The Mekong is one of the world’s great rivers. It is the world’s 10th-longest river and the 7th-longest in Asia. Its estimated length is 4,909 km (3,050 mi) and it drains an area of 795,000 km2 (307,000 sq mi).

From the Tibetan Plateau this river runs through China’s Yunnan province, Burma, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam established the Mekong River Commission in 1995 to assist in the management and coordinated use of the Mekong’s resources.

This cruise shown in these photos was organized by the Luang Say company.

Water buffalo roam free
Firewood stacked next to bamboo and thatch huts
A thatch village
A large thatch house is home to multi-generational families
Some villages have satellite TV powered by car batteries
Brahma bull and tourist
Along the river a lone woman protects herself from the
A local tourist boat
Another small remote village
Kids stacking bricks for sale or shipping
A small waterfall runs through the rocky embankment
Native boy in in native clothing
An informal clothing market along the river
Our boat awaits at the river
Our primary guide for the river cruise
One of our guides
Ethnic dance and music troupe entertaining tourists
View of the river from Luang Say Lodge in the
Our lodgings --Luang Say Lodge--for one night at the village
Sunset along the river
One of several tourist hotels along the river
Teens watching tourists from a distance; what are they thinking?
Arriving in Wiang municipality in Thailand
Looking across from Wiang municipality in Thailand across to Laos
Departing from Houei Say town in northern Laos
Trucks cross between Thailand and Laos by small ferry
Arriving at Houei Say town in northern Laos
Elaborate festival river boat
Workers hand digging a road along the river
Continuing upriver
Local kids bidding farewell to the day's load of tourists
Little girls waiting to sell woven wrist bands; the locals
Huge tree stumps being loaded onto a cargo boat; the
Mother peeling potatoes as kids watch and her piglet wanders
Father and infant watching tourists walk through his village; what
Colorful native costumes are usually worn by older women
Boy with home-made slingshot
Clothing for rural kids is usually second hand donations
Siblings start early to care for each other
Best friends or brothers
Siblings start early to care for each other
Grandmother watching over her baby while the parents work the
There are two caves here, upper and lower
A tiny remote Hmong village along the river where our
Looking north at the forested hills; tourist boat in the
A tiny village, one of many, along the Mekong
Along the way are massive outcroppings of rock
Muddy river and green hills
Inside the upper cave
Looking across the Mekong from the cave shrine
Lighting candles at the shrine in the cave
Comment on the Buddha sculptures in the caves
Tourists looking at the lower cave and sculptures
Hmong village children
Approaching the caves
Inside the caves are ancient Buddhist shrines
Approaching a karst eroded cave
Rocky karst outcroppings along the way
Moving north along the Mekong River after the morning mist
Wooden box of teas
Aboard our boat were passengers from several countries
Looking north along the Mekong River from Luang Prabang seeing
Approaching our boat on the Mekong River in Luang
The cruise is organized by Luang Say cruise company. Various
Monks live in virtually every village where there is a
These appear to be fishing poles with one end secured
A larger local village with tourist facilities; there are numerous
Heading north
Another (blurry) image of a tiny village. Some of these
Family canoe passing sand patterns along the banks of the
Elephant and men at work
Along the river are countless erosion configurations
Entry door to the local temple.
Buddha altar in the local temple
Monks live in virtually every village where there is a
This freelance map shows the route of the tourist boats
Monks live in virtually every village where there is a
Thatch houses
Hmong baby
Home made distillery boils local rice with 'alcoholic' run-off that
Close-up of weavings
Houses and weavings in the village
Typical wooden houses in the village
Young Hmong boy selling colorful weavings
Hmong villagers selling colorful weavings

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