I just received an email from Pandaw, my favorite Aasin river cruise company, letting me know that they had once again improved their Mekong River cruise sailings. They were now offering a combined 22 day, four country Mekong River cruise itinerary that included Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand and Laos. Even though I had already cruised to these destinations with Pandaw, this extensive itinerary had me drooling.
Pandaw originated the Mekong River cruise
Pandaw was the original cruise company on the Mekong River. They may have been imitated by many of the large, more global cruise lines, but never duplicated. In the mid 1990’s the company’s founder, Paul Strachan, started the Pandaw riverboat concept in Asia with cruises on the Irrawaddy River in Burma.
In 2003, Mr. Strachan pioneered the cruise route on the lower Mekong from Vietnam to Cambodia, overcoming the political and bureaucratic challenges of two very different countries as he waded through the endless red tape at the border to cross from one into the other.
Thanks to his farsighted efforts, that transition from Vietnam to Cambodia is now mostly seamless. Twenty years later, this border crossing is taken for granted as passengers on a variety of river cruise ships travel up and down the Mekong to explore these two very distinct cultures.
Not satisfied with cruising just on the lower Mekong, in 2015 the Pandaw company was the first to also cruise the shallower waters of the upper Mekong in Laos. Only Pandaw’s specially designed shallow draft boats could take passengers to the previously untoured shores of Laos.
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Pandaw has a devoted following
My first experience with Pandaw was on their inaugural cruise in Laos after the pandemic. My home for the 11 day itinerary was the aptly named Laos Pandaw, a 10 cabin, two deck beauty, that provided more than enough space for the 9 passengers on board.
On that first trip through Laos, I fell in love with the Pandaw cruise experience. Built out of teak and other locally sourced woods and accented with shiny brass, Mr. Strachan’s uniquely designed boat blended gracefully into the environment through which we sailed. As I sat on the top deck watching the lush green scenery slip by, I felt like I was part of the life on the river, at least for a short time.
I was clearly not the only one that developed a love affair with Pandaw. Of the nine guests on board the Laos Pandaw, I was the only one who had never traveled with them before. As I soon discovered, this was not a fluke. From Laos, I flew to Ho Chi Minh City to board the Bassac Pandaw for a classic lower Mekong River cruise. Once again, the majority of the passengers on board had sailed with Pandaw before.
So, what is it about Pandaw that made so many people from all corners of the world pick them as their first choice of travel after the Pandemic? As I discovered, it was a collection of experiences that all came together to form a wonderfully memorable holiday.
A luxury cabin experience
As I already mentioned, the boats are unique and each one has been specially designed and custom built in the region using local materials. The smallest boats, like the Laos Pandaw, have two levels with only 10 cabins, or 20 passengers max, plus the 20 crew taking care of all aspects of the trip.
My Bassac Pandaw experience was on one of the company’s larger boats with three levels, but it also had only 30 cabins which is small compared to many of the other riverboats that now cruise the Mekong delta.
The beautiful colonial design of these boats extended to my cabins. Again, there was a lot of warm toned natural wood accented with local art and textiles. The king sized bed was covered in crisp white bedding with soft pillows, and a comfy mattress. The room could also be easily set up with two twin beds.
The en suite bathroom, also detailed in teak wood, was quite roomy with a shower that was larger than ones I’ve had on ocean going ships. There was a flush toilet, a sink, plush towels, and a full collection of toiletries. There were also robes and slippers provided to all guests along with bottled water.
The closet was not large, but there was also extra storage underneath the beds where I could put my packing cubes and my empty suitcase. The closet also held a safe and the mandatory life preservers. And most important, my cabins had air conditioning!
SheBuysTravel Tip: Reserve a cabin that opens to the outside deck so you can sit in bed and watch the river scenery go by.
Inviting communal spaces
All Pandaw boats have a covered open top deck that acts as the communal outdoor lounging and dining space. All this open space caught the gentle breezes created by the moving boat, making it very pleasant to sit out on deck, despite the typical southeast Asian temperatures and humidity.
The open top deck was where we all congregated as the boat cruised along the river. It was a soothing spot to watch the scenery unfold. It was also a relaxing environment that invited conversations with fellow cruisers. I discovered that Pandaw passengers are an international mix of well-traveled guests that had many fascinating tales to tell.
There was also an indoor lounge area which was air conditioned and could also be used for dining if it got too hot or buggy. This was where the fully stocked bar was located, offering tea, coffee, sodas, beer, wines from around the world, and top shelf liquor.
SheBuysTravel Tip: Pandaw offers a selection of drinks packages that help you save money.
Exceptional service
For me, it’s attention to the little details that turns good service into an exceptional travel experience, and Pandaw certainly paid attention to the details. For example, after every excursion, we were met on board with hand sanitizer, a cool wet washcloth, and a refreshing fruity drink.
When reboarding the boat after an excursion, guests were asked to leave their shoes near the gangplank so the staff could clean them, and then return them to the respective cabins. I packed an extra pair of shoes that I wore just onboard the boat.
The bar staff quickly discerned my likes, bringing me my favorite drink at meals without being asked, and keeping my glass refilled. And someone was always cleaning something. Whether it was swabbing the deck, or refreshing my room twice a day, the crew worked hard to keep the boat looking its best. Most importantly, the staff clearly took pride in their tasks and service was always delivered with a genuine smile.
In my opinion, Pandaw’s greatest strength is that they employ and train locals to work on all their riverboats. This added an additional layer of authenticity to my cruise as I interacted with and got to know the young men that were making my holiday so special. It also means that these young men are learning life long job skills that will serve them well in the future.
Delicious locally inspired food
For me, cruising is as much about the food as it is about the scenery, and Pandaw did not disappoint me. They went out of their way to provide plenty of options for all international tastes and dietary needs. Breakfast was a buffet with plenty of fruit, baked goods, and some local dishes. There was also a made to order breakfast menu offering freshly made omelets, eggs, or pancakes from the kitchen.
Lunch was a combination of an extensive buffet with salads accented by local flavors, breads, soup, and meats and cheeses, along with a choice of one of three entrées for a main course, followed by a dessert.
Dinner offered a four-course a la carte menu where I once again had a choice of three entrees for the main course. There was always a locally inspired dish, a western choice, and a vegetarian option. Along with the main entrée, dinner included an appetizer, a soup, and always finished with a creative and delicious dessert. Even though it sounds like a lot of food, I liked that the portions were small so that by the end of the meal I never felt overly full.
SheBuysTravel Tip: Be sure to let Pandaw know of any dietary restrictions ahead of time so they can accommodate special needs.
Unique excursions and experiences
One of the things I liked about river cruising was how easy and comfortable it was to see a large swath of scenery. A typical day usually included a morning excursion after breakfast, back on the boat for lunch, a little bit of cruising, another excursion in the afternoon when it was a bit cooler, and then back on board with time to shower before the cocktail hour and dinner.
In Laos we pulled up to the bank and visited small villages where we had the chance to connect with the locals. When we reached the large city of Luang Prebang, Pandaw made arrangements for us to take part in the daily morning alms giving ritual.
However, my most magical travel experience of all time was the evening BarBQ the crew set up for us on a sand bank. As the sun set, candles and a bonfire lit up the night while the crew served Mai Tai drinks and a variety of grilled meats and veggies on skewers. We ended the night by lighting and releasing floating lanterns into the sky.
SheBuysTravel Tip: Pandaw offers “no single supplement” fares on some of their cruise dates which makes it very financially friendly for solo cruisers like me. They also occasionally offer “children travel free” deals during school holiday breaks.
Unique itineraries throughout Asia
I absolutely loved my Pandaw cruises in Laos, Vietnam, and Cambodia. Pandaw has become my go to river cruise company when I travel to Asia because they have so many interesting itineraries. The company has recently announced another Mekong River cruise first: cruising up the Mekong and across Tonle Sap Lake all the way to Siem Reap Cambodia, home of Angkor Wat.
Pandaw also offers exciting cruises in India on the Upper Ganges and Lower Ganges. This year, they also started cruises on the Brahmaputra river in India, taking guests to see the native rhinos and other wildlife in the national parks in that region. They also have a cruise in the Sunderband region of Bengal in India, again focusing on the local wildlife.
As I write this, I am eagerly anticipating and preparing for Pandaw river cruises in India. I can’t wait to explore the Lower Ganges River, the Brahmaputra River, and the Sundarbans region with their unique itineraries. I am sure I will experience India in ways that would only be possible with Pandaw.
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