Vietnam, Cambodia and the Mekong River

"Mark, first of all thanks to both you and Laura for all of your efforts to make this a most enjoyable trip. I learned about culture, history, geography, food and economics of the three regions that we visited and could appreciate them individually and comparatively. That was one of the strengths of the sequencing of the trip – seeing the countries with an increasing sense of relative peace since the latest civil disruption. I could see the process of redevelopment as it is reflected in infrastructure and lifestyle. The Pandaw riverboats and the hotels where we stayed were excellent choices. They were clean, comfortable and staff was most accommodating. The only problem was that there was not enough time to make use of all the facilities – I only got to swim in two of the four pools. Food - the other major concern for travelers. You and your local guides made superb choices for restaurants and the food served on the riverboats was flavorful and well presented. We ate a variety of foods representative of each region. I really liked the printed menus when they were available - they were informative and a great souvenir. One suggestion I would make is to find a restaurant near Angkor Wat for lunch on the day of the visit to the temples to save having to make a trip back into Siem Reap. Organization of the daily schedule of the tour was generally very good. Using the riverboats as a base meant that we returned each day for lunch and therefore were out of the midday sun, although we were scheduled for tours both morning and afternoon. I enjoyed the one day when we floated down the Mekong and crossed the border between Cambodia and Viet Nam. That is the day that I got my best sunset picture. The first few days of the tour were stressful for some people as they adjusted to the time change, jet lag and the change in temperature and humidity. One solution would be to find in-bound flights that land in Siem Reap in the early afternoon of day 2 that would actually allow for some down time before the activities start on day 3. Since that probably won't be possible, the other change might be to add a second half day to tour the Angkor Wat Archaeological Park so the tour could be more relaxed but that would require a second day ticket to the Park. Are there temples outside the Park that could be included instead? It is too bad that you had to sort out the scheduling issues with the Orient Pandaw at the end of the trip. It was obviously a communication snafu. Laura and you are to be commended on your perseverance and persistence to alleviate the problem. A final highlight of the trip was the wide variety of transport we used. The tuk-tuks, cyclos, ox carts, sampans and taxis in KL were experiences to remember. What a unique way to see the sights and to complement the grace of the Pandaw boats. Thanks for a great holiday. Valerie Keats"

Read lessMs. Keates

"Dear Mark and Laura. Thank for a great trip to a new part of the world for me. Your organization and implementation of the agenda were impressive. I found Cambodia very poor and at times very depressing. Vietnam was industrious and seemed to be moving forward as a country. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia is very progressive and Borneo seemed more industrial than I had imagined. The RV Mekong Pandaw was a lovely riverboat and exceeded all my expectations. The RV Orient Pandaw was also nice but was beginning to show its age. However, the staff on each boat was very accommodating and pleasant. The hotels were excellent! However, I found that moving after only two nights was very hard on me. I would have preferred to stay three nights in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam and three nights in Kuala Lumpur and omit Kuching, Malaysia. I think the highlight of the trip for me was the Short Jungle Trek. I have never before encountered such a feat! The climb and descent were amazing. I could not have done it without Laura's encouragement! This was a truly memorable trip for what I saw and the wonderful people I met, especially you, Mark and Laura. Jean Tesolin and I retrieved my vehicle from Valet Parking at the Hilton. We were on the highway about 10:30 and after a quick lunch in London, arrived home at 2:30. We were both tired. I have a cold and leave for Florida and my cruise on February 23 so I'm on medication. I'm sure all will be fine and I'll enjoy another great trip with my sisters. Sincerely, Delores O'Sullivan"

Read lessMrs. O'Sullivan

"We found the subject tour to be of considerable interest and learned a great deal about the areas visited that we had not known or had misconceptions about before the tour. The airlines involved were of good quality and provided excellent service; land accommodations and services including guides and buses were excellent. In all aspects of the land portion of the tour we were very satisfied with its management and execution. Pandaw did a good job with the cruise portions of the tour, with the Cambodia/Viet Nam portion being superior in the areas of more and better staff, more services and overall cleanliness. We did feel that there was one area for significant improvement that would have made this tour better – the relationship between Journeys by Jerry Van Dyke and Pandaw River Expeditions in Asia. It was apparent for both legs of the tour with Pandaw that they have been engaged to such a degree that they became the prime contractor during out time with them and that Van Dyke was not well informed about Pandaw's programs for passengers, did not confirm published programs with Pandaw upon arrival, and appeared not to be in a position to have any significant control over Pandaw's operation. We had contracted with Van Dyke in the belief that they were responsible for and able to fully manage the entire tour; our experience showed something less than this. Having said all that, would we travel with Van Dyke again? The answer is yes. If you would like to discuss any of the points raised in this letter or any other aspects of our experiences on the tour we would be glad to participate. Yours truly, David Kister and Prue Teagle"

Read lessMr. Kister and Ms. Teagle