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It offers a glimpse into the long
history and diverse cultures of the
region. Flowing through countries
like China, Myanmar (Burma),
Thailand, Laos, Cambodia,
and Vietnam. The river and its
banks carry stories of both ancient
and modern life, and the people
who live along its shores. The
human diversity is striking too.
Tibetan monks pray; Burmese
traders buy and sell; Cambodian
fishermen cast nets; Thai farmers
reap; Vietnamese markets float...
With diverse population,
languages of the people living in
the basin are also diverse. Most
residents of the uppermost
Mekong Valley are Tibetan and
the people of the river basin fall
into two broad cultural
groupings.
The hill peoples speak languages
belonging to five different
language families:Tibeto-
Burman, Tai, Hmong-Mien,
Austronesian and Mon-Khmer.
SOCULTURES MAGAZINE MAY-JUNE 2019 / 16
Mekong ferry, Neak Loeung, Cambodia
By Leon Petrosyan, wikipedia
Slow cruise boats, Pakbeng, Laos
By Tango/ wikipedia