DS3-MKCT3D: Ho Chi Minh City - Phnom Penh 3 Days with Toum Tiou Cruise

In the core of the Mekong Delta, Hochiminh City, formerly known as Saigon, is second the most important in Vietnam after Hanoi. It is not only a commercial center but also a scientific, technological, industrial and tourist center. The city is bathed by many rivers, arroyos and canals, the biggest river being the Saigon River. The Port of Saigon, established in 1862, is accessible to ships weighing up to 30,000 tons, a rare advantage for an inland river port.

Rout 1: Siem Reap - Phnom Penh

Itinerary:

Day 1: Siem Reap – Kampong Chhnang

07:00 Meeting in front of FCC hotel in Siem Reap. Transfer by local tour agent for Phnom Krom boat-pier. Transfer form the pier by local boat to the Toum Tiou.
08:00 Check-in at the boat docked near Phnom Krom in Siem Reap. Passengers embark, security briefing. Departure for a relaxing half day by crossing the Tonlé Sap Lake. Lunch onboard.
15:30 Arrival at Kampong Luong. Local boats are coming along the Toum Tiou and picking passengers for the visit. Almost totally overlooked by tourists because of its remoteness and difficult access, the village is completely self-sufficient. A floating school, factories to make ice for fish preservation, church, pagoda, service stations, pigsty, stores, boat or television repair shops, video club, karaoke bar, police station... everything is on the water. All trades are represented and everybody from children to grandparents goes by boat through the network of canals that cross this little town.
18:00 Passengers re-embark. The Toum Tiou stays overnight under the protection of the flooded forest. Welcome drink and info meeting about cruise, crew introduction. Welcome dinner. Overnight onboard.

.
Day 2: Kampong Tralach – Phnom Penh

07:00 Departure of the Toum Tiou early in the morning. Sail to Kampong Chnang by passing near Chnok Tru, the first big village after the River meets the Great Lake of Tonlé Sap. 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. Arrive 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. 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 3: Phnom Penh

07:00 Departure of the Toum Tiou early in the morning. Sail to Kôh Chen (Chinese Island)
08:30 Arrival 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. Arrive in Phnom Penh. Tour ends.

------

Rout 2: Phnom Penh - Siem Reap

Itinerary:

Day 1 - Monday: Phnom Penh – Koh Chen / Oudong – Kampong Tralach

07:45 Toum Tiou is open for embarking

08:00 Departure of the Toum Tiou for Koh Chen (Chinese Island). Security briefing.

08:45 Arrival to Koh 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.

11:45 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 laterite 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 for Wat Tani Pagoda in the province of Kampot.

17:30 Passengers re-embark. The Toum Tiou drops anchor few miles away.Welcome drink and info meeting about cruise, crew introduction. Welcome dinner. Overnight onboard.

.

Day 2 - Tuesday: Kampong Chnang – Kampong Luong

07:00 Departure of the Toum Tiou early in the morning. Sail to Kampong Chnang. Breakfast during navigation. Arrive to Kampong Chnang. Located some 56 miles from Phnom Penh, the town of Kampong Chnang is one of the largest fishing ports on the Tonle 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 Luong. Arrive at Kampong Luong. Local boats are coming along the Toum Tiou and picking passengers for the visit.

Almost totally overlooked by tourists because of its remoteness and difficult access, the village is completely self-sufficient. A floating school, factories to make ice for fish preservation, church, pagoda, service stations, pigsty, stores, boat or television repair shops, video club, karaoke bar, police station... everything is on the water. All trades are represented and everybody from children to grandparents goes by boat through the network of canals that cross this little town.

18:00 Passengers re-embark. The Toum Tiou stays overnight under the protection of the flooded forest. 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 3 - Wednesday: Kampong Luong – Siem Reap

07:00 Departure of the Toum Tiou early in the morning. Time to pack and relax a half a day by crossing the Tonle Sap Lake.

13:00 Passengers disembark, local tour agent pick up passengers and transfer to hotel after a last lunch onboard.

Tour Price

Price per pax (adult) in US Dollars - Currency converter

Private rate in US$/person
Single	Double/twin	Child (4 - 12)
705	425	30%

*Note:

• Rate is applied for low season from 01 May to 30 Sep.

• 25% is added for peak season.

Includes:

• Full board accommodation, including meals, coffee, tea & drinking water.

• French or English speaking guide.

• Visits mentioned in the program.

• Entrance fees.

• Transportation from departure port to arrival port

Excludes:

• Personal Travel Insurance.

• Tours & meals other than those mentioned in the program.

• Transfers from/to airport and hotels.

• Personal expenses.

• Gratuities for the crew.

• Transfer from hotel to port and vice-versa.