From its source in China’s Qinghai Province near the border with Tibet, the Mekong River flows southeast for more than 2,600 miles into the South China Sea. Acting as a natural boundary, the river provides the border between Myanmar and Laos and most of the border between Thailand and Laos before continuing across Cambodia and southern Vietnam. Historically, the difficulty of navigating the Mekong meant that it divided, rather than united, the people who live along its banks. It has seen the rise and fall of empires and numerous battles including the Vietnam War. In tiny Luang Prabang, Laos, the Mekong is a source of life. From transportation and irrigation to washing, fishing and a playground for children, the Laotians make the most of this immense natural resource. But for travelers like me, the beauty of the Mekong and its surrounding landscape at sunset is more than enough.