Fast-growing demand for North Vietnam river cruises is compelling Pandaw to add another ship for the route.
Launching
in mid-2023, the RV Song Hong, which means "Red River," will join the
company’s RV Angkor on its expedition through North Vietnam’s Red and
Black River networks from Halong Bay to the mountains beyond.
According to Pandaw, cruises on RV Angkor are currently booked for months in advance.
RV Song Hong will be built locally in Haiphong, Vietnam, and will be fitted
out in sustainably sourced hardwood. It will feature Pandaw's signature
promenade deck all around the ship and will offer a choice of indoor or
outdoor dining, in the saloon or aft deck. The new ship will feature 10
staterooms, which will be larger than the cabins usually available on
Pandaw ships.
Similar to other Pandaw ships, the vessel has been designed with an ultra-shallow draft for coping with tricky waterways.
Pandaw founder Paul Strachan explains: "Only on one of our very
clever, smaller Pandaws could we do what we do in so navigationally
challenged environment as the Red River, this fits with an increasing
demand from our regulars for smaller ships that can go deeper."
Pandaw first began cruising the Red River in 2015, offering insights
and scenery around the life and culture of North Vietnam as well as time
spent in and around Hanoi.