Vietnamese street food is widely known for its rich flavors, unique cooking methods, and diversity. These popular dishes are not only delicious but also reflect Vietnam’s distinctive street food culture. Let’s explore this culinary world with Vivu Journeys!
1. From Quiet Village to Turning Point
Life at Kok Sangke village has always been simple, with most people working in farming or fishing. There are no large hotels or crowded streets, only small homes and peaceful surroundings.
Education options were limited, with only basic schools available. Healthcare services were also modest, with a small local clinic serving the community.
In 2020, everything began to change. Together with local monks and community leaders, Vivu Journeys Cambodia helped Kok Sangke explore a new direction through community tourism. Instead of mass tourism, the village embraced community-based tourism as a way to create local opportunities, strengthen education, and support long-term community development.
2. What Drives Community-Based Tourism in Kok Sangke
2.1. Empowering Education
Education was one of the first priorities in Kok Sangke. Through community tourism, the community has worked to improve the quality of education for local children. These small but practical changes help children stay in school longer and build skills they can actually use in real life.
Read more:
- Empowering Education in Kok Sangke with Vivu Journeys Cambodia.
2.2. Creating Awareness, Inspiring Action
Community-based tourism also helps people learn beyond school. Training and talks focus on health, education, farming, and caring for the environment. These activities help families understand how to improve daily life. Because of this, people feel more confident to protect their health, land, and future.
2.3. Building Economic Resilience
Before community tourism, most families depended only on farming and fishing. Now, family farm projects and small livelihood programs give people more ways to earn. This extra income helps pay for school, health care, and home repairs.
2.4. Championing Responsible Travel
Tourism here follows clear rules. Visitors are asked to respect local life, culture, and nature. Responsible travel and CSR principles guide how tourism is done in Kok Sangke. Money from tourism is shared fairly and used for community needs. Some of it supports schools, health care, and village projects. This way, community tourism gives back more than it takes, and people stay in control of their future.
3. What Has Changed Through Community Development
In Kok Sangke, you can easily see the impact of community tourism.
In 2022, community-based tourism was still new to the village. Only a few families joined, and there were not many activities. That year, the village earned about 5,770 USD. Even though the number was small, the income already made a difference. For the first time, some families earned money that did not come from farming or fishing.
From January to September 2025, total revenue reached 36,101 USD, many times higher than in 2022. Income now comes from different activities, with meals for visitors as the main source, bringing in over 14,000 USD.
Community tourism in Kok Sangke is not about fast money. It grows step by step. From a few thousand dollars in 2022 to over thirty thousand in 2025, and more importantly, it helps the village build a better future with its own hands.
4. Community Tourism Projects in Action
Community tourism in Kok Sangke is not only about visitors. It is also about long-term community development. Two key projects show how this work happens in real life.
4.1 Kok Sangke Pre-Elementary Education Centre
One of the most important community projects is the Pre-Elementary Education Centre. The plan is to build two classrooms for pre-primary children in Kok Sangke.
Around 75 children from three nearby villages will benefit from this school. This project helps families who have very limited access to early education. With this center, children can start learning earlier, closer to home. It also helps parents, because they know their children are in a safe place. Education is one of the strongest parts of community development in Kok Sangke.
4.2. Kok Sangke Community Experience (2D1N Village Stay)
The Kok Sangke Community Experience is a 2-day, 1-night village stay. Guests live with local families and join daily activities.
During the stay, visitors can:
- Authentic village homestay experience
- Hands-on cultural immersion with local families
- Support eco-tourism and sustainable development projects
- Discover ancient Khmer healing traditions
This is not luxury travel. It is real life, shared simply. Money from this experience goes back to the community. It supports families, schools, health care, and village projects. So tourism here is not just about seeing a place. It is about helping the place grow in its own way.