Built in the traditional style, the Toum Tiou was christened in 2002 on the river at Phnom Penh, the first Cambodian cruise boat with international standard accommodation.
Fully-paneled in wood, with charm and comfort in mind, we designed it in keeping with the local style. Modestly sized and with the safety of a steel hull, its low draught makes it possible for the boat to access the smallest of villages. With the tasteful decoration of a bygone era, it has 10 cozy double cabins with private shower, a large lounge area, a panoramic viewing space to the front, a half-covered bar-restaurant to the rear and a roof patio. Air conditioning, hi-fi system and library are provided. The captain, boat hands, hostesses, cooks and boat master are quiet and insonspicuous in the performance of their duties.
The legend of Toum and Tiou
The Toum Tiou derives its name from a traditional Khmer tale of star-crossed lovers, the Cambodian equivalent of Romeo and Juliet, Toum being the boy and Tiou, the girl. This beautiful love story turned tragedy features Tiou's mother, an ambitious woman who wants to marry her daughter off to the king and Toum as the awkward lover. The king, good-hearted and understanding, eventually gives up on the marriage to make Tiou happy. It ends tragically when a frame-up involving the mother and the governor leads to the death of one of the two lovers, the other committing suicide to follow suit. This story is taught from primary to high school. Many songs and pieces of traditional music allude to the pair of ill-fated lovers.
Construction
This traditional locally built boat started out as a freighter with a metal hull and a capacity of 150 tons, with two large but low-ceiling decks in order to maximize storage space. Like all boats of this type, it went up and down the Tonle Sap and Mekong, stopping at Siem Reap, Kompong Cham, Kratie and Stung Treng. We stayed as close as we could to the original line of the boat, because we wanted to retain its slightly curved and elegant lines.
The Toum Tiou is 38 meters long and 6.5 meters wide in the middle. It has 10 rooms in all (3.3 m x 2.5 m), 4 on the first deck and 6 on the second, each air-conditioned and with a bathroom (2.5 m x 1.4 m) including toilet, shower and sink. The water on board is taken from the river, passed through a powerful filtration system and chlorinated in the final step of the treatment.
In order to make the best possible use of the common areas from the standpoint of both size and variety we have installed a library-reading room on the lower deck. There is also a covered space at the front of the middle deck, a restaurant to the rear anda half-covered sundeck on top.
Day 1: Monday : Phnom Penh - Kompong Chhnang
Embark at the pier in Phnom Penh at 8:00 am.
Welcome on board of R/V Toum Teav and departure for our cruise on the Tonle Sap River to Oudong. Visit of Oudong, then stop at Prek Kdam to visit a small silver handicraft village. Lunch on board on the way to Kampong Tralach, stop and visit its wonderful pagoda. Dinner and overnight on board.
Day 2: Tuesday : Kompong Chhnang - Kompong Luong
Sail to Kompong Chhnang to visit the market and a pottery village. Sail to Chnok Tru, the last big village before the River meets the Great Lake of Tonle Sap. Lunch on-board. Continue to Kompong Luong, one of the largest floating villages on the Lake. Dinner and overnight on board while anchored at Kompong Luong.
Day 3: Wednesday Kompong Luong - Siam Reap
Half day sailing on the Great Lake of Tonle Sap. Relax in the library or on the deck salon prior to arrival in Siem Reap. Sail along a small canal, flocked with crowded floating houses, before reaching Phnom Kroum.
Note: Due to the low level of the water in the lake from March to July, the boat may not be able to cross the lake to reach Siem Reap. During this period, the visit of the floating village of Chnol Tru will be done, instead of the floating village of Kompong Luong and the passenger will cross the lake by small speed boats, the timing remains unchanged.
The Tour Inclusion
- English / French speaking guide
- Deluxe double/ twin cabin
- Fullboard ( Meal, teas, coffee)
- Admission fees and permits where applicable
The Tour Exclusion
- Airfares & airport taxes
- Pre/post trip arrangement
- Visa and visa arrangement
- Travel insurance
- Other personal expenses
Day 1: Thurday : Siem Reap- Kampong Luong
Morning at 7:45 a.m. - Boarding at the Phnom Krom pier. Transfer to the Toum Tiou from small boats on the canal that threads its way through the fishing village. 8:00 a.m. - Departure for your Tonle Sap cruise. in the afternoon, crossing the Great Lake to Kompong Luong, one of the largest floating villages on the lake. Tour of Kompong Luong and night on board.
Day 2: Friday : Kampong Chhnan Kampong Tralach -Koh Chen - Oudong
Head for Kompong Chhnang. Tour of Kompong Chhnang, the market and pottery-making villages nearby. Lunch on board while continuing on to Kompong Tralach and its beautiful pagoda. Night on board near Oudong.
Day 3 Saterday : Koh Chen - Oudong Phnom Penh
Tour of Koh Chen, a traditional silversmith village, then on to Oudong, site of the royal stupas. 1:00 p.m. - Disembark at the Phnom Penh Port after a final lunch on board.
Note: Due to the low level of the water in the lake from March to July, the boat may not be able to cross the lake to reach Siem Reap. During this period, the visit of the floating village of Chnol Tru will be done, instead of the floating village of Kompong Luong and the passenger will cross the lake by small speed boats, the timing remains unchanged.
The Tour Inclusion
- English / French speaking guide
- Deluxe double/ twin cabin
- Fullboard ( Meal, teas, coffee)
- Admission fees and permits where applicable
The Tour Exclusion
- Airfares & airport taxes
- Pre/post trip arrangement
- Visa and visa arrangement
- Travel insurance
- Other personal expenses
Put the mythical Southeast Asian capitals of Phnom Penh and Saigon side by side and you have a meeting of two countries divided by an invisible line at the river. But the line becomes real when you compare their very different cultures, landscapes and pace of life. After the impressive pastoral riverbanks of Cambodia, we arrive in the "Land of the Nine Dragons", the rice granary of Vietnam. We are constantly struck by the hectic pace of life in this country as we pass houses over fish rearing pens in Chau Doc, the boat yards of Long Xuyen, Marguerite Duras' hometown of Sa Dec, the aquatic gardens of Vinh Long, the floating market in Cai Be, the temples, pagodas, brickworks, then the trawlers of My Tho, before dropping anchor at the nostalgic port of Saigon.
Day 1: Phnom Penh - Koh Dek Chou
Check-in at the boat-pier in Phnom Penh at 8:00 am.
Welcome on board of R/V Toum Teav and depart for our cruise on the Mekong River.On the way to the Vietnamese border, stop on Koh Dek Tchou Island for a two hours walk in the village along the river. Overnight on board
Day 2: Cambodian/ Vietnamese Boder - Chau Doc
Sail and cross the border into Vietnam in the morning. Arrive in Chau Doc after lunch.Disembark R/V Toum Teav at Victoria Chau Doc hotel jetty. Visit a Cham village by small boat, visit the market and Lady Chua Xu temple. Overnight onboard.
Day 3: Chau Doa - Long Xuyen
Sail thought small channels back to the Mekong River and visit the Kien An Cung Pagoda. Stop at the main town along the Sa Dec river (passing by the local house mentioned in l'Amanet, a film based on the novel by Marguerite Duras), and visit the market. Overnight on board
Day 4: Long Xuyen - Sadec
Sail in the morning to Vinh Long. By small boats, we cross Binh Hoa Phuoc Islet covered by fruit trees and special gardens.Back to the Mekong, we cruise in the floating market of Cai Be.Overnight on board
Day 5: Cai be - Mytho
Sail to Mytho.Panorama tour of the city: Visit the pagoda and the snake farm followed by an excursion by small boat to Thoi Son Island.Overnight on board
Day 6: Mytho - Saigon
Half day sailing through the small canals of Cho Gao and Nha Be to Saigon.
15.00 pm- Disembark from M/V Toum Teav at Dai Lo Ton quay. Tour Ends
The Tour Inclusion
- English / French speaking guide
- Deluxe double/ twin cabin
- Fullboard ( Meal, teas, coffee)
- Admission fees and permits where applicable
The Tour Exclusion
- Airfares & airport taxes
- Pre/post trip arrangement
- Visa and visa arrangement
- Travel insurance
- Other personal expenses
Put the mythical Southeast Asian Angkor ( Siem Rea) and Saigon side by side and you have a meeting of two countries divided by an invisible line at the river. But the line becomes real when you compare their very different cultures, landscapes and pace of life. After the impressive pastoral riverbanks of Cambodia, we arrive in the "Land of the Nine Dragons", the rice granary of Vietnam. We are constantly struck by the hectic pace of life in this country as we pass houses over fish rearing pens in Chau Doc, the boat yards of Long Xuyen, Marguerite Duras' hometown of Sa Dec, the aquatic gardens of Vinh Long, the floating market in Cai Be, the temples, pagodas, brickworks, then the trawlers of My Tho, before dropping anchor at the nostalgic port of Saigon.
Day 1 - Sunday: Siem Reap – Chnok Tru
At 13:30 crossing the Tonlé Sap Lake for meeting the Toum Tiou anchored near Chnok Tru. Welcome on board of the Toum Tiou. Security briefing. After that welcome drink and info meeting about cruise, crew introduction. Welcome dinner and stay overnight onboard.
Day 2 - Monday: Chnok Tru – Kompong Chnang
Visit biggest floating village on the Tonlé Sap River. Lunch on board on the way to Kampong Chnang. At 16:00 arrival at Kampong Chnang. 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. At 18:00 passengers re-embark and The Toum Tiou drops anchor few miles away. Dinner and stay overnight onboard.
Day 3 - Tuesday: Kompong Tralach – Phnom Penh
Sail to Kampong Tralach early in the morning, breakfast during navigation. After arriving at Kampong Tralach, 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. At 14:00 arrival in Phnom Penh. 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.
Day 4 - Wednesday: Phnom Penh
After having breakfast, departure for the “KILLING FIELDS” - Tuol Sleng Museum, old center of detention, of torture and execution between 1975 and 1979. The visit is essential to understand what could be the fatal madness perpetrated by the Khmer Rouges. At 12.00 return to Phnom Penh, lunch in a local restaurant. After that half day city sightseeing tour including the Royal Palace and National Museum. At 19:00 return to the boat, local group performs on board traditional “APSARA” show for 45 minutes.
Day 5 - Thursday: Kôh Dek Chau – Chau Doc (Vietnam)
At 09:00 arrival at Kôh Dek Chau island, A short break along the way, it allows to get a fascinating, close-up look at daily life in Cambodia. At 10:30 re-embarking, departure for Kaam Samnaar (Cambodian border). At 14:00 Toum Tiou arrives at Immigration check point in Kaam Samnaar. Clearance of departure formalities. After that departure for Chau Doc. At 19:00 Toum Tiou drops anchor before the canal of Chau Doc.
Day 6 – Friday: Chau Doc – Vinh Long
At 08:00 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. Despite their sometimes strong odors, the parts of town offer wonderful photo opportunities... This is the perfect timing to discover the effervescence of the local market. At 17:00 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. At 19:00 return to the boat, departure for Vinh Long.
Day 7 - Saturday: Vinh Long - Cai Be – My Tho
At 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 as typical house and a show room of traditional farming tools. After that departure for Cai Be Floating Market – going across the Mekong River en route. At 11:30 Toum Tiou leaves Cai Be for My Tho, lunch during navigation.
At 14:30 arrival at My Tho and transfer to the mainland. Departure for Vinh Trang Pagoda by car - Short panoramic tour on the way. At 15:30 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. At 16:30 Toum Tiou leaves My Tho for Saigon. Leisure on board while navigating on the marvelous canal of Cho Gao. At 19:00 farewell cocktail with Master of Ship & Cruise Manager. Captain’s farewell dinner. Overnight on board.
Day 8 - Sunday: My Tho – Saigon
At 07:00 departure for Saigon, breakfast and leisure on board. At 11:00 Toum Tiou arrives at Saigon port – customs formalities clearance.
The Tour Inclusion
- English / French speaking guide
- Deluxe double/ twin cabin
- Fullboard ( Meal, teas, coffee)
- Admission fees and permits where applicable
The Tour Exclusion
- Airfares & airport taxes
- Pre/post trip arrangement
- Visa and visa arrangement
- Travel insurance
- Other personal expenses
Photo gallery of Toum Tiou Cruise (0)