The Mekong River covers an impressive distance, passing from China through Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Thailand. Over 4000 km long, the river's banks are also home to around 60 million people who come from a diverse range of ethnic backgrounds. This makes the Mekong region one of the world's most culturally varied destinations for visitors to explore.

In terms of its natural abundance, the Mekong's incredible diversity is only matched on the other side of the globe in the Amazon Basin. Even the Amazon cannot match the range of large fish species that inhabit the Mekong. The huge volume of water passing along the river also guarantees the survival of essential stretches of forest and wetland areas. A vast collection of plant and animal species live in relative abundance thanks to the river's generous flow.

Tourism along the Mekong River has developed rapidly in recent years as more countries in the region have begun to welcome visitors and market the attractions on offer. Some towns and cities have become major international travel destinations. Thailand was the first country to promote the Mekong's impressive natural and cultural attractions, with Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam now also on the list of important Mekong destinations. The river's various sights now attract travellers from around the world and the services, activities and cultural experiences on offer along its banks are among the best in South East asia.

The Mekong region in Laos is not only accessible, but also unspoilt. It therefore offers some unique sights and experiences. The river actually forms a major section of the country's border with Burma and Thailand. Laos' two main cities: Vientiane, the capital and the historical centre of Luang Prabang also sit right on the river's banks. Visitors began to head across the river from Thailand back in the 1990s to explore the natural and cultural diversity on offer in Laos. The country's popularity spread fast and it soon established itself as one of the most visited destinations in South East Asia. The impressive natural scenery, fascinating hill tribe communities and long religious history provide an appealing range of activities and trips, with many of the best sights right next to the seemingly unending waters.

Most of the people that live close to the Mekong draw their living from farming and fishing. The river and its fertile wetlands are rich in natural resources, the relatively remote location means most communities live a subsistence existence, extracting basic necessities from the Mekong's abundance and teaching their their children to do the same. Commercially, farmers close to the Mekong take advantage of the river's constant flow to produce an annual rice harvest that's large enough to feed 300 million people. Farmers have been using the mekong to water their land since the 1st century and with modern advances often manage to yield up to three crops annually. But mass production is rare, however, so tourism is becoming an increasingly attractive sideline for villagers, who supplement their incomes as guides or by offering food and souvenirs to visitors.