Pandaw on the Mekong at a glance
Pandaw currently operates 5 river-cruise vessels on the Mekong, with an average passenger count of 37. The line is headquartered in Edinburgh / Yangon and was founded in 1995; Pandaw was founded by Paul Strachan in 1995 to revive the Irrawaddy Flotilla Company tradition. Its small, two-deck, all-teak vessels run the Irrawaddy, Chindwin, Mekong, Red, Halong Bay and the upper reaches of rivers other operators cannot reach.
The Mekong itself flows through China, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam over 4350 kilometres. Mekong cruises run between My Tho or Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam and Phnom Penh or Siem Reap in Cambodia, typically as part of a longer fly-cruise package that also includes the temples of Angkor Wat. Ships are smaller and shallower than European vessels, with colonial-era wood detailing and open-air observation decks. Headline destinations served by Pandaw on this river include Ho Chi Minh City, Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, Tonlé Sap lake, the Cai Be floating market.
Pandaw ships sailing the Mekong
| Ship | Passengers | Launched |
|---|---|---|
| RV Angkor Pandaw | 32 | 2014 |
| RV Champa Pandaw | 28 | 2017 |
| RV Indochina Pandaw | 46 | 2009 |
| RV Mekong Pandaw | 48 | 2003 |
| RV Tonlé Pandaw | 30 | 2008 |
Featured itineraries
| Itinerary | Length | Sample ports |
|---|---|---|
| Vietnam, Cambodia & the Riches of the Mekong | 11 nights | Ho Chi Minh City · My Tho · Sa Dec · Tan Chau · Phnom Penh · Kampong Cham · Siem Reap |
| Charms of the Mekong | 8 nights | Siem Reap · Phnom Penh · Tan Chau · Sa Dec · Ho Chi Minh City |