Mekong River

The map of the Mekong River shown below gives you an idea of the journey of the great Mekong River from its source in Tibet to the Mekong Delta region of Vietnam.

The river is the world's 12th largest in terms of length and 10th largest by volume draining an area of 795,000 km˛. From its source in the Jifu Mountains of Tibet it runs 4909 km through China's Yunnan province (where it is called the Lancang River), Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. Between Cambodia and the Vietnamese border near Chau Doc the Mekong splits into two and the Bassac River runs parallel to the main river as they enter Vietnam.

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Once into the Mekong Delta area of Vietnam the river splits further into a complex series of small canals and rivers where sediment from the river has been deposited and turned the region into an extremely fertile agricultural zone. This area is heavily cultivated and the rich soil enables enough rice to be produced to feed the whole country. The colourful villages and floating markets are one of Vietnam's most important tourist attractions.