Venture VietnamNOVEMBER 10-26, 2017

The Solo Traveller Club invites you to venture off the beaten path and experience all that Vietnam’s sights and sounds have to offer, as well as the colour and chaos of its mythic neighbor Cambodia. Hosted by Tina Richardson, Solo Traveller Guru, our exclusive private Solo Traveller Club tour will explore the natural beauty and traditions of both countries. From the cultural and historical hubs of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, to the secluded beaches and awe-inspiring temples of Cambodia, the tour will explore the highlights of each country peppered with unique experiences tailor-made for Solo Travellers.

While Vietnam’s food and history keep even the most seasoned traveller coming back for more, the sensational ruins of Angkor Wat are every bit as beguiling. Both Vietnam and Cambodia’s charming villages and magical markets deserve much attention, too – their genuine locals will steal your heart as they enrich your spirit.

TOUR PRICE PER PERSON IN A SINGLE ROOM $4999.00 CAD

Tour Highlights:• 15 nights’ accommodation in single occupancy

• Breakfast daily

• Six lunches and 11 dinners

• Overnight boat cruise on Halong Bay

• Perfume river cruise in Hue

• Bicycle tour and cooking class in Hoi An

• Tonle Sap Lake boat trip

• Angkor Wat guided tour and 3 Day Angkor Pass

• Cambodia countryside cookout

• Arrival and departure transfers

• Entrance/admissions fees (as indicated and where applicable)

• English speaking tour escort throughout

16 Days Vietnam

and

Cambodia

NOVEMBER 10-26 | 2017

NOVEMBER 10 – Departure from Canada on overnight flight.

NOVEMBER 11 – Arrival in Vietnam. Xin chao! Your adventure in Vietnam begins with your arrival at the Hanoi airport. You will be greeted by your escort and transferred to your hotel for dinner together. D

NOVEMBER 12 – Halong Bay. Board a private boat and cruise the beautiful bay, exploring island caves and swimming in the South China Sea. Spend a night aboard the boat beneath the starry night sky. B, L, D

NOVEMBER 13 – Hanoi. Return by bus to the city and spend some free time shopping, or exploring the sights. Enjoy an evening tour of local foods on a Street Food By Night tour. B, D

NOVEMBER 14 – Hue. It’s a short flight from to Hue. Free time to explore its magnificent architecture of its palaces, royal tombs, and pagodas, as well as visit the Imperial Citadel. B, D

NOVEMBER 15 – Hue. Today tour the city by motorbike as well as explore the ruins of the Forbidden Purple City, enjoy a Perfume river cruise and visit an active Buddhist monastery. B, L, D

NOVEMBER 16 – Hue/Hoi An. Travel by bus through the spectacular Hai Van Pass to get to Hoi An, an ancient town that you will have the privilege to explore on an orientation walk. B, D

NOVEMBER 17 – Hoi An. Bicycle tour of the herb gardens of Tra Que Village and cooking class. B, D

NOVEMBER 18 – Ho Chi Minh City. After landing in the big city, Vietnam’s capital of commerce and culture, take a sightseeing bus tour before stopping in at the War Remnants Museum. B, D

NOVEMBER 19 – Mekong Delta/Ho Chi Minh City. Explore the Mekong Delta with a visit to the Coconut Candy Factory and a “tuk-tuk” tour through a rural village before dining at KOTO Restaurant. B, L, D

NOVEMBER 20 – Ho Chi Minh City. An experience like no other – The Cu Chi Tunnels. End your day with free time for shopping and dinner at leisure. B

NOVEMBER 21 – Phnom Penh. Travel by bus through rural Vietnam and Cambodia to reach the city once known as the “Pearl of Asia.” Dine together at Romdeng, a charity restaurant. B, D

NOVEMBER 22 – Phnom Penh. Learn about the country’s recent past at the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, before visiting the city’s Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda. B

NOVEMBER 23 – Siem Reap. A visit to the Santuk Silk Farm, a fair-trade organization that provides employment to the rural community. B, L

NOVEMBER 24 – Siem Reap/Angkor Wat. Temple-hop with your local guide and make the most of your visit to the world-famous Angkor complex before enjoying a countryside cookout in the evening. B, L, D

NOVEMBER 25 – Siem Reap/Angkor Wat. Continue your explorations of the Angkor Wat complex. Taking in sunset or sunrise is a must. Farewell dinner tonight with local flair. B, D

NOVEMBER 26 – Siem Reap. After breakfast, you are free at leisure until your airport transfer. B

Meal Legend:

B – Full BreakfastL – LunchD – Dinner

Limited space. Don’t wait. This is a private, hosted tour with only 15 spots.PLEASE NOTE, that due to weather restrictions, some activities within the tour may be substituted or cancelled without notice.

Tour does not include:• Meals, transportation, other services where not specified

• Gratuities, or items of a personal nature

To reserve your spot, email solo@caaneo.on.ca, call 1.800.267.8713, or visit your CAA Store today.

Day by Day in More Detail:

DAY 1: Arrival in Vietnam. Xin chao! Welcome to Vietnam! You will be met on arrival at Hanoi airport and transferred to your hotel. The capital of Vietnam is a charming city with a population of over six million. Hanoi is famous for its beautiful lakes, shaded boulevards, verdant public parks and its thriving Old Quarter. This evening, meet your escort and celebrate with a welcome dinner at Madam Hien. In the heart of Hanoi, this restaurant is located in a French antique building designed by the chief architect of the renowned Hanoi Opera House.

DAY 2: Halong Bay. Travel by private minibus to the spectacular World Heritage site of Halong Bay in the Gulf of Tonkin. The bay is dotted with sandy coves, grottos and 1,600 limestone islands. Board a private boat and cruise the bay, exploring island caves and enjoying a swim in the South China Sea. Spend a peaceful night aboard the boat beneath the starry night sky.

DAY 3: Hanoi. This morning, travel back to Hanoi and enjoy free time in the afternoon to shop, explore the sights or just relax. In the evening, your expert local guide takes you on an insightful exploration of Vietnamese food culture with a Street Food by Night tour. Eat as you meander, sampling seasonal fruits and tasty French-inspired snacks from friendly roadside vendors.

DAY 4: Hue. A short flight to Hue, a thriving metropolis founded as a Royal City in 1687. As the gateway to the treasures of Vietnam’s royal past, Hue was once the imperial capital of Vietnam and still boasts magnificent architecture built under the Nguyen dynasty. Take some time in the morning to rest or explore. After lunch, reunite with the group to visit the ruins of the Hue Imperial Citadel complex.

DAY 5: Hue. See the sights of Hue by motorbike! Today we explore the ruins of the Forbidden Purple City, once reserved for the personal use of the Emperor and his concubines. Visit the 17th-century active Buddhist monastery of Thien Mu Pagoda. Enjoy a short boat cruise down the Perfume River before eating lunch inside a nunnery and visiting the lakeside royal tomb of Emperor Tu Duc.

DAY 6: Hoi An. Travel through coastal rice paddies and the spectacular Hai Van Pass to reach My Khe Beach (China Beach) before arriving in Hoi An. Recently declared a World Heritage site, Hoi An was a major international trading port during the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. Today, parts of the beautifully preserved town retain the feel of centuries past. It’s also a shopping mecca, famous for its plethora of tailors. Get acclimated with an orientation walk and enjoy a sightseeing pass that lets you check out the best the city has to offer.

DAY 7: Hoi An. Learn all about central Vietnamese cuisine and how to prepare it using its signature vegetables, herbs and spices. Start with a guided bicycle tour of the herb gardens of Tra Que Village. After purchasing some ingredients, head back to Hoi An for a hands-on lesson in some classic central Vietnamese dishes. Then it’s time to feast on your creations. The rest of the day is free.

DAY 8: Ho Chi Minh City. Formerly known as Saigon, Ho Chi Minh City has a fascinating history and is arguably Vietnam’s capital of commerce and culture. After landing, check in to your hotel and then take a sightseeing bus tour around the city. Pass the Reunification Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral and the Opera House, stopping in at the War Remnants Museum to discover some of the stories of the Vietnam War.

DAY 9: Mekong Delta/Ho Chi Minh City. Explore the Mekong Delta by boat today, sailing to Ben Tre to visit a coconut candy factory. Explore a remote Vietnamese village by tuk tuk and learn about what rural life is like. Afterwards, paddle in sampans (small rowing boats) past water coconut trees along the Mekong and then board a private boat to cruise the delta’s major waterways to My Tho. After the cruise, return to Ho Chi Minh City to enjoy a group dinner at KOTO restaurant (an organization dedicated to developing the hospitality careers of street kids).

DAY 10: Ho Chi Minh City. An up close and personal history lesson on guerilla warfare. Climb into the underground tunnel system that played a crucial part in the war and imagine what it would have been like to eat, sleep, work, cook, even go to school underground as a conflict raged above. End your day with free time for shopping and dinner at leisure.

DAY 11: Phnom Penh. Take a public bus through rural Vietnam and Cambodia to Phnom Penh (approx. six or seven hours). Cross the border of Vietnam at Moc Bai and enter Cambodia at Ba Vet. Enjoy a welcome dinner at Romdeng, a lovely charity restaurant where former street children are taught the principles of hospitality. The restaurant is located in a restored colonial building in the downtown area.

DAY 12: Phnom Penh. Confront Cambodia’s tragic past on a guided tour of the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum before visiting the Choeung Ek Memorial, which marks the country’s infamous Killing Fields. Learn about a brighter period of Cambodian history during an optional visit to the Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda. The National Museum is equally worth a visit with its excellent Khmer collection. Cycling tours around the city are a great alternative to walking and generally include a trip to the central market, US Embassy, Wat Phnom, Mekong riverfront, Independence Monument and Royal Palace.

DAY 13: Siem Reap. Travel by private bus to Siem Reap (approx. seven hours). Along the way, make several stops to see the real Cambodia: visit the cottage industry of Santuk Silk Farm (a fair-trade organization that provides a valuable source of employment in a poor rural community) as well as sample a local delicacy: deep-fried spider. Arrive in Siem Reap in the evening and relax as you prepare for tomorrow’s visit to Cambodia’s most famous historical attraction: Angkor Wat!

DAY 14: Siem Reap/Angkor Wat. Explore the archaeological sites of Angkor Wat, the Bayon and the jungle-covered Ta Prohm. Dating back as far as the 9th century, the temples of Angkor Wat present spectacular photo opportunities (especially at sunrise or sunset!) In the late afternoon, take a mini-tour through a local village before arriving for a cookout in the Cambodian countryside. You’ll learn how to prepare and enjoy some local fare.

DAY 15: Siem Reap/Angkor Wat. Continue exploring the marvels of the Angkor complex. Scattered over 160 square kilometres, a second day is needed to fully appreciate the beauty of the temple complex. Save the afternoon for an optional activity, such as a thrilling zip-line adventure on the “Flight of the Gibbon” attraction for a bird’s eye view of the rainforest.

DAY 16: Siem Reap. Today we say farewell to new friends as we prepare to head home. Enjoy free time until your transfer to the airport.

Limited space. Don’t wait. This is a private, hosted tour with only 15 spots.PLEASE NOTE, that due to weather restrictions, some activities within the tour may be substituted or cancelled without notice.

Tour does not include:• Meals, transportation, other services where not specified

• Gratuities, or items of a personal nature

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To reserve your spot, email solo@caaneo.on.ca, call 1.800.267.8713, or visit your CAA Store today.