Mekong River: Six Countries, One Lifeline

The Mekong River flows through six countries in mainland Southeast Asia, linking the Tibetan Plateau to the South China Sea.

Country Sequence (Upstream → Downstream)

1. China (Lancang Jiang): ~2,200 km. Upper basin: steep, gorge-confined, 11+ dams (cascade). Source: Tibetan Plateau (Zadoi, Qinghai).
2. Myanmar: ~200 km. Forms Myanmar-Laos border. Shan Hills. Limited mainstream development.
3. Laos: ~1,800 km. "Battery of Southeast Asia" — dozens of existing/planned dams (Xayaburi, Don Sahong). 80% of country in basin.
4. Thailand: ~850 km. Forms Laos-Thailand border (Mekong = boundary). Major water user (irrigation, urban).
5. Cambodia: ~500 km. Tonle Sap Lake connection (unique flood-pulse reversal). Phnom Penh = confluence with Tonle Sap & Bassac.
6. Vietnam: ~250 km (main stem). Mekong Delta (Cửu Long — "Nine Dragons"): 40,000 km², 18M people, rice bowl, aquaculture hub.

Key Stats

• Total Length: ~4,900 km (3,050 mi) — 12th longest globally.
• Basin Area: 795,000 km².
• Discharge: 16,000 m³/s avg (8th globally) — highly seasonal (Jun–Nov flood pulse).
• Biodiversity: 2nd only to Amazon (1,000+ fish species, Irrawaddy dolphin, giant catfish, stingray).

Governance

Mekong River Commission (MRC): 1995 agreement — Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam (China, Myanmar = dialogue partners). Joint basin planning, data sharing, dispute resolution — challenged by unilateral dam development.

The Mekong isn't just a river—it's a shared ecosystem, economic engine, and geopolitical arena for 70+ million basin residents.