Pandaw Cruise -Saigon Phnom Penh 5 Days 4 Nights

Upstream Itinerary
Day 01:Saigon – My Tho

Transfer from the meeting point in Saigon to My Tho Port. After boarding your Pandaw we sail downstream to Ben Tre and anchor midstream. In the afternoon, there is a lecture on Vietnamese life on the Mekong Delta. During cocktail hour passengers are entertained by an indigenous dance group and meet your key crew.

Day 02: Ben Tre

Travel by sampans through mangroves and bamboo groves to the fruit orchards of Ben Tre. In these local artisans are at work and are invite visitors into their homes for tea, fruit and honey products made from their own honey. This is an area rich in bird life and on our return journey we travel by horse cart through the lush countryside. After lunch, the ship moors off Cho Lach island for pot making and further glimpses of Delta life, agriculture and local Viet hospitality including a culinary lesson in making traditional Banh Xeo.

Day 03:Con Phuoc Island

After breakfast, there is a short coach journey to the Gao Giong ‘green oasis’ with its bird sanctuary. Here a diverse selection of water and egrets that gather in the tens of thousands across the Duong Tharp Muoi or ‘Plain of Reeds’. Rowing boats traverse the canals to take us to see the principal nesting areas. After returning to the boat we cruise upstream to Con Phuoc Island. We Moor in a small canal off Con Phuoc Island and go ashore to explore the island by Xi Loi seeing basket production and visiting a 100-year old Catholic Church as well as local woodworking artisans.

Day 04:Cambodia Border

Afternoon, explore the labyrinthine canal system around Tan Chau to visit a Taoist temple where the monks will read fortunes. Continue through local villages by Xi Loi stopping off to help locals tend their fields before stopping off to visit a fish farm and earn merit by releasing fish back into the Mekong. Border crossing formalities take up much of the afternoon and during this stationary period there is an optional tour of the working ship and fruit carving classes on deck.

Day 05
Phnom Penh

Disembark in Cambodia’s capital, Phnom Penh, after breakfast.

Downstream Itinerary
Day 01: Phnom Penh

Embark the ship for lunch. 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.

Rest of day at leisure.

Overnight in Phnom Penh city port with its lively bars, restaurants and night life.

Day 02: Vietnam Border

Early sailing to the Vietnam border for formalities and during this stationary period there is an optional tour of the working ship and fruit carving classes on deck. Afternoon, explore the labyrinthine canal system around Tan Chau to visit a Taoist temple where the monks will read fortunes. Continue through local villages by Xi Loi stopping off to help locals tend their fields before stopping off to visit a fish farm and earn merit by releasing fish back into the Mekong.

Day 03:Con Phuoc Island

In the morning sail up a small canal to moor off Con Phuoc Island and go ashore to explore the island by tuk-tuk seeing basket production and visiting a 100-year old Catholic Church and local woodworking artisans.

After a short cruise downstream in the afternoon we take a short coach trip where we visit Gao Giong ‘green oasis’ with its bird sanctuary. Here a diverse selection of water birds and egrets that gather in the tens of thousands across the Duong Tharp Muoi or ‘Plain of Reeds’. Rowing boats traverse the canals to take us to see the principal nesting areas.

Day 04: Ben Tre

After breakfast the ship moors off Cho Lach island for pot making and further glimpses of Delta life, agriculture and local Viet hospitality including a culinary lesson in making traditional Banh Xeo. Upon return to the boat we take a cruise downstream to Ben Tre. Where we travel by sampans through mangroves and bamboo groves to the fruit orchards of Ben Tre. In these local artisans are at work and are invite visitors into their homes for tea, fruit and honey products made from their own honey. This is an area rich in bird life and on our return journey we travel by horse cart through the lush countryside.

Day 05 My Tho – Saigon

Moor at My Tho for road transfer to Saigon.

Inclusive of

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 from meeting point to ship.

Exclusive of

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.
No transfers in Phnom Penh, ship docks in city center at Sisowath Quay.

Cabin Amenities:
18 upper deck, 6 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

Feet Launch:

Number of boats:           01
Number of cabins:           24
Length:           60m
Width:           11m
Facilities:
Spa
Gym
Library
Food & Dining:
At Pandaw we pride ourselves on offering a great choice of local cuisine and exotic foods. We source supplies and ingredients as locally as possible, always in accordance with strictly-monitored environmental health standards.

Breakfast is a buffet, while lunch features a buffet, plus soup, salad and a desert table, with the main course served at the table. Dinner is by waiter-service at the table.

We are happy to cater for individual dietary preferences. Passengers who prefer not to be served hot or spicy foods are offered delicious European-style alternatives and vegetarians are especially well catered for. Other special diets may be accommodated, by prior arrangement. Our chefs know that most passengers want to sample versions of the best, most characteristic dishes of each country they pass through.

Activities:
Cooking demonstrations, fruit carving, napkin tying
A tour of the working ship
Themed movie nights
A welcome dinner, cocktail parties on deck
A farewell gala dinner and dinners themed with local menus and costume
A barbeque beach party on the sands around a bonfire in winter.
A good walk through the countryside and villages
Further explorations by speedboat going deeper into jungle or up river
Cyclos in Cambodia.

Price:
Please contact us for detail information!