There can be no tapestry of river life as fascinating and varied as the River Mekong. Indeed there can be no more striking a cultural contrast as that between the bustling Vietnam delta and the tranquility of Cambodia. We pass from the vibrant French colonial port of Saigon, through the vast delta so rich in human life and endeavour, to travel along the main channel into the rich countryside of Cambodia. Your journey will end in Cambodia’s capital Phnom Penh.
In 2003, with the RV Mekong Pandaw, we were the first ship to attempt this extraordinary journey, surmounting complex bureaucratic and navigational obstacles. We now have four ships plying this amazing waterway.
3 or 4 nights Saigon - Phnom Penh from US$1,100
Visiting Cities: Saigon – My Tho – Sa Dec – Chau Doc – Phnom Penh or vice versa
Phone: +84 982 661 133
Number of Cabins: 28 rooms
Checkin time: 14:00
Checkout time: 12:00
Room rates: $ 1100 - $ 1630
- BRIEF
- ITINERARY
- PRICE
- CABIN INFO
- DECKPLANS
- MAP
BRIEF
RV TONLE PANDAW
Modelled on Pandaw II and originally called Pandaw III, the Tonle saw a year’s service in Burma in 2002/3 before being sent under tug-tow to the Mekong where she has done continuous service between Saigon and Kampong Cham ever since. With her gorgeous upper deck saloon, observation decks and formal dining room this ship is an old favourite and has a rich ambience. In 2013 she was fully refitted and the number of cabins reduced to just twenty-eight in order to create a professional spa and library on the lower deck. She is not a small ship but despite her size she has a shallow draft and can usually get up river into low water areas when other vessels are stuck well below.
The ship has quality mountain bikes for your independent exploration.
CRUISE INFO
- Build 2002 in Yangon, refit 2013
- Length: 180ft / 54.8m
- Beam: 33.13ft / 10.10m
- Draft: 4ft / 1.5m
- Berths: 56 pax
ITINERARY
3 NIGHTS SAIGON – PHNOM PENH (UP STREAM)
Saigon – My Tho – Sa Dec – Chau Doc – Phnom Penh
Day 1: My ThoMorning transfer from Saigon to embark on your Pandaw vessel in time for welcome drinks, a briefing and lunch. Sail across the vast Mekong Delta.
Your guide will collect your passports at the meeting point so we can arrange the immigration formalities.
Day 2: Sa Dec
Sampan boat excursion to Sa Dec via Vinh Long, along canals and backwaters and see the local market and the ancient house of Mr, Huyn Thuy Le, the 'lover' of Marguerite Duras, a famous French novelist whose book was imortalised in the film L’Indochine.
Day 3: Chau Doc
Visit a Moslem Cham tribal village and a cat fish farm in Chau Doc with our guide or do your own thing and take off on one of our mountain bikes. The local market is great and the Catholic Church well worth a visit. Return to the ship by boat for lunch and cast off for the Cambodian border for the usual formalities.
Day 4: Phnom Penh
Disembark in Cambodia’s capital, Phnom Penh, after breakfast.
Please note: Our crew will hand out your passports after the immigration formalities at 10.00am. Please let us know if you plan to leave the ship earlier due to flight connections.
TRANSFERS & JOINING
Day 1: My Tho
Transfer from the InterContinental Asiana Saigon Hotel in Saigon to the port of My Tho by coach to embark cruise.
Registration Details
INTERCONTINENTAL ASIANA SAIGON HOTEL
Registration is at 10.00am
THE LIBRARY Bar, ground floor next to the hotel’s reception, 39 Le Duan Street, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Tel: (+84) 8 3520 9999
Day 4: Phnom Penh
Disembark in Cambodia’s capital, Phnom Penh, at the International Passenger Pier at Sisowath Quay, next to Titanic Restaurant.
4 NIGHTS PHNOM PENH – SAIGON (DOWN STREAM)
Phnom Penh – Tonle River – Chau Doc – My Tho – Saigon
Day 1: Phnom PenhEmbark the ship by lunchtime. Afternoon and evening at leisure to discover the city on your own.
Day 2: Tonle River
Explorations up Tonle River to a silver making village, Kampong Trolach, and Chong Koh either by ship or by coach depending on water levels. This river is very pretty and there is a vibrant local life to be viewed along the river banks and in lesser craft.
Day 3: Vietnam Border
Sail for the border and formalities and then continue to Tan Chau for the evening.
Day 4: Chau Doc
Morning either visit a Moslem Cham tribal village and a cat fish farm in Chau Doc with our guide or do your own thing and take off on one of our mountain bikes. The local market is great and the Catholic Church well worth a visit. Afternoon Sampan boat excursion to Sa Dec via Vinh Long, along canals and backwaters and see the local market and the ancient house of Mr, Huyn Thuy Le, the 'lover' of Marguerite Duras, a famous French novelist whose book was imortalised in the film L’Indochine. Moor overnight at Cai Be.
Day 5: My Tho to Saigon
Early morning sail from Cai Be for My Tho, where passengers disembark in the early morning for a coach transfer to Saigon. Arrive in Saigon late morning at around 10.30am.
TRANSFERS & JOINING
Day 1: Phnom Penh
Registration Details
The check-in time should be no later than 12.00 noon, as we need your passport to process the immigration formalities for the border crossing. Please hand out your passports to our crew at embarkation.
The ship is moored at the tourist jetty at Sisowath Quay, walking distance from the Royal Palace.
Day 5: My Tho to Saigon
Disembark in the early morning for a coach transfer to the InterContinental Asiana Saigon Hotel, arriving late morning at around 10.30am.
PRICE
Please Contact us our Travel Consultants for more details about the availability and best offer (promotion or early bird) or secret deals!
- Entrance fees
- guide services (English language)
- Gratuities to crew
- Main meals
- Locally made soft drinks
- Local beer and local spirits
- Jugged coffee and selection of teas and tisanes, mineral water
- Transfers between the meeting point and the ship at the start and end of a voyage.
- International flights
- Port dues (if levied)
- Laundry
- All visa costs
- Fuel surcharges (see terms and conditions)
- Imported beverages such as wines, premium spirits and liqueurs, fancy soft drinks like Perrier, espressos and cappuccinos at bar
- Tips to tour guides, local guides, bus drivers, boat operators and cyclo drivers.
Cancellation / Prepayment policy
BOOKING CONDITIONSPlease read the following pages prior to making your booking. Once the booking is made either directly or through a travel agent a contract exists between the passenger and Pandaw.
PAYMENT TERMS
A 20% deposit of your total booking value with Pandaw is required upon confirmation and is non refundable. Final balance must be paid 61 days before departure or the booking will be cancelled and the deposit forfeited.
Certain special offers may require higher non-refunable deposits. These will be advised to you at the time of booking.
Cruise Cancellation and Refund
Cancellations for all or any part of the trip will not be effective until received in writing in the offices of Pandaw. Should you have to cancel, the following terms will apply:
- From time of booking until 61 day prior to departure non-refundable deposit
- From 60 days and less till departure, no show, late arrival or early return 100% cancellation fee
Note: We strongly recommend for your protection that you purchase a trip cancellation insurance.
Pre and Post Reservation Cancellation and Refund
Cancellation of a Pandaw Pre or Post Reservations is cancellation is subject to a per person administrative fee from the time of booking through 61 days prior to your scheduled Pandaw trip.
- From 60 days prior to departure through 45 days prior a 0 per person penalty will apply
- From 45 days prior to 30 days prior a 75% per person penalty will apply.
- Cancellations received in our office 29 days or less prior to departure, no-show, or early return from the trip will result in forfeiture of 100% of all monies paid to Pandaw.
Because these cancellation policies are strictly enforced, we strongly recommend for your protection that you purchase trip cancellation insurance.
CURRENCY
All cruises, land tours and hotels are quoted in USD unless otherwise indicated.
PORT TAXES
On rivers where port taxes are applied by the relevant authorities, these charges will be added to your booking invoice.
CREDIT CARDS
The cruise accepts ONLY Visa and Mastercard for settlement of all cruise booking invoices as well as charges incurred on board. NO OTHER CREDIT CARDS ARE ACCEPTED. Any transactions over USD 10,000, will be subject to an additional charge of 2% and will be levied on the invoice accordingly.
Terms and Conditions of Carriage
1. Though every effort will be made to ensure that the published itinerary is followed as closely as possible, given uncertain river and other local conditions, all schedules and itineraries may be subject to alterations and delays at short notice.
2. The ship’s purser and captain are jointly responsible for passengers’ comfort and safety. Passengers must accept their decisions and instructions.
3. Whilst our crew do everything in their power to facilitate landings, access to the ship at certain river stations can be difficult, with steep and sometimes slippery river banks. Elderly passengers should consult their doctor to ensure that they are fit for travel. Wheel chairs are not allowed.
4. In the case of water levels being too high or low or defects to the vessel beyond the control of the company an alternative itinerary will be offered to passengers after consultation between the ship’s captain and the company’s management, subject to accommodation and meals being maintained on board the vessel unless by prior agreement with the passenger.
5. Should it prove difficult to embark or disembark passengers at the scheduled points the company are not liable to bear any extra cost of transporting passengers to and from the revised point of embarkation or disembarkation unless passengers or their agents have purchased a complete package tour which includes land services from us. Any reason for changing the points of embarkation or disembarkation can not count as a reason for cancelling this contract.
6. Passengers should seek advice from their doctor regarding relevant inoculations and prophylactics for travel to these countries.
7. Passengers must be fully insured to cover any risk of medical expenses and repatriation (which includes repatriation of remains) and the Company is in no way responsible for such liabilities. Passengers must settle before departure any medical bills incurred whilst on a company ship for doctor’s attendance, drugs supplied, and any other medical facilities provided by the company for the passenger.
8. Once a booking has been received through a sales agent or directly from the passenger a contract exists between the Company and the passenger and these terms and conditions must be adhered to by both parties.
9. Unless otherwise agreed agents are responsible for the transfer of their passengers to and from the ship on time and in the event of a late arrival the ship is not obliged to delay departure thereby upsetting tight schedules.
10. The company accept no liability or responsibility for loss or damage to passenger’s property whilst on board a company vessel.
11. During the river stops on the company provide an guide service in the English language. Foreign language guides must be pre booked and there may be extra charges for this. Personal guides must be booked at normal rates in passenger accommodation.
12. The company reserve the right to refuse to allow anyone on board if a ticket can not be produced and the company can not guarantee the exact allocation of cabins and deck location which may in the event of extenuating circumstances differ from the cabin number indicated on the ticket.
13. Within the ticket price fuel costs have been calculated on average prices as of the publication of this document. Should fuel prices rise by more than 10% the company will be entitled to impose a fuel supplement equivalent to the amount by which the fuel price exceeds the price allowed for in the contract.
14. It is not permitted to allow any breed of animal on board.
15. Children under 4 travel FREE if sleeping in a cot in the same cabin. Children from over 4 years up to 18 years old get:
- 1 adult and 1 child – 1 cabin – child receives 50% reduction from adult price.
- 2 adults and 1 child – 2 cabins – 1 cabin with no single supplement and 50% reduction for the child.
- 2 adults and 2 children – 2 cabins – 50% reduction for both children.
- Larger family groups – prices on request.
16. In the event of a dispute the law of the country in which the vessel is operating will apply.
17. The company reserves the right to change the vessel without notice.
18. Payment terms and cancellation policy is printed on an invoice issued for each booking whether for an individual or for a group. Passengers and their agents must abide these terms and the company reserve the right to either cancel an existing reservation or to refuse passage in the event that these terms have not been adhered to.
19. In the event that one passenger enters into a commercial or other form of relationship or arrangement with another passenger the company is no way liable for the obligations of one passenger to another passenger or any claim arising thereof.
20. For cruise departures where occupancy is less than 5 cabins the company reserve the right to cancel the departure giving all passengers with confirmed bookings 30 days prior notice of this intention. An alternative departure date will be offered subject to availability. If this alternative date is not acceptable to the passenger any down payments made for the cancelled cruise will be refunded. In the event that a passenger has cancelled and paid cancellation fees and the Company subsequently cancel that departure then any cancellation fees (and down payment) will be refunded in full on the request of the passenger.
21. The company reserves the right to change a cabin allocated without notice and in the event that a passenger is downgraded to a cheaper cabin then the difference in cost between the cabins will be refunded to the passenger or the passenger’s agents.
22. Force Majeure: in the case of circumstances beyond normal control, such as war, civil or political unrest, strikes, catastrophes, epidemics or disruption to fuel supplies for the vessel, the Company may cancel the cruise and there will be a full refund of all monies paid by the passenger. In the event of a cruise being cancelled as a result of the above force majeure situations following the commencement of that cruise period then monies will not be refunded.
23. As the company acts as an agent of balloon flight operating companies, the company is not liable for any optional balloon flights booked on behalf of passengers (either booked via the company or by the passenger directly with the balloon flight operator). The contract and liability for any passengers booking optional balloon flights is directly between the passenger and the balloon operating company, whose terms and conditions apply.
CABIN INFO
ACCOMMODATION
- 18 upper deck, 10 main deck staterooms
- 170 square feet, finished in teak and brass
- Panoramic French window, leading to personal deck space
- New bathrooms with natural stone shower and branded quality fittings
- Kimonos and slippers
- Spa-branded amenities
- Unlimited mineral water
- Electric mini safe
- Central AC with individual control
- Imported quality linens with duvet and two kind of pillows
- Premium mattresses
- Convertible bed configuration
- Welcome flower arrangement and welcome gift
- Mirror
- Multi-configuration plugs
- Generous closet space and under-bed storage
- Hair dryer
- Daily nightly turndown service
- 24h laundry service
- Complimentary evening canapés.
DECK PLAN
MAP
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
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