This book tells the story of the Mekong River, from its source in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau to its delta in southern Vietnam, and the geographical changes in its environment on its journey to the sea. It mainly focuses on the many ethnic minorities living within the Mekong's reach. These minority nationalities all have their own distinct customs, traditions and ways of life that have carried on for many centuries. Much of that has survived the influences of politics, national integration and modernization. Nevertheless, their traditions and lifestyles are being profoundly affected by recent economic development and mass tourism. The book introduces each of these peoples and reveals and examines what makes them unique.

It begins with the Tibetans in the high-altitude, snow mountain regions of the Upper Mekong. Then it covers the Lisu, Naxi, Bai and Yi who live further down the river where the mountains are somewhat lower. Finally, it describes the hill peoples of the tropical zone — the Wa, Bulang, Lahu, Akha, Jinuo, Yao, Hmong — and the Dai of the plains. Each chapter summarises their lifestyles and interesting customs and traditions. Supplementing these entries are portraits of the peoples in their traditional clothing, along with photographs of their environment, work, home life, ceremonies, and festivals.

Contents:

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  The Upper Mekong:

  
  
  
  
  • The Tibetans
  
  
  • The Naxi
  
  
  • The Lisu
  
  
  • The Bai
  
  
  • The Yi
  
  
  • The Lahu
  
  
  • The Wa
  
  
  • The Bulang
  
  
  
  


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  The Middle Mekong:

  
  
  
  
  • The Akha
  
  
  • The Jinuo
  
  
  • The Dai
  
  
  • The Yao
  
  
  • The Hmông
  
  
  • Htin and Lamet
  
  
  • The Khamu
  
  
  
  


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  The Lower Mekong:

  
  
  
  
  • Katang, Alak, and Katu
  
  
  • Bahnar, Giarai, and Ede
  
  
  • The Cham
  
  
  
  

Readership: Academics; school, public and special libraries; general public with interest in travel in the Asian region and lovers of heritage.

Key Features:

• Books that have been published on this topic are mainly concerned with descriptions of the Mekong River and its development. This will be the first of its kind by concentrating on the different and unique peoples of the Mekong region and not just its geography


• Readers, specifically travelers will find it very useful in understanding what they see and whom they visit on their journeys


• Photographs add more vibrancy to the study