Laos River Life

The 1,880km stretch of the Mekong River that winds through Laos is the lifeblood of this landlocked country, sandwiched between Vietnam, Cambodia, Burma, China and Thailand. The river feeds the population of one of Asia’s poorest and least developed nations, providing irrigation, energy and a vital transportation link. For years an undisturbed backwater, environmental campaigners are concerned that construction of the Xayaburi dam will have a negative impact on Mekong River life. Photos by Pornprom Sarttarbhaya.