About Topas Travel

Plastics, energy use, water treatment
We keep single use plastics to a minimum on our tours, at our lodges and at our events. We have pioneered waste reduction methods at our races that have since been adopted by other organisers, thus multiplying our impact.

We have invested in a constructed wetland, vital in wastewater treatment from our Ecolodge kitchen and laundry. We use salt water pools heated by the latest, most eco friendly systems. Another small example is that we do not use individual fridges in the lodge rooms, instead using ice boxes only when required, thus reducing unnecessary energy use. For more specific examples of eco efforts at the lodge, please visit that site here. ....less

Topas Travel is member of Vietnam Tourism Association (VITA) ....less

Traveling to Vietnam is now as comfortable as any other destination, with COVID-19 policies reflecting a sense of normalcy. As of the latest updates, there's no special treatment required for COVID-19, and travelers are no longer obligated to undergo testing or purchase specific COVID insurance.

While Vietnam has embraced a more relaxed approach, we strongly recommend securing a comprehensive travel insurance package. This insurance should cover essential aspects such as medical treatment, personal accidents, medical evacuation, and extend beyond unforeseen circumstances like natural disasters and cancellation fees.

Client's safety and well-being remain our top priority, and we encourage travelers to explore Vietnam with confidence, armed with a robust travel insurance plan that ensures peace of mind throughout your journey. ....less

Sustainability is at the heart of our work, including at Topas Ecolodge which is a showcase of sustainable tourism in a remote area. We employ around 100 people, almost exclusively from local villages. Staff are given opportunities to progress and complete further training.

One example is a staff member who used to sell crafts near the lodge who then came in as a dishwasher and has since progressed to waitress and has since won wine waitress of the month. We also have staff from KOTO, an NGO which works to train disadvantaged youth in Vietnam.


Food and Farming

At our own lodges, food is sourced locally where possible and we focus on organic. We have a small local farm where we will raise livestock and we are building a pond for our own organic supply of fish.

We recognize that some of the resources we use to run our lodges are also valuable to the local community, therefore we work to share these resources, sharing what can be re-sued locally. For example, excess food from the breakfast buffet is sent to the local boarding school. Food scraps are used by local farmers as animal feed. Wherever possible on our Topas Travel tours we seek to work with suppliers and restaurants that follow our own internal standards. ....less

Topas Travel has been providing extraordinary travel experiences around the world since 1973 and in Vietnam since the early 90s. Mr Jørgen Sølvsten Nielsen, the owner of our company, has put his life’s work into developing a dream of delivering unique adventures and lodgings in remote parts of this beautiful planet.

Our Vietnam story began in 1993, when we began working in Sapa at a time when there were no international tours in the mountains here. In those early days, together with a local family we built up a series of treks, visiting minority villages and climbing the high mountains.

Since then, Topas has grown in Vietnam. Today we provide tours all over the nation; we have Topas Ecolodge and Topas Riverside Lodge; we run the Vietnam Trail Series; and we have Topas Education Tours. Our charity work program in Vietnam has also grown considerably.

When we began in the 70s, our tours were basic and sometimes rough adventures in overland trucks, including journeys across the Sahara. Today, our travellers expect higher service quality and more comfort than those old school truckers, but the enthusiasm for seeking authentic and engaging experiences remains the same.

Likewise, our spirit of exploration and our fascination with Vietnam has not changed. We are ready to welcome you to this beautiful nation and show you why we love it. Please get in touch to craft your ideal Vietnam experience with us.

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Member of Vietnam Tourism Association ....less

We keep single use plastics to a minimum on our tours, at our lodges and at our events. We have pioneered waste reduction methods at our races that have since been adopted by other organisers, thus multiplying our impact.

We have invested in a constructed wetland, vital in wastewater treatment from our Ecolodge kitchen and laundry. We use salt water pools heated by the latest, most eco friendly systems. Another small example is that we do not use individual fridges in the lodge rooms, instead using ice boxes only when required, thus reducing unnecessary energy use. For more specific examples of eco efforts at the lodge, please visit that site here. ....less

We keep single use plastics to a minimum on our tours, at our lodges and at our events. We have pioneered waste reduction methods at our races that have since been adopted by other organisers, thus multiplying our impact.

We have invested in a constructed wetland, vital in wastewater treatment from our Ecolodge kitchen and laundry. We use salt water pools heated by the latest, most eco friendly systems. Another small example is that we do not use individual fridges in the lodge rooms, instead using ice boxes only when required, thus reducing unnecessary energy use. For more specific examples of eco efforts at the lodge, please visit that site here. ....less

Education Tours
Founded in Denmark in 1973, we began working in Vietnam the early 90s.

After creating pioneering tours, Topas Ecolodge and Vietnam Trail Series, we began running education school trips in 2015.

Topas tailors education tours according to each group’s specific learning outcome and development goals.

The emphasis on community work/service, physical activity, farming and cultural education is tailored in terms of volume and level of difficulty.

We have a strong focus on sustainability, responsible travel experiences and on risk assessment.

Read on to learn about our locations, our activities and our team of education, activity and tour experts. ....less

At Topas, we always respect the natural environment and the cultures where we work. We instil this ethos in all our education group trips for school and university groups.

We give back to local communities, for example via our Vietnam Trail Series, which has given over US$300,000 to charitable work since 2013. You can read more about our charitable work on our Charity and Principles page here. ....less

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Responsible Tourism, Giving Back and Our Principles
Learn more about our own charity projects and our work with NGOs; our investment in people; our food and farming practices; our energy and plastic use, and more.

Our Own Charitable Projects:

We have two charity streams: carrying out our own projects and also funding/working with NGOs. Because we have our roots in Sapa, plus an office, two lodges and an ultra race, this is where we undertake most of our own work.

Moreover, we have a project manager based in Sapa to oversee our charitable work.

In recent years, our focus has been on education. We have now re-built a number of schools in the area. Below you can see some ‘before and after’ photographs of schools we have re-built. For more detailed on two specific schools, you can read about the projects here and here. Other projects we have contributed to or fully funded include bridge construction and home improvements for those in hardship.

Our NGO partners:

Newborns Vietnam
This charity both trains neonatal medical staff and provides vital equipment to increase the life chances of critically ill newborns. Alongside their work at the National Children’s Hospital, the charity works with Lao Cai hospital near Sapa and also Moc Chau, where we organise Vietnam Trail Marathon.

Both these projects are part-funded by Topas and the Moc Chau work is a direct result of our partnership.

Blue Dragon Children’s Foundation
This charity works with street kids and also victims of human trafficking. The work they do is incredible and life changing and consistently amazes and inspires us at Topas.

Alongside providing funding, we also give free slots to our Vietnam Trail Series races and fund the Blue Dragon Running Club kids to come to the races – indeed two of them got first and second place at Vietnam Trail Marathon 5k!

Hue Help
In Vietnam over 2,000 children drown every year – more than any other country in South East Asia. Hue Help runs swim and downing prevention training, both directly teaching kids and also teaching teachers to become swim safety instructors. We have worked with Hue Help to create projects in Thanh Hoa province, an area where we hold Vietnam Jungle Marathon and where the drowning rate is higher than in many other provinces in the nation.

Operation Smile
Operation Smile performs facial surgery to change the lives of young people in Vietnam. We’ve seen first hand the impact of this, with staff from the charity taking kids from around Sapa and Pu Luong into Hanoi for corrective surgery. ....less

Learn more about our own charity projects and our work with NGOs; our investment in people; our food and farming practices; our energy and plastic use, and more.

Our Own Charitable Projects:

We have two charity streams: carrying out our own projects and also funding/working with NGOs. Because we have our roots in Sapa, plus an office, two lodges and an ultra race, this is where we undertake most of our own work.

Moreover, we have a project manager based in Sapa to oversee our charitable work.

In recent years, our focus has been on education. We have now re-built a number of schools in the area. Below you can see some ‘before and after’ photographs of schools we have re-built. For more detailed on two specific schools, you can read about the projects here and here. Other projects we have contributed to or fully funded include bridge construction and home improvements for those in hardship.

Our NGO partners:

Newborns Vietnam
This charity both trains neonatal medical staff and provides vital equipment to increase the life chances of critically ill newborns. Alongside their work at the National Children’s Hospital, the charity works with Lao Cai hospital near Sapa and also Moc Chau, where we organise Vietnam Trail Marathon.

Both these projects are part-funded by Topas and the Moc Chau work is a direct result of our partnership.

Blue Dragon Children’s Foundation
This charity works with street kids and also victims of human trafficking. The work they do is incredible and life changing and consistently amazes and inspires us at Topas.

Alongside providing funding, we also give free slots to our Vietnam Trail Series races and fund the Blue Dragon Running Club kids to come to the races – indeed two of them got first and second place at Vietnam Trail Marathon 5k!

Hue Help
In Vietnam over 2,000 children drown every year – more than any other country in South East Asia. Hue Help runs swim and downing prevention training, both directly teaching kids and also teaching teachers to become swim safety instructors. We have worked with Hue Help to create projects in Thanh Hoa province, an area where we hold Vietnam Jungle Marathon and where the drowning rate is higher than in many other provinces in the nation.

Operation Smile
Operation Smile performs facial surgery to change the lives of young people in Vietnam. We’ve seen first hand the impact of this, with staff from the charity taking kids from around Sapa and Pu Luong into Hanoi for corrective surgery. ....less

Whatever style of Vietnam experience is right for you, we are here to share our expertise and devise your best holiday. From active adventures to dream family trips, we have Vietnam experts to make your ideal holiday a reality.

Classic Vietnam Tours
Vietnam’s highlights are highlights for a reason; these are the must-see sites and must-do experiences. But that doesn’t mean that there’s no room for innovation. Check out our Topas Classic tours for inspiration.

Topas Family Tours
Vietnam couldn’t be more family-friendly: crime levels are low, there’s loads to see and do, and the Vietnamese adore children. You’ll find that the country will welcome your family with open arms every step of the way.

Trail Running Holidays
We are organisers of Vietnam Trail Series and we also offer bespoke trail running holidays. Choose your own dates and create your own experience, or make a holiday around one of our races: Vietnam Mountain Marathon, Vietnam Jungle Marathon or Vietnam Trail Marathon.

Topas Lodge Trips
Sapa is where it all began for Topas back in the early 90s, pioneering treks between minority villages.

Today, we have the acclaimed Topas Ecolodge high on a hilltop outside town. Nearby is the boutique Topas Riverside Lodge, in a hidden Red Dao minority village.

We invite you to discover another side of Sapa with us on experiences including these two unique properties.

Giving Back & Charity Work

At Topas we have donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to charity work in Vietnam.

We have two charity streams:

Working with NGO partners

Our partners include Blue Dragon Children’s Foundation, Newborns Vietnam, Hue Help and Operation Smile.

Implementing our own projects

These projects are carried out in Sapa, because this is where we have deep roots going back to 1993 and our own project manager on the ground.

Our main focus is education. We have built schools in a number of villages in the Sapa area.

For more info on our charity work and our responsible travel ethics, please see our Charity and Principles page here.

If you want to travel with a company that has a direct, transparent, positive impact on Vietnam, then we invite you to travel with us. ....less

Sustainability is at the heart of our work, including at Topas Ecolodge which is a showcase of sustainable tourism in a remote area. We employ around 100 people, almost exclusively from local villages. Staff are given opportunities to progress and complete further training.

One example is a staff member who used to sell crafts near the lodge who then came in as a dishwasher and has since progressed to waitress and has since won wine waitress of the month. We also have staff from KOTO, an NGO which works to train disadvantaged youth in Vietnam. ....less

International Partnerships: Topas Travel may engage in partnerships and collaborations with global entities, fostering international economic ties and promoting cross-border economic activities.

Cultural Exchange: By facilitating travel experiences, Topas Travel can contribute to cultural exchange, fostering a better understanding between people from different parts of the world. ....less

Founded in Denmark in 1973, we began working in Vietnam the early 90s.

After creating pioneering tours, Topas Ecolodge, Topas Riverside Lodge and Vietnam Trail Series, we began running education school trips in 2015.

Topas tailors education tours according to each group’s specific learning outcome and development goals.

The emphasis on community work/service, physical activity, farming and cultural education is tailored in terms of volume and level of difficulty.

We have a strong focus on sustainability, responsible travel experiences and on risk assessment.

Read on to learn about our locations, our activities and our team of education, activity and tour experts. ....less

Sustainability is at the heart of our work, including at Topas Ecolodge which is a showcase of sustainable tourism in a remote area. We employ around 100 people, almost exclusively from local villages. Staff are given opportunities to progress and complete further training.

One example is a staff member who used to sell crafts near the lodge who then came in as a dishwasher and has since progressed to waitress and has since won wine waitress of the month. We also have staff from KOTO, an NGO which works to train disadvantaged youth in Vietnam.


Food and Farming

At our own lodges, food is sourced locally where possible and we focus on organic. We have a small local farm where we will raise livestock and we are building a pond for our own organic supply of fish.

We recognize that some of the resources we use to run our lodges are also valuable to the local community, therefore we work to share these resources, sharing what can be re-sued locally. For example, excess food from the breakfast buffet is sent to the local boarding school. Food scraps are used by local farmers as animal feed. Wherever possible on our Topas Travel tours we seek to work with suppliers and restaurants that follow our own internal standards. ....less

Awarding the Merit of the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism in 2022 ....less