|
Cambodia’s waterways are more than a convenient way of getting around; they are the country's lifeblood. Take a trip on them and you get an unparalleled in-depth look at the real country, becoming totally immersed in something both gentle and spectacular that cannot be experienced by any other mode of transportation. The shallow draught of the Toum Tiou makes it possible to reach the very heart of the remotest of villages where the sense of discovery is often reciprocal. |
|
Day 1: Saigon - My Tho
06.30. Toum Tiou II is opened for embarkation at the International Port of Saigon / Nha Rong Terminal.
07.30 Breakfast, customs formalities, departure for My Tho. Safety briefing. Morning relaxation. Lunch during the crossing of the splendid channel of Cho Gao.
16.30 Arrival to My Tho. Toum Tiou II drops anchor in proximity of the Island Thoi Son. My Tho, “Good Grass Scented” according to the translation is a quiet and prosperous city, approximately 100 000 inhabitants, known for its many orchards rice plantations. The climate is hot and pleasant all the year. This countryside-site has the most variable fruit collection of Vietnam (coconuts, banana trees, mango trees).
Local boats take the passengers from the boat to onshore, departure for the Vinh Trang pagoda by bus, on the way short visit of the city and the local market of My Tho. Visit of the local zoo. Later passengers come back to the small boats, navigation to the Island Thoi. Walking on the island, exploration of the everyday life, tasting of the seasonal fruits, lessoning the local musician band, visit of the candy factory, shopping of the local products. (The visit of My Tho is depending of the level of the traffic on the channel of Cho Gao which can cause considerably delay (+ 2 hours) the arrival to My Tho.)
19.00. Embarking, welcome cocktail, presentation of the crew. Toum Tiou II leaves for Cai Be. Welcome dinner and night onboard.
Day 2: Cai Be, Vinh Long – Sa Dec
07.00 Breakfast
08.00 Toum Tiou II drops anchor on the river near Cai Be. Local boats take the passengers to visit the floating market, discover the brick manufacturers and pottery, the seedbed of fruit trees of the Island Binh Hoa Phuoc while passing by and visiting a traditional house of a local farmer. Vinh Long, the “Majestic Dragon” according to the translation, is located at the center of the areas of the delta, embraced by two arms of Mekong. The life was organized around and with water. Houses on pile, trade in boat, hundreds boats which pass each other in all the directions. The hospitality of the inhabitants makes this place unique tourist site.
12.30 Return to Toum Tiou II, departure for Sa Dec. Lunch during navigation.
15.00 Arrival to Sa Dec, panoramic tour of the city. Visit the market then turn to the city by bus. On the way visit the primary school Trung Vuong and the pagoda Kien Year Cung. In this authentic town of 30.000 inhabitants, passengers can experience the environment of a small city of the delta where still can be felt the colonial atmosphere along with the “House of the Chinese” (of the novel The Lover of Marguerite Duras, also adapted to a movie).
17.00 Return to the boat after a stop in a seedbed of bonsai. Famous for its horticulture (large variety of exotic flowers) Sa Dec was called at the colonial time “the garden of Cochinchine”.
18.30 Toum Tiou II leaves Sa Dec, night navigation to Chau Doc. Dinner and night onboard.
Day 3: Chau Doc – Vinh Xuong
04.30 Departure of the boat early the morning towards Chau Doc.
07.00 Arrival to the pier of the hotel Victoria Chau Doc, breakfast in the restaurant of the hotel.
08:30 Chau Doc is located in the middle of a gigantic squaring of rice plantations, while the city itself is prosperous, developing, over-populated with some amazing colonial buildings. Departure in local boats to visit the village of the Cham minority, with its fish farm. After that bus tour to the downtown and visit the colorful local market. With a few kilometers away, the hill of Harmed Sam “climbs up” to 237 m and offers its famous Buddhist sanctuaries with an unspoiled view of the rice plantations. On the way visit the temple of Chua Xu and the pagoda Tay An.
12.00 Departure for the border, Vinh Xuong. Lunch on board
14.30 Toum Tiou II arrives at the border, formalities
17.30 The boat leaves the border towards to Phnom Penh
19.00 Toum Tiou II remains moored for the night in the island Koh Dek Chau. Dinner and night on board.
Day 4: Phnom Penh
Morning departure for Phnom Penh, breakfast. Packing, rest on board.
11.00 Toum Tiou II arrives at Phnom Penh, custom formalities, disembarkation.
|
|
Tour price includes:
* Full room and board, including meals, coffee, tea and drinking water
* French or English speaking guide
* Scheduled visits
* Entrance tickets
* Transportation from departure dock to arrival dock
Excluding
* Personal travel insurance
* Off program excursions and meals
* Transfers to and from the airport/hotels
* Personal expenses
* Tips for the crew members
|
