Female boat masters prove a hit on mother lake in Cambodia

More than a thousand women who paddle tourist boats on the Tonle Sap Lake are attracting the attention of both domestic and international visitors.

They believe that this seasonal occupation not only generates additional income, but also elevates their status, showcasing their independence and strength.

Tonle Sap, a lake in the northwest of Cambodia, is the mother lake of the country. Belonging to the Mekong River system, Tonle Sap is the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia.

The women masters of the tourist boats, usually middle-aged, hail from the three villages of the Kampong Phluk commune in Siem Reap's Prasat Bakong district, a popular natural tourism area on the Tonle Sap Lake.

Each morning during the rainy season, they gather under the shade of large trees, waiting to paddle tourists in their small wooden boats, which are equipped with mats, life vests, umbrellas and cushions.

These women, who are not just oarsmen, but skilled tour guides, are pleased to share their depth of knowledge about the local environment and the traditions of their communities, all maintaining a warm and friendly demeanor, according to the district administration.

Sang Kong, head of the Kampong Phluk Natural Tourism Community, explained that the group was established in 2013 and currently includes 1,058 boats.

Every family in the three villages — Tnaot Kambot, Dey Krahom, and Kork Kdol — owns a boat.

"We established this group to empower women by giving them occupations similar to men. We want to enhance the dignity of women, who were traditionally seen as confined to household tasks.

"Now, we have women who can take charge in the same way as their husbands and brothers," Kong said.

To ensure fairness, the boats are assigned to tourists on a rotational basis according to the number of daily visitors, meaning that not every craft is deployed every day.

Five boats belonging to the village's most elderly women are prioritized however, allowing their children or grandchildren to earn them an income without needing to follow the rotational system.

This occupation is only seasonal, lasting from August until late November or early December.

Tourists can enjoy experiences such as observing the local way of life — including stilt houses, fish and prahoc production — or rowing through the flooded forest to admire the scenery, do some bird watching or watch the sun set over the lake.

Khut Vanda, a member of the Meanchey Kampong Phluk Tourist Transportation Community, explained that the service costs $6, with each boat typically carrying two passengers on a 30-minute ride.

Each day, around 70 of the boats are in operation.

Additionally, around 800 larger boats crewed by men are available, at a cost of $20 for a two-and-a-half-hour trip.

"While men generally go fishing or operate larger boats, women have free time at home, so the community organized the option of paddling tourist boats, helping them to generate additional income to support their families," said Vanda.

"Most of the women are middle-aged or elderly. They have free time and grew up on the lake, so they are confident at handling their small vessels.

"Many tourists are particularly interested in the women skippers, after seeing posts on social media," he added.

According to Department of Information of Siem Reap Province, over 220,000 tourists visited Kampong Phluk in the first seven months of 2024.

THE PHNOM PENH POST, CAMBODIA