Day 3 - Training in Taphin and Lao Chai

We are about to start the third day of training. Already we have trained the small business owners, young entrepreneurs, street-sellers, and local authority their first, and some their second, lessons. The classes have been filled with energy and enthusiasm.

With the small business owners we have had to adjust the training content to a higher level. The young entrepreneurs have expressed that they would like to start a variety of small tourism businesses ranging from coffee shops, souvenir shops, and even horse / buffalo-and buggy transportation services.

In the first class we had with the street-sellers, some participants dressed up like tourists while others acted as street-sellers in an attempt to give the women an idea how tourists feel when they are bombarded by the street-sellers. 

Finally the local government participated in a training session where some community issues were fleshed out. They will be participating in another workshop on community based tourism later in the week.

Yesterday in Lao Chai, the Hmong community expressed that they want to start homestays for tourists. However, they voiced a variety of concerns during the meeting. Their concerns included the availability of resources, sustainability, financial risk, and capacity. Today, Chris and Ngoc Anh will be returning to Lao Chai to complete the first homestay lesson, while Kim, Jen and Trang continue working with the residents of Ta Phin.