At EXO, we have always believed in travel as a force for good. This recently came to life through a meaningful project on Con Ho, a small island in the Mekong Delta.
Home to only fifteen families, life on Con Ho is refreshingly simple: the residents get around on foot or by bicycle, the usual buzz of motorbikes is noticeably absent. There is no electricity, so the people rely on solar power and battery back-up.
Despite the scarce resources, the people are incredibly welcoming. EXO has worked with the community to develop immersive visits, giving our guests a rare opportunity to experience rural Vietnamese life while also providing a much-needed additional income stream to the community.
However this simple life comes with challenges. The island’s main road, which connects the village to the port, becomes impassable in the rainy season due to thick mud. This hampers daily life, as the road is used by children to go to school, adults to go to the market and to access services such as medical care.
Understanding the importance of this one-kilometre-long road, the EXO Foundation donated a cover made of durable coconut fibre. This sustainable solution is expected to last 5-10 years, promising a long-term respite from the seasonal challenges. Read on to learn more!
After an office-wide vote, it was decided that the EXO Foundation would allocate 2000 USD for the construction of the road covering.
On a product inspection trip to Con Ho in November, Ms Thao from EXO Vietnam French inbound team, informed the EXO Foundation about the condition of the road.
After gathering information about the road cover options, Ha, EXO Vietnam Product and Sustainability Coordinator returned to the island to see with her own eyes. ‘When I arrived on Con Ho, I realised why they needed this carpet. Because the road is small and quite steep, especially when it rains it is prone to landslides and muddy, making it very difficult to pass’.
After an office-wide vote, it was decided that the EXO Foundation would allocate 2000 USD for the construction of the road covering, which was installed in January 2024.
‘The village is very appreciative of our support and always extends a warm welcome to EXO when we visit’.
The mat is a local product made from the fibres of the coconut shell. The material is ideal for this purpose as it firmly sticks to the soil and provides a non-slip surface for feet and tyres, even when wet.
‘The use of coconut fibre as a material is a plus point for environmental friendliness. It is a local product so it also supports a local industry’, Ha explains.
Coconut fibre is also very durable and the road covering is expected to last 5-10 years. This ensures that the people of Con Ho can reliably and safely use their main road over the coming years, without worrying about flooding or erosion.
‘Personally, I am very impressed by the green and pristine life on the island’, Ha concludes. ‘The village is very appreciative of our support and always extends a warm welcome to EXO when we visit’.
The EXO Foundation, a non-profit organisation that receives funding and backing from EXO Travel, actively supports a wide range of grassroots programmes and sustainability initiatives. Each year, funds are allocated to projects within our communities such as this one.
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