When you book a room at a hotel with a Mekong View in Vientiane, Laos, You’ll begin to understand why this majestic river is so important to the people of Laos. The Mekong River is 4,350 kilometres long and flows through Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam on its way to the South China Sea.  It’s always served as the lifeblood to the countries the river runs through, and millions of their residents. But because of the difficulty of navigating the river from beginning to end, it’s also served to keep the region divided rather than unite the countries along its shores.  In 1995, four countries along the river established the Mekong River Commission (MRC). Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam were intent on creating a governing body that could manage and coordinate the care and conservation of the river for the benefit of everyone.  In 1996, China and Myanmar joined the commission as ‘dialogue partners’, and these six countries now work together in a cooperative environment.  Recently, China had proposed dredging and blasting along the river to remove the hazards that made navigating the river in its entirety difficult. This plan was designed to open up the river to more shipping capabilities and provide a greater amount of prosperity for the countries along its shores. But with stiff opposition from the fishermen and conservation organisations, and without much support from the other five countries on the commission, the plan was dropped. So, at least for the near future, the Mekong River will remain an undisturbed Vientiane attraction, as well as an attraction in the other five countries along its shores. 

River of Aquatic Biodiversity

Nature conservancies and wildlife organisations, as well as the fishermen who make their livelihood on the Mekong, all heaved a sigh of relief at the decision.  The Mekong River is second only to South America’s Amazon River for the amount of biodiversity it offers, and it features the highest concentration of biodiversity per hectare of any river in the world. People living along the river have a well-maintained system of fisheries offering controlled aquaculture as well as wild capture fisheries which the poorer, rural people along the river can use as a source of income. It’s estimated that the Mekong River provides around two million tonnes of fish per year from the wild capture fisheries, with the aquaculture fisheries contributing an additional two million tonnes.  Today, almost 40 million people from all the countries along the Mekong make their living from these wild capture fisheries. Laos is particularly reliant on the Mekong with over 70% of the rural households depending on the wild capture fisheries for their subsistence or additional income.  

Vientiane Attraction

In booking a hotel room with a Mekong view in Vientiane, the importance of the river as an attraction soon becomes apparent, not just as a source of fish and income, but as a recreational destination as well.  Large bodies of water seem to have a mesmerising and attractive effect on people throughout the world. And the residents of Vientiane are no different. At sunset along the shores of Vientiane, you’ll see thousands of people descend on the walkways and promenades along the river to watch the sunset and socialise with their friends and family. Booking a hotel with a view of the Mekong in Vientiane will also provide a visitor with spectacular sunset scenes.  Vientiane’s night market is close to the river, as are numerous bars and restaurants, making the waterfront a major Vientiane attraction.   If you visit the city at certain times of the year, you'll enjoy festivals and 'dragon boat' races as well along the river. Taking a stroll along the river at sunset is one of the best ways to mix with the residents of Vientiane. If you stay in a hotel with a view of the Mekong in Vientiane, you'll also be able to witness the daily activity on the river. This also may give you a sense of the importance this river holds in the lives of people of Laos. Aside from fishing, you'll see boats carrying foods and goods departing from Laos to deliver their cargoes to smaller towns and villages up and down the river. Spending a morning drinking coffee in one of the cafes and watching the bustling activity on the river is a Vientiane attraction itself. By booking a stay at the Crowne Plaza Vientiane, you'll be able to enjoy a Vientiane hotel with a Mekong view in several of the rooms offered by the hotel. Ask for a room with a river view when you book your room. You’ll be delighted with the view and may spend hours watching the activity on the river. But be sure to get out and join the people of Vientiane in watching the sunset to get a sense of the warmth and friendliness of the Lao people.  Watching the sunset as you stroll along the promenade along the river, you can stop in at any of the food stalls and enjoy a tasty bite of a Lao delicacy while you wait for the sun to go down. Please don't forget to bring your camera. The Mekong River provides a great backdrop to your memorable stay near a beloved Vientiane attraction.