Sapa O'Chau

Sapa O'Chau is the only Social Enterprise in Vietnam run by members of an ethnic minority community.

About us

SapaO’Chau is the only Social Enterprise in Vietnam run by members of an ethnic minority community. It was founded by Shu Tan, a young single mother from the Black Hmong community, along with four Australian volunteers. Working together, they were able to turn Shu’s dream of helping her people into a reality. They funded the first Hmong-owned homestay in Sapa and then established a socially conscious trekking service. 

Later, Shu decided to tackle the problem of illiteracy among Sapa’s young tour guides and street vendors, many of whom had never had the chance to go to school. She organized informal English night classes for a small group of enthusiastic youths in a room provided by a local hotel. As these classes grew in popularity, so did the need for more facilities. In the summer of 2010, the SapaO’Chau School opened. Today, SapaO’Chau is managing a residential facility for 35 students from various ethnic minority communities in the Sapa region.

The social enterprise business is made up of three inter-connected structures:

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• The café where tourists can rest and have breakfast during their stay in Sapa
  
• The Hmong handicraft shop where tourists can buy great quality Hmong handicrafts handmade by our Hmong staff
  
• The tour operation where tourists can book a trekking tour and stay overnight in a homestay run by an ethnic minority family
  

The fourth part of the SapaO’Chauorganisation is the school itself, which is the beneficiary of the funds collected from the threesocial enterprise businesses. We provide free accommodation and food, as well as all living expenses, for 35 ethnic minority youth so that they can attend the government high school in Sapa. We provide extra English, maths and life skills classes, so that they can enter the workforce, or qualify for university, after they complete their secondary education.

SapaO’Chau’s direct beneficiaries are the trekking guides, the homestay owners, the students, the craftswomen and the volunteers. Our guides, our homestay owners and the staff at the café all come from ethnic minority communities and receive free vocational training and English classes from SapaO’Chau. All our staff receive fair salaries.

Why are we exciting?

By volunteering with us, you will work for a social enterprise created by locals, run by locals and benefitting locals. You will see for yourself how SapaO’Chau has succeeded in improving the lives of the ethnic communities of the Sapa region. Also, you will interact directly with locals and learn about the customs of the Hmong and the other minorities living nearby.

SapaO’Chau welcomes volunteers from all over the world. We offer them the opportunity to work in all aspects of the organisation, including the school, the café, the trekking business, handicrafts production, and marketing. We take our volunteer program very seriously and our volunteers play a vital role in SapaO’Chau’s continued success. By volunteering with us, you will be making a tangible impact, and will be helping us to build a brighter and more prosperous future for ethnic minority youth.

SapaO’Chau was created in 2010 and has never stopped growing and improving the lives of Sapa’s ethnic communities. Volunteering with us is really a unique opportunity to become part of our SapaO’Chau family; you will be constantly interacting with students and staff, even living and eating together in our hostel. You will also have the opportunity to explore the magnificent Sapamountains, via our treks and homestay tours.

In 2016, SapaO’Chau will be initiating an ambitious project to raise funds for the development of their new purpose-built school campus. This is your opportunity to join us in this new adventure.