While the mekong is a lifeline for residents of downstream nations, the river rushes through narrow gorges in china, making it impractical for economic activity other. I chose across the mekong river in preparation for our trip to the mekong river delta on a river boat, although we visited vietnam and cambodia, rather than laos, which is the subject of this book. Damming the lower mekong, devastating the ways and means. Hmong women are well known for their needleart skills, a tradition of over five thousand years old. There are two cli book boats taking lao books to villages along the mekong river and its tributaries. The mekong river is the 12th longest river in the world. China reshapes the vital mekong river to power its. Cambodia, laos, burma myanmar, thailand, vietnam, and. Gargan, a new york times reporter and bureau chief, was always fascinated with asia and studied chinese in college. Across the mekong river paints a vivid picture of the hmong immigrant experience, exploring family love, sacrifice, and the resiliency of the human spirit to overcome tragic circumstances. Latiff does not only strive to write of wondrous things but also everyday things through lines and colours, points and phrases filled with beauty and freshness which are at.
Sep 28, 2017 mekong river commission launches interactive and easytouse mekong data portal. Theyre a reminder that the mekong is a sacred river. Apr, 2020 while the mekong is a lifeline for residents of downstream nations, the river rushes through narrow gorges in china, making it impractical for economic activity other than hydropower. Vietnam to counter china with asean backing on mekong. Its source is the lasagongma spring in mount guozongmucha in the tibetan plateau, and its mouth is the mekong delta south china sea. A laos travel guide to the best mekong cruises in laos and luang prabang. The book is so filled with historical facts and figures that i didnt realize it was a novel rather than a memoir until i finished it. Its a water world that moves to the rhythms of the mighty mekong, where boats, houses and markets float upon the innumerable rivers, canals and streams that crisscross the. Finally, the mekong committee, originally established in 1957, was transformed into the mekong river commission in 1995 with four member states, cambodia, laos, thailand and vietnam. This is a hmong story cloth depicting hmong peoples escape to thailand by crosing the mekong river.
Right now, 100ton boats unload cargo at chiang saen port about 15 miles. A thriving trade route for six different countries for thousands of years, the mekong river remains one of the few big rivers in the world that refuses to be civilized. Take a splendid river cruise through the mekong delta and enjoy panoramic views of river life in vietnam. The first hmong bookstore easily known as hmong abc. This river originates in the yunnan province of china, travels south, forming the boundary between laos and other countries such as myanmar and thailand. Laos travel guide mekong river cruises laosadventures. Explore mekong delta holidays and discover the best time and places to visit. Rising in southeastern qinghai province, china, it. Let yourself be charmed by the picturesque villages. The contrast between the physical conditions that prevail above. Rich with wildlife only the amazon is more biologically diverse and lined with everything from small towns to that stunning angkor wat temple complex, the mekongs many.
The fate of 70 million people rests on the mekong river. In vientiane, the capital of laos, the water level has fallen to 3. Russell aptly integrates the culture clashthe familys richly drawn tension culminates in a grueling court case that affects all involved. Turn around times vary depending on the book format. The bustling commerce of its towns contrasts sharply with. Tracing the history of the mekong river, this book shows how its conceptualization and utilization have been transformed in modern times, and particularly. Among asian rivers, only the yangtze and ganges have larger minimum flows. Sand mining in cambodia and dams upstream threaten mekong. It is the worlds twelfth longest river and the seventh longest in asia. On june 1st, we are launching an initiative to translate and publish great books from the mekong region. This debate occurs in both the academic literature, as well as the media, and is a focus for many. Immerse yourself in the natural beauty and unique culture of southeast asia on the beautiful mekong river, in vietnams ha long bay, and in the historic temples of laos and cambodia. Feb 28, 2019 the last days of the mighty mekong by brian eyler sounds a stark warning about the impact dams are having along the oncemighty river, cites the failures of both western and asian agencies, and.
The path of the mekong crosses cambodia and then ends in southern vietnam, forming the famous mekong delta. The mekong river commission mrc today launched a revitalised online data service platform that assembles, analyses, and visualises data about the health and condition of the mekong river. Nguyen concludes by examining the continuation of some of the projects schemes by the independent southeast asian countries. The mekong river drains more than 3,000 square miles 810,000 square km of land, stretching from the plateau of tibet to the south china sea.
The last days of the mighty mekong by brian eyler sounds a stark warning about the impact dams are having along the oncemighty river, cites the failures of both western and asian agencies, and. Biophysical environment of an international river basin. The greatest of all southeast asias waterways and the worlds 12thlongest river, the mekong, is a natural wonder that ties together the destinies of half a dozen countries. Like these other rivers as well, the mekong river means more than environmental and. The mrc is an intergovernmental organisation for regional dialogue and cooperation in the lower mekong river basin, established in 1995 based on the mekong agreement between cambodia, lao pdr, thailand and viet nam. Mekong water management challenges identified for collaborative planning. Tracing the history of the mekong river, this book shows how its conceptualizations have been transformed in modern times, and particularly during the vietnam war when the mekong river and mekong project became political pawns. The mekong flows 4,350 kilometers and shapes the borders. In vietnam, explore the emerald waters and limestone pillars of ha long bay. The development of the mekong river basin is highly controversial, and is one of the most prominent components in the discussion about the river and its management. From the opening of the prologue of her new book, across the mekong river, author elaine russell pulls you into a tale at once fascinating and engaging. It is a seminal examination of the mekong and its people, a testament to the their struggles, their defeats and their victories.
Diary of an eccentric book blog from the opening of the prologue of her new book, across the mekong river, author. High illiteracy rates and poor access to education are having a catastrophic effect on laos youngest generation. No worries take your book on vacation and read on while sailing on our cruise ships or enjoy one of the. Hydropower is the favoured energy option for the mekongs riparian countries. Mekong press books and publishing in the greater mekong subregion. Vietnam to counter china with asean backing on mekong river. China, myanmar, thailand, lao pdr, cambodia, and viet nam. The mekong river damned if you do leaders the economist. The rice bowl of vietnam, the delta is carpeted in a dizzying variety of greens.
Mekong river simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. On this journey by riverboat and on foot, float down the mesmerizing mekong river in laos to explore traditional villages and learn about their cultural heritage. The source of the rivers great productivity is its seasonal variation in water level and the range of wetland habitats inundated. Oct 06, 2018 china also plans to make parts of the mekong wider and deeper to fit larger vessels and increase commerce along the river. Elsewhere, experience three unbelievable unesco world heritage sites. Across the mekong river by elaine russell goodreads. However, the level is still very low compared to last year. Some of these are historical, but even with the welcome cessation of armed conflict in the region, there is increasing conflict over resource development. The mekong river runs over nearly three thousand miles, beginning in the mountains of tibet and flowing through china, burma, laos, thailand, cambodia, and vietnam before emptying into the china sea. The rivers role as purifier and lifegiver provides a central pillar of buddhist belief in laos, and ancient temples line its jungled banks, including the oldest and holiest of all, wat phu.
The boats serve children in more than 100 riverside villages, who otherwise would never have books in their hands. The mekong, or mekong river, is a transboundary river in southeast asia. Rain trees rise along the banks, and occasionally, the golden top of a temple pokes above the mist. The mekong river is a river in the southeast of asia. China, burma, thailand, laos, cambodia, and finally vietnam. Feb 14, 2020 vietnam to counter china with asean backing on mekong river region. At hmong abc, we are dedicated to preserving and promoting the hmong people through our large collections of hmong arts, books and crafts. With southeast asias storied mekong, chinas upriver damming is taking a heavy toll, but downstream neighbors share the blame. Liana mellotte takes a boat trip to some of the most remote villages along the mekong river to see how local libraries and ngos in luang prabang are trying to solve the problem and give lao children a chance to read, learn and engage with their cultural heritage. The mekong river is one of the worlds great river systems, flowing 4,909 km through six countries. Taking the slow boat down the mekong river earth trekkers. A beautifully woven tale of two cultures blending in the lives of an immigrant family, mekong provides insight and empathy for the struggles facing anyone who makes the difficult decision to flee his country. Each boat normally goes out for two weeks to a month each trip. Jan 22, 2002 a literate memoir of a years solo journey down the length of the mekong river, from tibet, through southern china, laos, cambodia, and viet nam to the south china sea.
Find mekong journal by nick zungoli at blurb books. Mekong river is a bilingual anthology of poems featuring the works of latiff mohidin. Like these other rivers as well, the mekong river means more than environmental and economic stability it has. The mekong river has several vibrant stories to tell. Then, as the 1980s drew to a close, there was renewed interest in the possibilities of exploiting the mekongs economic potential. Sand mining in cambodia and dams upstream threaten mekong river. In the 1950s, the decision was made to develop the river s resources to foster economic development for the four. The turn around time for all other books is 710 working days. Its a water world that moves to the rhythms of the mighty mekong, where boats, houses and markets float upon the innumerable rivers, canals and streams that crisscross the landscape like arteries. Production and delivery to the uk is within 1012 working days for all large landscape books, large portrait books and all photographic paper books. Its waters are the lifeblood of southeast asia, and first.
There are more than 250 million people living in the geographically, linguistically, and historically affiliated greater mekong subregion. The mekong begins in the lasagongma spring which is in the plateaus of tibet, disputed part of china, and flows about 2,703 miles 4,350 km southeast to the south china sea. A mekong cruise is the best way to experience laos in a truly relaxing and informative way. Traditional vietnamese music, like the yangtze, the nile, and the mississippi, the mekong river in southeast asia is a giver of life. Alternate cover edition for isbn 1466338105 9781466338104. Damming the lower mekong, devastating the ways and means of. Hydropower is the favoured energy option for the mekong s riparian countries. Celebrated for its natural beauty and its abundance of wildlife, the mekong river runs thousands of miles through china, myanmar, laos.
A literate memoir of a years solo journey down the length of the mekong river, from tibet, through southern china, laos, cambodia, and viet nam to the south china sea. The mekong river and its biodiversityrich tributaries the lifeline for more than 60 million people in southeast asia dropped to their lowest levels in a century last summer. Then, as the 1980s drew to a close, there was renewed interest in the possibilities of exploiting the mekong s economic potential. A remarkable history of the great river of southeast asia jill ker conway, author of the road from coorain. The rivers tale is a rare and profound book that delivers more than a correspondents account of a place. Feb 15, 2020 a boat drives through a shallow section of the mekong river where sections of the river are green and blue rather than their usual murky brown at this time of year, near sangkhom, thailand, in. Latiff does not only strive to write of wondrous things but also everyday things through lines and colours, points and phrases filled with beauty and freshness which are at the same time the language of his poetry. China taking control of vital mekong river through dam. The mekong river defines much of south east asia, but it was only explored by westerners for the first time in 1866. China also plans to make parts of the mekong wider and deeper to fit larger vessels and increase commerce along the river. Its estimated length is 4,350 km 2,703 mi, and it drains an area of 795,000 km 2 307,000 sq mi, discharging 475 km 3 114 cu mi of water annually. The mekong river basin faces a multitude of problems. Vietnam to counter china with asean backing on mekong river region. Hundreds and thousands of hmong were killed by the communist lao soldiers and by drowning in the mekong river.
A boat drives through a shallow section of the mekong river where sections of the river are green and blue rather than their usual murky brown at. Changes to natural flow regimes are recognized as a major human impact to rivers throughout the world. This very piece of crossing the meking story has been prohited to be made and sold in communist laos. Tracing the history of the mekong river, this book shows how its conceptualization and utilization have been transformed in modern times, and particularly during the vietnam war when the mekong river and mekong project became political pawns. The mekong river originates from the tibetan plateau through the mountains of yunnan where it is known by the chinese as the lan cang river.
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