The Mekong River is the lifeblood of much of Southeast Asia. It runs the entire length of Laos, having already passed through Tibet, China, Myanmar and Thailand. From Laos it continues on to Cambodia and Vietnam. The river changes its flow seasonally and creates torrential rapids and waterfalls in the wet season. For those living along its banks these reliable but dramatic effects of seasonal variations can be life-changing. From drought to flood and from scarcity to plenty in the blink of an eye. The Lao people use these fluctuations to their advantage, using the period when the floods abate to plant and harvest lush crops of vegetables in the extremely fertile land the water uncovers.

The river is not easily navigable along its entire length but for most of Laos it is a reasonably dependable transport link, with scheduled ferries between major towns and cities and charter boats readily available for the adventurous traveller.

The Mekong river is integral to the Lao way of life. It creates natural borders with neighbouring countries and is vital to the Lao people, providing water for laundry, cooking, washing, playing, fishing, travelling and irrigation.

A journey along the river gives the traveller unforgettable scenes of daily life for the vast majority of the Laos rural population.