Pandaw River Cruises Restarting Sept 2022

Pandaw River Cruises Restarting

By Heidi Sarna

It feels like a lifetime ago that river cruising in Southeast Asia was up and running, thanks to the COVID pandemic that put a stop to leisure travel in spring 2020.

And while parts of Europe, North America and the South Pacific began restarting some of their small-ship cruises at various points in mid to late 2020, and in earnest in 2021 and this year, it’s taken Southeast Asia longer to open its borders due to a combination of factors.

After halting operations in March 2020 when the pandemic began, one of our very favorite small-ship lines is restarting — Pandaw is BACK!

The company tells us they are eagerly looking forward to restarting operations this September (2022), with the office in Ho Chi Minh City reopening with new reservations staff.

Family-owned Pandaw was started in 1995 and today operates a fleet of 17 traditional-style river boats that blend in perfectly with their surroundings.

Pandaw’s 17-boat fleet ranges in size from 20 to 60 passengers, including the 28-pax Champa Pandaw. * Photo: Pandaw

So, What’s New at Pandaw?

Lots!

Aside from spiffing up the fleet in preparation for cruising to resume at the end of the summer, there are quite a few exciting new developments.

A New Build for Pandaw in Northern Vietnam

Slated to launch to mid to late 2023, the new RV Song Hong (meaning Red River) will have just 10 cabins to carry a maximum of 20 passengers.

The boat’s ultra-low draft will allow it to sail to some even more off-the-beaten-track places in the Halong and Red River systems than its fleetmate in the region, the 32-pax RV Angkor Pandaw.

Song Hong will have the same classic Pandaw design, with plenty of teak wood and brass, while its 10 cabins will be a bit bigger than the classic Pandaw cabin, which are already roomy for a river boat.

A rendering of the outdoor deck on the soon-to-be-built Hong Song

A rendering of the outdoor deck on the soon-to-be-built Song Hong. * Rendering: Pandaw

More Pandaw in Laos

A third Pandaw boat is slated to be positioned in Laos due to high demand there. (In fact, I’m planning to do the 10-night Laos Mekong cruise in Feb 2023 — can’t wait! — stay tuned for my review!)

Starting in January, the 28-passenger RV Sabaidee Pandaw joins the 20-pax RV Laos Pandaw and 28-pax RV Champa Pandaw, cruising in Laos nearly year-round, Sept – April.

The 28-pax Sabaidee Pandaw. * Photo: Pandaw

Traditional Lower Mekong Routes

For those looking for a shorter cruise, the 56-passenger RV Indochina Pandaw is offering new back-to-back three- and four-night sailings between Saigon and Phnom Penh starting in October 2023.

There are lots of departures to choose from.

Fishing boats in a Mekong Delta harbour. * Photo: Pandaw

Special Promotions

On a fair number of select cruises, solo travelers can take advantage of “no single supplement,” meaning you can occupy a cabin alone without paying the double occupancy rate (cruise cabins are generally based on two people sharing).

Many cruise dates also offer a 10% “Discovery Discount.”

Further, “kids 18 and under cruise free” on selected dates across all itineraries.

Kids under 18 cruise free on a good number of Pandaw itineraries.

Kids under 18 cruise free on a good number of itineraries. * Photo: Pandaw

Travel Agents Get More Too

If you’re a travel agent, enjoy a 10% commission bonus (above your current commission arrangement) for Lower Mekong cruises this season (2022/2023).

There’s always something interesting to see on the waterways of SE Asia. Keep your eyes open. * Photo: Heidi Sarna

Is Southeast Asia Totally Open?

“Yes, we are pretty much back to normal now for Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and India,” reports a company spokesman.

He adds: “Myanmar is technically now open again, however travel advisories will not be changing any time soon that would permit travel to Myanmar. We don’t expect operations to resume until next year (2023) at the earliest.”

Southeast Asia is welcoming travelers again, some of whom bike on a Pandaw cruise

Southeast Asia is welcoming travelers again. * Photo: Pandaw

Vietnam Red River Cruises

Red River Cruises (10 nights) travel through Halong Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and into the Red River network, past Hanoi and into the mountains.

First Cruise: September 9, 2022, then weekly through April 2023.

Fares start at $3,222 USD per person.

Many dates are already full, and others are filling up fast.

Pandaw River Cruises Restarting including Vietnam

Vietnam Red River & Halong cruises. * Map: Pandaw

Vietnam & Cambodia Mekong River Cruises

Classic Mekong (7 nights) routes cruise the Mekong Delta and River between (near) Ho Chi Minh City and Cambodia’s Tonle Sap Lake near Siem Reap.

First Cruise: October 1 2022, then weekly 7-nighters through March 2023.

Fares for the 7 nighters start at $3,053 USD per person.

Beautiful Vietnam. * Photo: Heidi Sarna

3- and 4-night segments are also available between Ho Chi Minh City and Phnom Penh, and between Phnom Penh and Siem Reap; also starting October 1 2022 through March 2023.

Fares for the 3 nighters start at $1,570 USD per person.

Mekong River cruises in Cambodia & Vietnam. * Map: Pandaw

Laos & Thailand Pandaw River Cruises

Laos Mekong Cruises (10 nights) ply the Upper Mekong River between Laos Capital City Vientiane and Chiang Saen just across the border in Thailand.

First Cruise: October 12, 2022, then weekly through March 2023. Two ships operating this route until January, when three ships will be there.

Fares for the 10 nighters start at $3,924 USD per person.

Pandaw restarts including Laos Mekong River cruises

Laos Mekong River cruises. * Map: Pandaw

Moored along the Mekong in Laos. * Photo: Pandaw

India River Cruises in Partnership with Pandaw

Upper Ganges (14 nights) river cruises sail between Kolkata and Varanasi.

First cruise: October 18, 2022 through March 2023, with very limited departures.

Fares for the 14 nighters start at $6,076 USD per person.

Lower Ganges (7 nights), round-trip river cruises out of Kolkata.

First cruise: Limited departures running November 2022 through May 2023.

Fares for the 7 nighters start at $3,375 USD per person.

Pandaw restarting including India river cruises

India river cruises. * Map: Pandaw

The Suites are Coming, the Suites are Coming … by Fall 2023

Slated to launch in late 2023, the four Pandaw river boats that ply the Lower Mekong — the Mekong Pandaw, Tonle Pandaw, Orient Pandaw and Pandaw II — will be reconfigured to offer a selection of suites.

The suites will be a combination of two regular Pandaw cabins to offer even more space (the standard cabins are already quite spacious for a river boat!) plus a private balcony and lounge area.

More info here.

The spacious suites will measure 336 square feet, including a private balcony and sitting area. Amenities include an espresso machine and mini-bar, with a welcome bottle of champagne. * Rendering: Pandaw

Should you feel confident booking Pandaw?

Some months after Pandaw paused operations due to the pandemic in March 2020, they then announced in October 2021, with the pandemic still wreaking havoc in Southeast Asia especially, and Myanmar in crisis, that they would be closing down for good. Read more HERE.

It was a very sad day for all of us Pandaw river cruise lovers.

Then, because dreams really do come true, a few months later, Pandaw was back, having secured financing to re-open as soon as it was safe to do so.

Heidi & Cruise Cirector Poly on her last Pandaw cruise in Vietnam. * Photo: Heidi Sarna

So, should you trust Pandaw won’t close its doors again?

Pandaw is a family-owned company run and by founded by the Strachan family. They have a deep passion for what Pandaw is all about.

Here’s a bit about how the company first started:

“The Old Irrawaddy Flotilla Company was revived in 1995 by the Burma historian Paul Strachan.

The Strachans were the first to offer river cruises on the Irrawaddy since colonial times. Local boats were chartered and converted and the spirit of high adventure was experienced by a new generation of travellers.

In 1998, Strachan discovered an original Clyde-built steamer called the Pandaw and arranged for its lease and restoration. Thus Pandaw was born and a unique concept and style of river cruising was created…”

Read more about Pandaw here.

The Strachan family on board, Paul on left. * Photo: Pandaw

Mr Strachan has written an extensive series of articles (he’s also written a book), posted on the Pandaw website in the “Paul Strachan Blog,” which detail the fascinating history of the Irrawaddy Flotilla Company in the old days, and the region as it was then and is now. He shares some wonderful vintage photos as well.

He starts off his “An Irrawaddy Voyage” blog like this:

“By the 1920s, travel to Burma became all the rage. To give an idea of the destination’s popularity, over a hundred books were published about Burma travels lapped up by the armchair travelling public. There were lavishly illustrated books describing journeys through river valley and coasts; books about plant gathering in the mountains, from which came so many of our garden rhododendrons and azaleas; books about sporting in Burma, with its big game hunting that was said to rival Africa; there was even a book about mahseer fishing on the upper Irrawaddy.

Burma came late to the empire and with its magical atmosphere and pristine ancient culture, it called out to those seeking the mystical east, with great unexplored tracts of country and of course great rivers that offered an enchanting monotony.

After disembarking from a Bibby Liner or a Paddy Henderson steamer at the Rangoon docks along the Strand Road after a three-week voyage out, the traveller would transfer to one of the great Rangoon hotels, many of which were owned by the Armenian Sarkies family. The Strand survives, tragically ‘restored’ so badly that little of the original architecturally or atmospherically, remains. Other options were the Minto Mansions, British India or Orient hotels. There was a Thomas Cook office on Phayre Street, close to the IFC office, and here mail or telegrams could be received, traveller’s cheques cashed, and onward travel arrangements made.

Any trip to Burma would include a voyage on an Irrawaddy Flotilla Company steamer. Some chose to go all the way to Mandalay from Rangoon on a great line steamer which took eight days in the 1920s, while othersbooked a Rangoon to Mandalay cargo steamer as these were the slow boats which provided more time ashore in the many fascinating ports of call. Some would take the train to Prome and join the ship there, cutting the journey down to five days. Those wishing to go to Bhamo might take the train to Mandalay or even up Katha and jump on one of the weekly smaller shallow draft steamers that plied this route.

Whichever route was chosen no one ‘did’ Burma without a cruise on a flotilla steamer, which was a real highlight…”

Read more here.

Saloon of Rangoon-Mandalay Express Steamer from Pandaw blog

Saloon of Rangoon-Mandalay Express Steamer. * Image: https://www.pandaw.com/blog/cruise/an-irrawaddy-voyage

An old laid-up Irrawaddy ship. * Image: https://www.pandaw.com/blog/cruise/an-irrawaddy-voyage

What’s included on a Pandaw cruise?

A Pandaw river cruise offers very good value, here’s what’s included:

Roomy air-conditioned outside cabins with en-suite bathrooms
All onboard meals
All excursions led by English-speaking guides
Happy Hour cocktails each evening before dinner
Local mineral water (from a cooler from which guests use refillable tin water bottles they are given as take-home gifts)
Jugged coffee, tea & snacks
Use of bicycles carried aboard (typically 2 to 10 bikes per boat)

Free-flow drinks packages can be purchased in a few combinations, here:

https://www.pandaw.com/addon/free-flow-drinks

https://www.pandaw.com/addon/pre-bookable-house-wine-package

https://www.pandaw.com/addon/free-flow-drinks-wine-package

You can also purchase wine, beers and spirits on an à la carte and pay your tab at the end of the cruise..