The RV Pandaw Cruise
They now have four beautifully crafted Pandaw ships in operation . Each ship, hand finished in brass and teak by traditional craftsmen are in themselves objects of great beauty. The secret of our success is that on our ships, whilst luxury and comfort are discreetly present, it is the colonial character and friendly atmosphere that predominate. All our Pandaws have ultra shallow drafts and can travel to remote areas, which would be unreachable by other vessels, let alone overland.
Pandaw Cabin
The Pandaw stateroom is the most celebrated feature of our ships. Finished in brass and teak, the main and upper deck rooms are very spacious at 168 square feet. Much loved by all our passengers we have ensured that with each ship we build the stateroom remains the same. Our cabins do not have mini-bars, satellite TV’s, internet or phones. There is a 24 honesty bar on the sundeck. Pandaw passengers usually want to escape from the tiresome features found in international business hotels. We ask our crews never to arrive in port early and sit there tied up - indeed better to slow down if ahead of schedule.
Many passengers describe life on board a Pandaw more like being a guest on a private motor yacht than a cruise ship. Where we go and what we see is intrepid in extreme. What you come back to is a floating base of discreet comfort, caring service and all the good things one looks for in life.
4 Decks : Lower Deck , Main Deck , Upper Deck , Sun Deck
1. Day 1: Saigon – My Tho – Caibe ( D )
Pick up at your hotel in Saigon, transfer to meeting point at Sofitel Plaza hotel. Transfer to the port of
My Tho by coach to embark cruise.
Day 2: Caibe – Sadec – Cu Lao Gien ( B, L, D)
In the morning passengers will take an exciting Sampan boat excursion to Sa Dec via Vinh Long, along
canals and backwaters. Passengers will visit Cai Be and its colourful floating market and Sa De to see
the local market and the ancient house of Mr, Huyn Thuy Le, the 'lover' of Marguerite Duras, a famous
French novelist. In the afternoon, we visit Cu Lao Gien island and a Catholic monastery called 'La
Providence'.
Day 3: Chau doc – Border Crossing ( B, L,D )
Visit a Cham tribal village, a cat fish farm, and enjoy a trishaw ride round Chau Doc. Return to the
ship by boat for lunch and cast off for the Cambodian border for the usual formalities.
Day 4: Phnompenh ( B, L, D)
Passengers will visit Phnom Penh and will be provided with their own private cyclo*. The Cyclo Centre
Phnom Penh which provides the cyclos is a charity that provides basic welfare and medical services to
cyclo drivers
In the afternoon, optional excursion (by coach) to the Killing Fields and the Khmer Rouge's grim Tuol
Sleng or S21 detention centre. This tour is included in the cost of your cruise but must be requested at
the time of booking in the comments box.
Day 5: Tonle River – Kampong Chhnang ( B, L,D )
Excursion up the Tonle River to Kampong Chhnang either by ship or by coach depending on water
levels. In Kampong Chhnang passengers will take a wonderful motor boat excursion into the lakeside
wetlands that form the mouth of the river. Here many fishtraps may be seen.
Day 6: Kampong Cham – mekong river ( B, L,D )
We stop at the little-known Chong Koh silk-weaving village for a morning walk at leisure. In the
afternoon we stop at Peam Chi Kang village to visit the wat or monastery and school. In the wat the
splendid village racing boats are stored.
Add : 416, Vinh Hung St, Hoang Mai Dist, Hanoi.
Tel : (84-4) 3 768 9470 - Fax: (84-4) 3 768 7604
Email : sales@vietnamcruises.asia
Website : www.vietnamcruises.asia
2. Day 7: Kampong Cham Area ( B, L, D )
Passengers visit the hilltop temple of Wat Hanchey in the morning. In the afternoon, travel by bus to
visit the Twin Holy mountains of Phnom Pros and Phnom Srey (Man and Woman Hill). Continuation to
the ecotourism village of Choeungkok supported by the Frech-Cambodian NGO Amica and the
Pandaw-supported Kampong Cham orphanage.
Day 8: Transfer to Siemreap ( B )
Early morning coach transfer to the Raffles Hotel D'Angkor in Siem Reap. Refreshments will be
provided and we will stop at Kampong Thom along the way. Arrive at Siem Reap mid afternoon.
Tour price Include:
- 08 days Pandawcruise as stated above
- 07 nights in RV Mekong Pandaw or the RV Tole Sap Pandaw
- English speaking guide on board
- Transfer as stated in the itinerary
- Meals as indicated in the itinerary with local foods (B= Breakfast, L= Lunch, D= Dinner)
- Admission fees and permits where applicable
- Government taxes and service charge
Tour Price Exclude:
- Vietnam visa arrangement (upon request visa on arrival at 15 USD, not including stamping fee at 25
USD
- Visa in Cambodia (available at the border at 27 USD/visa)
- Cambodia port tax at 65 USD/person
- Travel insurance
- Other personal expenses
Services:
Dining & Bar
The Pandaw dining rooms are designed to open up along the sides and only at night do we close them
up and use air conditioning. We know our passengers want fresh air not chilled air.
We offer a great choice of local cuisine and exotic foods. We source supplies as locally as possible,
given environmental health regulations. Breakfast and lunch are buffets and dinner is served at the
tables. Passengers who do not like hot or spicy foods are offered European alternatives and
vegetarians are well catered for. Our chefs know that the majority of passengers want to eat the best
of each country they pass through.
Add : 416, Vinh Hung St, Hoang Mai Dist, Hanoi.
Tel : (84-4) 3 768 9470 - Fax: (84-4) 3 768 7604
Email : sales@vietnamcruises.asia
Website : www.vietnamcruises.asia
3. Promenade Decks
Sailing on a Pandaw is essentially an outdoor experience. Whilst the staterooms are very comfortable
and roomy, passengers prefer to spend their time sitting outside, on the promenade decks or on the
vast observation deck above. Unlike other cruise ships every window (except port holes on lower
deck) can open.
Exploratory shore excursions are led by local guides. When sailing our passengers sit on deck and
become absorbed by great panoramas as they unfold about them. Spellbound, one cannot help but to
meditate upon the unceasing human and wildlife activity of these teaming waterworlds.
Crew
28 per vessel of mixed Asean nationalities
Add : 416, Vinh Hung St, Hoang Mai Dist, Hanoi.
Tel : (84-4) 3 768 9470 - Fax: (84-4) 3 768 7604
Email : sales@vietnamcruises.asia
Website : www.vietnamcruises.asia