Finding best Vietnam and Cambodia cruise in Mekong river for family
Sep 21st, 2016, 02:37 AM
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Finding best Vietnam and Cambodia cruise in Mekong river for family
My family with 6-year-old kid is going to take a cruise to travel Mekong river, from Vietnam to Cambodia. We are looking for a Mekong cruise offering best amenities and services, especially, best local foods and fun activities suitable to a family. Do you know any? Thanks a lot.
Sep 21st, 2016, 10:17 AM
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There are now many cruise companies offering cruises on the Mekong. I like Pandaw as they are a local company (Myanmar), so offer more local foods and experiences than the European companies. They don't really have children's programs, I'm not sure if any of the companies offering cruises on the Mekong do.
Sep 21st, 2016, 10:29 AM
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Mekong Eyes have a good reputation and there boats looked great when we spent a bit of time in the delta region last year. http://www.mekongeyes.com/en/tours . Not sure whether ty are particularly geared to families.
Sep 21st, 2016, 01:59 PM
#4
We sailed the Mekong with AMAWaterways and it would not have been a good trip for a child. It was wonderdul for us but there were no facilities or activities for children.Would a child enjoy traipsing through rather primitive villages and touring Buddhist temples? I think you will find river cruises are oriented toward adults.
Sep 21st, 2016, 03:56 PM
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I'm traveling with Pandaw in 2 weeks down the Mekong from China to Laos. Their web site lists one family friendly Mekong cruise--a week long trip covering Vietnam and Cambodia:
https://www.pandaw.com/family-friendly-river-cruises
https://www.pandaw.com/family-friendly-river-cruises
Sep 21st, 2016, 08:17 PM
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Kathie,
Your Chindwin trip report inspired me to think about taking a Pandaw cruise. I've never thought I go on a cruise but the Pandaw experience seems well worth trying out since there are Laotian villages and temples along the Mekong that would be hard to reach in any other way.
I'm taking my laptop and should have plenty of time for writing up some of my impressions along the way and will definitely post a trip report when I return.
Your Chindwin trip report inspired me to think about taking a Pandaw cruise. I've never thought I go on a cruise but the Pandaw experience seems well worth trying out since there are Laotian villages and temples along the Mekong that would be hard to reach in any other way.
I'm taking my laptop and should have plenty of time for writing up some of my impressions along the way and will definitely post a trip report when I return.
Sep 21st, 2016, 08:37 PM
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Mekong Delta is a good place for the family holiday. You should spend about 3 days here and experience homestay tourism. Your family is surely interested in floating markets and villages here. There are various kinds of goods shown in markets in early morning. Have a good holiday!
Sep 22nd, 2016, 07:58 AM
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joe, take a look at their website: www.pandaw.com As you can see, they offer cruises all over SE Asia. The cruise karenclang mentions sounds perfect for you. I didn't immediately see it on the website, but you can email them (or do live chat) to get the info.
Notice that you have gotten responses from a number of agents in VN - take their advice with a large dose of salt.
Notice that you have gotten responses from a number of agents in VN - take their advice with a large dose of salt.
Sep 22nd, 2016, 09:06 PM
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I'll confirm the Pandaw recommendations. I've taken two cruises with them, Siem Reap to Saigon in Feb 2011, and Yangon to Mandalay in Aug 2013.
There may not be specific activities for children, but I'm sure the crew will make every effort to involve your child. There are children everywhere in SE Asia, and the culture is "it takes a village to raise a child". In other words, it's very child friendly.
One of our stops in Cambodia was at an orphanage sponsored by Pandaw.
Check out their website, and if you have any questions contact them. I found them really easy to deal with by email.
There may not be specific activities for children, but I'm sure the crew will make every effort to involve your child. There are children everywhere in SE Asia, and the culture is "it takes a village to raise a child". In other words, it's very child friendly.
One of our stops in Cambodia was at an orphanage sponsored by Pandaw.
Check out their website, and if you have any questions contact them. I found them really easy to deal with by email.
Sep 23rd, 2016, 08:43 PM
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lisa, yep, I just checked both Pandaw and Mekong-delta-tours and found that they all offer Pandaw cruise from Saigon to Phnom Penh. But Mekong-delta-tours offers with lower prices. To ensure, still wanna help to check for us, are they same ship?
Sep 24th, 2016, 07:58 AM
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The Pandaw site books all of the Pandaw cruises. I don't know whether other agents can also book the cruises, but I'd ask Pandaw rather than asking the VN travel agent. VN has a long tradition of ignoring intellectual property, offering up liked-named products, hotels, etc which turn out not to be what you thought.
Lisa, do you work for Mekong Delta Tours? I seem to remember that you have posted ads for them previously.
Lisa, do you work for Mekong Delta Tours? I seem to remember that you have posted ads for them previously.
