Vietnam paddlesteamers

[Roderick Smith]

Yet again diverted from Thailand because there is nothing on the web, so a search brings up red herrings.

www.travelpost.com/travel/Snowflake
Exotissimo is an inbound agent, offering upmarket cruises in various south-east Asia countries.  Most of these are not paddle.  Cruises include Chao Phraya River in Bangkok, Mekong River, Chindwin River, Ayeyarwady River or the delta region in Myanmar, and Halong Bay in Hanoi.
* Thailand, Chao Phraya.  Manohra’s lavishly converted rice barges offer a truly regal river experience. The 20-metre-long barges feature warm teak, Padua and mahogany woods throughout, custom designed furniture and sophisticated Southeast Asian art.
* Vietnam, Halong Bay.  Emeraude, a luxuriously appointed replica colonial paddle steamer with a romantic history to match the polished wood and brass fittings!
* Myanmar, Irrawaddy River.  RV Pandaw 1947, an original Scottish-built colonial steamer, commissioned at the end of the Second World War. With sixteen beautifully appointed cabins, elegant dining hall, saloon and sun deck, Ayravata Cruises.
* Southern Laos, Mekong River.  Vat Phou, a beautiful 34 m steel hulled craft featuring a charmingly appointed interior.
* Cambodia, Mekong River.  Mekong River Cruises, in serious style!

The company does have muddled terminology.  Pandaw vessels have an entry in the Myanmar thread in this forum.  IIRC they are MV, not PV.
Emeraude may have been SWPS.  The replica appears to be MV, with fake sternwheel housing, and not even a dummy paddle.  Perhaps the twin slim housings do hold slimline paddles, making it SWPV?

http://luxurytravel.exotissimo.com/vietnam/emeraude-experience.html
The perfect way to see Halong Bay (UNESCO World Heritage Site) is to spend a night aboard Emeraude, a replica of one of the grand steamers of the colonial era.
In 1910, PS Emeraude was offering unforgettable cruises in Halong Bay for visitors to what was then French Indochina. It was part of a flotilla owned by the Roque family who had left Bordeaux in 1858 in search of adventure and fortune. The Roque brothers built Emeraude, Perle, Saphir, Rubis and Onyx to ferry passengers and freight along the waterways of Indochina and cruise on magnificent Halong Bay.
Today's Emeraude offers a regular cruise service on board a luxurious replica steamer with 38 cabins meticulously designed to evoke the nostalgic charm of colonial Indochina.

More research is needed on the original fleet of five.

Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor

[Harold H. Duncan]

Hi everyone,
I hope to be in Viet Nam at the end of this year, and will check out the boats on the lower Mekong, hopefully with a few pictures. I did not see the Emeraude when I was in Halong Bay, but will see if I can track down more information and pictures on all the boats, from my Vietnamese connections.
One of the 'must-does' for anyone is to go see Halong Bay, it truly is a stunning place. We where there in their winter, and the sea mists gave it all a surreal atmosphere. We didn't go on any of the big cruises, simply enjoyed it the way the locals enjoy the area. Magnificent.
kiwi

[RickF]

Having seen the advertisement for Emeraude while in Vietnam this year, I spent most of my cruise around Halong Bay looking for her. Didn't see her and now I'm not bothered. Thanks Roderick, for putting my mind st rest.

Rick