The Mekong - from the source to the delta

Part 1: Turbulent River in Tibet and Southwest China Part 2: Mother of All Waters in Laos

Part 3: Great Water in Cambodia Part 4: Nine Dragons in Vietnam

Rising in eastern Tibet the world's fifth longest stream flows through Southwest China, Burma, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and South Vietnam before reaching the South Chinese Sea. All big rivers of the world are well covered, measured, pictured, except one. For a long time the Mekong was remote and inaccessible for the western world. Although it is the lifeline of an entire region, we do not know much about the Mekong. It was as late as 1994, when its main source was discovered in the highlands of Tibet. War and seclusion left the Mekong undisturbed and its ecosystem almost completely intact. But things have been changing rapidly. With the end of the Cold War the former communist countries along the river have opened up. Together with development banks and foreign investors they have started to utilize and develop the wild Mekong, which has become a "River of Promise". However, whether the farmers and fishermen along the Mekong will benefit is uncertain.
The Along Mekong crew spent almost one year shooting the world's first documentary. They gained access to areas where no western film team had been before. Four films follow the river from the source to the mouth, portraying ordinary people living along the river, focussing on culture and ecology, as well as economical, political and developmental issues.
"Mekong" was a comprehensive multimedia project. Nucleus was the production of a series of four films of 60 minutes length for the German public TV network ARD and for the international TV market. Furthermore, a one hour radio feature was produced, a picture library compiled and a Mekong exhibition organized. A comprehensive picture/book "Mekong" (1995 Marino-Verlag, München, unfortunately sold out) was published in collaboration with two photographers:
Christoph Piecha www.piecha.org and Jim Holmes www.jhpix.com

vhs copies of the Mekong series in English are available, info per e-mail