Building relationships in Lao Chai

Building relationships every way we can! Trung (from HOU) helping out.

Lao Chai is a small village of approximately 3,000 people about 7km southwest of Sapa. It is primarily populated by the Black H’mong ethnic group. As we posted in October, our project is just beginning the community-based tourism process in Lao Chai. If we were to compare Lao Chai to Ta Phin as a tourism destination, it is in a similar state to Ta Phin a decade ago when we began working there. At this point, one of our greatest priorities in the community is to understand the needs of the community and build relationships with the residents so that we can effectively assist the community in reaching their goals around tourism.

Two students, Rachael (Capilano University) and Trung (Hanoi Open University), were the first of the team in Lao Chai. While the rest of the team has been working with the CBT Management Board and homestay owners in Ta Phin, Rachael and Trung have been in Lao Chai making connections.

Meeting with the principal and another administrator of Lao Chai Secondary School

Their first day in Lao Chai was a busy one! They met with the local authority, visited some of the local schools to make arrangements to work with the children later in the week, arranged a food safety/cooking workshop for the following day, and made new friends.

At the secondary school for lunch

Lunch at the school