DAY 1, SUNDAY AUSTRALIA~SINGAPORE~SAIGON
Fly with Singapore Airlines to Saigon via Singapore. Some departures may require overnight accommodation in Singapore, due to flight schedules requiring departure from Australia on the Saturday. On arrival into Saigon, you’ll be assisted through immigration and customs before being transferred in an air-conditioned vehicle with an English speaking guide to the Caravelle Hotel.
DAY 2, MONDAY (B, L) SAIGON
After breakfast enjoy a morning sightseeing tour with your local guide, visiting some of the ‘essential sights’ of this city, including its Reunification Palace, once known as the Presidential Palace. You’ll also visit the picturesque colonial City Hall, General Post Office, Former US Embassy, Ben Thanh Market and Notre Dame Cathedral before enjoying lunch
at a local restaurant. Return to your hotel this afternoon.
DAY 3, TUESDAY (B, L, D) SAIGON~MY THO
After breakfast you’ll transfer to My Tho Cruise Port to board the new Indochina Pandaw. Sail upstream during lunch before mooring near Cai Be in the afternoon. Enjoy a fascinating trip by traditional junk to explore evergreen islands and An Kiet House, the former Imperial residence. Indochina will moor mid-stream overnight in Cai Be.
DAY 4, WEDNESDAY (B, L, D) CAI BE~VINH LONG~SADEC~CULAO GIEN~CHAU DOC Half day cruise excursion on board traditional sampan boats to Sad Dec via Vinh Long, along small canals and back waters. Begin by visiting Cai Be and its colorful floating market. Cruise further by Sampan to Dong Hoa Hiep islet to explore the rural life and the daily activities of the delta inhabitants. Back on board your sampan, we will cruise up the Tien River where we see water hyacinths, and then visit a traditional brick and tile factory. You will also visit the splendid ancient house of Mr. Huyn Thuy Le, the “lover” of Marguerite Duras, famous French novelist and inspiration for the film L'Amant-The Lover.
After lunch on board, cast off for Chau Doc. En route visit Cu Lao Gien island and a Catholic monastery called “La Providence” built in 1875 by the French nuns of “Saint Paul de Chartres”. Cu Lao Gien became an important Catholic centre with mission, an orphanage, school, hospice and leprosy centre that can treat 1,000 people.
DAY 5, THURSDAY (B, L, D) CHAU DOC / BORDER CROSSING
Crossing from the main Mekong channel at Tan Chau, you’ll travel by local ferry boat through canals and backwaters. Arrive at Chau Doc to transfer to a smaller boat to visit a Cham tribal village and cat fish farm. Then enjoy a trishaw ride round this fascinating town
of fine French-colonial buildings and its bustling market. Return to the ship for lunch before casting off for the Cambodian border. The evening’s cruise takes you up the broad Mekong channel, an international shipping route, for an overnight mooring near Phnom Penh.
DAY 6, FRIDAY (B, L, D) PHNOM PENH
The capital of Cambodia retains its French charm with several impressive wats, including Wat Ounalom, Wat Phnom and the newly-painted Wat Lang Ka. Pride of place goes to the Royal Palace and to the equally spectacular Silver Pagoda—one of the few places where artifacts embodying the brilliance and richness of Khmer culture were preserved by the
Khmer Rouge. The National Museum also has rewarding displays of Khmer crafts. Take an afternoon excursion into the suburbs for a very moving Killing Fields visit, including the Khmer Rouge’s grim Tuol Sleng (or S21 detention centre). Afterwards, spend some time at the Russian or Central markets. And, as Phnom Penh has a lively night life, youmay choose to dine ashore or try one of its watering-holes; perhaps the Foreign Correspondents’ Club.
DAY 7, SATURDAY (B, L, D) PHNOM PENH TO TONLE RIVER Early morning sail the Tonle River which connects Tonle Lake with the Mekong and Basaac Rivers that merge at Phnom Penh.
1. Low water, approximately November to July
The river journey to Kampong Chhnang is one of the highlight of the trip. Temples abound along the river banks at Kampong Chhnang, and we see the rich tapestry of Cambodian rural life. This is a busy rural port town with bustling markets. Mooring mid-stream, we make a truly wonderful motor boat excursion into the lakeside wetlands that form the mouth of the river. Here a stunning variety of birdlife may be seen and of considerable interest are the great fish traps.
2. High water, approximately July to November.
Stop at Preak Dom Bridge. Proceed by coach to Kampong Chhnang where we can see the rich tapestry of Cambodian rural life. This is a busy rural port town with bustling markets. We make a truly wonderful motor boat excursion into the lakeside wetlands that form the mouth of the river. Here a stunning variety of birdlife may be seen and of considerable interest are the great fish traps. Back to the ship at lunch time before a late afternoon departure from Kompong Chhnang heading for Phnom Penh. Moor overnight mid-river.
DAY 8, SUNDAY (B, L, D) KAMPONG CHAM (Mekong River) We glance by the capital Phnom Penh in the early morning to change pilots, and then stop at the little-known Chong Koh silk weaving village for a morning walk at leisure. We cruise past the Mekong’s timeless villages and river life with extensive fishing activities. In the afternoon we stop at Peam Chi Kang village to visit the wat or monastery and school. Passengers are at leisure to explore this peaceful and friendly community.
DAY 9, MONDAY (B, L, D) KAMPONG CHAM AREA
This morning, journey upriver to the hilltop pre-Angkorian temple of Wat Hanchey. Dating to the 8th century, these ancient brick structures characterize the architecture of the Chenla Empire which predated the glories of Angkor. Sail back downstream over lunch for an exploration of the Kampong Cham Area. We travel by bus to the 12th century Angkorian temple of Wat Nokor. This colorful temple is unique in Cambodia, as a modern Wat is set within the ruins of an ancient temple. We continue to the eco village of Cheungkok supported by the French-Cambodian NGO AMICA and the Kampong Cham orphanage, supported by the Pandaw ProBono programme.
DAY 10, TUESDAY (B) KAMPONG CHAM TO SIEM REAP Disembark early morning and receive a coach transfer to the Raffles Hotel d'Angkor in Siem Reap stopping via Kampong Thom en route.
DAY 11, WEDNESDAY (B, L) SIEM REAP After breakfast, you will visit the magnificent Angkor Thom; last capital of the Khmers, with its Elephant Terrace, Terrace of the Leper King and the spectacular Bayon Temple, which is surrounded by two long walls of extraordinary bas-relief scenes of legendary and historical events. There are over 200 “faces” in the walls here—silent with their famous
half-smiles. You will enjoy lunch at the Café Indochine Restaurant, before visiting Thommanon, Chau Say, Tevoda, Ta Keo and Ta Prohm, the temple that has been left largely in its natural state. Surrounded by jungle, its labyrinth of stone hallways are overgrown with the roots and limbs of massive banyan trees.
DAY 12, THURSDAY (B) SIEM REAP~SINGAPORE~AUSTRALIA
After breakfast, you’ll be transferred to Siem Reap Airport for your flight home to Australia.
EXTENSIONS IN CAMBODIA/ VIETNAM/ LAOS If you wish to extend your stay in either Vietnam or Cambodia pre or post - there are a number of exciting extension options available in the brochure.
* Ports of call may vary based on itinerary and departure dates selected
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15-Jul-12
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29-Jul-12
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$7,368
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26-Aug-12
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UPPER DECK: Upstream Saigon to Angkor
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3-Jun-12
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17-Jun-12
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$7,698
$278
$3,664
1-Jul-12
$3,899
$0
$7,798
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15-Jul-12
$3,899
$300
$7,798
$450
$3,599
29-Jul-12
$3,849
$185
$7,698
$278
$3,664
12-Aug-12
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$185
$7,698
$278
$3,664
26-Aug-12
$3,849
$185
$7,698
$278
$3,664
9-Sep-12
$4,449
$800
$8,898
$1,200
$3,649
23-Sep-12
$4,499
$550
$8,998
$825
$3,949
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Cabin Pricing
Ports
Saigon
The official name for Vietnam's largest city is Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC). However, Saigon is still popular and used in this region, especially by southern Vietnamese adn expat. With a myriad of different things to see and do in this dynamic developing city, visitors can spend a whole month exploring Saigon and nearby area, enjoying its people, culture, custom and food.
Country: Vietnam Distance from Port to City: 0Kms Distance to Airport: 0Kms Currency: Dong (VND)
Places of Interest: Reunification Palace (Dinh Thống Nhất), Notre-Dame Cathedral (Nhà thờ Đức Bà).
My Tho
My Tho, the quiet capital city of Tien Giang province, is the traditional gateway to the delta, owing to its proximity to HCMC. Visitors on a whirlwind Vietnam tour often take a day trip here to catch a glimpse of the famous river. In order to visit floating markets, however, you’ll need to continue on to Can Tho. The town itself is an important market town, and its quaint but busy waterfront is easily explored on foot.
Country: Vietnam Distance from Port to City: 0Kms Distance to Airport: 0kms Currency: Dong (VND)
Places of Interest: Boat trip on the Mekong River, My Tho Market.
Cai Be
Cái Bè is a river-land mixed town in Vietnam. It is a district (huyện) of Tien Giang Province in the Mekong Delta region of Vietnam. Along the river are docks that handle passengers and goods, and also the floating market.
Country: Vietnam Distance from Port to City: 0Kms Distance to Airport: 0Kms
Places of Interest:
Vinh Long
A bit more chaotic than other Mekong towns of its size, Vinh Long has noisy, motorbike-filled streets, though its riverfront (and its several restaurants) make for a pleasant escape from the mayhem. Despite the lack of in-town attractions, Vinh Long is the gateway to river islands and some worthwhile sites, including the Cai Be floating market, orchards and homestays – which can be a highlight of a Mekong journey. Vinh Long is the capital of Vinh Long province and situated about midway between My Tho and Can Tho.
Country: Vietnam Distance from Port to City: 0Kms Distance to Airport: 0Kms
Places of Interest:
Chau Doc
Perched on the banks of the Bassac River, Chau Doc is a pleasant town near the Cambodian border with sizable Chinese, Cham and Khmer communities. Its cultural diversity – apparent in the mosques, temples, churches and nearby pilgrimage sites – makes it a fascinating place to explore even if you aren’t headed to Cambodia. Taking a boat trip to the Cham communities across the river is another highlight, though its addictive market and peaceful waterfront make fine backdrops to a few days of relaxing before heading out.
Country: Vietnam Distance from Port to City: 0Kms Distance to Airport: 0Kms
Places of Interest:
Kampong Cham
Kampong Cham is the third largest city in Cambodia, but has yet to be heavily touristed like Phnom Penh or Siem Reap. It carries with it plenty of colonial French charm, and has a genuine "wild west" feel to it.
Country: Cambodia Distance from Port to City: 0Kms Distance to Airport: 0Kms
Places of Interest:
Tonle River
The Tonlé Sap i.e., large body of water (Cambodian meaning "Large Fresh Water River," but more commonly translated as "Great Lake") is a combined lake and river system of huge importance to Cambodia. It is the largest freshwater lake in South East Asia and is an ecological hot spot that was designated as a UNESCO biosphere in 1997.
Country: Cambodia Distance from Port to City: 0Kms Distance to Airport: 0Kms
Places of Interest:
Siem Reap
Siem Reap has colonial and Chinese-style architecture in the Old French Quarter, and around the Old Market. In town, there are Apsara dance performances, craft shops, silk farms, rice-paddy countryside, fishing villages and a bird sanctuary near the Tonle Sap Lake.
Country: Cambodia Distance from Port to City: 0Kms Distance to Airport: 0Kms
Places of Interest: Angkor Wat, Cambodia Landmine Museum, Angkor National Museum
Cruiseco Charter
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Pandaw - Mekong Cruises Cabin Info
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Cruise line info
Pandaw Cruises
Reviving the old Irrawaddy Flotilla Company in 1995, we were the first since the Second World War to offer pioneering cruises on Myanmar's spectacular Irrawaddy River, attempting to reach Bhamo, one thousand miles from the sea. In 1998 we pioneered the stunningly attractive Chindwin River. In 2001 were the first since colonial days to offer a complete cruise from Rangoon to Mandalay.
The Irrawaddy Flotilla Company was established by Scot’s merchants in 1865. By the 1920s the company ran over 650 vessels on the rivers of Burma. It had become the largest privately owned fleet of ships in the world. Mainly paddle steamers, the largest class of vessels were 350ft long and licensed for 4,000 passengers. In 1942 the fleet in its entirety was scuppered as an Act of Denial when the Japanese invaded. The Irrawaddy Flotilla was in 1995 revived by the Burma historian Paul Strachan.
First restoring an original Clyde-built steamer called the Pandaw, and then going on to build four brand new replicas, a unique concept and style of river cruising was created.
In 2002 we took our Pandaw concept to the Mekong River in Indochina where we now have two Pandaws plying between Saigon in Vietnam and Angkor Wat in Cambodia. Here the Pandaws broke the seemingly impenetrable river border between two very different countries. In high water our vessels accomplished the first cross navigation of the Tonle Sap, an inland sea previously un-navigated by anything other than local speed boats.
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.
Ship info
Pandaw - Mekong Cruises
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, now called Ho Chi Minh City, through the vast Delta so rich in human life and endeavor, to travel along the main channel into the rich countryside of Cambodia.
On board a Pandaw Ship
Staterooms
All categories of Pandaw stateroom are teak or other precious hardwood paneled with brass marine fittings. All have own air conditioning, mini-safe, luggage storage, wardrobe, writing desk and amenities include hair drier, kimono, slippers. All upper and main deck cabins have own deck space with own rattan chairs and table outside the room.
Amenities
On board laundry, bakery, fully equipped galley and refrigeration units; air conditioning for all inside areas, saloon bar, movie theatre / lecture room
Equipment
Cell phones, Sat phones VHF and SSB radio, internal phone system, PA system and tannoy system for navigation purposes.
Safety
Smoke detectors in all cabins and public places, emergency lighting and generator, fire pump, hydrants and hoses, fire extinguishers, life jackets for all on board and life rafts. Water
Treatment plants for desalination, de-sedimentation and purification using UV and osmosis.
Sewage: Microbiotic treatment plants.
Insurance
Protection & Indemnity policies with over USD 45 million coverage per vessel.
Management
European and Asian experts employed directly by Pandaw Cruises.
Please note that on board accounts on any Pandaw cruise can only be settled by cash, visa or mastercard. Travellers cheques and AMEX cannot be used. Onboard currency is USD.
