Main Story

SMALL IN SIZE, BIG ON SUSTAINABILITY

The tradition of female facial marking, is only found among those Chin groups that settle in the Southern parts of Chin State, in Western Rakhine, particular along the Lemro River, and in the neighboring areas of the Magway Administrative Division. Neither the groups in the North of Chin State nor

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Hospitality

SAMORNPUN SOMNAM

“Once you arrive at Keemala, it is the personal touch and bespoke experiences that really make a lasting impression for our guests,” she says. “From personalised villa host service to

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Bertie Alexander Lawson

AT THE EXCELSIOR

IHHVTC is part of the Inle Heritage Foundation, a not-for-profit organization working to preserve and enhance the culture of Inle Lake and the people who call it home. The Foundation

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Mekong Story

A NATURAL THING

Aung Kyaw Swar is the owner of A Little Eco Lodge, a small guesthouse on the outskirts of Nyaung Shwe. We are looking out on a field of a couple

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Mekong Faces

Binh

Ever since he was a child, Binh knew he wanted to become a chef and cook pho. Unfortunately, when his parents divorced, he dropped out of school and lived on

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Mekong Faces

Kim Thu

Kim Thu followed her passion for food by enrolling in An Rê Mai Sen to become a Restaurant Specialist. She completed an apprenticeship at Le Méridien Saigon, a five-star

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Mekong Faces

Kha

Before studying at La Boulangerie Française in Hue, Kha was a bricklayer. When he joined the school, he was an extremely shy young man hoping to find a promising job

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In Focus

Mekong Heroes

2021 MEKONG HERO – SREY BANDAUL

Srey Bandol was a truly inspirational man and a great artist in his own right. The co-founder of Phare Ponleu Selpak, his devotion has led to the development of a generation of Cambodian artists as well as a sustainable tourism-art model.

2020 MEKONG HERO – POTJANA SUANSRI

Without Potjana’s work, there is no doubt that our whole region would have far less knowledge about how to do CBT well. Potjana Suansri absolutely deserves recognition and appreciation as a true Mekong Hero.

On People

Mekong Faces

SAMORNPUN SOMNAM

“Once you arrive at Keemala, it is the personal touch and bespoke experiences that really make a lasting impression for our guests,” she says. “From personalised villa host service to customised celebrations ranging from romantic date nights to engagements and weddings, private excursions, and cultural immersion experiences. For us, and

Binh

Ever since he was a child, Binh knew he wanted to become a chef and cook pho. Unfortunately, when his parents divorced, he dropped out of school and lived on odd jobs. After two years, he decided to get his life back on track and joined KOTO. He obtained

Kim Thu

Kim Thu followed her passion for food by enrolling in An Rê Mai Sen to become a Restaurant Specialist. She completed an apprenticeship at Le Méridien Saigon, a five-star hotel, where she was offered a position before she even graduated.

Kha

Before studying at La Boulangerie Française in Hue, Kha was a bricklayer. When he joined the school, he was an extremely shy young man hoping to find a promising job after graduation. […]

JIMMY

Many of our trainees at KOTO hail from this Mekong Delta region. The people are absolutely amazing and the trainees are some of the most hospitable we’ve had through the program which is testament to the warm and friendly nature of people from the Mekong Delta region. Some of the

On Tourism

Sustainable Tourism in the GMS

REGENERATIVE TOURISM

Regenerative tourism or leaving a place better than you found it seeks to balance the economics of tourism with the well-being of its natural resources and communities.

RESPONSIBLE TOURISM

Sustainable tourism is defined by the UNWTO as “tourism that takes full account of its current and future economic, social and environmental impacts, addressing the needs of visitors, the industry, the environment and host communities”

THE IMPACTS OF TOURISM

Tourism can place too much pressure on fragile ecosystems causing degradation of the physical environment and disturbance to wildlife. Air travel, a necessity of international tourism, is a leading cause of air pollution. As well as this, cities which attract high numbers of tourists are dealing with over tourism.

On Inspiration

Mekong Stories

On Creator

Featured Author

Marissa Carruthers

Marissa Carruthers

South East Asia-based freelance journalist and editor specialising in travel, tourism, leisure and culture.