A River That Shapes Civilizations

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The civilization of mankind has arisen from the banks of rivers. Many great rivers have left their indelible mark on the human psyche. They are the Amazon, the world's longest river, with its thousands of branches sprawling through the lush tropical rainforests that cover the South American continent; the Mississippi, meandering through the vast and prosperous land of the United States, once the mythical land of Native American tribes, now the homeland of the world's most powerful economy; the Danube, a poetic and tranquil river flowing past the ancient castles of the old European empires and the birthplace of many human geniuses; the sacred and mystical Ganges, a bathing and pilgrimage site for millions of devout seekers of spirituality, where they come to pray and seek holy waters; the holy Nile, flowing at the base of the magnificent pyramids, through the land of mysterious Pharaohs and the legendary Cleopatra; the peaceful Volga, Europe's longest river and a symbol of Great Russia, where the enchanting melodies of folk songs continue to captivate; the Yellow River, the cradle of one of history's renowned civilizations; and the Yangtze, the Mekong, and the Red River, the three largest rivers in Asia, all originating from the roof of the world. Among them, a portion of the Mekong falls under the ownership of our country.

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The Mysteries of the Mekong River

The Origin of the Mighty Mekong

This documentary is dedicated solely to the Mekong, a major river of Asia originating from the perpetual snows of the Tibetan Plateau in Central China. The film does not contain any groundbreaking discoveries, in-depth analyses, or scientific explanations. Instead, it simply provides information and casual notes about journeys and efforts to approach with the hope of offering some narrow insights into the vast, millennia-old mystery of the river that directly affects an important part of the country and the face of Vietnamese society. This land is far from us, thousands of kilometers away, and stands about 5,000 meters above sea level, where the first water droplets gather to return to the Tien River and Hau River after a journey of over 4,000 kilometers through the territories of six nations. From the snowy peaks, countless small streams create thousands of different tributaries that flow into hundreds of rivers, which, in turn, gather and become the Mekong, Yangtze, and Red River, serving as the headwaters of the mother river. The source-creating mechanism of all rivers is the same; not all originate from snowfields. Only those that begin at altitudes around 5,000 meters receive stable water supplies year-round, even amidst scorching summers or dry seasons without a drop of rain. The snow on the mountain peaks is, of course, not infinite. However, because it is at such high altitudes, the low temperatures do not allow it to melt all at once. It slowly liquefies to be replenished in the next snowfall. Thus, the perpetual snow ranges play a decisive role in distributing water year-round to these rivers. So, among the billions of cubic meters of water that flow under the My Thuan Bridge day and night, there are the virtues of ice-cold snowflakes from the peaks that stand 6,000 to 7,000 meters high. They flow south like migratory birds, with the only difference being that they will never return.

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The Diverse Bounty of the Mekong Delta

Agriculture and Beyond

For generations, have the carefree children at the downstream of Vietnam ever wondered where their daily refreshing waters come from and which distant horizon they touch? And if there were an answer, it would be quite simple: the waters flow from the direction of Cambodia. Of course, the people of the delta today understand much more. They are explained that the waters of the rivers, such as the Tiền River, the Hậu River, Vàm Nao, Hàm Luông, Cổ Chiên, Ba Lai, have a part that flows from the high mountains of China. And that their homeland is precisely the downstream region of one of the greatest rivers in the world. No matter how it's explained from any perspective, the Mekong River remains eternally dear to them. It is a land of vast rivers and waters that has existed for a long time, even before their ancestors' time. Life has never been without these rivers, from rice fields, fish, orchards, folk songs, and stories, all inseparable from the river.

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The Enigmatic Beauty of the Mekong River

Hidden Wonders and Challenges

The total area of the Mekong River basin is estimated to be about 795,000 square kilometers, with the upper part in China covering 161,000 square kilometers. The last part, which is the Mekong Delta, is about 39,000 square kilometers, accounting for 12% of Vietnam's territory. This region is extremely fertile, only about 2-3 meters above sea level, and it transports about 475 billion cubic meters of water to the sea each year, along with hundreds of millions of tons of silt. With thousands of kilometers of canals created over the centuries, irrigation has been somewhat improved, especially for rice cultivation. However, farming still largely depends on nature, as the power of the Mekong has always been considered an inexhaustible divine force, beyond human intervention.

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Coexisting with the Mighty Mekong Balancing

Nature and Human Needs

If the staple crop in the downstream region is rice, which annually provides 80% of Vietnam's rice exports and ranks third in the world, about 4000 kilometers upstream, at the foot of the snow-covered mountains, people grow small crops, namely wheat, a common grain for Northern people that requires very little water.

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The Mekong River is a diverse source of benefits, including water for domestic use, transportation, hydropower, tourism, and industry. However, the most important benefit is agriculture, especially cultivation. The Mekong Delta is the largest fruit basket in Vietnam, featuring unique tropical fruits known worldwide. The national benefits derived from the water resources of the Mekong River basin vary in magnitude, with Laos being the most significant, followed by China and then Cambodia. For Vietnam, the Mekong River basin accounts for only 12% of its territory but supplies 57% of the country's total average water volume. The abundant resources brought by the Mekong are vital for the survival of this riverine region, and there is no other region in Vietnam as vast and fertile as this one.

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A Tapestry of Cultures Along the Mekong

Ethnic Diversity and Buddhism

Despite the relatively short length of the Mekong River in Vietnam, the delta it forms is incredibly extensive. Approximately 17 million people live here, primarily from various ethnic groups such as the Kinh, Hoa, Cham, and Khmer, each with their rich cultural traditions. However, agricultural practices are quite similar. Although there is religious diversity, the majority of residents adhere to Buddhism, including Kinh, Hoa, and Khmer communities. The Mekong can be considered a river of Buddhism, as most of its 4,800-kilometer length and vast basin are home to Buddhists of various ethnicities such as Tibetan, Bai, Han, Thai, Burmese, Lao, Khmer, Vietnamese, and more. They all share a common faith, engage in agriculture, and have relatively slow development, with limited mutual understanding. The main reasons for this limited interaction are the vast length of the river and the presence of different nationalities along its course.

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Connecting the River's Residents

Mekong is one of the most mysterious rivers globally, characterized by its treacherous and unfamiliar flow. Few Vietnamese people are aware that the upper reaches of the river are home to a unique long-haired buffalo species known as the "dwarf buffalo - Yak" capable of swimming in the cold, icy waters that flow from the snow. Furthermore, it's hard to imagine that the riverbanks there can be as high as 5 kilometers above the water surface, where the massive buffalo still frolic with village children in the warm water year-round. These two worlds are distinctly different and contribute to the river's mysterious and captivating beauty.

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The Endless Quest to Unravel the Mekong's Secrets

Seeking a Comprehensive Understanding

Mekong is not just about picturesque landscapes and economic benefits; it carries a lasting obsession that has haunted the thoughts of the delta's inhabitants for centuries. After prosperous years following the flood season, the peaceful and wealthy scenery of many regions suddenly becomes desolate and barren. Countless efforts put into life are washed away. Vast rice fields, abundant fruit orchards, thriving communities, and intricate networks of roads, bridges, and dams all become submerged and destroyed by the river. Water surges occur even without rainfall, leading to the question: where does the water come from, and is there too much of it? People are told that the water comes from upstream, but where exactly is upstream, and does it experience heavy rainfall? Can the flow be diverted elsewhere? Many questions remain unanswered, and the people only know to find ways to mitigate the damage.

 

There was a period when people called for the "remodeling of nature" and controlling the river's flow, but soon they realized it was merely encouragement for their willpower. The real solution lies in finding ways to coexist with the river, as the Mekong is long, stretching beyond Vietnam, with a significant portion of its water supply coming from outside Vietnam's borders. Moreover, in the kingdom of the river god, disasters aren't solely caused by excessive water. Droughts and wildfires have also brought suffering to the people, who understand that floods and droughts partly result from human-induced environmental degradation. Forest destruction and wildfires at the headwaters not only cause local damage but also spread disasters downstream. People have come to realize that the Mekong has never been as fierce as it is now, and it is far greater than what they have previously experienced.

 

Mekong's farmers, whether in the upper, middle, or lower reaches, are deeply connected to their homeland, working hard, enduring hardships, and loving their river. They understand that their rice grains and fruit crops depend not only on their labor but also on the sweet water and fertile silt of the Mekong. However, the river bestows its blessings differently in each region, and it plants various concepts and thoughts in the hearts of its people. Those who grow barley and raise sheep in Thanh Hai, Tibet, or those who work in the forests of Yunnan, Myanmar, and Upper Laos can hardly imagine the vast fruit orchards and rice fields of the Mekong Delta, even though they share the same river. The Mekong's nine flows, spanning 4,800 kilometers, with significant elevation differences of up to 5,000 meters, surrounded by vast mountain ranges, have created a situation of separation and isolation among the riverside residents. Have people living in the lower Mekong ever shown interest in and heard about the upper reaches of their river, along with the exploration and discovery efforts there? In fact, this work has a history of over a century, carried out by Europeans, with very few results. Bordering the skies where the first drops of water form the magnificent Mekong River, the Mekong basin isn't just about extensive river landscapes and fertile fields; it requires a more comprehensive understanding of its diverse and intricate flow throughout its extensive length, even though seeking this understanding may be extremely challenging and take decades.