For the past whole week, I was somewhere Google map cannot find me with no internet and phone reception.
Well, we went camping on the islands and beaches that typically disappear from the map. They are visible for 7 months in dry season; from November to May; and then disappear into the Mekong river for another 5 months. I checked on Google Map when I was on the islands, sadly, both of the islands were not on Google Map. Instead, it shows that I was in the middle of water /river.
Well, if you have not known about the Mekong river before, let me start with a short introduction.
The Mekong, or Mekong River, is a trans-boundary river in East Asia and Southeast Asia. It is the sixth longest rivers in Asia and the world’s twelfth longest river. It stretches across 6 countries, flows from China down to Vietnam through Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam before pouring to the sea.
Overall length: 4,909 km
Countries along the Mekong: China, Lao, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam
Cambodian length: 486 km (302 mi), Mekong being the longest river in Cambodia. Mekong in Cambodia flows pass five provinces: Stung Treng, Kratie Kampong Cham, Prey Veng and Kandal.
Drain areas: about 795,000 km², discharging 475 km³ of water annually.
Cities: built by the river are: Vientiane (Lao), Nong Khai (Thailand), Krong Kampong Cham & Phnom Penh (Cambodia), Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam)
Facts and Benefits of the Mekong Cambodia:
- Home to Irrawaddy Dolphin (Kratie)
- Home to verious birds, including ត្រយ៉ងយក្ស/ Giant Ibis (the national bird of Cambodia), then Vulture.
- Home to most delicious fresh water fish (Stung Treng): ត្រីប៉ាស៊ីអ៊ី/Mekongina Erythrospila​ (most expensive and delicious fish, only in Stung Treng) and also national fish of Cambodia: ត្រីគល់រាំង/ Giant Barb​ (endangered species)
- Home to most yummy honey-pineapple in Cambodia
- Home to Biodiversity, sediment for good crops and home to good river sand for constructions/buildings
- Hydro dams could be built for electricity
- Home to uncountable touristic destinations: Koh Samseb, the hub of more than 30 islands along the river in Kratie. Borei O’Svay (Stung Treng), home to interesting underwater trees called Anh-jeng. Koh Han, an island in the Mekong. You can do various tourism activities at these sites such as camping, bird-watching, kayaking, learning to cook special food and enjoy gastronomy here.
- For more information about visiting the Mekong Cambodia, please check this Google List: What to see along the Mekong River
Points of interests visiting Mekong
- Drifting through river cruises past a parade of brightly hued pagodas, wats, and Buddhist temples and residential houses along the river.
- Encountering everyday life of locals on and in the river: fishing boats & activities, sampans (a small shelter on board and may be used as a permanent habitation on inland waters), floating markets, children swimming, women doing their laundry.
- Visiting the busy cities along the Mekong
- Visiting underwater forest and village, the Mekong delta vilage
last one week missed yiu a lot!
