Mekong River

Mekong River Cruises

Mekong River

USA Today AwardWorld's Best River Cruise Suite 2023Conde Nast Traveler 2023TripAdvisor Travellers Choice 2026TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence

Discover the hidden worlds on the Mekong River

If you're travelling to South East Asia and want to immerse yourself in the rich culture, what better way to do so than on a Mekong River cruise.

The Mekong River is the 12th largest in the world, it winds its way from Southwest China through Myanmar, Laos, Thailand and Cambodia before it reaches the vast delta of Vietnam.

With an estimated length of 4,350km, there are many places to visit and embarking on a river cruise with Pandaw allows you to experience these remote towns and villages in a way like no other. From the hustle and bustle of Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam, (formerly Siagon) to the sleepier town of Luang Prabang in Laos. From the majestic Angkor Wat in Siem Reap, Cambodia, to the multi-cultural town of Jinghong in China's Yunnan Province; we can take you there.

Meet local artisans and dancers, learn about the history from the natives themselves, and with Pandaw you can do it in comfort and style. The dining experience allows you to sample the local cuisine and is cooked using ingredients sourced as locally as possible.

Your staterooms are elegant and spacious and come with added extras such as fruit and flowers on arrival, kimonos, slippers and spa-branded amenities to make your stay that little bit more special. Whilst your peace and serenity are of utmost importance to us, when you're not onshore meeting the locals you can enjoy cultural performances, cooking demonstrations or a themed movie night.

Available

Expeditions

Classic Mekong
Save up to 10% and No Single Supplement on selected dates

The original and best cruise on the Mekong

7 Nights
Saigon - Siem Reap
RV Bassac Pandaw, RV Indochina Pandaw, RV Mekong Pandaw, RV Tonle Pandaw
Mekong RiverTonle River

From

USD 3,694.50

per person

The Laos Mekong
Save up to 10% and No Single Supplement on selected dates

Vientiane, Luang Prabang, jungle and villages

8 or 10 Nights
Vientiane - Chiang Khong
RV Champa Pandaw, RV Laos Pandaw, RV Sabaidee Pandaw
Mekong River

From

USD 4,748.40

per person

Deeper and Further on the Mekong River
New ten night Mekong itinerary
Save up to 10% and No Single Supplement on selected dates

Explore the Mekong further

10 Nights
Saigon - Siem Reap
RV Mekong Pandaw
Mekong RiverTonle River

Our Fleet In

Mekong River

The RV Laos Pandaw Ship

RV Laos Pandaw

Seeing the quality of this ship it is hard to believe it was built in a hurry. There are no proper ship yards above the Khone Falls and we could....

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The RV Bassac Pandaw Ship

RV Bassac Pandaw

The third of these rather grand Vietnamese sisters, along with the Orient and Indochina. She is a good looker, and turns many a head as she plou....

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The RV Indochina Pandaw Ship

RV Indochina Pandaw

Sister to the Orient and Bassac, the IP was built in Vietnam in 2009 and transferred over to Burma in 2011. The ship has quality mountain bikes ....

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The RV Mekong Pandaw Ship

RV Mekong Pandaw

Built in Rangoon in 2002 she was sailed round to Saigon under her own power and many a drama described in Paul Strachan’s Pandaw Story. This shi....

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The RV Tonle Pandaw Ship

RV Tonle Pandaw

Finished in rich teak and brass, the RV Tonle Pandaw recently went a retrofit in 2025 upgrading the guest accommodations to offer four luxury ca....

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The RV Champa Pandaw Ship

RV Champa Pandaw

The Champa Pandaw, sister ship of the Laos Pandaw, began cruises on the Upper Mekong from September 2016. The ship has quality mountain bikes fo....

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The RV Sabaidee Pandaw Ship

RV Sabaidee Pandaw

The RV Sabaidee was our seventeenth ship to the Pandaw Flotilla which was constructed to meet demand on our previously popular Laos to China rou....

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River Stops In

Mekong River

Bogale View

Bogale

Bogale is a small city located in the Bogale Township, Ayeyarwady Region, Myanmar. It is located on the southwestern part of Myanmar/Burma on the mainland section of the country.

Chandernagore View

Chandernagore

Chandannagar was established as a French colony in 1673, when the French obtained permission from Ibrahim Khan, the Nawab of Bengal, to establish a trading post on the right bank...

Cruising The Mekong View

Cruising The Mekong

Continue up the Mekong with Burma on our left and Laos on our right.

Golden Triangle View

Golden Triangle

The Golden Triangle remains a favourite amongst travellers. This joining point between the borders of Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar is located in the North Thailand province of...

Guwahati View

Guwahati

If you are taking one of our Brahmaputra River Cruises , one place you should definitely consider stopping at is Guwahati. This is a large city in India, in the state of Assam.

Kalna View

Kalna

Kalna, a city and a municipality in Purba Bardhaman district in the Indian state of West Bengal is located right by the river Hooghly (or ‘lower Ganges’) meaning there’s plenty of...

Kaziranga National Park View

Kaziranga National Park

A UNESCO accredited site, the Kaziranga National Park is located in the Nagaon and Golaghat districts of Assam in India and a stop on our Brahmaputra river cruises .

Kolkata View

Kolkata

Kolkata is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal, and you’ll definitely want to make the most of it you’re seeking to see every side of what India has to offer.

Kuang Si Waterfalls View

Kuang Si Waterfalls

Also known as the Tat Kuang Si Waterfalls and Kuang Xi, Kuang Si Falls is a breathtaking three-tier waterfall that is adored by every tourist that visits each year and is a...

Luang Prabang View

Luang Prabang

Luang Prabang is a beautiful town in Laos and a favourite amongst travellers. It lies where the Mekong and the Nam Khan rivers meet, and it's a stop for several of our Mekong...

Maubin View

Maubin

A town in the Ayeyarwady Division in south-west Burma, Maubin (also known as Ma-ubin) is an incredible place to visit. Known for its growing communication and transportation...

Mayapur View

Mayapur

One of the best things about taking a river cruise is the fact that you get to experience many amazing places during one trip. This is something you can expect with one of our...

Murshidabad View

Murshidabad

Murshidabad is a city in Murshidabad district of West Bengal state in India. The city of Murshidabad is located on the southern bank of the Bhagirathi, a tributary of the Ganges...

Myaungmya View

Myaungmya

When boarding a Pandaw River Cruise, you can be prepared to visit some of the most beautiful places in Asia. One of those incredible places is Myaungmya.

Pak Beng View

Pak Beng

Sitting midway between Luang Prabang and Huay Xai lays Pakbeng on the Mekong. The river used to be the one major route for transport in the country, and over the years, Pakbeng...

Patna View

Patna

Patna is the capital and largest city of the state of Bihar in India.

Phnom Penh View

Phnom Penh

One thing that so many people love about going on a river cruise is that they get the opportunity to explore places they otherwise wouldn’t.

Pyapon View

Pyapon

On one of our Irrawaddy Delta cruises , you can experience the small town of Pyapon on the Pyapon River, a tributary of the Irrawaddy Delta.

Rangoon (Yangon) View

Rangoon (Yangon)

The largest city in Myanmar, Rangoon (Yangon) is a mix of cosmopolitan high-rises, stunning architecture and historical sights.

Saigon View

Saigon

Saigon is one of the key cities in Vietnam, and it’s probably a place many people find the time to visit when they’re making the most of a Mekong River Cruise .

Siem Reap View

Siem Reap

With unparalleled views of the Angkor monuments, Siem Reap has become increasingly popular in recent years. Known as the gateway to the ruins of Angkor, Siem Reap is now one of...

Varanasi View

Varanasi

India, one of the oldest civilisations on the planet. Within its 29 states and 7 union territories, you’ll find an extraordinary variety of cultures, cuisines, arts politics and...

Vientiane View

Vientiane

Vientiane is the capital city of Laos and a popular stop-off on our Mekong River cruises , thanks to the numerous attractions to be found in this ancient, charming and bustling...

Wakema View

Wakema

In the Ayeyarwaddy Division of south-west Myanmar lies the idyllic town of Wakema. A small yet bustling town surrounded by awe-inspiring greenery and wildlife, it is known as a...

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From Our Travellers

Feedback

What a wonderful experience we had on the RV Mekong Pandaw

Bob & Barbara Hackman

Dear Paul,

We thought we would send you a brief note to let you know what a wonderful experience we had on the RV Mekong Pandaw. All the crew gave excellent service providing a real team effort in order to make sure we were able to gain the most out of the cruise. The overall comfort level and the quality of food was excellent throughout the week. When asking other passengers if they would consider taking another cruise with Pandaw the response was "yes, most definitely".

Best wishes
Bob & Barbara Hackman

The trouble with our cruise on the Pandaw Orient was that it had to finish

Richard Williams

Real cruising on the Irrawaddy. The trouble with our cruise on the Pandaw Orient was that it had to finish. The journey north from Mandalay was not possible because of the river level being so low, but we didn't know about the change of itinerary until mid-way through the cruise, but it didn't matter. We were looked after regally by a lovely friendly crew, bar staff who made excellent cocktails as well as supplying a seemingly endless stream of gin and tonics and the waiters in the dining room knew us all even when we sat at different tables. Food was great – sometime a buffet, sometimes a la carte which you ordered in the morning at breakfast – the freshly cooked omelettes were amazing. Excursions and activities were organised; sometimes a walking tour of the village where we had stopped or a coach trip to places slightly farther afield. Evening entertainment was arranged of local dancers, puppet shows, even fashion parades featuring the all-male crew!! But the most surreal moment for me, was sitting around a blazing fire on a sandbank in the middle of the Irrawaddy River, with fireworks being let off, oil lights twinkling, watching our skipper singing John Denver songs and then everyone dancing around the bonfire to the accompaniment of Abba songs – and this was before dinner!!

There were about 50 passengers on board, we all ate together and no one cared if you wanted to chill out on the sun deck by yourself or get up to watch the sunrise early in the morning. But the experience of this Pandaw cruise has certainly put me off cruising on a big ship. We didn't get lost looking for my cabin, we didn't have to wait for the right sitting at the right dining room for food, we didn't have to queue to get on and off the boat and then queue to get into a coach for a trip and we got to meet a lot more people on our small boat than we would ever have done on a huge ship. Where to go next with Pandaw cruises is the next question.

The facilities on the RV Laos Pandaw are first class. From morning coffee to the cocktail hour and dinner the service was impossible to fault

Stephen Horsfield

Click Here to read Stephen Horsfield's testimonial blog of his Laos Mekong river cruise in December 2017 on-board the RV Laos Pandaw between Vientiane and Chian Saen.

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Climate in

Mekong River

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Mekong River Climate Chart

Plan your journey with our detailed climate information for Mekong River.Best travel times and weather patterns to help you prepare.

Your Life

On Board

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Essential

Information

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