Passenger Feedback

What a wonderful experience! From start to finish this was a first-class trip in every way. The RV Mekong Pandaw is a wonderful river ship. The staff are superb as is the food and service. The cabins are well appointed and very comfortable as well as being kept spotlessly clean. The opportunity to visit remote villages, markets and temples and meet the locals was a real treat. Congratulations Pandaw on supporting so many charities along the way.

We boarded in Vietnam and cruised up river into Cambodia with many stops and excursions on the way. With only 48 passengers each excursion was easily and quickly executed, sometimes using sanpans to ferry us into smaller channels and other times by the crew jumping ship with shovels, creating 'steps' in the shoreside for disembarkation. Such a superb insight into real life for the river communities in both countries which form the majority of the rural population. The biggest bonus was - no mosquitos! We assumed wrongly that this could be a problem!

The Pandaw staff all seem to have a passion for their job and nothing is too much trouble for them. We can't wait for the next Pandaw experience, possibly Myanmar or Laos!

My husband and I have never been on any type of cruise before but after experiencing a river cruise down the Mekong we are hooked! The boat itself was beautiful, all done in teak. The rooms were well appointed and comfortable. The most impressive part of the boat for me was the sundeck that took up the whole length of the deck. Teak loungers spread throughout with sitting areas of wicker furniture positioned in different areas. Massive canopies provided shade if needed. Nice bar area with any kind of drink to be had as well as tasty snacks. There was even a pool table if you felt like participating in a little activity. There was a nice balance of excursions and relaxation time. The food was very tasty, abundant and well presented.

The staff were very professional, helpful and very nice. We were always greeted with a beautiful smile. On our last evening on the boat we were treated to a show of music, song and dance as well as being introduced to all crew members. We had the opportunity to participate in a dance party with these wonderful hardworking people which is something my husband and I will never forget.

Well done Pandaw!!

I am writing to thank you so much for the trip on the Upper Irrawaddy. It was so enjoyable and I can't praise everyone involved enough. I have a foot problem and all the young men helped me every time I went ashore. They did everything imaginable to make it a wonderful cruise.

The food was outstanding and so beautifully presented; we enjoyed a Bang Bang salad demonstration and then the carving, the chef is very talented. I am attaching a photo of him with his work.

As for Ko (Dominic), he was the most patient man, it must be his Buddhist Teaching. Ko was so knowledgeable and helpful.

Again, my grateful thanks to you and all your staff.

Alice Birrell

Just returned to the UK following an Amazing Experience with your Company, from Vietnam airlines from London to Ho Chi Minh - Siem Reap-Hanoi- back to London. I will retain a lasting memory of a fabulous holiday provided by Pandaw. Truly a very professional company.

Very difficult to explain in a few words the feelings that you come away with. Your team on the "RV Mekong Pandaw" looking after us on this river cruise were brilliant. Food Quality -Selection -Service/Organisation/Management in the restaurant, a Big First Class, always met with a smile. Massage room and lady very professional.

Cabin was well appointed, well maintained and comfortable; ability to open those cabin doors every morning watching a different world go past – Wow!! Need to have "done it" to get that feeling.

Tour Organisation excellent - the Tours from Viet Cong Tunnels, to Khmer Rouge Regime Killing Fields. Standing in those Memorial sites you feel the horrors that one set of humans can inflict on others.

You can only sample the culture with visits to temples and palaces, having good fun on the roads with your own private Cyclo tour around Phnom Penh. Crossing the roads was a challenge; bikes, hundreds of motor cycles and at traffic lights was like the starting grid at a race meeting but we managed ok.

The People in the river bank homes, floating villages, fish farms, markets were working day-to-day looking after families, mini village communities and schools. Family unity is something we have lost a bit in the big Western world. The investment in villages and in the people that Pandaw make along the Mekong should be greatly highlighted in your brochures and websites.

Along with many of the new friends we have met on board, common points of conversation, lasting impression - how can you go home and try and explain this humble feeling? You have visited another set of people who compared to our way of life, have very basic accommodation, really work hard every day, with their children learning English for a few hours a day at school, all seem to be so content, smiling and made you so welcome in their world, when not so many years ago there were terrible acts of savage war.

Memorable for me the evening 1st of March cocktail in the village with music and dance and lots of happy, smiling children - amazing.

You pay your money up front and choose your holiday but with Pandaw you not only get what you pay for but you get memories like never before.

Brilliant Thank You
Ron and Val Nash

My wife and I were on the 16 February 2017 Red River Cruise from Halong Bay up to and past Hanoi. It was a delight. The cruise itinerary was extremely well designed. The places visited were very interesting with mostly no foreign tourists. The ship, RV Angkor Pandaw, was exceptional, it was what traveling by river steamer in 1930's must have been like and you wouldn't have been surprised to see Graham Greene, or Noel Coward having a drink in the lounge. I only wish there were more cruise lines like Pandaw. The cabins were well designed, very comfortable and with wood panelling.

The crew were 10 out of 10, and the food again 10 out of 10, as my waist line can unfortunately testify too. The two guides, Tifo and Tuan, were 11 out of 10. They had great knowledge of the places and people we visited and the flow of that knowledge was timed to perfection. From them I learnt a lot about Vietnam and its people that no books or newspapers could provide. Please thank them from the both of us. I loved Vietnam and its people and could go on for hours lauding praise on the cruise, the staff and guides but it’s easier to say that "I can without doubt recommend this cruise to anyone contemplating it and we will do another in the near future."

The world is an interesting place. Thank you Pandaw for showing us such fascinating parts of the world. Sometime we Americans think everyone lives and works as we do. In Vietnam, the people work hard and long. They seem happy and are very friendly. We were often invited to have tea with them. Villages often make one product. In the village of Vihn Phuc beautiful wood product from the bread fruit tree were made and a nearby one village metal products. The village was getting ready for a wedding. They usually have 100s of guests.

"Everyone smiles in the same language"

We completed our second Pandaw cruise in March. Our first was an excellent week on the Irrawaddy in Burma, our second another excellent week on the Mekong in Vietnam and Cambodia. Why go twice with Pandaw?

First of all, the experience clearly matches the reputation. Standards are high. Expectations are met. Experiences are excellent. We enjoyed the quality of the cabins, the meticulous organisation and attention to detail that ensured travellers needs are addressed, whatever their requirements and preferences (shoe cleaning anyone!). The food arrangements and quality could not be questioned, with plentiful alternatives for all appetites. Then there are the staff. Friendly, helpful, reliable and astonishingly hard working. They also smile and laugh, willingly and easily. You feel welcome and are welcome. This is teamwork of the highest order with unobtrusive but thoughtful and purposeful management.

Any suggestions for improvement? Not really. Why go with Pandaw twice? Why not go three times?

Thank you
Malcolm and Cath Lister

Pandaw,

Mingalabar! Good morning!

I was lucky enough to win a Pandaw cruise in association with CLIA back in January so booked to travel with my partner Chloe, staying on board the RV Orient Pandaw (Mandalay – Bagan).

I have just arrived back to the UK after an amazing time away in Myanmar. Wow! What a country! But more importantly wow what an experience with Pandaw. Thank you so much for the opportunity to join the cruise to see the beautiful Irrawaddy river!

We joined the cruise in Mandalay on the 4th March after our flight from the UK via Bangkok. After a warm welcome by all the team on board we were excited to see what the week would bring. And what a week! From the hustle and bustle of Mandalay to the Temples in Bagan we were treated like royalty throughout our time on the cruise.

The food was out of this world! Considering just how small the galley kitchen is, the chefs and the dining team did a brilliant job of wowing us all with the local delights! The Burmese cusiine was to die for! Amazing fish soups, curries and salads; we were never left hungry! Not to mention there was always a friendly face to offer us a beer, gin and tonic or a lemonade to keep the heat at bay.

The boat was stunning – beautiful décor and very comfortable cabins ensured our stay was just as luxurious as the service we received from the Pandaw crew. We loved the sun deck in particular – there was always a free sun lounger to relax on whilst watching the world go by!

I loved all of the excursions and the on board activities. It was great to share the Burmese way of life with the crew – I loved the 'dress like the Burmese' where they showed us the versatile Longyi! It provided laughs all around with the enthusiastic crew members giving us an impromptu fashion show! We also thoroughly enjoyed the cooking demonstration where we learned more about the local ingredients and flavours of Myanmar.

The best thing however had to be the staff on board the cruise. From the 1st engineer to the bar staff to the captain all staff were BRILLIANT! They are all shining gems and are all a fantastic asset to the Pandaw family! They provided first class service throughout and no request was too big or too small. For example, they bought me ginger tea when I was un well as well as repairing Chloe's sunglasses when they were broken. They each went above and beyond their call of duty to help us and all passengers onboard the RV Orient Pandaw. We loved their enthusiasm, warmth and friendliness. The 'beach party' was another example of when they all excelled as a team. We loved the beautiful set up of the beach chairs, bar and bonfire. It was a shame that the wind and rain whipped up and even caused the ship to drift and the gang plank to tumble into the river! They then worked as a team to resolve the issue and we ended up having an absolute blast! It was just sad to depart them a week later after such an enjoyable trip.

I have come back with fond memories of my time in Myanmar having had a fantastic time with Pandaw. You should be so pleased with the team on the RV Orient Pandaw as well as all other staff who work tirelessly on the other ships in your fleet. I just hope I can now turn my experience into growing sales for new clients.

So may I wish you a massive thank you but a huge well done to Pandaw and the team. I cannot thank you all enough!

Kind regards,

Marcus Williams
Travel Consultant

My husband and I have just returned from a wonderful 10 days on the Laos Pandaw. We were so well looked after by the very professional crew with great travelling companions (just 16 of us) from three countries. The scenery was magnificent, we marvelled at the skill of the Captain and First Officer as they steered the ship through the amazing waters of the Mekong. Each visit to a village was different and we learnt so much about Laos culture from our Purser, "Mr B". The sunsets over the river were spectacular.

This was our second river cruise with Pandaw. We could not think of travelling with any other company if we want to continue to explore Asian and other river systems. The crew are so careful and helpful with ageing passengers (including us!) and we thank them all for their care and concern. This is a great way to relax and to learn. The ability and planning of the Pandaw ships to nudge into banks along the Mekong (and other rivers) to visit villages is a highlight. Where else could one experience a cocktail hour with barbeque snacks sitting on a sandbar! Our stops at larger towns and cities allowed us to see more of Laos culture. Thank you Pandaw for another memorable experience.

Val Gribble