GREAT has recently conducted two joint monitoring trips to Son La and Lao Cai, interviewing more than 100 people from nine GREAT partners and local authorities to evaluate the effectiveness of the projects.

GREAT partner The Department of Culture and Information in Sa Pa recently organised a trip of 14 local tour operators to Ta Phin in response to COVID-19 to help build the domestic market.

Mr Hoang Quoc Khanh – Vice Chairman of Lao Cai Provincial People’s Committee recently visited the project areas of 16 GREAT partners in Lao Cai to see firsthand the Program’s work on women’s economic empowerment in the Province.

Recently, GREAT and ACIAR supported Moc Chau and Van Ho districts to successfully organise a workshop promoting the consumption of safe vegetables of Moc Chau and Van Ho.

GREAT partner Lan Rung Company is turning the challenge of COVID-19 into an opportunity to enhance the capacity building of production groups in Sa Pa, Lao Cai.

Given the COVID-19 impact, GREAT partner Sa Pa Department of Culture and Information has accelerated training activities to members of Ta Phin Community-based Tourism Cooperative, combined with awareness raising on COVID-19 prevention.

During social distancing, GREAT partner Sapanapro’s leaders maintained frequent contact to support their partners and agents. They were willing to share risks with agents to overcome market difficulties.

GREAT partner FAVRI has in this challenging period taken as the opportunity to apply IoT (Internet of Things). This reduces labour costs and helps farmer groups to better manage and monitor the production process.

With its business focusing on brocade products, more than 50% of GREAT partner Lan Rung’s clientele are normally international tourists who are interested in the traditional cultures of Vietnam’s ethnic minorities.