8 Days Downstream Siem Reap Saigon on Toum Tiou Cruise: Meeting at FCC hotel in Siem Reap. Transferring by local tour agent for Phnom Krom boat-pier. Transferring from the pier to the Toum Tiou by local boat. Not to be forgotten are the locally abundant Thnot tree’s (sugar palm, a true national emblem) goods, including palm wine and mellow-tasting, caramel-colored sugar that is served in huge cakes.
Table of Contents
Day 1: Siem Reap – Chnok Tru
Activities: Transfering to the pier, and enjoying welcome dinner onboard.
Low Waters
13:30 Meeting in front of FCC hotel in Siem Reap. Transfering to Phnom Krom pier. Crossing the Tonlé Sap Lake for meeting the Toum Tiou anchored near Chnok Tru.
17:00 Visiting Chnok Tru floating village.
18:30 Welcome on board the Toum Tiou. Security briefing.
19:00 Welcome drink and info meeting about cruise, crew introduction.
Welcome dinner. Overnight onboard.
High Waters
15:00: Meeting at FCC hotel in Siem Reap. Transferring by local tour agent for Phnom Krom boat-pier. Transferring from the pier to the Toum Tiou by local boat .
16:00: Checking in at the boat docked near Phnom Krom, Siem Reap. Security briefing.
17:30: Dropping Anchor near the forest on the lake.
19:00: Welcoming with drink and informing about the cruise, crew introduction.
Having dinner. Overnight on Toum Tiou Cruise
Day 2: Chnok Tru – Kampong Chhnang
Activities: Visiting Kampong Chhnang and Chnok Tru
Low Waters
07:00 Having breakfast.
09:00 Arriving at Kampong Chnang.
About 56 kilometers separate from Kampong Chnang from Phnom Penh. On the Tonlé Sap, it is one of the biggest fishing ports. Additionally, there is a lot of fish farming going on there. The region is renowned for its pottery, which has remained essentially constant in style for generations and is manufactured in enough quantity to serve the entire nation. Not to be forgotten are the locally abundant Thnot tree’s (sugar palm, a true national emblem) goods, including palm wine and mellow-tasting, caramel-colored sugar that is served in huge cakes.
12:00 Passengers re-embark. Lunch on the ship during navigation
18:00 The Toum Tiou drops anchor a few miles away.
19:00 Dinner and overnight onboard.
High Waters
Departuring from the Toum Tiou early in the morning. Sailing to Chnok Tru, breakfast during navigation.
11:00 Arriving at Chnok Tru. Local boats are coming along the Toum Tiou and picking up passengers for the visit.
Because of its isolation and challenging access, the village is almost entirely unnoticed by tourists. However, it is entirely self-sufficient. Everything is on the water, including churches, pagodas, gas stations, pigsties, shops, a floating school, ice-making facilities for fish preservation, boat or television repair services, video clubs, karaoke bars, and police stations. Everyone, from young children to grandparents, travels by boat across the town’s network of canals, and all trades are represented.
12:30 Passengers re-embarking the Toum Tiou. Having lunch on board on the way to Kampong Chnang.
16:00 Arriving at Kampong Chnang.
About 56 miles from Phnom Penh is where the settlement of Kampong Chnang, one of the main fishing ports on the Tonlé Sap, is located. There is also a significant amount of fish farming there. The area is well known for its pottery, which has practically not changed in design for generations and is produced in sufficient quantities to supply the entire country. Not to be overlooked are the products made from the locally prevalent thot not tree (sugar palm tree, a true national icon), including palm wine and mellow-tasting, caramel-colored sugar offered in enormous cakes.
18:00 Passengers re-embarking. The Toum Tiou will drop anchor a few miles away.
19:00 Having Dinner and resting overnight onboard.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight: Toum Tiou Cruise Ship
Day 3: Kampong Chhnang – Kampong Tralach – Phnom Penh
Activities: Sailing to Kampong Tralach to see its magnificent Vihara, stopping by a community of craftspeople, traveling to Phnom Penh, and going on an excursion are all things to do.
Morning
07:45 early morning departure from the Toum Tiou. During the cruise to Kampong Tralach, breakfast is served.
08:00 When we get there, we’ll tour the magnificent vihara that is a part of the Wat Kampong Tralach Leu Temple. Once we leave the river behind, we will travel via some stunning stretches of the emerald paddy field as we cross Kampong Tralach Krom village along a little road parallel to the river.
The Vihara was built towards the beginning of the 20th century. The presence of latérite foundations suggests that it might have been constructed on an earlier location. It also houses some remarkable mural paintings. However, these are beginning to deteriorate due to weathering. They continue to be one of the few survivors of the ongoing cultural degradation brought on by public indifference.
It is a small pagoda that stands alone in the middle of rice fields and gets very few visitors. Like Wat Tani Pagoda in the province of Kampot last May, its solitude might prove to be its downfall.
10:30 The Toum Tiou will receive passengers once more. On the trip to Koh Chen, lunch will be provided on board.
Afternoon
13:00 Arriving in Koh Chen. Visiting a village of handicraftsmen that specialize in silvers.
15:00 Returning to the boat. Navigating to Phnom Penh.
17:00 Arriving in Phnom Penh.
19:00 Local group will perform on board the traditional “APSARA” show for 45 minutes.
19:45 Having dinner at the restaurant and overnight on board.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight: Toum Tiou Cruise Ship
Day 4: Phnom Penh
Activities: Visiting Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda, and Russian Marke and Toul Sleng Museum
08:00 Eating breakfast.
Visiting Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda, and Russian Market.
12.00 Returning to the boat, lunch onboard.
15:00 Balance of the day free exploration on own. (Suggestions can be made up on the interest of passengers. Toul Sleng old center of detention, of torture, and execution between 1975 and 1979. The visit to this place is essential to understand what could be the fatal madness perpetrated by the Khmer Rouges.)
19:00 Returning to the boat. Toum Tiou departs Phnom Penh.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight: Toum Tiou Cruise Ship
Day 5: Phnom Penh – Chau Doc
14:00 Chau Doc spans both banks of the Mekong, which here fans out to the size of a river mouth, and is situated to the north at the start of the famed Mekong delta. All over the place, floating fish farms have appeared.
At a height of one meter above the water, bamboo fish drying racks are erected. A few beautifully rustic colonial buildings can be found in the developing downtown area, crammed in by the market, the energetic, colorful center of the city. These busy areas of the city continue to provide fantastic photo opportunities despite their occasionally overpowering scents. a quick tour of the city from above. The time is right to learn about the effervescence of the neighborhood market.
Day 6: Chau Doc – Sa Dec
Activities: Discovering South Vietnam with Chau Doc, Sa Dec, and Vinh Long
Morning
06:00 Departing from Chau Doc for Sa Dec. Breakfast during navigation.
10:00 Toum Tiou will leave Chau Doc for Sa Dec. Lunch during navigation.
Afternoon
14:00 Arriving at Sa Dec – Short panoramic tour of Sa Dec and transfering by bus to Trung Vuong primary school.
We will continue to Kien An Cung Pagoda. Stroll around Sa Dec Market along Sa Dec River bank. This small city of 30,000 inhabitants is fascinating in its unspoiled authenticity and is undisturbed by tourists. It provides a glimpse of the delta where a few colonial houses still remain, including the “Chinaman’s house” (from Duras’ novel “The Lover”, also made into a movie).
17:00 Returning to the boat, departure for Vinh Long. Dinner during navigation.
Toum Tiou drops anchor a few miles before Vinh Long.
19:30 Having dinner on the ship.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight: Toum Tiou Cruise Ship
Day 7: Vinh Long – Cai Be – My Tho
Activities: Exploring the beauty of the delta, visiting a brick and pottery factory, and discovering local people’s daily life,…
07:30 Having breakfast.
08:30 Arriving at Vinh Long, local boats will pick up passengers for a visit to a brick and pottery workshop, the Binh Hoa Phuoc Islet Nursery of Fruit Trees
Vinh Long, which translates to “Majestic Dragon,” is situated directly in the heat of the Mekong Delta, between two of its arms. Vinh Long’s soil is enhanced by deposits of silt, making it the perfect place to grow mandarins and other citrus fruits. The water serves as the center of life. Hundreds of small crafts crisscross in all directions, along with stilted homes and boat-based vendors. It is the quintessential tourist attraction, thanks to the friendliness of the residents.
Starting for Cai Be Floating Market – going across the Mekong River en route.
11:30 Re-embarking at Cai Be, Toum Tiou will leave Cai Be for My Tho, lunch during navigation.
15:30 Arriving at My Tho – Toum Tiou will drop anchor on the river in the proximity of Thoi Son Island
Local boats will come alongside Toum Tiou to pick up passengers and transfer them to the mainland.
Starting for a short panoramic tour of My Tho town.
On the banks of the northern arm of the Mekong, My Tho, which is translated as “fragrant herb”, is where travelers come to discover the beauty of the delta. It’s a peaceful, prosperous city of about 100,000 inhabitants, famous for its many orchards, gardens, and huge rice paddies that surround it. The climate is warm and pleasant year-round. The surrounding countryside is home to one of the most luxuriant gardens in Vietnam, with its coconut trees, and banana trees, and mango trees.
Coming back to the pier – you will cruise on the river to Dragon Island by local boat visit the island.
16:30 Re-embarking the Toum Tiou that leaves My Tho for Saigon
Time to navigate the marvelous canal of Cho Gao.
19:00 Having a farewell cocktail (1 glass of local liquor or juice) with the master of the ship & cruise manager
Having Captain’s farewell dinner (Enriched menu + 1 glass of wine). Toum Tiou will drop anchor on the river en route.
Resting overnight on board.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight: Toum Tiou Cruise Ship
Day 8: My Tho – Saigon
Activities: Departuring
07:00 Departuring for Saigon, having breakfast and leisure on board.
11:00 Toum Tiouwill arrive at Saigon port – customs formalities clearance
Meals: Breakfast
Overnight:
INCLUSIONS
Full board accommodation, including meals mentioned in the program, coffee, tea & drinking water
French or English-speaking guide
Visits mentioned in the program
Entrance fees
Transportation from departure port to arrival port
Port fees
EXCLUSIONS
Personal Travel Insurance
Visas if needed
Tours & meals other than those mentioned in the program
Transfers from/to airport and hotels
Personal expenses
Gratuities for the crew/guides
