VAT PHOU ECOTOURISM POLICY AND PRACTICES

1. The Vat Phou cruises stop in some villages on the journey. At these villages we encourage our guests to contribute money for the construction of schools, the purchase of school books and pencils, and also the purchase of sporting equipment for the children of the villages. The Vat Phou Company also donates money for these causes.

2. In Laos, there is a tradition to feed the monks every morning. This has the two fold purpose of ‘making merit’ and also providing the monastery with food for the day. The Vat Phou Company offers meals for the temples in the areas that we travel through.

3. Where possible, our chefs will buy local produce from the communities for the meals on board the Vat Phou boat.

4. In Wat Ban Dong, the Vat Phou Company donated pipes to help in the road construction in this area.

5. All leftover food from our cruises is given to local villagers to help feed their livestock, while all cans, bottles and plastic are recycled.

For more information on ecotourism in Laos please check
www.ecotourismlaos.com and www.stay-another-day.org.