Transparency & Microfinance

Combine the power of microfinance and responsible tourism to fight poverty

Inspired by a long practice of microcredits in developmental work worldwide, we run a program on providing microcredits to the most vulnerable entrepreneurs in our community, using a model that harnesses the power of responsible tourism with microcredit to alleviate poverty.

What is Microfinance?

If you're not familiar with microfinance, here's a brief overview. The idea behind all of this was created by Muhammad Yunus from Bangladesh, who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006. Microfinance helps bridge the gap between traditional bank loans, which are often inaccessible to the poor, and loan sharks who impose extremely high interest rates.

The loans are small, usually just a few hundred dollars, and borrowers are typically female, because they are the most disadvantaged and by experience more reliable on repayment. A loan of $100, for example, could enable a woman to buy livestock (cows, chicken, pigs, etc.) or start a small business with crafts (hemp fabric, incense, bamboo paper, fermented smoky tea, etc.). With just a small loan, these women can become self-sufficient and provide for themselves and their families.

This Is How We Do It

We have tours that are supporting selected local borrowers, and your tour fee helps fund one of them. During the tour you will get to know the receiver of this microcredit, their family, village and how they are living. We will spend a few hours visiting this person and with the help of our translators you will learn about the challenges disadvantaged people, especially women in Ha Giang are facing, as well as the local history and culture of the community. Usually you will be invited to a traditional cuisine at the house of a local borrower as a highlight of the day.

Each participant will receive detailed information on how the funds are allocated, including financial reports and impact stories from our beneficiaries. You will have the opportunity to visit funded projects, meet the borrowers, and see firsthand the positive changes in our community. We believe in building a strong, transparent relationship with our travelers, ensuring that every contribution makes a meaningful difference.

We provide microcredit to entrepreneurs living below the poverty line in our community, using a unique model that harnesses the power of responsible tourism with microcredit to alleviate poverty.
Break away from the typical Ha Giang loop tours for time in remote villages, verdant valleys harvesting unique vegetable, craft making, or experiencing local life—and meeting hill tribe women in need of startup financial support to generate a sustainable income.

We combine the power of microfinance and responsible tourism to fight poverty. We organize trips (or day trip) to the villages of Red Dzao, Hmong, Lo Lo tribes link tourists with people in need. Your tour fee helps fund one of our selected local borrowers to buy breeders (cow, chicken. pigled, etc) or start-up a small business with crafts (hemp fabric, incense, bamboo paper, fermented smoky tea, etc). With just a small loan these women can become self-sufficient and provide for themselves and their families.
 We will spend a few hours visiting these women and with the help of our translators you will learn about the challenges facing disadvantaged women in Ha Giang as well as the local history and culture of the community. Meal is a traditional cuisine at the house of a local borrower and a highlight of the day.

Ensuring transparency is crucial for building trust with travelers and demonstrating the positive impact of our program. Here are some strategies to prove transparency with travelers for our responsible tourism and microfinance program:

1. Clear Financial Reporting Provide Detailed Breakdown: Offer a clear breakdown of how the fees are used, showing exactly what portion goes to administrative costs, the microcredit fund, and community projects.

Regular Updates: Publish regular financial reports on your website and social media, detailing the allocation of funds and the impact achieved.

2. Impact Stories and Testimonials Beneficiary Stories: Share stories and testimonials from the local borrowers who have benefitted from the microcredit program. Highlight their journey and how the funds have transformed their lives.

Traveler Experiences: Encourage past travelers to share their experiences and the impact they observed during their trip.

3. Transparent Operations Open Access: Allow travelers to visit the projects and meet the beneficiaries during their tour. This direct interaction builds trust and showcases the real impact.

Third-Party Audits: Conduct third-party audits and publish the results to demonstrate accountability and transparency in your operations.

4. Community Involvement Local Partnerships: Showcase your partnerships with local organizations and community leaders who can vouch for the authenticity and impact of your program.

Inclusive Decision-Making: Involve community members in decision-making processes and document their involvement.

5. Real-Time Updates Live Reporting: Use social media and blogs to provide real-time updates on ongoing projects and how the funds are being utilized.

Visual Proof: Share photos, videos, and updates from the field to show the progress and impact of the funded projects.

6. Detailed Tour Information Itinerary Transparency: Provide a detailed itinerary of the tour, including visits to funded projects and opportunities to interact with beneficiaries.

Educational Sessions: Incorporate educational sessions where travelers can learn about the microcredit model, responsible tourism practices, and the local community’s needs.

7. Post-Trip Follow-Up Impact Reports: Send travelers post-trip impact reports that detail how their participation and fees contributed to specific projects and outcomes.

8. Ongoing Engagement: Keep travelers engaged with newsletters and updates on the long-term impact of their contributions.