At 4000 km long, the River Mekong is one the world's largest rivers. 15,000 cubic metres of water passes down the river every second, which in some countries world be enough to support the needs of 100,000 people for an entire day. The lower Mekong River Basin winds its way through Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Thailand, with around  60 million people living along its banks, including more than 100 different ethnic groups. This makes the region one of the most culturally diverse areas on the planet. Most of the population in  the countries of the Lower Mekong are farmers and fishermen who survive on the abundance in the basin's rivers and wetlands. The MeKong's rich resources generate millions of dollars every year, but many of the river's inhabitants remain poor, sustaining themselves and their families through fishing and farming.

The sheer volume of water that passes down the Mekong guarantees the survival of important forests and wetland areas that are home to a wide variety animals and thousands of plant species, all of which flourish thanks to the Mekong. Second only to the Amazon Basin in terms of biodiversity, no other river contains such a collection of large fish species. The Mekong's fishing industry generates billions of dollars every year and at the same time provides its human population with over one and half million tonnes of fish. This provides and essential income for the fishing communities that rely on the river, while also employing thousands of workers in the manufacture and sale of food products, fishing equipment, boat building and other connected industries.

The natural beauty, colourful history and human diversity along the Mekong River  attracts thousands of tourists to its shores and visitor numbers are increasing significantly year on year as facilities and access improve. Organisations like the Asian Development Bank, UNESCO and the World Trade Organization have all contributed to the development of tourism in the region. This obviously has an impact on the local communities along the river, but when well planned and well managed, tourism can help preserve the region's ecological, cultural and human resources, while also creating opportunities for local people to generate an alternative income.

In countries such as  Laos, the Mekong is an important survival source for people, animals and the rich natural landscape that makes this one of Asia's most fascinating and beautiful countries. The river's banks are home to hundreds of small villages, not to mention more populated heritage cities like Vientiane and Luang Prabang. In Laos, the Mekong has been considered an important spiritual symbol for centuries. Its name is derived from "Mae Nam Khong", which in English translates as Mother Water Ganges.