m tourwhere is mèo vạc? rural district of ha giang province in the northeastern region of...

M3 Tour

Minorities with Mountains

@ Meo Vac

Group A | IATSS Forum | 49th Batch

Arthur

.

BS

.

Fade

.

Lilian

. Ryuji

.

Sima

. Tum

Come with minority in mind,

Leave with majority in your heart

VIDEO of Resource & Lifestyle

Contents

Background

Eco-Tour Plan

Designed Social Infrastructure

Lessons & Studies

Contents

Background

Eco-Tour Plan

Designed Social Infrastructure

Lessons & Studies

Our Eco-Tour Concept General definition :

“Ecotourism involves visiting natural areas with the objectives of learning, studying or participating in activities that do not bring negative effects to the environment; whilst protecting and empowering the local community socially and economically." (Cristina, 2004)

Highlights of our Eco-Tour @ Mèo Vạc:

Learning & Studying Activities :

School visit (Exchange culture : teach English/Vietnamese & learn handicrafts)

Stone Plateau & Happiness Road

Participating Activities :

Water Catchment Project

Interacting with Local minorities

Where is Mèo Vạc ? Rural district of Ha Giang Province in the northeastern

region of Vietnam.

Population - 58,944 (2003). The district covers an area of

574 km².

Climate - cold and dry (October to April ) & hot and rainy

(May to September).

Transportation - Privately owned buses, open-tour buses,

minivans (usually 12, 15 or 16-seaters) or by rental

motorbike.

Economy - Products – Handicrafts of the villagers (flags

weaving, bamboo, rattan knitting), Local fruits (Oranges,

plums during summer), Cattles (cows ,pigs & chickens) &

Green Tea

Meo Vac

Poor facility – water, cleanliness, housing condition

No environment awareness (high consumption of plastics)

Major Challenges of minorities

Objective of our eco-tour To provide memorable experiences to both local and

foreign tourists

To promote basic cleanliness habits among habits of locals.

Goal of our eco-tour To ensure the sustainability of nature and local

community in Meo Vac

Targeted Tourists Domestic Tourists

Foreign Tourists

Students & Researchers

Admire the nature,

Enjoy warm hospitality &

Experience uniqueness

Contents

Background

Eco-Tour Plan

Designed Social Infrastructure

Lessons & Studies

See : Hot spring

Taste : Traditional Food

Day 1 : Hanoi - Ha Giang City

Itinerary (4D3N)

See : Co Tien Mountain . Rice Terraces

Do : Rice Planting* / Corn Harvesting* . Weaving

Taste : Traditional Rice & Food . Coffee

* Rice Planting / Corn Harvesting depends on season and weather condition

Day 2 : Ha Giang City – Yen Minh - Dong Van

See : Stone Plateau . Happiness Road . Mansion . Lung Cu Flag Pole

Do : School Visit (Water Catchment , Handicraft making) . Tea Picking*

Taste : Food in Local Market

* Tea Picking depends on season and weather condition

Day 3 : Dong Van – Meo Vac

Back to Hanoi

Day 4 : Meo Vac - Hanoi

Customizable Tour Packages

Available!

Rice

Terraces

Happiness Road

Mountain (Double peak)

Traditional Market

Stone Plateau & Hill of Tea

Minorities with Mountains @ Meo Vac

Itinerary (4D3N)

Day 1 : Hanoi - Ha

Giang City

Day 2 : Ha Giang City – Yen Minh - Dong Van

Day 3 : Dong Van – Meo Vac

Day 4 : Meo Vac - Hanoi

“Come with minority in mind,

Leave with majority in your heart .”

See : Hot spring

Taste : Traditional Food

Day 1 : Hanoi - Ha Giang City

Itinerary (4D3N)

See : Co Tien Mountain . Rice Terraces

Do : Rice Planting* / Corn Harvesting* . Weaving

Taste : Traditional Rice & Food . Coffee

* Rice Planting / Corn Harvesting depends on season and weather condition

Day 2 : Ha Giang City – Yen Minh - Dong Van

See : Stone Plateau . Happiness Road . Mansion . Lung Cu Flag Pole

Do : School Visit (Water Catchment , Handicraft making) . Tea Picking*

Taste : Food in Local Market

* Tea Picking depends on season and weather condition

Day 3 : Dong Van – Meo Vac

Back to Hanoi

Day 4 : Meo Vac - Hanoi

Customizable Tour Packages

Available!

Rice

Terraces

Happiness Road

Mountain (Double peak)

Traditional Market

Stone Plateau & Hill of Tea

Minorities with Mountains @ Meo Vac

Itinerary (4D3N)

Day 1 : Hanoi - Ha

Giang City

Day 2 : Ha Giang City – Yen Minh - Dong Van

Day 3 : Dong Van – Meo Vac

Day 4 : Meo Vac - Hanoi

“Come with minority in mind,

Leave with majority in your heart .”

See : Hot spring

Taste : Traditional Food

Day 1 : Hanoi - Ha Giang City

Itinerary (4D3N)

See : Co Tien Mountain . Rice Terraces

Do : Rice Planting* / Corn Harvesting* . Weaving

Taste : Traditional Rice & Food . Coffee

* Rice Planting / Corn Harvesting depends on season and weather condition

Day 2 : Ha Giang City – Yen Minh - Dong Van

See : Stone Plateau . Happiness Road . Mansion . Lung Cu Flag Pole

Do : School Visit (Water Catchment , Handicraft making) . Tea Picking*

Taste : Food in Local Market

* Tea Picking depends on season and weather condition

Day 3 : Dong Van – Meo Vac

Back to Hanoi

Day 4 : Meo Vac - Hanoi

Customizable Tour Packages

Available!

Rice

Terraces

Happiness Road

Mountain (Double peak)

Traditional Market

Stone Plateau & Hill of Tea

Minorities with Mountains @ Meo Vac

Itinerary (4D3N)

Day 1 : Hanoi - Ha

Giang City

Day 2 : Ha Giang City – Yen Minh - Dong Van

Day 3 : Dong Van – Meo Vac

Day 4 : Meo Vac - Hanoi

“Come with minority in mind,

Leave with majority in your heart .”

See : Hot spring

Taste : Traditional Food

Day 1 : Hanoi - Ha Giang City

Itinerary (4D3N)

See : Co Tien Mountain . Rice Terraces

Do : Rice Planting* / Corn Harvesting* . Weaving

Taste : Traditional Rice & Food . Coffee

* Rice Planting / Corn Harvesting depends on season and weather condition

Day 2 : Ha Giang City – Yen Minh - Dong Van

See : Stone Plateau . Happiness Road . Mansion . Lung Cu Flag Pole

Do : School Visit (Water Catchment , Handicraft making) . Tea Picking*

Taste : Food in Local Market

* Tea Picking depends on season and weather condition

Day 3 : Dong Van – Meo Vac

Back to Hanoi

Day 4 : Meo Vac - Hanoi

Customizable Tour Packages

Available!

Rice

Terraces

Happiness Road

Mountain (Double peak)

Traditional Market

Stone Plateau & Hill of Tea

Minorities with Mountains @ Meo Vac

Itinerary (4D3N)

Day 1 : Hanoi - Ha

Giang City

Day 2 : Ha Giang City – Yen Minh - Dong Van

Day 3 : Dong Van – Meo Vac

Day 4 : Meo Vac - Hanoi

“Come with minority in mind,

Leave with majority in your heart .”

School Visit Activity

Water Catchment Build-up

Water shortage is a serious problem. M3 Tour will invite volunteer specialists to help construction of RainWater catchment.

Interaction experience with minority children –

Handicraft & Eco bag

Introducing collecting trash 10 pieces/day activity.

Field Activities*

Rice Planting

Corn Harvesting

Tea Picking

* Depends on season and weather condition

Discovery Activities Co Tien Double Mountains

Rice Terrace

Stone Plateau

Happiness Road

Historical Spot – Lung Cu

Weaving

Contents

Background

Eco-Tour Plan

Designed Social Infrastructure

Lessons & Studies

Overall Action Plan Period Action

Short-Term

Plan (1 year)

1-1: Research

1-2: Complete the plan (including trial)

1-3: Action - M3 tour pilot implementation

Long-Term

Plan (3 years)

2-1: Check and Amend

2-2: Proceed to 2nd stage

(including Brother/Sister exchange project)

Profit Distribution Water Catchment System

Eco-tour Maintenance

Short-Term Plan (1 year) Action Detailed Activities

1-1 Research

a. Create proposal plan & Budget

b. Research on the mindset of

local minority of Meo Vac

c. To source out, Liaison parties.

1-2: Complete the plan

a. Water catchment planning

b. Training Plan

(Including Budget revising)

1-3: Action -1st time M3 tour

implementation

a. Trial implementation.

b. Finalization of the overall tour

c. Marketing & Promotion

d. 1-3: Action - M3 tour pilot

implementation

Action Plan title (Short/Long)

1. Short term action plan

Category Action Costs Total costs

1-1 : Research On site research * 4 people US$184

US$1,806 (1st year)

1-2 : Complete the plan Water catchment trial US$196

Training US$210

1-3 : Action -1st M3 tour implementation

Final evaluation US$966

Market & Promotion US$250

2. Long term action plan

Category Action Costs Total Costs

2-1 : Check and Amend (6 times) 6 water catchment US$1,176 US$1,426

(2nd year) Market&Promotion US$250

2-2 : Proceed to 2nd stage (including Brother/Sister exchange project)

6 water catchment US$1,176

US$1,526 (3rd year)

Eco bag US$100

Market&Promotion US$250

Budget Plan

Local Community

Local Tour Guide

School Teacher

Logistics Provider

Tour Guide

Training

Plan

Training Plan • Hospitality • Communication

• Cultural Awareness • Environmental Awareness • Concept of Eco-Tour

• Cultural Background Presentation • Product Promotion • First Aid & Emergency Response • Environment Conservation

• Cultural Conservation Teaching • Environment Conservation • Concept of Eco-Tour

• Eco-Tour Requirements • Environment Awareness • Hospitality

• Cultural Background Presentation • Product Promotion • First Aid & Emergency Response • Environment Conservation • Assist Local Guide • Same understanding of Eco-Tour among locals and tour agencies

M3 Coordinators

Supporting Partners

Meo Vac

Local Community Local

Government

M3 –

coordinator

Tourists

IATSS

Alumni

Tour Agencies

NGO / University

Risk Assessment Management

Considerations to minimize risks

1. Low impacts on the nature resource

2. Involvement of all parties (individual, communities, ecotourism, tourism operators, government)

3. Respect culture & tradition

4. Generate sustainable income for local communities

5. Generate income for conservation of protected areas / social / culture

6. Educate all parties (individual, communities, ecotourism, tourism operators, government)

Please Enjoy

Our Eco-Tour

Come with minority in mind,

Leave with majority in your heart

M3 Tour

Minorities with Mountains

@ Meo Vac

Difficulties How to overcome

1. Language barrier in terms of understanding other people's opinion

Know and understand each other by talking and sharing. Don't be afraid to talk. Talk and confirm

2. Time management External activities should be considered

3. Difficult to set up objective Before going deeper, discuss first and set up a common objective

4. Different opinions during discussions Discuss and get consensus by writing and recording

5. Hard to express our opinions Listen patiently, try to catch idea and confirm again

6. Misunderstanding instruction Clarify the concerns on instruction, confirmation of Professor and staffs

7. Difficulties to get actual knowledge and facts of resource about Meo Vac

Use variety of channels in sourcing information of Meo Vac

8. No experience in planning eco-tourism

Do more research and discuss together to get more understanding eco-tour

9. Lose focus Get involvement and rotate roles

10. Ideas constraint based on one’s opinion

Be more open minded in sharing opinion. Do not stop thinking. Respect other opinions and decide by yourself and share your own ideas.

Lessons Learnt • More understanding of the Eco-tourism concept & eco-tour

• Learn to share (listen to opinions and knowledge)

• Learn teamwork, interpersonal and facilitation skills

• Learn to respect and care of anyone (Never leave any member behind!)

• The importance of strategic planning to be understood by

everyone

• Learn how to focus on process, not only outcome

• Synergy in group is more powerful (1 + 1 3)

• Support group members to shine (not just yourself)

Eco-Bag Demonstration