A project set up by Hotel de la Paix in Siem Reap saw our Responsible Travel rep, Hannah, lead the way in collecting T-shirts for a ‘share your shirt’ campaign. The humidity of Cambodia’s rainy season makes short work of once good clothing, so the shirts and T-shirts we send to the hotel will be distributed to the neediest rural communities in Cambodia.

In the end we managed to fill two large boxes with shirts and T-shirts. The Hotel de la Paix in Cambodia called to say they will shortly be taking the boxes to a school that desperately needs them. They will also be uploading photos to their Facebook page after that so people might be able to spot T-shirts that they donated!

Well done Hannah!

Phu Tho is located about 50 miles north-west of Hanoi in Vietnam. It’s a small, unremarkable region except for one unique aspect – its singing.

It originated as a homage to the Hung kings, the ancestral kings of the Viet people who ruled the country from 2879 to 258 BC. Nowadays, during springtime village festivals each year, Xoan singing (pronounced “zwan”) is performed in front of communal houses throughout Phu Tho.

UNESCO already recognises Halong Bay, Hoi An, Hue and My Son as sites of being of such unique interest to the world that they have been afforded special preservation status, but they’ve now also voted to include Xoan singing as an “intangible cultural heritage in need of urgent protection”.

To book a tailor-made trip to Vietnam, call one of our country specialists on 01993 838 140 or contact us online.

Visitors to Kuala Lumpur are set to enjoy free Wi-Fi access

Malaysia has for some time been one of Audley’s most popular destinations and it’s easy to see why. From its rich culture and recent colonial history, to quiet tea plantations blanketing the cool highland regions as well as stunning national parks, Malaysia packs a lot into a relatively small area.

Kuala Lumpur is often the first sight that greets most visitors to the country. With its amazing food, huge shopping malls and modern, high-rise skyline - dominated by the world-famous Petronas Towers - it’s a spectacular urban web showcasing the very best of modern Asia. Highlights include Chinatown’s busy markets, Little India and the elegant colonial buildings of Merdeka Square. There are also great views from the revolving restaurant at the top of the KL Sky Tower.

If you’re someone who likes to travel with your laptop or other mobile devices you should soon be able to enjoy free Wi-Fi in parts of the city. These places will include tourist attractions, restaurants and eateries, as well as countless other public areas. This isn’t a pipe dream either as the Malaysian government has passed a new law ordering its installation. It might be available to travellers as soon as April this year.

The alien-looking snub-nosed monkey is new to science

Burma has been in the news quite a lot lately, mostly with regard to the ongoing political situation, but news of a recent new wildlife discovery has certainly got the world’s primatologists very excited.

Looking like something from a science-fiction movie, photographs of the newly discovered snub-nosed monkey were taken remotely and at night using camera’s which were activated by infra-red sensors – hence them being black and white. These were placed high up in the remote mountains of Burma’s northern Kachin state, which borders China.

Although it’s very unlikely you will ever see the Burmese snub-nosed monkey in person there is still plenty to see and experience in this delightful country, much of which continues largely untouched by mainstream tourism.

Read Audley’s Policy on Burma

To book a tailor-made trip to Burma, call one of our country specialists on 01993 838 105 or contact us online.

The instantly recognisable great white shark

Shark fin soup is a delicacy in many parts of Asia but it has also become highly controversial as it’s thought to be the major cause in the dramatic decline in global shark populations. Indeed, estimates for the number of sharks culled annually for the trade, range from a staggering 35-70 million, despite the fact that 30% of shark species are threatened with extinction.

Now, however, the Peninsula Hotels Group (we use their hotels in Tokyo, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Bejing and Bangkok) will become the first major chain to stop serving it as of January 2012.

It’s a major breakthrough for campaigners who see the practice as cruel, unnecessary and unsustainable.

The ubiquitous smartphone: fast becoming the ideal companion when abroad

Today, there are literally thousands of travel apps (or applications) on the market for smartphones. I’ve picked my top 10, some of which are free to download.

Have a look and see if you agree?

If you have a favourite travel app which isn’t on this list, send it to us via the comments field!

1. Postagram Travel App

Take a photo with your smartphone and with the click of a button, Postagram will mail a physical postcard, along with a 140-character message of your choosing, anywhere in the world. It currently costs the equivalent of 99 US cents per postcard.

2. Off Exploring

There’s no need to lug a heavy laptop around anymore. With the Off Exploring app on your smartphone you can add your locations and photographs. You even get your own free web address so that friends and family can not only see what you’re up to, they can leave comments as well.

3. Google Translate

Often the most daunting aspect for many people when abroad is the language barrier. However, with Goggle’s Translate app things are now a whole lot easier. Type or speak into your phone and let it instantly translate into 17 languages. You’ll need to speak clearly though!  

4. GeoTipper
Tipping can be a bit of a minefield when abroad, sometimes leading to embarrassing situations. Geo Tipper works by giving you recommendations on how much you should add to your bill. It currently covers 42 countries in North and South America, Europe, Asia, and Africa.

5. Photosynth

Reviewing your photos often comes with a tinge of disappointment and the reason is often because you’re only seeing a part of what your eyes originally saw. With Photosynth, however, you can stitch together your photos to create real panoramic images. You can even send 360-degree views to friends and family while you’re abroad. 

6. TuneIn Radio

It’s comforting to take some old favourites with when travelling. With the TuneIn Radio app you can now take with you your favourite radio stations, music artists, sports and many more. It currently offers over 50,000 stations for you to choose from.

 7. Google Sky Map

Some locations in the world are perfect for the Google Sky Map app; if you’re in the middle of the Outback or Atacama Desert, simply point your phone at the night sky and it will show the planets and constellations.

8. Currency Exchange

We all need to know how much our money is worth when abroad. With the Currency Exchange app you can make sure you haven been short-changed, or are getting the best rate. This app is always up-to-date as well as it tracks currency changes around the world in real time.

9. Weather Pro

If you’re British, chances are you’ll be obsessed by the weather, so you’ll definitely want this app. It features seven-day forecasts and reports for over two million locations around the world, which includes Europe, America, Africa and Asia.

10. Trailhead

If your holidays are activity based then the Trailhead app could be for you. It finds walking/hiking trails and bike routes in your location, based on your GPS coordinates. It also tracks your route, distance, speed and elevation in real-time. You can then download this data onto a map to see exactly where you’ve been.

Audley Manager, Kate, with the children of Paya Ngoto

I’ve blogged several times about this small, provincial school in Burma (to see previous blogs just type “Paya Ngoto” into the search).

The first time was when the school was virtually destroyed by Cyclone Nargis back in 2008. Since then Audley have set up numerous fund raising events, not just to repair the school, but to continue to support it long term.

I thought I’d share with you what Kate, one of our Southeast Asia Regional Product Managers, found on a recent visit (includes photos). 

During my trip to Burma last month I paid my first visit to the Paya Ngoto School, which Audley has supported since 2008.

After Cyclone Nargis ripped through the community destroying homes, lives and land in its wake we organised a fundraising initiative to get the school rebuilt. With the help of a huge number of client donations and support from staff, family and friends we raised £11,000.

Today the school is thriving and is an important hub of this rural community near Twante, a two-hour journey from Rangoon. It was wonderful, and rather moving to be able to finally visit the school and meet the dedicated teachers and delightful children who were all eager to show off their alphabet recitals and playground games. We presented the teachers with new longyis and the children were given new exercise books and pencils.

We provide ongoing support to the school and encourage any of our clients travelling to Burma to pay a visit and donate exercise books, pencils, learning materials, new uniforms etc. We can also arrange a sponsored lunch for the whole school prepared by the local monastery, which provides the children with a hot, wholesome meal. Clients are of course invited to join the children and teachers for lunch.

(Click to enlarge)

For more information about Paya Ngoto School and travel to Burma, please contact our Burma specialists on 01993 838105 or contact us online.

There are only two islands in the world where orang-utan can be found in the wild: Malaysian Borneo and Sumatra in Indonesia. Yet, even in these two countries the species occupies the endangered list due to habitat loss, poaching or locals keeping them as pets (an illegal activity but one which is still commonplace unfortunately).

However, UK conservationist, Dr Ian Singleton, who is also director of the Orangutan Conservation Programme, has put forward plans to create designated orang-utan ’islands’ in Indonesia to help rehabilitate captive animals.

While Indonesia is home to over 17,000 islands, Dr Singleton’s idea is to find suitable land and to dig ditches around these areas and fill them with water. These moats would then effectively keep the orang-utans in as well as keeping unwanted people and predators out.

Although the project has yet to be given official backing – and therefore the much needed land - we can only hope it eventually does culminate in many more of these shy creatures living out their lives in the wild. 

See orang-utan on a tailor-made trip with Audley

I’ve added the Audley video above in which two of our country specialists explain the pros and cons for seeing orang-utan in Borneo and Indonesia. Why not take a look!

If you would like to find out more about seeing orang-utan on an Audley tailor-made trip, visit either the Borneo or Indonesia sections of our site or call us on 01993 838 110.

Audley & responsible travel

We take our responsibilities towards conservation and sustainable travel seriously, including supporting the World Land Trust (WLT), who help create nature reserves by funding the purchase of privately owned land to provide habitats for animals and plant life – including orang-utans.

If you would like to find out more about the WLT and other organisations we support, visit the Southeast Asia page of our responsible travel section.

Flood relief efforts in Cambodia

As you might have seen in the news recently there has been serious flooding in Thailand and Cambodia. Tourist areas have not been affected, but it has had a devastating affect on local communities, with many rural families losing their homes and livelihoods. The death toll from the flooding in Cambodia alone has risen to 247, with hundreds of thousands of hectares of rice paddies also destroyed.

To help a project has been set up by a local NGO, Green Gecko Project, in collaboration with three hotels in Cambodia: Hotel dela Paix, Heritage Suites Hotel and Golden Banana Hotel. The aim is to raise money to provide rice (at least 10 tons), fish and fresh water to local families who have lost their crops, income and homes.

If you would like to donate then please visit the website: Green Gecko kids flood relief initiative | Hotel Collaboration

Thank you!

Sunset over Elephant Hills Rainforest Camp

An immediate hit with us when it first opened in January 2011, Thailand’s first floating camp, Elephant Hills Rainforest Camp is situated in the heart of the Khao Sok National Park.

The 10 comfortable tents are securely anchored and insect proof, whilst providing ensuite facilities with hot and cold water and solid beds. It’s the ideal setting to experience southern Thailand’s primary rainforest.

The camp has already been used by many satisfied Audley clients and being situated on Cheow Larn Lake, it was also the perfect location for a BBC film crew who recently stayed there to film a documentary about this vast area of water.

I’ve no more details about the programme than this at the moment but as soon as I know more, including the transmission date and time, I will of course let you know.

Book a tailor-made holiday in Thailand

Our Thailand specialists can put together an individual tailor-made trip for you which could include a stay at the unique Elephant Hills Rainforest Camp. Take a look at our Thailand itinerary ideas to get an indication of what is possible.

Phone us on 01993 838 115 or make an enquiry online.

Audley Food Festival 2011

Friday 23rd September 2011 was the date of the first ever Audley Food Festival and, as with anything food related at Audley, the event was tipped to be a merry affair!

With each department given the task of cooking food from their region of the world and decorating their stands accordingly, the pressure was on to outshine the rest. More importantly, the event was being attended by Masterchef runner-up (and brother to Ben Whitaker, one of Audley’s India specialists) Tom Whitaker, whose job it was to taste test all of the food on offer before choosing a winning department.

For those of us who do not cover a specific area of the world, we were able to pick another country or region not covered by our programmes. The Ticketing department chose to represent Italy, while the Upper West Wing, which consists of e-Commerce, Marketing, I.T, Finance, HR, Commercial, Operations and Journey Desk, went with a USA theme, or more specifically, the TV programme, ‘The West Wing’.

With a fine spread on offer, the tasting began and not surprisingly it didn’t take long for the rest of the company to follow suit, tucking into such delights as Hoth’s Khmer curry and a tasty North African tagine.

After Ticketing and Upper West Wing were crowned the overall winners by Tom, it was time for the Masterchef contestant to give a select few employees a lesson in butchery and knife skills before the two winning teams went head-to-head with a Ready, Steady, Cook style omelette making competition. After some more taste testing by Tom, who was faced with some very dodgy-looking omelettes, the Ticketing department finally walked away with the prestigious title of ‘Winning Stand’.

The evening’s festivities continued with a bake sale and more food and drink before the sun went down.

Many thanks to Tom for popping along to teach us a thing or two about cooking, as well as judging some appealing (and not so appealing!) dishes! A big pat on the back also to Audley’s social committee for arranging such a successful social event, I certainly hope we will get to indulge again next year!

Alternative option with Audley: Between October and January the Ombak Putih, a traditional Buginese schooner, travels around eastern Indonesia on 10 to 13 day cruises

Our Southeast Asia manager has just told me that we’ve had a few enquiries recently from people who have had their Swan Hellenic ‘East of Java’ cruise cancelled. It appears that the ship is being refurbished at short notice and that bookings for January are no longer available.

While this is not an Audley cruise we may well be able to assist with possible alternative holiday plans if you have booked with Swan Helenic during this period.

Book your alternative Indonesia trip with Audley now!

Please go to our Indonesia section of the website for details of what we can offer, or alternatively either contact us online, or speak to one of our Indonesia country specialists on 01993 838 110.

Anantara's Chris Adams receives the award from WTA's Graham Cooke

Our Southeast Asia team as well as the rest of Audley would like to send congratulations to the Anantara Golden Triangle, on winning ‘Thailand’s Leading Resort’ at the prestigious World Travel Awards (WTA) in Bangkok last night.

Chris Adams, the General Manager of the Anantara Golden Triangle, said of the award:

“What an honour it is to win this prestigious award and to be recognized by our peers in the travel industry, I’d like to dedicate this win to all the staff members at Anantara Golden Triangle who continuously strive to give our guests a truly unique and indigenous five star experience.” 

The WTA win comes hot on the heels of a runners up prize in the 2011 Condé Nast Traveller World Savers Awards, so it’s great to see one of our favourite properties in Thailand doing so well.

Again, well done!

Book a tailor-made holiday in Thailand

Our Thailand specialists can put together an individual tailor-made trip for you which could include a stay at the award winning Anantara Golden Triangle. Take a look at our Thailand itinerary ideas to get an indication of what is possible.

Phone us on 01993 838 115 or make an enquiry online.

Uluru or Ayers Rock in Australia has been shotlisted for the new 7 wonders of the natural world

A global campaign organised by a Swiss philanthropist has begun to decide the seven wonders of the natural world, out of 28 that have been shortlisted.

Voting will take place until November on the New 7 Wonders of the World website, so get your vote in soon if you would like to take part.

From the Galapagos Islands to Halong Bay in Vietnam, many of the 28 wonders on the shortlist can be visited on a tailor-made trip with Audley. The finalists include:

• The Amazon
• The Galapagos
• Iguazu Falls
• Komodo National Park, Indonesia
• Milford Sound, New Zealand
• Table Mountain, South Africa
• Angel Falls, Venezuela
• Jeita Grotto, Lebanon
• The Maldives
• Uluru, Australia
• Bay of Fundy, Canada
• Dead Sea, Jordan
• Great Barrier Reef, Australia
• PP Underground river, Philippines
• Halong Bay, Vietnam
• Kilimanjaro, Tanzania

 Don’t miss out on your opportunity to vote now!

I’ve just learned that Vann Nath, the last survivor of the Khmer Rouge’s infamous S21 prison, has passed away.

Vann Nath was incarcerated in S21, the headquarters of the Khmer Rouge’s state security in Phnom Penh, in 1978. He was one of around 15,000 detained here but unlike virtually all of the other inmates who were interrogated, tortured and then killed within its walls, he lived to tell his story.

The World would probably have never known of Vann Nath had it not been for his artistic talents; he was due to be executed in S21 but was reprieved so his skills could be put to use in painting the Khmer Rouge’s leader, Pol Pot.

His survival finally led to his testimony in UN-backed genocide trails in Phnom Penh just two years ago, which in turn convicted Vann’s sadistic former jailer, Kaing Guek Eav.

Vann Nath, artist and human rights activist, born 1946; died 5 September 2011.

You can read his full obituary on the Guardian website.

Note, the short video clip above is from a documentary: Victims of the Khmer Rouge: The Artist and is narrated by Vann Nath himself.

The now critically endangered Irrawaddy dolphin of the Mekong River, Cambodia

Although there are about 6,000 Irrawaddy dolphins dotted about in small populations around Southeast Asia, those that live in the Mekong River in Cambodia are facing imminent extinction according to new research by the World Wildlife Foundation (WWF).

The WWF think there may be as few as 85 of the dolphins left now after research lasting three years – and, as usual, this decimation of its numbers is down to local human activity. The dolphins used to be a common sight in the Mekong River but a combination of illegal net fishing and pollution are thought to be the main reasons behind their demise.

As a result the WWF are pressing the Cambodian government introduce dolphin conservation zones. Lets hope they listen and take the appropriate action soon.

Irrawaddy dolphin facts

Common name
Irrawaddy dolphin, snubfin dolphin.

Scientific Name
Orcaella brevirostris.

Where found
Bangladesh; Brunei Darussalam; Cambodia; India; Indonesia; Lao People’s Democratic Republic; Malaysia; Myanmar (Burma); Philippines; Singapore; Thailand; Viet Nam.

Population
About 6,000.

Physical description
It has a bulging forehead, a short beak, and 12-19 teeth on each side of each jaw. The pectoral fin is broadly triangular. There is a small dorsal fin, on the posterior end of the back. Its skin colour is slate blue to slate gray and it’s around 2.3 m (7.5 ft) in length.

Status
Five of the seven subpopulations are critically endangered.

Contact us

Our Cambodia specialists can put together an individual tailor-made trip just for you; take a look at our Cambodia itinerary ideas to get an indication of what is possible. Phone us on 01993 838 160 or make an enquiry online.

Inle Lake in Burma is the setting for the annual 'Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda Festival'

There’s probably no better way to experience the local culture of a country than to see at first hand one of its biggest festivals. Accordingly, if you want to see what makes the locals tick in Burma you need to visit the annual Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda Festival, one of the largest Buddhist festivals in the country.

It takes place in and around the stilted villages of Inle Lake and is held from the first day of the waxing moon to the third day after the full moon of Thadingyut: September and October in our western calendar.

During this festival, four Buddha statues are transported clockwise from village to village to bless the monasteries, on a barge shaped as a mythical bird. With traditional music, dancing and boat races, this holy festival attracts visitors from all over the Shan State in Burma.

Our Burma specialists can put together an individual tailor-made trip just for you. Phone us on 01993 838 105 or make an enquiry online.

There are only about 50 tigers in the Hukawng Valley in Burma, but all are at risk from poaching

You may not realise it but Burma has its own small population of tigers in the Hukawng Valley in the north of the country.

Unfortunately, the area is too remote and the tiger numbers too small for tourists to have any real chance of seeing them but that could all change if plans for a huge reserve in the area get the go ahead.

The Burmese government plans to protect almost 8,500 square miles of the valley (almost the entire valley) and in doing so it will create the world’s largest tiger reserve (see map below).

It’s only a proposal at this stage but if it gets the go ahead it could eventually support several hundred tigers and be a massive boost overall to their numbers in Southeast Asia.

Map showing the proposed new tiger reserve in Hukawng Valley in Burma

Our Burma specialists can put together an individual tailor-made trip just for you. Phone us on 01993 838 105 or make an enquiry online.

The Komodo Dragon of Komodo Island, Indonesia

Komodo Island in Indonesia is a very special place because it’s home to the world’s largest lizard – the Komodo Dragon. Certainly, seeing it is one of the highlights for some of the Audley clients who book a tailor-made itinerary to Indonesia.

Tonight a BBC documentary (8pm on BBC2) will shed light on some of the more unusual and unknown aspects of this fascinating creature.

PS. If you miss it catch it again on BBC iPlayer for a limited period.

Northern white-cheeked crested gibbons

Unfortunately, all of the species of gibbons in Southeast Asia are now endangered (some critically) due to the destruction of their habitats for logging, agriculture and continued expansion of human populations. 

So, a bit of good news I saw recently was the discovery of hundreds of critically endangered northern white-cheeked crested gibbons living in the Pu Mat National Park, northern Vietnam, not far from the border with Laos.

According to scientists these gibbons represent the only known viable population of this species in the world. Conservation International report they are living at high altitudes, and far from human settlements.

Dr. Russell A. Mittermeier, President of Conservation International, said:

“All of the world’s 25 different gibbons are threatened, and none more so than the Indochinese crested gibbons, eight of which, including the northern white-cheeked gibbon, are now on the brink of extinction. This is an extraordinarily significant find, and underscores the immense importance of protected areas in providing the last refuges for the region’s decimated wildlife”.

Gibbon facts:

• Gibbons are almost entirely arboreal; meaning they rarely descend down to the ground from the trees they live in.
• They are the most agile of all tree-dwelling, non-flying mammals; a unique ball and socket joint in their wrists mean they can swing from branch to branch up to to 50 feet at a time, at speeds as high as 35 mph.
• They are thought to be the only primates in the world who are monogamous.
• Gibbon songs (or calls) are unique to each species. Even males and females have their own distinctions as well.

Read the full article in Conservation International

'Approaching the Waterhole' by Stella Mays

While I was writing my recent blog about the friendliest rhino in Africa killed by poachers, I added a link to the David Shepherd Foundation website. 

David Shepherd is of course the artist famous for all those wonderful paintings of animals (although he paints a variety of subjects). I think it’s fair to say his paintings of elephants in particular have become iconic around the world.

Anyway, while browsing the site I came across this page on the recent Best of Wildlife Art 2011 competition. As you can see some of the artwork is superb. Personally, I like the drawings and paintings more than the sculptures.

You might like to note that some of the originals are still for sale. They’re not cheap though! The one above by Stella Mays will set you back £2,400.

The rainbow toad was rediscovered up a tree in the forests of Borneo

It never ceases to amaze me how much new wildlife keeps popping up in Borneo. In fact it feels like most of my blogs on here have been taken up with reports of new species being found in this remarkable country.

Anyway, here’s another one although this time it’s a rediscovery of the aptly named rainbow toad.

Read more about its rediscovery on the BBC website

PS. I only hope the relentless deforestation which is taking place in Borneo is soon halted so that we can continue to marvel at the animals which undoubtedly still await discovery.

Audley's new Southeast Asia brochure

Our Southeast Asia programme has always been a bit special to us because it was in this region (Vietnam to be precise) that Audley first started out. In fact the company’s first name was Asian Journeys.

Now this ubiquitous brochure gets the full makeover treatment and its 152 pages are packed full of information and fantastic images – it’s our most comprehensive ever! Included are all the usual destinations such as Malaysia, Vietnam and Indonesia with some additional highlighted features on things like the temples of Angkor, family travel in Thailand and wildlife in Borneo.

Take a look at the brochure now!

• Here’s the online version (you will need Adobe Flash Player). 
• If you want to see online versions of all our brochures, or if you want to request a free physical copy of any of them, simply go to our brochures page.

A Travel Briefing on Canada at our New Mill offices in Oxfordshire

Starting on Thursday, August 4th, our scenic New Mill offices in Oxfordshire will once again play host to our popular Travel Briefings. This year a few selected specialists will be presenting talks on different countries throughout Southeast Asia.

Audley's New Mill offices

These presentations (which are free to attend) have proved very successful in the past because they provide you not only with the opportunity to gain an insight into the practicalities of travel - the best times to go, what to take, the types of accommodation available, etc - you’ll also be getting our specialists first-hand knowledge of these places by virtue of the fact they’ve actually been there – in some cases even lived there.

If you attend you can also have an informal chat over a tea or coffee with any one of them, as well as the other guests. If you have time we’ll also give you a quick guided tour of our offices and its surroundings. You’ll need to be quick though as the 24 places for each briefing will be allocated on a ‘first come, first served’ basis.

Here is the schedule. Click on the one you’re interested in or visit our Events page for a brief summary of each.

• Borneo’s Wildlife – Thursday 4th August
• Indonesia Explored – Friday 5th August
• Experience Indochina – Thursday 18th August
• Burma Uncovered – Friday 19th August

Audley's Southeast Asia Manager, Natalie, thanks the host of the First Audley Guide Awards

A great guide can really bring a country to life and we spend a good deal of time training our guides in Southeast Asia.

Each year we collate all the client feedback from the previous year to draw up our list of preferred guides for the coming season. This time we decided to take things a step further and invited the guide with the best feedback from each country within Southeast Asia to attend an awards ceremony to receive their award in person.

Our partners in Vietnam offered to host the event and on the weekend of 3rd-5th June all the planning became a reality as 21 guests from all over Southeast Asia arrived in Saigon. We were treated to a fantastic welcome dinner on the Friday night.

Saturday started with a city tour, another sumptuous meal at lunchtime and then an afternoon of presentations and workshop activity before the awards were given out to the deserving guides.

The farewell dinner involved yet more delicious Vietnamese food, as well as traditional music and dancing and then some audience participation with people from each country getting up to present entertainment from their homeland.

The whole event was fantastically organised by our Vietnamese partners, and enjoyed by all participants.

Here is a list of the winners

Click on an image to see it full size.