Life On The Mekong - In Photos

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A set of eyes painted on the prow of a wooden boat

The eyes on a boat not only help guide a boat home, they also give a delightful character © A. Harrison


Life is lived on the Mekong, lived at water level. In the towns and villages, houses open straight onto the water, and boats are filled with anything and everything as they criss-cross from side to side of the river.

Down towards the Mekong Delta, side streams amble through the overgrowth. Many are so shallow I wondered if our boat could pass.

A small boat almost hidden by lush vegetation on a river

So easy to get lost drifting along these channels © A. Harrison‍ ‍


The boats are the characters in this story. Most boats in Vietnam have eyes, to see their way, and to bring their owners home safely (I’ve also heard tell the eyes scare off demons).

Then comes the rain. You haven’t been to the tropics, until caught in a deluge.

Old wooden boats passing in the rain, with jungle on either side

A passing deluge to cool the air © A. Harrison


At times the river was incredibly crowded, while in other spots at times we were the only boat around, and I would listen to the drone of dragonflies and the lazy plop of fish.

And always another channel just begging to be explored.

A lady standing up as she rows a boat, with lush jungle behind her

Like a gondola, these boats are rowed standing upright, facing the direction of travel © A. Harrison


If you enjoy my writing and photography, please visit my blog Musings of a Witch Doctor, where you can also buy my photos, novels and poetry books. There’s even a link to my YouTube video channel. Or perhaps instead you’d like to buy me a coffee? (Or a pony?)

Thank you!

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