Pandaw · All Pandaw ships · Pandaw P class colonial-style river ship, 56 guests

Bassac Pandaw: ship guide

Newest of the Vietnamese P class sisters, with bow Premium Staterooms, on the Mekong.

Best for: Couples who want the newest of Pandaw’s classic P class ships on the seven-night Saigon to Siem Reap Mekong, with the bow Premium Staterooms as the cabin to ask for. Sails from Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City), Siem Reap in 2026 and 2027.

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856gross tons

56guests at double occupancy

2012entered service

179 ftlong

28staterooms

About Bassac Pandaw

Bassac Pandaw is the third and newest of Pandaw’s three Vietnamese-built P class sisters, delivered in 2012 after Orient Pandaw and Indochina Pandaw. Pandaw calls her a good looker that turns heads as she ploughs in state across the Mekong Delta, and at 856 gross tons she is the largest of the trio. She carries 56 guests in 28 teak-and-brass staterooms, with a bow observation deck and a pair of Premium Staterooms that open onto it.

Life on board is the familiar Pandaw mix: semi-buffet breakfast and lunch, seated theme dinners from a local master chef, a fan-cooled saloon bar with nightly entertainment, a sundeck bar with free ice cream and a 24-hour hospitality bar. The ship has a Pandaw Spa with two massage rooms, a library, a lecture room, an art gallery and a fair-trade shop. Excursions go by motor coach, deluxe sampan and the Pandaw Explorer excursion boat with local guides.

In 2026 and 2027 Bassac Pandaw sails the seven-night Classic Mekong between Saigon and Siem Reap, with departures from October 2026 through March 2027 and again from October to December 2027, alternating upstream and downstream with Mekong Pandaw. She suits couples who want a newer P class ship with the option of a larger bow cabin on the Vietnam and Cambodia Mekong.

Newest of the three Vietnamese-built P class sisters, delivered in 2012
Premium Staterooms of 205 square feet with French doors to the bow observation deck
28 teak-and-brass staterooms, 18 on the upper deck and 10 on the main deck, all with French windows
Pandaw Spa with two massage rooms and local therapists
Pandaw Explorer excursion boat plus deluxe sampans for small-group shore trips
Saloon bar with nightly entertainment, sundeck bar with free ice cream and 24-hour hospitality bar
Shallow 1.5 meter draft for the Delta channels and Tonle Sap River
Classic Mekong sailings between Saigon and Siem Reap from October to March in 2026 and 2027

Staterooms and suites

Main Deck Stateroom

Ten cabins of about 170 square feet finished in teak and brass with a panoramic French window to the main deck promenade; twin or double beds, individually controlled air conditioning, Nespresso machine, stocked minibar, mini safe and yoga mat.

Upper Deck Stateroom

Sixteen standard cabins of the same 170 square foot design on the upper deck, close to the saloon bar and sundeck; the usual choice for couples.

Premium Stateroom

Two upper deck cabins of 205 square feet (19.2 square meters), about 20 percent larger than a standard upper deck cabin, with French doors opening onto the bow observation deck and extra seating; the best cabins on the ship.

Bassac Pandaw deck plans

Deck by deck, straight from our booking engine: the plan, the stateroom categories on that deck and the public rooms. Pick a deck.

Upper Deck

Staterooms.

Plans are the cruise line’s current drawings as supplied to our booking engine. Layouts change with refurbishments; your SmartCruiser advisor confirms the exact stateroom when you book.

On board Bassac Pandaw

Dining on Bassac Pandaw

Dining RoomIncluded

Semi-buffet breakfast and lunch and seated theme dinners from a local master chef leading an international team, with daily lean and light options and European choices.

Saloon BarIncluded

The fan-cooled upper deck saloon with nightly entertainment, a daily happy hour and an extensive premium wine list.

Sundeck BarIncluded

Open-air bar on the teak sundeck with complimentary ice cream from sunrise to sunset.

24-hour Hospitality BarIncluded

Self-service coffee, tea and water at any hour.

Onboard BakeryIncluded

Fresh breads and rolls baked daily.

Drinks PolicyIncluded

Local mineral water, jugged coffee, teas and tisanes, a welcome cocktail and the stocked cabin minibar are included on the Mekong; other bar drinks, beer, spirits and wine are charged to your account.

Entertainment and activities

Open teak sundeck, bow observation deck and wraparound promenades
Pandaw Spa with two massage rooms (treatments charged on the Mekong)
Daily briefings and history talks by the purser and local expert guides
Cultural performances by local troupes and themed movie nights
Included excursions by motor coach, deluxe sampan, the Pandaw Explorer boat and ox-cart at Kampong Tralach
Library, art gallery and fair-trade shop on board
Head chef food presentations and behind-the-scenes ship tours
Bicycle rides on request where the itinerary allows

Families and who it suits

Pandaw says its ships are not suitable for children under 8 because the open rails have no safety netting; older children share a cabin with an adult, and Pandaw designates certain school-holiday departures as family friendly with child offers.

Best for: Couples who want the newest of Pandaw’s classic P class ships on the seven-night Saigon to Siem Reap Mekong, with the bow Premium Staterooms as the cabin to ask for.

Sails from: Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City), Siem Reap · Regions: Mekong, Tonle Sap

Bassac Pandaw questions we answer every day

How big is Bassac Pandaw?

Bassac Pandaw is 54.55 meters (about 179 feet) long with a 10.5 meter beam and a draft of 1.5 meters, listed by Pandaw at 856 gross tons, the largest of the three Vietnamese-built P class sisters. She carries 56 guests in 28 staterooms, 18 on the upper deck and 10 on the main deck, and was delivered in 2012.

Where does Bassac Pandaw sail in 2026 and 2027?

She sails the seven-night Classic Mekong between Saigon and Siem Reap, calling at Ben Tre, Chau Doc, Phnom Penh, Kampong Tralach, Oudong, Peam Chi Korng and Steung Trang. Published departures run from late October 2026 through mid March 2027 and from October to December 2027, alternating upstream and downstream. In the September to November high water the Tonle Sap stops may be swapped for a run north to Kratie.

Which are the best cabins on Bassac Pandaw?

The two Premium Staterooms on the upper deck are the ones to ask for: 205 square feet, about 20 percent larger than a standard cabin, with French doors onto the bow observation deck and extra seating. Otherwise the upper deck staterooms sit nearest the saloon bar and sundeck. All cabins are twin or double only; there are no suites on this ship.

What is included in the fare on Bassac Pandaw?

Main meals, guided excursions and entrance fees, English-speaking guides, crew gratuities, Siem Reap transfers, local mineral water, jugged coffee, teas and tisanes, a welcome cocktail and the cabin minibar. Bar drinks, wine, spa treatments, laundry, visas, port dues and tips to local guides and drivers are extra. SmartCruiser adds bonus onboard credit on sailings where Pandaw allows it, not available when you book direct.

Is there air conditioning and Wi-Fi on Bassac Pandaw?

Every cabin, the dining room and the lower deck are air-conditioned. Pandaw notes that the saloon bar on Bassac Pandaw, Indochina Pandaw and Tonle Pandaw is fan-cooled rather than air-conditioned. Wi-Fi is available in the public areas and on the sundeck but not in the cabins, and connections can be slow on rural stretches of the river.

How do excursions work on Bassac Pandaw?

Excursions are included and run in small groups with local English-speaking guides. The ship carries deluxe sampans and the Pandaw Explorer excursion boat for creek and village visits, uses motor coaches for Oudong and the Siem Reap transfer, and includes ox-cart rides at Kampong Tralach. Entrance fees, shoe cleaning, cold towels and bottled water on tour are covered, and a first-aid trained assistant guide travels with each group.

Facts checked against Pandaw: RV Bassac Pandaw, Pandaw: Classic Mekong expedition and cruise dates, Pandaw: Frequently asked questions, Pandaw: Life onboard on October 14, 2026. Ship details change with refurbishments; your SmartCruiser advisor confirms the current layout when you book.

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Prices are per person, double occupancy, in US dollars, and include cruise fare, taxes, fees and port expenses as published by the cruise line at the moment you load this page. Fares are capacity controlled and change daily; the fare is confirmed when you book. Flights, hotels and transfers are extra unless the line’s offer says otherwise. Onboard credit shown on a sailing is per stateroom and applies to the lowest category offered unless stated otherwise.