Activities
Solera will be hosting several activities for you to experience and see the sites in both Ho Chi Minh City and Siem Reap. We’ll do a group tour in Ho Chi Minh City and your guests will have an optional activity while you are in business sessions on April 30th.
In Siem Reap, we’ll do group Temple Tours on May 1st. On May 2nd you’ll be able to experience intimate optional activities. All options are listed below, and you’ll have a chance to indicate your selections on the event registration form.​​
April 29th Vietnam Group Activity
Vespa Tour Around Saigon
We’ll start our journey to visit Hoi Quan Quang Trieu Temple. With the large spiral incense coiling down from the roof and smoke slithering skyward this temple evokes a sense of serenity. The roar of the traffic from the busy street fades into the background as you step through the gates into the small courtyard. Looking up at the walls, you’ll see surprisingly well-preserved tableaus along the top of the perimeter walls and above the facade of the pagoda. The figures are amazingly detailed and are in surprisingly good condition.
We'll continue to drive across Tao Dan Park, which is located behind the Independence Palace and is one of largest parks in the city. Tao Dan Park is a friendly and warm exercising atmosphere for locals. Locals will come here every morning for jogging, yoga, tai chi; to sports such as badminton, running and meditating. The Park is the perfect place to start the day. Continue to drive through different streets to see local life in different districts of the city.
Vespa drive through the back streets takes us nearby to Tan Dinh Market. Built in 1926, Tan Dinh was originally known locally as the “rich market” because of its high-quality products and fresh foods matched with higher prices. Its original French built façade remains to this day and together with the brightly painted Tan Dinh Church opposite, it is a reminder of the architectural value the French brought to this city.
Next we visit a small but fascinating pagoda (Ngoc Hoang pagoda) known for its wonderful friezes and artwork and the smell of large burning incense coils. Watch locals enter and prayer for good fortune and health. Your senses will be put on full alert here.
We’ll finish the tour with a lunch stop for some traditional Vietnamese fare.
April 30th Vietnam Guest Only Activities
Your guests will enjoy a short morning activity while you are in business sessions. We’ll all meet up for lunch together after, and then head out to our chartered flight to Siem Reap.
Five Senses Tai Chi
Join us for a rejuvenating Tai Chi session in the serene Tao Dan Park. Improve your balance, flexibility, and overall well-being while connecting your mind and body through gentle, controlled movements. Reduce stress, improve posture, and experience the benefits of this ancient practice with us. Elevate your health and embrace Vietnamese culture in this picturesque setting.
Coffee Tour
Calling all coffee enthusiasts! Join us on a captivating coffee tour and dive into the country's rich coffee heritage. Immerse yourself in the sights, smells, and tastes of Vietnamese coffee culture, and discover the essence of Vietnam's second-largest coffee producer while sampling a variety of unique coffee drinks like egg coffee, coconut coffee, and weasel coffee. Also called "Cà phê Chồn", weasel coffee is one of the most sought-after coffees globally, with distinct flavors of earthy and chocolatey notes created by its unique production process. Enjoy a break from your everyday routine and brew up some unforgettable memories!
Museum Tour
Discover the rich history and culture of Ho Chi Minh City with a guided museum tour! Visits will include several key historic sites including the Independence Palace, the War Remnants Museum and then brave the Cu Chi Tunnels for a unique underground adventure. You’ll have the chance to learn about Vietnam's tumultuous past through an educational and memorable experience in Vietnam's bustling capital.
Spa
Experience pure bliss at Park Hyatt Saigon’s Xuan Spa, where centuries-old healing practices meet modern luxury. Their luxurious spa is designed to inspire the senses and renew your spirit with brand-new high-class equipment. All treatments are infused with the essence of nine dragons from the Cuu Long, ensuring a truly unique experience. Rejuvenate your body with their signature blends of rice water essence and natural plant extracts. Treat yourself to relaxation and pampering, and embrace the essence of the Mekong Delta.
May 1st Siem Reap Group Activity
Temples D'Angkor
A stunning introduction to the Temples of Angkor, we visit Angkor Wat itself first. Continue to Ta Prohm, the ‘Jungle Temple’ that has been left largely in its natural state since its ‘re-discovery’ by French explorers. Surrounded by jungle, its labyrinth of stone hallways is overgrown with the roots and limbs of massive banyan trees, which envelop the stone like tentacles. It is one of the largest temples at Angkor, dedicated in 1186 of this site. We will tour through the Bayon, a 12th century masterpiece which lies at the very centre of Angkor Thom and which is an archaeological wonder of symmetry and grandeur.
May 2nd Siem Reap Small Group Activities
Kulen Elephant Sanctuary
In the foothills of Kulen Mountain lies a protected forest where 14 elephants of Angkor roam free after years of giving rides to visitors. Now, these elephants have the opportunity to rediscover their natural habitat, relationships, and enjoy the best care. Visitors can witness these majestic creatures living freely and thriving in their environment, a living testimony of a changing world. The Sanctuary offers a unique experience for visitors to observe and learn about elephant conservation in Cambodia. Residents are provided with a happy and comfortable retirement while guests have the opportunity to walk with the elephants into the forest and witness their natural behaviors.
Please note: Elephant riding is neither offered nor allowed, ensuring a respectful and educational approach to interacting with these majestic creatures, and contributing to the preservation of Cambodia's remaining elephants.
Mahob Organic Farm Cooking Class
At Mahob Organic Farm near Siem Reap, guests will enjoy a cooking class featuring fresh seasonal fruits and vegetables grown without the use of hormones or pesticides. Local chefs guide participants in creating traditional Cambodian dishes in the picturesque countryside setting. The class offers a unique opportunity to learn about Cambodian cuisine and taste some lesser-known dishes. Perfect for food enthusiasts looking to explore authentic flavors in a sustainable farm-to-table environment.
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Note: Dietary restrictions can or cannot be accommodated.
Jeep Safari to Preah Dak Village
Departing the hotel after breakfast, we drive by Authentic A2 American Army Jeeps. We avoid the main temples today and drive through the thriving countryside, past rice paddy fields and local villages for around 45 mins, to a local villager’s house in Preah Dak. Here we enjoy a demonstration of traditional Khmer noodle making which we are then also invited to taste. We then continue in our Jeeps for another 10 mins to another local family that specialises in Palm Sugar making. Here we enjoy another demonstration of the harvesting (tree climbing), production, and tasting. We then return back to Preah Dak village and here we have the option of a short Ox Cart Ride, a short cycle, or simply continue by Jeep to the next stop, another local house with gardens offering delightful views of the rice paddies.
Here refreshments await us as we rest and enjoy a fresh coconut to the sound of live traditional music. We then enjoy a demonstration of Krolan making (sticky rice cooked by the traditional method in bamboo), and then also a Smok demonstration (Palm leaf weaving) - that we are also invited to participate in if we wish. Our local guide then takes for a short walk of around 15 minutes into the rice paddies and explains the various stages of rice farming, before we return to the house to enjoy a delicious organic lunch. After lunch, return back to the hotel.
Angkor Grand Circuit by Vespa
A more in-depth exploration than the previous day, you will embark on an exhilarating Vespa ride through Angkor on the Grand Circuit tour. Beginning at Angkor Thom, marvel at the Bayon in the morning light as you pass through to Preah Khan Temple. Preah Khan is one of the most significant buildings erected during the ancient Khmer Empire. Dedicated by the great king JayavarmanVII to his father in 1191, Preah Khan serves today as an outstanding example of a large linear temple complex in a dense jungle setting. With both Hindu and Buddhist characteristics, we’ll explore this magnificent temple and browse some unusual carvings. We’ll have the opportunity to engage in restoration work with the World Monuments Fund (WMF). Upon request, a behind-the-scenes visit can be organized with the local WMF Archaeological expert, Ginevra Boatto. ​​​
This exclusive experience allows guests to gain insight into the preservation efforts at the site. After our Preah Khan experience, we’ll return to the Grand Circuit road and continue to Neak Pean. Built by Jayavarman VII before the end of the 12th century, this monument – Neak Pean, or the entwined naga – is an artificial island, measuring 350 meters on each side, built in the middle of a man-made reservoir. Following Neak Pean, guests will board their vespas and continue on an exhilarating ride around the rest of the Grand Circuit road to Sra Srang, making a short stop before heading to lunch and finally returning to the hotel.
A Sensory Experience:
Local Market and Bodia Spa Treatment
Begin your sensory experience with the vibrant sights and sounds of Psar Cha, Siem Reap's local market offering hand-woven silks, silver, wooden carvings, and jewelry. You’ll get a glimpse into the daily life of Cambodians as you stroll through the food section filled with a diverse variety of fresh fruits or vegetables.
After your market adventure, unwind at Bodia Spa, a serene oasis dedicated to pampering your body and soul while using only natural, Cambodian-made products. Choose from traditional massages like foot reflexology, head, back & shoulder massage, Bodia Tonic, or an Aromatherapy Massage for the ultimate relaxation experience.