Secret places of Indochina

There can be no tapestry of river life as fascinating and varied as the River Mekong - and no more striking a cultural contrast as that between the bustling Vietnam delta and the tranquility of Cambodia.

Visitors pass from the vibrant French colonial port of Saigon, through the vast delta so rich in human life and endeavour, to travel along the main channel into the rich countryside of Cambodia. Spend a full day in charming Phnom Penh then explore remoter waterways as we progress to the great monuments of Angkor.

In 2003, the RV Mekong Pandaw was the first ship to attempt this extraordinary journey, surmounting complex bureaucratic and navigational obstacles. Now five Pandaw ships ply this amazing waterway.The latest adventure is a voyage to the heart of the Irrawaddy Delta, one of Burma's most colourful and distinctive corners.

As well as fulfilling a long-held ambition of the company, this exciting new expedition marks the 10th anniversary of Pandaw's widely-acclaimed humanitarian intervention in the aftermath of 2008's Cyclone Nargis, which devastated the region.

Plans are already well advanced to bring guests the best of this watery heartland, home of the ancient Mon race and the rice basket of Burma. The new cruise itinerary will offer travellers close encounters with a unique habitat, flora and fauna (potentially including the famous Irrawaddy dolphin and salt water crocodiles). The first journey on the great Irrawaddy Delta will set sail next year in March, 2018.

In French colonial times, when an official was sent from France to Laos, it took longer to sail from Saigon to Luang Prabang than from Paris to Saigon!

This is not surprising when you learn that the mighty Mekong River flows for over 5,000 miles through six Asian countries: China, Laos, Burma, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. Connected by this great waterway, each Mekong country is quite different from the others in culture, history and religious life.

Pandaw sails on the Mekong through each of these countries and on some expeditions lands in no less than four countries. The complex river system in Northern Vietnam is traversed from Halong Bay to the Red River taking in Hanoi and the Viet Highlands.

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