RV Mekong Pandaw

RV Mekong Pandaw ship was built in Yangon (Rangoon) and launched in 2002. This riverboat was designed specifically for Mekong River cruises and unlike the other P-class Pandaw ships, it doesn't have a flying bridge in order to be able to get under road bridges along the itinerary. The ship features a 750 m2 (8073 ft2) outdoor teak sundeck and a full-size billiard table.

The cruise itinerary is between Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) and Siem Reap, operated since 2003 when the ship was launched, Pandaw River Cruises was the first river travel company to sail on this route. The line since has put 3 more riverboats on the Mekong, offering 3-, 4- and 7-night itineraries visiting Phnom Penh and Angkor Wat temples on the route through Cambodia.

Mekong Pandaw has 24 identical cabins (sized 16 m2 / 170 ft2). All staterooms offer as standard amenities twin beds (some converting to double, all with premium mattresses, quality linens, duvet, two kinds of pillows), French windows, air-conditioning, spacious wardrobe, electronic safe box (in the closet), writing desk (vanity with chair and make-up mirror), under-bed storage (for suitcases), en-suite bathroom (WC, shower, washbasin, hairdryer, towels, slippers, bathrobes/kimonos, Spa-branded amenities), unlimited bottled water, Yoga mats (for in-cabin use), nightly turndown service. Onboard 24-hour laundry is also available. On all shore excursions are provided shoe cleaning and cold towel services (after), bottled water (Pandaw-branded aluminium bottles as giveaways), first aid-trained assistant guide.

Like on similar Pandaw ships, Mekong Pandaw passengers are able to spend leisure time on the aft part of the covered upper deck. Meals are served bistro-style indoor and outdoor on the upper deck. Breakfast is buffet style but preceded by light bites, tea and coffee for early risers. Lunch is served either buffet style or sit-down, while dinners are 4-course affairs. Pandaw's food ingredients are locally sourced and always fresh.

Domestic beers, spirits, soft drinks, coffee and tea are complimentary and served on the sundeck at the bar/library lounge. An open-bridge policy is in place. Wi-Fi is slow because of the remote regions traveled. However, some riverside ports in the cruise itinerary feature Internet shops.

The riverboat was extensively refitted and fully refurbished twice - in 2013 and 2022. During refurbishment 2022 was added a wellness complex (spa and gym).

Note: You can see CruiseMapper's list of all river cruise ships and riverboats in the "itinerary" section of our River Cruises hub. All companies and their fleets are listed there.