The Water People

Powerful, purifying, and mysterious, water bodies play a vital role in many cultures and religions. Some live and die by the waters, and some believe the deep blue is home to gods and goddesses. Others look to the waves in search of the spirits of their deceased loved ones. The waters bring people together to pray to higher beings, and the high seas.

VIETNAM

The Mighty Mekong River

Around the Mekong River, 70 million people throughout Southeast Asia live and thrive – more than the population of France. Thais and Laotians who share the Mekong River have similar cultural traditions and have maintained close exchanges. Fishermen on the riverbanks even make a short stay at the opposite shore without a passport or visa. Whether from the Thai side or the Lao side, the fishermen all know each other, and greet each other warmly every day when a boat passes. Dragon boat racing, which originated in China, has also spread to the middle and lower reaches of the Mekong.

The Greater Mekong has been called Asia’s “fish basket” and “rice bowl”. It produces 4.5 million metric tonnes of fish every year, contributing about 80 percent of the protein consumed in the region’s households. The freshwater system is also critical for growing rice, which provides more than half of the daily caloric intake in countries across the region. From its source in the Tibetan Plateau to its end in Vietnam, the Mekong River is also a critical source of drinking water for the millions of people who live in its watershed. Four-fifths of the population of the Greater Mekong relies on forestry, agriculture or fishing for their livelihoods, all relating to the Mekong’s waters. In Laos, for example, more than two-thirds of the population is employed in the agricultural sector.

CHINA

The Bustling Life on the Yangtze River