The Heritage of Vietnam and Cambodia - Exclusively Solos
14days from
£3,807*per person
Overview
Newmarket Holidays is offering 10% off all award-winning tours until Friday, 30 May.
Itinerary
- Fly to Vietnam - Today, you’ll set off on an overnight flight from the UK to Vietnam’s capital, Hanoi.
- Arrival in Hanoi and welcome cocktail and dinner - You and your fellow travellers will touch down in Hanoi, where you’ll be welcomed by your friendly tour manager at the airport, before heading to your hotel in an ancient part of the city. After you’ve unpacked and settled in, you can join the rest of your group for a welcome cocktail – the perfect chance to mingle and connect over your shared interests. A seasonal dinner will then follow, where a local chef will guide you through a cooking demonstration of one of Vietnam’s signature dishes.
- Included Hanoi city tour, lunch and optional Women’s museum and calligraphy class - Following breakfast, you’ll head out on a tour of Hanoi under the guidance of your tour manager. The first stop will be the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, a significant structure dedicated to the memory of President Ho Chi Minh, a revered leader who dedicated his life to the cause of Vietnamese Independence. During your visit, you’ll walk around a tranquil lotus pond and the famed One Pillar Pagoda, which was constructed by an emperor to honour the goddess of mercy. If you’re lucky, you might witness the changing of the guard outside the mausoleum. The tour will continue to the Temple of Literature, which was the first university complex in Vietnam and is dedicated to the Chinese scholar, Confucius. Built in 1070, this splendid complex with majestic gates and intricate architecture encompasses courtyards, gardens and traditional pavilions. Lunch will be enjoyed back at the hotel and the rest of the day is free for self-exploration. Alternatively, you can delve into the elegant world of Vietnamese calligraphy in a workshop dedicated to teaching the artistry and cultural significance of this ancient practice, with an enriching cultural stop at the Women's Museum in Hanoi. Your journey begins at the Women's Museum, where you'll explore exhibits highlighting the diverse roles of women in Vietnam’s history, culture, and society. The museum showcases a variety of displays, including traditional costumes, textiles, and women’s contributions to the country's struggles and achievements. Following this insightful visit, you'll head to the calligraphy workshop where you're introduced to the traditional art of calligraphy on Do paper, a revered form of expression in Vietnamese culture. The session begins with an overview of Do paper's production, a craft perfected over centuries using the bark of the dó tree. Learn about the history, styles, and cultural importance of calligraphy, alongside the essential tools required: brush, ink, and inkstone. After observing a demonstration of calligraphy techniques, you'll have the opportunity to wield the brush and create your own calligraphic masterpiece. Alternatively, for the foodies, the opportunity to take part in a market tour and cooking class is available. This culinary pilgrimage takes you into the heart of Hanoi, allowing you to soak up the smells and sights of the local market with a guide highlighting regional produce of note. You’ll then call at a beautiful villa and be welcomed with a drink and by a professional chef who’ll explain the ingredients and traditional dishes that you’re going to make. Dishes may vary but will typically include banana flower salad, Vietnamese fried spring rolls and egg coffee. Lastly, you’ll get to taste your efforts, paired with local wines.
- Included overnight luxury Halong Bay cruise, lunch, cooking class and buffet dinner - Once you’ve had breakfast, you’ll venture off on a scenic journey through the paddy fields to Halong Bay, a natural wonder and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Upon arrival, you’ll board the Emeraude and set sail, passing countless limestone pillars and cone-shaped islands, which have made this bay so famous. On route, you’ll have lunch, and the vessel will stop in Sung Sot Grotto, also called ‘Surprise Cave’, the largest and most striking limestone cave in the bay. Weather permitting, you’ll visit beautiful Ti Top Island, hugged by a white sandy beach and encompassing a tree-laden hilltop. Here, you can choose to take a dip in the surrounding emerald waters, go on a gentle hike or see the pearl farm. Back on board and later in the day, you’ll partake in a Vietnamese cooking class and demonstration, where you’ll learn how to make some local delicacies. A buffet dinner will then be served, and if possible, you can try your hand at squid fishing under the stars.
- Fly to Saigon - Wake up in paradise and join the fellow early risers to catch the sunrise while tucking into coffee, tea and biscuits. If you wish, you can also enjoy a tai chi class on the sundeck before brunch. * You’ll then pack your bags, disembark and return to Hanoi airport for a short flight south to Saigon. When you’ve arrived, a transfer will take you to your hotel. The rest of the day will be free for you to settle in and explore the area, perhaps enjoying a drink at the hotel’s rooftop bar, which looks out over the city. *Itinerary is subject to change or cancellations due to weather conditions.
- Included Ho Chi Minh tour - Once you’ve had breakfast, you’ll join your tour manager for a memorable journey through Ho Chi Minh’s highlights. First on the itinerary is a visit to the renowned Vinh Nghiem Pagoda, an expectational structure showcasing traditional Vietnamese architectural style. Inside the main hall, a towering Buddha statue takes centre stage, while the back hall is dedicated to honouring Mother Goddesses, venerable monks, and spirits. Another insightful stop is at the War Remnants Museum, a poignant venue where Vietnam's government has thoughtfully curated presentations, revealing the hardships and atrocities experienced during wartime. Continuing your exploration, the tour proceeds to the iconic Reunification Palace. This historic site holds significance as the place was where, in 1975, a North Vietnamese tank breached the gates, symbolising the conclusion of a war that deeply affected the lives of an estimated 58,000 Americans and three million Vietnamese. You’ll then discover the elegance of the city's Central Post Office, an architectural marvel designed by the esteemed French architect, Alfred Foulhoux. Lastly, you’ll amble along Dong Khoi Street, which featured in Graham Greene's renowned Vietnam novel, The Quiet American. As you walk, you’ll pass the impressive Saigon Opera House that was built in 1901 and served as a shelter for French citizens seeking refuge from North Vietnam in 1954 – the year Vietnam achieved its independence from France.
- Included Củ Chi tunnel complex tour, lunch, meeting with a local resident and optional Saigon River and dinner cruise - Have breakfast and board the coach for a drive through the countryside, which was once a stronghold of the Viet Cong. It’s here that the Củ Chi tunnel complex is located, a well-known historical vestige of the Vietnamese revolution. Upon arrival, you’ll watch a short video, providing a glimpse into the lives of soldiers who inhabited these tunnels during the war. This underground labyrinth played a pivotal role in strategic operations, including the renowned 1968 Tet Offensive. Today, they now serve as a permanent memorial of the conflict and are made up of a network of dug outs featuring meeting, living and fighting quarters. You’ll learn first-hand about how the Viet Cong survived the Vietnam War using this complex, and how the tunnels were also used as supply routes and makeshift hospitals for guerrilla fighters. You’ll then return for lunch in Ho Chi Minh before experiencing a unique opportunity of meeting with a resident of the city to gain insight into their lives and go beyond the guidebooks. The group will travel to the home of the chosen resident, Mr Dau, which is crafted from recycled wood and houses a collection of musical instruments that span Vietnam's history. This assortment represents all 54 Vietnamese ethnic groups, a reflection of Mr Dau's genuine passion for music. Hailing from Hanoi, his fascination with music began in his early years, growing up next to a theatre. Defying his parents' aspirations for a career in law or medicine, Mr Dau's story unfolds as he and his family treat you to a personal musical performance within their home. You can choose to spend the evening exploring or join an optional two-hour dinner cruise along the Saigon River to view the city from a different angle. The group will first be driven to Saigon port, where you’ll board the vessel and glide along the illuminated waterway, passing the landmarks, verdant parks and glittering skyscrapers that grace the skyline. A three-course dinner will then be served, promising a blend of Vietnamese flavours. As you tuck into your meal, the ship will cruise along the banks of the river to Saigon Bridge before manoeuvring to ensure you enjoy panoramic views of the breath-taking local area. At the end of your cruise, you'll return to the port and will then be dropped back to the hotel.
- Included transfer to Phnom Penh and dinner - Following breakfast, you’ll check out of your hotel and be driven to Tay Ninh, a captivating destination that paves the way to the Cambodian border and is home to the extraordinarily ornate Great Temple. Once border formalities have been completed, you’ll continue on to the Cambodian capital, Phnom Penh, an enchanting fusion of history and culture within the embrace of French colonial architecture. When you’ve arrived, you can check into the hotel, freshen up and join your fellow travellers for a special included dinner at the rooftop restaurant, with the Mekong River as your backdrop. Please note: It takes five to six hours to drive to the hotel in Phnom Penh offering you ample time to immerse yourself in the changing landscapes between Vietnam and Cambodia.
- Included tour of Phnom Penh, lunch and optional cyclo (three-wheel bicycle taxi) sunset river cruise - Kick-start the day with breakfast then embark on a city tour, commencing with a visit to the private quarters of the Royal Palace, the majestic residence of the King of Cambodia. Here’ll you wander through the palace’s northern precincts, discovering the revered Silver Pagoda. This sacred temple is of immense significance to the nation and houses several priceless artefacts. A local Khmer lunch will be enjoyed at a local restaurant. A short walk away lies the National Museum, a masterpiece of sandstone architecture that elegantly houses the world's most extensive collection of Khmer art. Within these walls, centuries of history and artistic expression come to life, providing a window into Cambodia's rich heritage. Later in the afternoon, you’ll visit the moving Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum. Once a high school, the site was transformed into Security Prison 21 (S-21), a symbol of the brutality that marked the Khmer Rouge era. For those seeking to extend the day, an optional evening cruising adventure awaits. As the afternoon breeze offers respite from the heat, you can enjoy a leisurely cyclo ride in a three-wheel bicycle taxi along the river’s edge. You’ll then board a riverboat to watch the sun set across the calm waters and the city. On board, you can purchase drinks and snacks while marvelling at sights like the grandeur of the Royal Palace, the ethereal Silver Pagoda, and the serene Wat Ounalom.
- Included scenic journey to Siem Reap and optional Apsara dance show and dinner - After breakfast, you’ll check out of the hotel and be transferred through the Cambodian countryside to Siem Riep (a seven to eight-hour journey). On the way, you’ll stop for a traditional lunch at a restaurant in Kampong Thom, as well as a few ancient villages. By evening, you’ll have arrived in the colourful market town of Siem Reap, not far from the incredible complex at Angkor Thom. After checking into your hotel, you have another evening at your leisure, or you can watch an optional Apsara dance show. This style of classical dance, which dates back to the 7th century, was originally reserved for royalty, and only preformed during special ceremonies and festivals. You’ll learn how this traditional entertainment is a vital part of Khmer culture while feasting on traditional Cambodian cuisine.
- Included visit to Angkor Wat and excursion to Angkor Thom, lunch and optional Cambodian circus evening - Once you’ve had breakfast, you’ll travel to Angkor Wat, the world’s largest religious structure and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You’ll have a chance to walk around, observing the intricately carved sandstone walls, surrounding moat, and five towers. Your first stop today will be the ‘lost city’ of Angkor Thom, the great citadel of the Khmer Empire, which ruled up to half of Southeast Asia for nearly six centuries. Here, amid the verdant jungle, great ruins litter a vast area. Among the most astounding are the Bayon Temple, with its four giant heads and countless other faces carved into the rock, and the Indiana Jones-like, half-hidden Ta Prohm Temple. Continuing west, you'll then come upon the day's undeniable highlight, the iconic Angkor Wat, where you'll be free to take in its five great towers and 1000-metre long carved bas relief. After a busy morning's exploration, an authentic Khmer lunch will be enjoyed at nearby restaurant. Later in the day, the group will return to the hotel, and you can opt to partake in an optional Cambodian circus evening. This excursion will involve going to downtown Siem Reap and watching a show performed by the Phare Cambodian Circus, an NGO that supports disadvantaged Khmer youth with art and performance training. No animals are featured during the event, and instead locals showcase their talents with acrobatics, contortion, aerial ballet, tightrope walking, juggling, mime, drama, and comedy. Although the show is modern in style, it draws on its long history of circus traditions dating back to the 6th century and features nods to folk stories and music.
- Visit to the Kok Sangke community, traditional lunch, visit to Wat Luang Proleung and Kampong Khleang, and farewell dinner - Following breakfast, you and your fellow travellers will have the chance to immerse yourselves in traditional Cambodian culture by travelling to the Kok Sangke community. This excursion will start with a visit to the home of a local family who’ll make you bamboo sticky rice and several other traditional Khmer desserts. Next, you’ll watch a blacksmith family demonstrating their traditional skills and techniques, which have been passed down through three generations. You’ll observe them crafting iron into farming materials, like knives, hoes and axes. From here, the tour will walk through the village, and you can interact with the local people, observing their farming activities and crafts. A delicious Khmer lunch cooked by the local community will be served in the afternoon, and you’ll then continue to Wat Luang Proleung, an ancient pagoda, to see locals perform a traditional dance called Chhayam. There’ll be time to wander around the pagoda and receive a blessing from a monk, which is said to bring you good luck. You’ll then head through the rural countryside scattered with picturesque villages to Kampong Khleang, a community built on high stilts across Tonle Sap Lake. Home to approximately 10,000 people, the residence of Kampong Khleang’s main income comes from fishing. Depending on the time and season you visit Kampong Khleang, the landscape will be different, as the lake is tidal. In the evening, you’ll return to the hotel before having a farewell dinner and cocktail at a local restaurant, allowing you to reminisce and share your highlights of the holiday with the other travellers.
- Morning at leisure, optional half-day walking tour of Siem Reap and flight back to the UK - It’s time for your last breakfast and morning in Siem Reap. Perhaps tick off some remaining sights on your wish-list or join an optional walking tour to learn more about the city with a guide. The Royal Residence is where you’ll begin, and you can view the pretty Royal Gardens and Royal Park. While you walk, keep an eye out for the thousands of bats that cling to the trees throughout the day – a striking spectacle and rare phenomenon. Next is Wat Preah Prom Rath, a colourful Buddhist temple ringed by pagodas, followed by Wat Damnak monastery, which encompasses the Centre for Khmer Studies and one of the largest public libraries in Cambodia. Following on from that, you’ll head to Psar Chas, which translates to ‘old market’ and is the main market in Siem Reap, popular for its food stalls selling Cambodian cuisine. Your guide will lead you through the maze of stalls, pointing out local delicacies and specialities like prahok (a fermented fish paste). To conclude the tour, you’ll visit the APOPO Visitor Centre, a non-profit organisation that trains the highly sensitive Gambian pouched rat to sniff out unexploded land mines. You’ll learn how, with the rat’s assistance, volunteers are able to detect mines throughout the country, and have helped to increase the safety of the residents. An area the size of a tennis court would take a human about four days to search, while the same area can be covered in 30 minutes by one rat. Later in the day, the group will be transferred back to the airport for their flight home.
- Land back in the UK - You’ll land back in the UK with a host of new like-minded friends and memories of a lifetime.
What's Included
Holiday Highlights
- Travel to the magnificent Angkor Wat, the world’s largest religious structure, and discover the ‘lost city’ of Angkor Thom
- Set sail on an overnight cruise around the spectacular Halong Bay, with a cooking class, squid fishing and morning tai chi
- See the Củ Chi tunnel complex while learning about the importance of this underground labyrinth
- Explore Ho Chi Minh with stops at the Vinh Nghiem Pagoda, War Remnants Museum, Reunification Palace and Dong Khoi Street
- Join fellow solo travellers for a welcome cocktail, dinner and cooking demonstration in Hanoi
- Sail along the Saigon River on an optional cruise with a three-course dinner included
- See the Củ Chi tunnel complex while learning about the importance of this underground labyrinth
- Observe the sights of Phnom Penh, like the Royal Palace, National Museum and Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum
- Discover the highlights of Hanoi, including Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, One Pillar Pagoda and the Temple of Literature.
- Spend a day in the Kok Sangke community, eating lunch with a local family and watching a traditional dance performance
Our Price Includes
- 11 nights’ accommodation in Hanoi (2 nights), aboard a Halong Bay paddle steamer (1), Ho Chi Minh (3), Phnom Penh (2), and Siem Reap (3) plus two nights on plane
- 11 breakfasts, seven lunches and four dinners
- Welcome drinks reception with a meal and a farewell dinner
- A tour of Hanoi
- A tour of Sung Sot Grotto or ‘Surprise Cave’, Ti Top Island in Halong Bay
- A cooking class in Halong Bay
- Tai chi on the sundeck in Halong Bay
- A tour of Ho Chi Minh
- A tour of Phnom Penh
- A Củ Chi tunnel complex tour and a visit to a local resident’s home with a musical performance
- Village visits along the way to Siem Reap
- A tour of Angkor Wat and an excursion to Angkor Thom
- A visit to the Kok Sangke community
- A visit to Wat Luang Proleung and Kampong Khleang
- Return flights to Hanoi and from Siem Reap
- Fully escorted by friendly, experienced tour managers
- Comfortable, air-conditioned coach travel throughout
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Other Information
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Visit www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice to find out the latest Foreign And Commonwealth Office travel advice for your holiday destination, as well as information about passports and visas.
Travel vaccinations
Requirements and advice can vary over time, and from person to person, so please contact your GP about eight weeks before your trip to check whether you need any vaccinations or any other preventive measures.
Passports and visas
British citizens require machine-readable passports when travelling overseas. Your passport must contain two blank pages and be valid for 180 days after your return date from India.
British CITIZENS and most other European nationals satisfying certain conditions may use the online e-Tourist Visa application process at a cost of $10 (US) per person for entry to India for arrivals in the months of April, May and June or $25 (US) per person for arrivals in other months. Fees are subject to change. Other passport holders must apply for a full visa.
Note that all travellers of Pakistani descent, regardless of citizenship, will generally be subject to more detailed processing by the Indian authorities, which can take up to four months from application.
Special requirements
If you have notified us of any special requirements, please check that they have been noted and acknowledged. This is especially important with any dietary needs you may have.
Disabled access
The majority of our tours involve a certain amount of walking, including a short walk from the coach stop to the town, attraction or venue you're visiting. If you are bringing a wheelchair, please let us know at the time of booking so that appropriate arrangements can be made. In many developing countries access is sometimes not as easy as at home. Should you have walking difficulties, getting around monuments and attractions may be harder and, in some cases, impossible. Should you have any concerns whatsoever please do contact us prior to travel.
Changes to your hotels
Should circumstances require, we reserve the right to accommodate you in alternative hotels, of a similar standard, nearby. Full details of your hotels will be sent with your Final Travel Documents.
Road conditions
In developing countries road networks are continually being improved and expanded, which can mean that, from time to time, roadworks and rough road surfaces can extend journey times. Some journeys are made on winding mountain roads and passes, which may also make for slow travelling - although the scenery is usually worth it! Many roads do not have separate pavements or safety barriers, and great care should be taken when crossing or walking alongside roads.
Itinerary changes
Occasionally, for operational reasons, we may have to change the order of the excursions on your holiday. The final day-by-day itinerary will be confirmed on your Final Travel Documents, which you will receive approximately three weeks prior to your departure.
Terms and conditions
Terms and conditions: 10% maximum discount applies to short and long haul tours in 2025 and 2026. All other holidays and tours will have up to 10% discount applied. This May campaign applies to new bookings only made between 1 and 30 May 2025, and cannot be applied retrospectively to bookings already confirmed. This offer does not apply to holidays with late availability pricing and excludes Tour & Cruise, Festive, Ocean Cruise, River Cruise, Lapland, Andre Rieu events, Wimbledon and the Edinburgh Tattoo. This offer cannot be combined or used in conjunction with any other promotion, concession or discount. When booking a holiday as described above, prices shown will automatically have the discount applied. The discount applies to the original tour price (excluding any discounts already applied, holiday insurance and any extras) at the time of booking. This offer is subject to availability and may be withdrawn. Holidays booked with Newmarket Holidays are financially protected in accordance with ABTA, ATOL & ABTOT regulations. Newmarket Holidays Limited is a company registered in England & Wales. Registered number: 02238316.
Holiday code
N2537Holiday provided by Newmarket Holidays
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