working and living with the Hmong showed me how welcoming certain culture may be. Ma and many others have a generosity I have never seen and experienced before. Reflecting on the trip and our shared values I feel I have a better appreciation for simplicity and try to find happiness in the smallest things. Amongst this community, I have learned to be more respectful, attentive and patient with one another.

I would like to thank Capilano University, CBT Vietnam, PATA, and everyone that made this project possible. Without everyone’s initiative and hard work, I would not have the opportunity to meet inspiring and unforgettable people, such as Ma.

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When a Village was Heard - Capilano U / PATA Foundation Tourism Project (Sapa, Vietnam)

Here it is! The NEW video by the CBT Vietnam team. We hope you enjoy it! Please fell free to comment below - we love hearing your feedback!


A community tourism training project in the Sapa region of Northern Vietnam operated by Capilano University Vancouver, Canada, and Hanoi Open University, Vietnam, and supported by the PATA Foundation. The project features tourism training to help sustain vulnerable ethnic cultures and maximize benefits of tourism to small and unique villages in Northern Vietnam. Training is done by Capilano and Hanoi Open University students and faculty.

This video is illustrative of a second two-year project that will look to enhance networks between the village of Taphin and private sector tourism companies. The project will also deliver tourism training in the Hmong community of Lao Chai. 

This video was scripted by Chris Carnovale, Chris Bottrill and Kyle Sandilands, and filmed and directed by Kyle Sandilands (www.kylesandilands.ca).

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