Discover Vietnam & Cambodia – Exclusively Solos

Begin your journey with Singapore Airlines from London Heathrow. For flights from Manchester on selected dates, and at no extra cost, please call us.

Alternative airline – Emirates

If you prefer, you may fly with Emirates via Dubai from London Heathrow, London Gatwick, Manchester, Birmingham, Newcastle or Glasgow, for a supplement, from £200 per person return.

Your Singapore Airlines flight to Hanoi operates via Singapore. Upon arrival in Hanoi, we transfer to the centrally-located Silk Path Hotel, where we spend the next two nights. The afternoon is free for us to relax or to take a stroll around Hoan Kiem. In the evening, we meet our Tour Manager and fellow travellers for a welcome dinner. A great opportunity to get to know each other and learn about the upcoming adventures.

Today begins with an orientation tour of Hanoi, passing landmarks like Ba Dinh Square, the Presidential Palace, Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum, and the National Assembly building. Next, we visit the revered One Pillar Pagoda, a Buddhist temple from the 11th century, before heading to the Temple of Literature, Vietnam’s oldest university, dedicated to Confucius. Lunch offers an introduction to bun cha, a famous Vietnamese dish. In the afternoon, observe the preparation of a Vietnamese egg coffee, an iconic local beverage, and enjoy a cyclo (rickshaw) ride through the bustling Old Quarter. We also visit the Ngoc Son Temple, known as the ‘Place Touched by Morning Sunbeams’. Our day comes to an end with a traditional water puppet show at Hanoi’s Thang Long Theatre, before we return to our hotel for the evening.

Today, we journey to Mai Chau, with winding mountain roads revealing breathtaking panoramas. The Mai Chau valley presents an idyllic location; expansive rice paddies, and grand limestone mountains dotted throughout with tiny villages and bustling communities. An afternoon walking excursion through the valley introduces us to local hill tribe communities, verdant rice fields and serene rural terrain. Our hotel for the next two nights is the Mai Chau Mountain View Resort.

Tour Highlight

Following breakfast, we head for Bao La commune – a village developing sustainable tourism in the local community. We are guided through the village, learning about the project’s goals and engaging in some farming activities. Later, stop at a local family’s home for a cookery class featuring traditional dishes from the White Thai community. Lunch will be served at the family’s home. In the afternoon, we experience farming life and join local residents in planting rice in the fields. Enjoy a drink of tea with the family before returning to our hotel.

This morning, we travel to Pa Co village, home to the H’mong people. We take a walk around the village and witness daily life in the community. There’s an opportunity to visit a family home to learn the traditional methods of making batik and indigo dyeing. We return to Hanoi and the Silk Path Hotel for our overnight stay in the city.

Tour Highlight

Bid farewell to the city’s hustle and bustle as we travel to Ha Long. Here we board La Regina Legend for a voyage through UNESCO World Heritage Site, Lan Ha Bay, part of the Ha Long Bay geography. Enjoy a buffet lunch, while cruising through the bay’s towering limestone cliffs and emerald waters. We also visit an impressive cave to discover its intriguing stalagmite and stalactite formations. Moored for the evening in the most spectacular of locations, relax on the deck with a cocktail before dinner.

Our day begins with Tai Chi on the sun deck as the sun rises. We visit the impressive caves of Trung Trang on Cat Ba Island, before our return to the mainland. We travel to Hanoi Airport for our flight to Da Nang. Upon arrival, we are transferred to our hotel in Hoi An, the Silkotel Hotel. Perfectly located for exploring Hoi An’s ancient Old Town, this is our home for the next three nights.

Tour Highlight

Today we explore Hoi An, a charming former trading port. Our walking tour includes visits to iconic landmarks – Chua Ong Pagoda, built in 1653; Phuc Kien Assembly Hall; Tan Ky House, a 200-year-old ancestral home; and the famous 17th-century Japanese bridge. One of Hoi An’s most famous symbols is the silk lantern. Brought by Chinese and Japanese merchants in the late 14th century, they have been made in Hoi An for over 400 years. This afternoon, we learn about how these beautiful pieces of art are made. This evening there is the opportunity to join an optional walking food tour and enjoy iconic dishes at the town’s most famous eateries.

We Recommend — Street Food Tour

Discover the delights of Vietnamese cuisine including ‘Bánh bao bánh vac’ – a white rose dumpling, only found in Hoi An.

This morning, we visit Tra Que village, known for its expansive organic vegetable farm. Explore the farm and observe the traditional farming techniques used to cultivate crops and engage in hands-on activities. After our gardening experience, relax with a herbal foot bath and massage, followed by lunch. On our return to Hoi An we visit a community development where they craft soap from recycled cooking oil. The afternoon is ours to spend at our leisure. Perhaps join our excursion to My Son, the former capital of the ancient Cham civilisation.

It’s time to say goodbye to the delights of Hoi An and, following breakfast, we head to Da Nang for our departure flight to Ho Chi Minh City. En route, we visit the Cham Sculpture Museum, which houses an extensive collection of Champa sculptures dating from the 7th to 15th centuries. Upon arrival in Ho Chi Minh City, transfer to the Liberty Riverside Hotel for a three night stay. After settling in we enjoy our first evening in the city together with dinner at a local restaurant.

Tour Highlight

We head out of the city this morning and towards the famous Cu Chi Tunnels, a former Viet Cong stronghold. Watch a short video before viewing the tunnels and learning more about how the tunnels served various roles, from living quarters to supply routes and makeshift hospitals. Next, we visit an organic farm to learn about farm-to-table practices and savour an organic lunch with fresh ingredients. Back in the city, we visit the War Remnants Museum with graphic yet important exhibits depicting wartime hardships. We also explore the Reunification Palace, and the Central Post Office, a remarkable work by French architect Gustave Eiffel.

This morning, we travel to My Tho, gateway to the Mekong Delta. Here, we board a wooden sampan and travel the Mekong to Tan My and Thoi Son Islands. These islands are home to numerous floating fish farms, some of which have been anchored for decades. Next, we board a traditional rowing boat for a serene journey through narrow canals shaded by water coconut trees. Exploring by bicycle, we visit a local garden, verdant with fresh seasonal fruits. Here, we will enjoy grapefruits, coconuts, bananas, durian, jackfruits and longans. Lunch will be a spread of Mekong delicacies in a local family’s garden, where we watch the host prepare banh khot, a popular and delicious local dish. Afterwards, another gentle bike ride through the tranquil island’s backstreets awaits before returning to the mainland. Today’s adventure over, we return to the city and our hotel.

Our time in Vietnam comes to a close this morning, but new adventures are waiting for us in Cambodia. Transferring to the airport, we board our flight to Siem Reap, Cambodia. On arrival, we are met by our Cambodia guide and driver and transferred to the delightful Borei Angkor Hotel, our home for the next three nights. This evening, we venture to Phare, also known as the Cambodian circus. An entertaining evening featuring a group of talented young artists, who showcase incredibly artistic forms of storytelling to offer a unique insight into Cambodian culture and everyday life.

Tour Highlight

Today, we embark on a journey through time as we explore the remarkable remains of an ancient civilisation. Our day begins by visiting Angkor Thom, the last capital of the Khmer Empire. In this monumental site, we encounter the sprawling Elephant Terrace, the Terrace of the Leper King, and the mystical Bayon. Next, we visit Ta Prohm – one of Angkor’s largest temples. Surrounded by jungle, its maze of stone passageways is overgrown with roots and branches of massive banyan trees. Following lunch, we visit Angkor Wat, arguably the world’s largest religious structure, constructed with a volume of stone matching the Cheops pyramid in Egypt. It boasts symmetrical towers inspiring the modern Cambodian flag and is certainly a highlight of the trip.

A culinary voyage awaits today, as we are introduced to Khmer cuisine. Upon arrival at a local chef’s residence, expect a warm welcome from today’s cooking instructor. We journey to the nearby market, where vibrant stalls reveal the unique ingredients central to Khmer gastronomy. Guided by our expert, we learn to prepare and cook some of Cambodia’s most cherished dishes, before enjoying a lunch of our creations. The afternoon is ours to enjoy at our leisure. Spend the afternoon hunting for souvenirs, or perhaps join an optional excursion to explore some of the many non-profit organisations and social enterprises in Siem Reap, including HeroRats, Theam’s House Gallery and the Royal Independence Garden. As our final evening approaches, we dine together one last time and share the memories of our adventures.

We Recommend — Siem Reap social enterprises

Meet the hero rats, discover local Cambodian artist’s paintings & sculptures and visit the Royal Independence Garden.

As our Indochina adventure comes to a close, maybe indulge in some final souvenir hunting in Siem Reap. Later today we return to Siem Reap Airport for our Singapore Airlines flight, via Singapore, to the UK. For those travelling with Emirates, your return flight will operate via Bangkok and Dubai.

After 18 incredible days filled with unforgettable memories, our Vietnam and Cambodia adventure comes to a close as we arrive into our chosen UK airport.