A journey of discovery on the Mekong through Laos | DW Documentary

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Published 2023-09-28
With its rich biological diversity, the region around the Mekong River is a jewel of Asia. The river is also known as "the mother of waters.” It’s a transport route, water supply and food source for millions of people.

The film sets out in a journey to the former royal city of Luang Prabang in Laos. It’s regarded as one of the most beautiful cities in southeast Asia and to this day, religion determines everyday life: Every morning, hundreds of monks walk through the city’s ancient center to collect their alms.
In the isolated villages, some of which are only accessible by boat, most Laotians live off the land. There are huge rice paddies on the fertile banks on the Mekong; rice is the Laotians’ main staple, eaten three times a day here. The river also provides some welcome dietary variation in the form of fish.
Locals - and the odd tourist boat - also use the Mekong as a main transit route; even today, the quickest way to reach the country’s larger cities is still by river. At some point, several hundred kilometers downstream, we reach the capital Vientiane, the economic heart of Laos and a trading center for the famous Laotian woven textiles, exported from here all over the world.

#documentary #dwdocumentary #laos #mekong
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All Comments (21)
  • @jurgentreue1200
    I lived in Laos 2007-2015, my wife 2003-2015, but had been going the Laos yearly since 2003. It's a drop dead beautiful country with wonderful people. Some of the friendliest, hospitable people I've ever met.
  • @tynhong8751
    I’m Thai-Vietnamese, i was born in a town close to border of Vientiane. I had lived with a Laotian nanny for almost 10 years. I can’t even describe how grateful I am to be raised by her and I’m so thankful for that she taught me many things and I’m able to speak pretty fluent Laotian. When I was 15 my parents decided to send me to study abroad. Meanwhile my nanny had gone back to Laos. Years later, we can’t get a hold of her anymore because my father was the only person that knew her family but he passed away. We totally lost of contact and I haven’t heard from her ever since. I do really miss her and I hope that I will have an opportunity to see her again someday. my best and kindest nanny. 🧡
  • @somileisan3960
    Fishermen giggle seeing small fish on the fishing nets is so adorable. Bless his heart.
  • @CJ_FetzOfficial
    More of this DW. I'm a history instructor and I've been following your great channel for 2 years now. Your channel never fail to show us the variety of political, social, economic, religious beliefs of every nation.
  • @nature2601
    It's an inspiring documentary about nature and humanity. 🙂💚🙏
  • @Kaienhere
    We need more documentaries about the region of southeast Asia
  • @RMEfootball
    Background songs🥺❤️ DW understood the assignment 😅
  • @eksbocks9438
    It's beautiful. I wish the rest of the world could be like this.
  • @senthil2230
    This is the first time I heard about this beautiful long river, the Mekong. Like the river, the people of Loas are so beautiful. Thank you, DW, for this special documentary. Looking forward to visiting Loas!
  • @otisotis5869
    I loved this river trip; In October 2008, I took an overnight train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai (north) and then a long bus ride to the eastern Thailand, to border town Chiang Khong; it was from there that I cross into Loas then took a river boat on the Mekong from Huay Xai to Luang Prabang (with an overnight stay in Pak Beng) it is so memorable... the river, the people, the food, the smell of the Mekong.... unforgettable. I understand that now many Tourists flock to take this river boat trip and that Pak Beng has grown with hotels, motels, restaurants and ATMs (!!!!!). This was bound to happen, it is a serene place when I visited and pray it still is. Luang Prabang, the Royal seat of Laos, was a marvel and I'm sure travel development has made its way there.
  • @manflynil9751
    Wonderful to watch this excellent documentary on Laos and it's gentle people. Ive spent a bit of time in Laos and will definitely be heading back thete soon.
  • @brendasays2324
    Just beautiful.. my father family are refugees from Laos. I want to send my parents back to Laos and retire out there. 2025 is the year we plan to visit. I hope I can find some land out there for them to enjoy. Thank you for sharing. The one thing I admire the most about the our people is the way we live. ❤❤❤❤❤❤
  • @xavclee
    I was born in Laos but left when I was 6. I just recently went back with my wife and kids. Laos is such an untouched and beautiful country especially in the northern regions.
  • @dn6127
    Laos is really beautiful. And the people are wonderful!
  • @SorminaESar
    Mekong river is so length and beauty. The water is so clean and good for agriculture and fishery. Mekong river's belong of Vietnam. Vietnam export rice to Indonesia. Vietnam rice is so good and beauty. Long time ago, Indonesia had exported to Vietnam, it called IR 46. Thanks DW Documentary have been sharing it.🙏
  • @worldview2888
    BEAUTIFUL <3 Thank you so much for this amazing documentary. This is incredible.
  • @El.Duder-ino
    Mesmerizing docu teaching how humble people with respect to nature and natural habitat can make life beautiful even with little money, being called "poor". It's completely opposite what these people r, all they need or lack r more services and engineering advancements which would make their lives a bit easier and less of struggle. Excellent docu as always DW - u should seriously to consider ALL of these documents available for download ESPECIALLY those no longer available on Youtube or your sites (even for a small subscription fee).