Toum Tiou II Cruise Upstream 9 days: Saigon - Siem Reap

Morning

11:30 - 12:30: Travelers will meet the drivers and tour guide at the restaurant of the Hotel Liberty Riverside (Address: 17 Ton Duc Thang Street, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh / Phone: +84 28 3827 1717).

Afternoon

We have lunch at the hotel then start a city tour in the afternoon. We'll explore the local Chinatown and experience the daily life of the people. We will also visit the majestic Giac Lam Pagoda, which is over 300 years old and is the oldest pagoda in Saigon.

Lastly, we will visit the Flower Market & Binh Tay Market for a 15-minute walking tour to explore how locals buy and sell local food and products. 

Afterward, you will transfer to Toum Tiou II Cruise. Comfortably settling into your cabins, then the manager will introduce the crew at a welcome cocktail.

Evening

Have a nice dinner to recharge your energy and spend your night on board or downtown. 

Optional: "Saigon After Dark" is an evening excursion with a culinary adventure from 18:00 - 22:00. Guests can experience the nightlife of Saigon the way locals do. On the back of a vintage Vespa scooter, you enter the heart of Saigon's nightlife.

From stop to stop, you sample local flavors, including cocktails, seafood tastings, cold drinks, and Vietnamese creperies. After this, the tour will take you to a live music venue to entertain. 

Morning

Enjoy a tasty breakfast onboard before participating in your Saigon tour. We take a short downtown drive to the lively city and stop for some photographs at notable sites like Reunification Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral, Saigon Post Office, City Square, and theOpera House, all of which were heavily influenced by French colonialism in the 19th century.

Enjoy the vibrancy of this city on foot and explore the city's green space. You can also experience the local coffee scene. Then, we transfer back to the ship for lunch. 

Afternoon & Evening

After lunch, we will then proceed to the War Remnant Museum to learn more about the heroic history of Vietnam. It's home to more than 20,000 documents, exhibits, and films, in which more than 1,500 documentaries, and artifacts.

Later in the day, guests return to Toum Tiou II. The ship leaves Saigon for My Tho. Dinner will be served on the deck and you are free all night. Stay overnight onboard.

Morning

Breakfast will be prepared while the cruise sail to Cho Gao Canal, which offers a glimpse into the traditional Vietnamese lifestyle along the Mekong River with its bustling markets, fruit orchards, and scenic landscapes.

Arrival in My Tho. Here, we will kick off with a local boat pick-up that will take you to Thoi Son Island where we will have the opportunity to explore the local daily lives and enjoy fresh seasonal fruits. We will also take a sampan ride along the scenic canals for a closer look at the stunning Mekong Delta and its unique features.

Later, you can go biking on your own and explore the rural village to see how the local people live and learn about their way of life. along with admiring the magnificent fruit orchards in the area. 

After the cycling trip, we get back to Toum Tiou II Cruise. The ship leaves for Cai Be while we will enjoy a tasty lunch in the restaurant.

Afternoon

The cruise arrives at Cai Be. We start an exploration of this charming place with a local boat trip along the Mekong River. Disembark to visit the craft village where you can witness how the local products are made. 

Then, we continue cruising on the boat. Get off at the fruit orchards comprising of many kinds of tasty fruits such as jackfruit, durian, guava, rambutan, longan, etc... Let's drink hot tea, eat fresh fruits, and enjoy a live local music performance. 

We will then take part in a kayaking adventure. This is a unique experience, offering an interesting aquatic perspective of the surrounding natural beauty.

Then travelers also have the opportunity to explore the charming countryside by mountain bike providing another pretty view of the local scenery. Whichever of the activities you do, you will get a distinctive glimpse into the authenticity of the Mekong River. 

Evening

The ship leaves Cai Be for Sa Dec. We will have dinner during cruising and spend a relaxing night on board. 

Morning

Enjoy your breakfast on board and witness the magnificent Mekong River in the morning. Then, a local boat pick you up for a short panoramic tour of Sa Dec.

We will stroll around the lively local market along the river bank and immerse in the daily lifestyle of the people here. This small city of 30,000 inhabitants is fascinating as it has an unspoiled authenticity and is undisturbed by tourists.

During the excursion, you will have a glimpse of the past where a few colonial houses still remain, including the "Chinamans house" (from Dura's novel "The Lover", also made into a movie). This is a perfect opportunity to immerse yourself in the interesting local culture and enjoy the charming river surroundings. 

Afternoon & Evening

The ship leaves Sa Dec for Chau Doc, and we then have lunch and dinner on board during cruising. Spend your free time relaxing on the sundeck or chilling out in your cabin.

Morning

Have your breakfast on board as the cruise heads to Chau Doc. Located on the border between Cambodia and Vietnam, this prosperous town has developed around fishing and fish farming.

We'll transfer to the natural Tra Su Forest. Here, visitors will experience the beautiful scenery on small local boats, where you can witness the incredible and diverse flora and fauna of the area.

Afterward, we'll board a cable car and embark on an unforgettable journey to Sam Mountain. Let's enjoy breathtaking panoramic views from the higher up as the ride unfolds. Upon the summit, you can admire the spectacular views and pay a visit to the Ba Chua Xu Temple before heading back to the ship for lunch.

Afternoon & Evening

After the meal on board, the tour continues to the Vinh Xuong border. Custom clearance and entry formalities into Cambodia. Then we set sail for Phnom Penh, which you will reach in the evening.

Savor dinner and stay on the Toum Tiou II Cruise overnight in Phnom Penh. 

Morning

Have your breakfast on board. Welcome to the Capital Phnom Penh with an exciting city tour around the famous tourist destinations. 

We will enjoy a tour of the fabulous Royal Palace, one of the most impressive examples of Cambodian architecture, and the stunning Silver Pagoda. Onward to visit the National Museum andtake a look at one of the world’s largest collections of Khmer art and ceramics.

Afternoon

Then, you can enjoy an afternoon tour of the area by "tuk-tuk," for an authentic and immersive experience like no other. Visit the beautifully renovated Art Deco Central Market and experience the local shopping scene. Known as "Phsar Thmei", the market is a bustling hub for clothing, food, and souvenir shopping. 

After exploring the market, we will stroll through the city's off-the-beaten-path alleyways, where you will have a chance to engage with the locals. You can experience how the locals enjoy their coffee while playing Cambodian-style chess and enjoy the local food in its most authentic form. 

Continue your visit to the city's namesake, Wat Phnom. Founded in 1373, the pagoda was built to house Buddhist relics washed ashore by the river.

From there, we will enjoy a short walk to the French Quarter, where you will get a glimpse of the city's colonial era while admiring the beautiful architecture. The area boasts several Belle Époque and Art Deco houses and public buildings dating from the French Protectorate (1863-1953). 

Evening

As we get back on board, we will enjoy a traditional dance performance named Apsara show. Have dinner and stay overnight on board. 

Morning

Wake up and have breakfast while enjoying the glorious river view at dawn. The ship departs to Kampong Tralach.

Today, we will visit the beautiful Vihara at the Wat Kampong Tralach Leu pagoda. To get there, we'll cross the village of Kampong Tralach on a local tuk-tuk for even more authenticity.

On the way back to the boat, you can choose between a tuk-tuk or a bicycle ride through the countryside, with breathtaking views of the rice paddies before returning to the ship for lunch. 

Afternoon

We continue the trip to Oudong by van, Cambodia's former capital. On arrival, first, we visit the colorful Vipassana Dhura Buddhist Meditation Center where you will hear about the school of Vipassana or Insight Meditation.

After that, you can walk up the steps to the various temples in the area and the three large stupas where the ashes of three former kings are preserved. From there, you will be rewarded with wonderful views of the plains below. 

Evening

Get back on Toum Tiou II Cruise and relax on board and the ship set sail to Kampong Chhnang. Later, have a nice dinner and spend the night in your cabin. 

Morning 

Get yourself ready and have breakfast in the restaurant. 

Later, you'll have a visit to Kampong Chhnang, one of the largest fishing ports on the Tonle Sap Lake. Here they also have many fish farms. This region is also known for its traditional pottery combining ancient knowledge with modern techniques as Chhnang itself means "pot."

Afterward, we will enjoy a tasting of regional products before returning on board to relax.

Optional: For those seeking more activity, there will be an option at Kampong Chhnang to cycle alongside the riverside and then to the pottery village to explore this area. 

Afternoon & Evening

Return to the ship and have lunch on board whilst we cruising to Koh Chen. Spend your free time sunbathing on the sundeck or take a nap in your cabin.

In the evening, we will have a farewell dinner at the restaurant and spend the night on board.

Morning

After breakfast, passengers will be transferred by air-conditioned coach from Koh Chen to the hotel Lotus Blanc in Siem Reap (5 - 6 hours bus ride). 

12:30: Drop off at the meeting point. This is the end of your journey. 

NOTE: Please do not book your flight before 15:30.