So Cultures – July 2019

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G M O M E N T S

T H E L O N G H I S T O R Y

A N D D I V E R S E

C U L T U R E S

L A N G U A G E S

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