Hidden away down a sleepy side road in Vientiane, Laos, the Vientiane Orchid Gardens provide a beautiful retreat from the busy city. The gardens were opened in 2007 by Bertrand in response to the decline of orchid populations in Laos. Bertrand is passionate about orchid conservation and has set up the gardens and treks into the surrounding national park to both conserve orchid species and provide income for local communities. There are approximately 900 orchid species endemic to Laos, but they face threats from habitat loss as the country develops and the illegal orchid trafficking trade.