~TOUM TIOU II~
Programs 2010 – 2011
Siem Reap – Saigon, 10 days / 9 nights
~ Low water program – from January to June ~
Day 1: Siem Reap – Chnok Tru
07:00 Meeting in front of FCC hotel in Siem Reap. Local travel agent transfers passengers for Phnom Krom pier.
Check-in at the daily speedboat.
07:00 Departure of the speedboat. Visit Chnok Tru floating village.
12:30 Welcome on board of the Toum Tiou. Security briefing. Lunch on board. Navigate towards Kampong Chnang.
19:00
Welcome drink and info meeting about cruise, crew introduction.
20:00 Welcome dinner, overnight on board.
At the end of the low water period, (around late March to June) the water level may not allow anymore speedboats to cross the lake. In this case, passengers will be transferred by our convenience from/to Siem Reap by land or river way. (~5-6 hour).
Day 2: Kampong Chnang – Kampong Tralach
07:00 Departure of the Toum Tiou early in the morning. Sail to Kampong Chnang. Breakfast during navigation.
09:00 Arrival to Kampong Chnang.
Located some 56 miles from Phnom Penh, the town of Kampong Chnang is one of the largest fishing ports
on the Tonlé Sap. Fish farming is also widely practiced in the area. The area is famous for its pottery ware,
unchanged in style for centuries, which is produced in sufficient quantities to supply the entire country. And
not to be overlooked are the products of the Thnot tree (sugar palm – a real national symbol) that abounds
in the area: a mellow tasting, caramel-colored sugar sold in large cakes and palm wine.
11:30 Passengers re-embark the Toum Tiou. Lunch on board on the way to Kampong Tralach
15:30 Arrival at Kampong Tralach to visit its wonderful Vihara belonging to Wat Kampong Tralach Leu pagoda. To
get to it, we cross Kampong Tralach Krom village along a small road perpendicular to the river, crossing
some gorgeous stretches of emerald rice paddy as we leave the river behind.
The Vihara dates back to early last century. It was probably built on an older site, as indicated by the
latérite foundations, and is home to some outstanding mural paintings. These, however, are starting to
suffer from weathering. They remain one of the last survivors of cultural destruction that continues
unabated due to widespread indifference.
Standing by itself in the middle of rice fields, it is a modest pagoda that receives very few visitors. Its
isolation may well be its undoing, as was the case last May for Wat Tani Pagoda in the province of Kampot.
17:30 Passengers re-embark. The Toum Tiou drops anchor few miles away.
19:00 Dinner and overnight onboard.
Day 3: Kôh Chen – Phnom Penh
07:00 Departure of the Toum Tiou early in the morning. Sail to Kôh Chen (Chinese Island)
08:30Arrival to Kôh Chen, small village of whose inhabitants specialize in silver and copper smiting. They make
ornamental items, including delicately engraved tropical fruits, used in traditional ceremonies at the pagoda
or for marriages.
The distant hills of Cambodia's old capital, Oudong, and its royal stupas can be seen a few kilometers away
from the ferry. At the top of the hill, the ruins of Anthareu temple.
11:30 Passengers re-embark the Toum Tiou. Lunch on board on the way to Phnom Penh.
13:00 Arrival in Phnom Penh.
14:30 Departure for T Sleng museum – return to the boat around 18:30.
19:00 Local group performs on board “APSARA” show.
Dinner at local restaurant. Overnight onboard.
Day 4:
Phnom Penh
07:00 Breakfast
08:30 Half day city sightseeing tour including the Royal Palace and the National Museum.
12:30 Return to the ship
13:00 Lunch on board
14:00 Balance of the day free exploration on own. Suggestions can be made up on the interest of passengers.
FCC, Russian market, other boutiques (antiques), etc.
19:30 Dinner and overnight on board.
Day 5:
Phnom Penh - Vinh Xuong (Vietnamese border)
08:00 Breakfast during navigation to Vinh Xuong.
08:30 Toum Tiou leaves border for Chau Doc.
15:00 Toum Tiou arrives at Immigration check point in Kaam Samnaar. Clearance of departure formalities.
17:30 The boat drops anchor for night on river near Chau Doc.
19:00 Dinner and overnight on board.
Day 6:
Vinh Xuong – Chau Doc
09.00 Departure for Chau Doc. Vietnamese Guide boards, introduces himself. Casual talk with him.
12:30 Lunch during navigation.
13:30 Arrival at Victoria Hotel Chau Doc jetty.
Located to the north at the beginning of Mekong's famous delta, Chau Doc straddles both banks of the
Mekong which fans out to the dimensions of a river mouth here. Floating fish farms have sprung up
everywhere. Bamboo fish drying racks are set up a meter above the water's surface. The bourgeoning
downtown area features some charmingly rustic colonial buildings, squeezed in by the marketplace -
the colorful, vibrant heart of the city. As always, these busy parts of town, despite their sometimes
strong odors, offer wonderful photo opportunities...
14:30 Departure for fish raising rafts and Cham minority village by local boat.
Return to the Victoria hotel for a walk to Chau Doc market. Visit of Sam Mountain which peaks at 237
meters. Its well-known Buddhist sanctuaries offer an unobstructed view over the mosaic of glistening
rice paddies below. To the left is Cambodia, and the flow of the Mekong on the horizon breaks into an
infinity of silver ribbons. Visit on the way of the Lady Chua Xu temple and Tay An Pagoda.
18:30 Return to the boat after sunset.
19:00 Dinner at the Victoria Hotel’s restaurant.
Overnight onboard at the jetty of the hotel; you are free to enjoy the hotel facilities (swimming pool,
billiards, bar, Internet) or stroll in Chau Doc.
Day 7: Chau Doc – Sa Dec
07:00 Early departure for Sa Dec, breakfast during the navigation
14:00 After lunch, arrival at Sa Dec – Short panoramic tour of Sa Dec and transfer by bus to Trung Vuong
primary school. Continuing 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 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).
16:00 Return to the boat with stopover at a nursery of flower and bonsai trees. Famous for its horticulture (it
has many varieties of fabulously exotic flowers) Sa Dec was known as the "Garden of Cochin Chine"
during colonial times.
17:15 Toum Tiou leaves Sa Dec for Vinh Long
18:00 Dropping anchor few miles away on the way to Vinh Long.
Dinner and overnight on board.
Day 8:
Sa Dec – Vinh Long
06:30 Toum Tiou continues for Vinh Long
07:00 Breakfast during navigation.
08:00 Arrival at Vinh Long, local boats pick up passengers for visiting a brick and pottery factory, the Binh Hoa
Phuoc Islet Nursery of Fruit Trees as well a typical house and a show room of traditional farming tools.
Vinh Long, which translates as "Majestic Dragon", is right in the middle of the delta, between two arms of
the Mekong. The soil of Vinh Long is enriched by silt deposits, making it ideal for growing mandarins and
other citrus fruits. Life is organized around the water. Houses on stilts, hawkers in boats, hundreds of
small craft crisscross in all directions. The hospitality of the locals makes it a tourist destination par
excellence.
10:50 Departure for Cai Be Floating Market – going across the Mekong River en route.
13:00 Toum Tiou leaves Cai Be for My Tho, lunch on board during navigation.
17:30 Arrival at My Tho – Toum Tiou drops anchor on river in the proximity of Thoi Son Island
19:30 Local musician band embark to play traditional music for 45 minutes
Dinner and overnight on board.
Day 9:
Cai Be - My Tho
07:00 Breakfast
08:00 Local boats come alongside Toum Tiou to pick up passengers and transfer to the mainland.
Departure for Vinh Trang Pagoda by car - Short panoramic tour of My Tho town on the way.
Continuing for Dong Tam Snake Farm and My Tho Market. On the banks of a northern arm of the Mekong,
My Tho, which translates as "fragrant herb", where tourists come to discover the beauty of the delta. It's
a quiet, prosperous city of about 100,000 inhabitants, famous for its many fruit orchards, gardens and
the huge rice fields that surround it. The climate is warm and pleasant year round. The surrounding
countryside is home to one of the most luxuriant gardens of Vietnam, with its coconut palms, banana and
mango trees.
10:45 Return at the pier - you will cruise on the river to Thoi Son Island by local boat to visit the island, explore
local people’s daily life and enjoy locally seasonal fruits
13:00 Re-embarking the Toum Tiou that leaves My Tho for Saigon
Lunch and leisure on board. Time to pack and prepare for the arrival.
18:00 Toum Tiou drops anchor on river en route.
19:00 Farewell cocktail (1 glass of local liquor or juice) with Master of Ship & Cruise Manager.
Captain’s farewell dinner (Enriched menu + 1 glass of wine). Overnight on board.
Day 10:
My Tho – Saigon
07:00 Departure for Saigon
13:00 Toum Tiou arrives at Saigon port – customs formalities clearance
13:30 Disembarking, local tour agent picks up passengers and transfers to hotel after a last lunch on board.
Destination |
Validity |
Toum Tiou II - Capacity 14 cabins, 28 pass - USD/cabin/trip |
|
Double |
Single |
||
Siem Reap - Saigon (or back) |
01 Oct 10- |
|
|
Our tour prices include:
- Accommodation in double cabin, Full board (water, tea, coffee included)
- Mentioned visits, French or English speaking guide on board
- Transfer in Siem Reap from/to FCC Angkor Hotel ONLY
Our tour prices do not include:
- Transfers at departure/arrival port
- Bar fees, Visas, Personal expenses and personal insurance
