Mekong river

A story of my own

By Hai Thanh

Vinh Long province. 2024.

My on going long-term photo story about the Mekong river not as an observer but also a photographer. This is a mixed one between the photo reportage and a bit fantasy photographic styles. The Mekong River, known as the “Mother of Rivers,” flows 4,200 km from the Tibetan Plateau through six countries, serving as a vital lifeline for millions. It shapes lives through agriculture, fishing, and culture, while facing critical threats from upstream dams, climate change, and severe saltwater intrusion in its shrinking, sinking delta. People struggling to deal with the impacts of climate change such as sand mining, particularly in the Mekong Delta in Vietnam. A critical issue driven by high construction demand, causing severe environmental damage and instability. Excessive dredging leads to riverbed erosion, bank collapses, and saltwater intrusion, endangering homes and accelerating the loss of the Delta.

Mekong river is big home to more than 17 million people and hosting a rich diversity of plants and animals, the Mekong Delta is Viet Nam primary rice producer and is critical to both the country’s economy and ecosystem. Without concerted action, these pressures could undermine the resilience of the Mekong Delta, threatening its agriculture, economy, and biodiversity.