Mother of Water – Laos

Mekong river is originally called Mae Nam Khong from a contracted form of Thai shortened to Mae Khong. In Thai and Lao, Mae Nam (“Mother of Water”) is used for large rivers and Khong is the proper name referred to as “River Khong”

湄公河
မဲခေါင်မြစ်
ແມ່ນ້ຳຂອງ
แม่น้ำโขง
ទន្លេមេគង្គ

Mekong River is a trans-boundary river in East Asia and Southeast Asia.
From the Tibetan Plateau, the river runs through China, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam. The extreme seasonal variations in flow and the presence of rapids and waterfalls in the Mekong make navigation difficult. Even so, the river is a major trade route between western China and Southeast Asia.

The villages along the Mekong River in Laos have economies deeply intertwined with the river’s vital role as both a lifeline and a thoroughfare. These communities heavily depend on the Mekong for sustenance, using its fertile riverbanks for agriculture and fishing to support their livelihoods. Additionally, the river acts as their primary mode of transportation and connectivity, serving as their main highway to access neighboring villages, markets, and essential services. This reliance on the Mekong for transportation and resources underscores its pivotal role in the economic and social fabric of these villages, emphasizing the need for its sustainable management and protection to ensure the well-being of these communities.