The Mekong provides the livelihood for very many families in Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. An interesting essay in the "Economist" (Febr. 13, 2016 http://www.economist.com/news/essays/21689225-can-one-world-s-great-waterways-survive-its-development) highlights the problems of this river whose spring is across the border in the Chinese mountains north of Laos.
From Luang Prabang it is a short boat ride upstream to the caves of Pak Ou on the steep banks of the Mekong river. Pak Ou has been a worshipping site for centuries.
The caves consist of two accessible rooms, one hidden up on the mountainside and one visible from the boat. Both are decorated with a multitude of Buddha statues.
lower cave
The upper cave is very dark but well worth the climb.
On the way to the caves, tourist boats routinely stop at a place called "whiskey village". Here, locals create their own rather gruesome concoctions involving dried scorpions and small cobras supposed to help predominantly the male half of the human race ... no one wanted to try .
