A delegation from the Australian Embassy in Vietnam led by Ms Robyn Mudie, Australia’s Ambassador to Vietnam was delighted to meet some of the many ethnic minority women who are benefiting from the GREAT Program on a recent trip to Son La Province.

The ramie sector in Son La has the potential to create increased income for ethnic minority women, however, unlocking access to finance is important to realise growth in the sector.

As part of GREAT’s strategy to help the tourism sector recover from COVID-19, the program has supported local communities to promote their destinations to international and domestic tourists.

GREAT’s paper on “Harnessing the potential of ethnic minority women entrepreneurs” was one of the seven selected out of over fifty submitted to be presented at the International Scientific Conference on “Women Entrepreneurship and Innovation in the Post COVID-19 Era” held yesterday by the Vietnam Women’s Academy.

Since the outbreak of COVID-19 GREAT partner #CRED has implemented flexible measures to help local tourism operators in #BacHa, Lao Cai respond to and rebound from its negative impact. Recently, CRED organised a fam trip with 21 travel agencies to support them to develop Bac Ha tour products customised for the domestic market. This will capitalise on the spring blossom season which lasts from January to April.

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a dramatic impact on the tourism sector in Vietnam. GREAT tourism partners and beneficiaries are not immune and have been hard hit with the decline in the tourism visitation to Lao Cai and Son La.

To help local women respond to the impact of #COVID19 and address the digital divide, GREAT has partnered with local organisation KisStartup to train and mentor women-led micro, small and medium sized enterprises.

From having very limited experience in online business, Ms Ha Thi Khuyen, a homestay owner in Vat Village, Moc Chau, Son La has capitalised on a digital transformation training course led by GREAT partner KisStartup to respond to COVID-19.

Ms Cherie Russel, Development Counsellor, Australian Embassy, Vietnam visited GREAT partners in Lao Cai Province to see first-hand how sustainable agriculture and tourism activities are increasing income and position for local ethnic minority women.