TOUM TIOU I: Siem Reap – Saigon 8 days / 7 nights
TOUM TIOU I (10 cabins/20 passengers)
Siem Reap – Saigon, 8 days / 7 nights
High Water Program
Day 1 Siem Reap
13:30 Meeting at FCC hotel in Siem Reap. We will then transfer the passengers to Phnom Krom pier.
Transfer from the pier by local boat to the Toum Tiou.
16:00 Check-in at the boat docked near Phnom Krom in Siem Reap. Security briefing.
17:30 Drop Anchor near forest on the lake.
19:00 Welcome drink and info meeting about cruise, crew introduction.
Welcome dinner. Overnight onboard.
Day 2 Chnok Tru – Kampong Chhnnang
Departure of the Toum Tiou early in the morning. Sail to Chnok Tru, breakfast during navigation.
11:00 Arrival at Chnok Tru. 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.
12:30 Passengers re-embark the Toum Tiou. Lunch on board on the way to Kampong Chnang.
15:00 Arrival to Kampong Chhnnang. 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.
18:00 Passengers re-embark. The Toum Tiou drops anchor few miles away.
19:00 Dinner and overnight onboard.
Day 3 Kampong Tralach – Phnom Penh
07:45 Departure of the Toum Tiou early in the morning. Sail to Kampong Tralach, breakfast during navigation.
08:30 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.
11:00 Passengers re-embark the Toum Tiou. Lunch on board on the way to Phnom Penh.
14:00 Arrival in Phnom Penh. Balance of the day free exploration on own.
19:00 Local group performs on board traditional “APSARA” show for 45 minutes.
19:45 Dinner and overnight on board.
Day 4 Phnom Penh
07:30 Breakfast.
08:30 Visit Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda, National Museum and Wat Phnom.
12:00 Lunch at a local restaurant.
14:00 Visit Toul Sleng old center of detention, of torture and execution between 1975 and 1979. The visit of this place is essential to understand what could be the fatal madness perpetrated by the Khmer Rouges.
Visit Russian Market.
17:00 Return to the boat.
18:30 Toum Tiou departs Phnom Penh. Dinner onboard.
Day 5 Kaam Samnaar – Chau Doc
08:00 Navigation towards Kaam Samnaar (Cambodian border).
10:00 Toum Tiou arrives at Immigration check point in Kaam Samnaar. Clearance of departure formalities.
Departure for Chau Doc, lunch during navigation.
12:00 Arrival at Chau Doc.
14:00 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. Visit Cham minority village by local boat.
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… Short panoramic tour of the city. This is the perfect timing to discover the effervescence of the local market.
18:00 Return to Toum Tiou. Dinner onboard.
Day 6 Chau Doc – Sa Dec – Vinh Long
07:00 Depart Chau Doc for Sa Dec. Breakfast and lunch during navigation.
14:00 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).
17:00 Return to the boat, departure for Vinh Long. Dinner during navigation.
Toum Tiou drops anchor few miles before Vinh Long.
19:30 Dinner on the ship.
Day 7 Vinh Long – Cai Be – My Tho
07:30 Breakfast.
08:30 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.
Departure for Cai Be Floating Market – going across the Mekong River en route. Visit the handicraft village where workers produce rice paper, rice wine, popped rice etc. in a traditional way.
11:30 Passengers re-embark at Cai Be, Toum Tiou leaves Cai Be for My Tho, lunch during navigation.
14:30 Arrival at My Tho – Toum Tiou drops anchor on river in the proximity of Thoi Son Island
Local boats comes alongside the Toum Tiou to pick up passengers to the mainland for a short panoramic tour of My Tho town and visit Vinh Trang pagoda, stop for a visit of 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.
Return at the pier – you will cruise on the river to Dragon Island by local boat to visit the island.
17:00 Re-embarking the Toum Tiou that leaves My Tho for Saigon
Time to navigate on the marvelous canal of Cho Gao.
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). Toum Tiou drops anchor on river en route.
Overnight on board.
Day 8 My Tho – Saigon
07:00 Departure for Saigon, breakfast and leisure on board.
11:00 Toum Tiou arrives at Saigon Port (Cang Nha Rong Port) next to Ho Chi Minh Museum.
(Address: #5 nguyen tat thanh, quan 4.) – customs formalities clearance
Prices:
Prices are for 2 persons in a shared twin-bed cabin and are applicable for the season 2018-2019 (October 1st, 2018 – September
30th, 2019).
*All cabins have 2 single beds which can be joined together to form a double bed.*
Low season discount
20%, from 1st May 2019 until 30th September 2019
10%, for October 2018
*Around end of December until September we will use bus to transfer passengers from/to Siem Reap. (5-6 hours)*
Child Policy: Infants below the age of 4 years may sleep in their parent’s cabin at no extra charge but CFM cannot guarantee the availability of a cot and parents are to provide their own baby food. Children of 4 years and over must occupy their own berth.
Discounts
Children from 4 years & below: no charge
Children aged 5 – 12 years: 30 %
Price includes:
Full board accommodation, including meals mentioned in the program, coffee, tea & drinking water
French or English speaking guide
– Supplement Guides
German – $90-$100 USD per day (1-28 passengers)
Spanish – between $90-$100 USD per day (1-28 passengers)
Italian – between $90-$100 USD per day (1-28 passengers)
*For charter- Guide’s cabin is provided by CFM (FOC)
*For FIT – cabins for guide also needs to be booked.
Visits mentioned in the program
Entrance fees
Transportation from departure port to arrival port
Port fees
Price does not include:
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
Recommended tips
For the crew – $10 per day per passenger
– For the guides – $6 per day per passenger
Reservation Policy:
Option terms can be offered as follows:
More than 121 days prior to the departure date: 20 days option
Between 120 days and 60 days: 15 days option
Between 59 days and 30 days: 7 days option
Between 29 days and 11 days: 1 day option
These options expire if down payment is not received by us by the stated date.
FIT (1 cabin booking only) Payment and Cancellation Terms:
Applies when booking ONLY one (1) cabin
30% down payment is required to confirm reservation.
Payment of the balance shall be made 30 days prior to departure
Cancellation / Prepayment
Cancellation fees More than 101 days prior to departure: 0% Between 100 and 71 days prior to departure: 10% of price Between 70 and 41 days prior to departure: 30% of price Between 40 and 31 days prior to departure: 50% of price 30 days to departure date or no show: 100% of price Charter & Groups (2 or more cabins) Payment and Cancellation Terms: Charter conditions are applicable when booking 2 or more cabins. 30% deposit is required upon confirmation of charter booking 30% (second) payment by 130 days prior to departure Balance 70 days prior to departure Terms and Conditions: 1. Though every effort will be made to ensure that the published itinerary is followed as closely as possible, given uncertain river and other local conditions and any technical difficulties, all schedules and itineraries may be subject to alterations and delays at short notice. 2. The ship’s purser and captain are jointly responsible for passengers’ comfort and safety. Passengers must accept their decisions and instructions. 3. Whilst our crew will do everything in their power to facilitate landings, access to the ship at certain river stations can be difficult, with steep and sometimes slippery riverbanks. Elderly clients should consult their doctor to ensure that they are fit for travel. Wheelchairs are not allowed. 4. In the case of water levels being too high or low or defects to the vessel beyond the control of the shipping line, an alternative itinerary will be offered to passengers after consultation between the ship’s purser and CFM management, subject to provision of accommodation and meals being maintained on board the vessel unless by prior agreement with the Charterer. 5. CFM is not liable to bear any extra costs of transporting passengers to and from the point of embarkation or disembarkation unless passengers or their agents have purchased transfers from/to airport and hotels from us. 6. Clients should seek advice from their doctor regarding relevant inoculations and prophylactics for travel in the Mekong Delta. 7. Clients must be fully insured to cover any risk of medical repatriation and CFM is in no way responsible for such liabilities. 8. Once a booking has been received through a sales agent or directly from the passenger, a contract exists between the Company and the client and these terms and conditions must be adhered to by both parties. 9. Unless otherwise agreed, agents are responsible for the transfer of their clients to and from the ship on time and in the event of a late arrival the ship is not obliged to delay departure thereby disrupting tight schedules. 10. The company accepts no liability or responsibility for loss or damage to passengers’ property whilst on board a company vessel. 11. It is not permitted to allow any breed of animal on board. 12. In the event of a dispute the law of the country in which the vessel is operating will apply. 13. Clients and their agents must abide by these terms and CFM reserve the right to either cancel an existing reservation or to refuse passage in the event that these terms have not been adhered to.
