Two Countries, Two Ways of Life, One Great River...

The National Trust for Scotland, in conjunction with Pandaw Cruises, is delighted to announce a voyage along the Mekong River in September 2010.

The Trust will be taking an allocation of places on this exclusive river cruise, travelling aboard one of Pandaw's beautifully reconstructed historic paddle steamers.

After spending two days discovering the magnificent 12th-century temples of Angkor Wat and the surrounding region in Cambodia, cruise guests will join the 32-passenger steamer as it makes its way towards Vietnam's Ho Chi Minh City - formerly known as Saigon in the French colonial era. Along the way, the cruise will sail through Cambodia's 'Great Lake', Tonle Sap, and offer passengers the opportunity to explore the Wat Hanchey mountain temple complex at Kampong Cham. Just before crossing the border into Vietnam, the steamer will stop off at the fruit orchards of a village in the jungle, Prek Touch, before journeying on towards the colourful floating markets of Vietnam's Cai Bei. After 7 nights on board, guests will disembark at Ho Chi Minh City to spend two days exploring the region.

Edinburgh-based Pandaw take pride in their small cruises, which combine intrepid itineraries and sustainable tourism policies with a luxury that is evocative of the golden age of cruising. Their ships are teak panelled with brass finishing, while open promenades and vast observation decks give the feeling of a wholly outdoor experience. In 1995, Pandaw re-established The Irrawaddy Flotilla Company, a business originally set up in Burma in 1865 by Scottish merchants. In its heyday the company held the largest privately owned fleet of ships in the world, many of which were built on the Clyde; however, it foundered during the Second World War when Burma was invaded.

Click here to download the brochure or contact the Cruise Department by telephoning 0844 493 2457 or emailing cruises@nts.org.uk