Sunset cruise phnom penh

A week in Cambodia -11/18/2023-11/24/2023

Phnom Penh -11/20/2023

Day 3- Sunset cruise

To get to our Sunset cruise we had take the Sisowath Riverside Park also known as Sisowath Quay, a renowned boulevard in Phnom Penh Cambodia, stretching along the banks of the Tonle Sap.

This 1.8 mile park is known for its lively environment that was constructed in the late 1990s as part of Phnom Penh’s urban renovation, Sisowath Quay is named after King Sisowath of Cambodia. What began as a street filled with shops has transformed into a favorite spot for those looking to unwind after a long day.

Monks walking around.

A cruise boat

View of the Tonle Sap river from the Quay.

Panoramic view of the Quay with lots of decorated Neon lights. They are preparing for Bon Om Touk, also known as Cambodia’s Water Festival, is a vibrant three-day celebration marking the end of the monsoon season and the unique natural phenomenon of the Tonle Sap River’s flow reversal. Held annually in November during the full moon, this ancient festival combines cultural, historical, and spiritual elements that resonate deeply with Cambodians.

Beyond the boat races, the festival features the Bondet Protib or the Festival of Illuminated Floats and Lanterns Floating. At night, beautifully lit boats glide across the rivers, and families release lanterns, symbolizing the release of misfortune and welcoming blessings. The spiritual significance of Bon Om Touk is further enriched by rituals such as Sampeah Preah Khe (salutation to the moon) and Auk Ambok (taste Ambok), a communal feast with rice and bananas to honor Buddha.

The boat races, held along the Tonle Sap and Mekong rivers, are the main attraction, with teams from villages across Cambodia competing in vibrantly decorated longboats. These races are more than a spectacle; they are a deep expression of Cambodia’s cultural heritage, rooted in historical traditions.

Monks admiring this beautiful illuminated floats.

A worker working on teh float.

Another beautiful illuminated float

All of them are so huge.

View of the promenade.

The race is tomorrow but today there are a bunch of practice so People sit on the edge of the promenade to watch the boats race.

On the day of the race Khmer families gather along the riverbanks, spreading out picnic mats, indulging in delicious food and drinks, and cheering passionately for their favorite teams.

Monks enjoying a quiet time in front of the Tonle Sap river.

We finally arrived at our destination. This is the boat that will take us for a 90 minutes cruise on the Tonle Sap, The Mekong River, and the Four Faces rivers.

Going down stairs to reach our boat.

Walkway to reach our boat.

The walkway is narrow so we have to watch our steps.

This is our boat.

Getting on the boat.

Unlimited beer and soft drinks.

Hoa getting a beer.

We got a table toward the end of the boat.

This is the front of the boat.

View of the city as we are departing. You can see the Royal Palace on right with the red roof.

The sun is starting to descent.

The area you see is called Chroy Changvar sandwiched between the Tonle Sap and the Mekong. It is one of Phnom Penh rising stars district with the city first luxury hotels.

Tonle Sap is the largest lake in Southeast Asia. This massive body of freshwater sustains over 200 species of fish and provides a livelihood for over a million Cambodians.

On the left is the Sokha Hotel a large five star luxury hotel on Chroy Changvar Peninsula.

The color of the sky is changing with the descent of the sun.

Skyscrapers in the distance.

This area is called floating village on the Tonle Sap with a total of 80,000 people who live on their boat permanently. The lake is special for its remarkable seasonal fluctuations. Acting as a natural flood reservoir for the Mekong River system, Tonlé Sap rises and falls up to 9 meters between the wet and dry seasons. Locals have adapted to this fluctuating ecosystem by building floating villages along the banks of the lake.

With more than 170 floating villages on Tonle Sap the majority of the 80,000 inhabitants are considered non-immigrant foreigners. Made up three ethnic groups of Vietnamese, Khmer and Cham they are a people without a country. Enduring the brutality of the Khmer Rouge regime, Vietnamese living in Cambodia faced execution or deportation to Vietnam

In the wet season (June to October) torrential rains in southeast Asia and snow melt from Tibet forces water from the Mekong up through Tonlé Sap River into Tonlé Lake. In the dry season (November to May), the river reverses direction and starts to flow back out to sea via the Mekong River.