Photo by Kittitep Khotchalee on Unsplash
Mekong River map: where it is and which countries it flows through
The Mekong flows through Asia, from the Tibetan Plateau to the South China Sea. Over 4,909 km, it flows through or along six countries: China, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. Here's where it runs, map in hand.
Where is the Mekong River?
The Mekong River is in Asia. It rises in China, on the Tibetan Plateau, in Qinghai province, and flows south to the South China Sea, in Vietnam. Its lower half runs through the Indochinese Peninsula, in Southeast Asia.
In China, where it is called the Lancang, it runs for ≈ 2,320 km, nearly half its length, through the gorges of eastern Tibet and Yunnan.
Past Jinghong, it leaves China and forms the border between Myanmar and Laos down to the Golden Triangle, where Myanmar, Laos and Thailand meet. It runs along Thailand to Chiang Khong, crosses northern Laos through Luang Prabang, then becomes the border between Laos and Thailand again from Chiang Khan to Khong Chiam, by way of Vientiane.
It then flows back into Laos, drops over the Khone Falls, crosses Cambodia through Kratie and Phnom Penh, and enters Vietnam in two branches that form the delta before the sea.
Which countries does the Mekong River flow through?
Six countries, from upstream to downstream. It flows through four; in Myanmar and Thailand, it only forms the border.
-
China
≈ 2,320 km, from the source to Yunnan. There the river is called the Lancang.
Mekong River length and source → -
Myanmar
≈ 230 km, all along the border with Laos, down to the Golden Triangle. The river never enters the country.
-
Laos
≈ 1,890 km, including ≈ 1,130 km as a border. After China, no country has more of the Mekong.
The Mekong in Laos → -
Thailand
≈ 900 km, all along the border with Laos, in two stretches. The river runs along the country without crossing it.
The Mekong in Thailand → -
Cambodia
≈ 490 km, from the Khone Falls to the Vietnamese border, through Kratie and Phnom Penh.
The Mekong in Cambodia →
Cities on the Mekong River, from source to sea
Two capitals are built on the river, Vientiane and Phnom Penh. Three cities people often mention are not.
Vientiane
Capital of Laos
On the left bank, facing Nong Khai in Thailand, linked by the 1st Friendship Bridge.
Phnom Penh
Capital of Cambodia
At the Chaktomuk junction, where the Mekong receives the Tonle Sap and gives rise to the Bassac.
Luang Prabang
Laos
The former royal capital, where the Nam Khan joins the Mekong, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Jinghong
China
Capital of Xishuangbanna, the last large Chinese city on the river.
Can Tho
Vietnam
The largest city in the delta, on the Hau, the branch also called the Bassac.
Off the river
Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City, Siem Reap
Bangkok is on the Chao Phraya, Ho Chi Minh City on the Saigon River, Siem Reap north of Tonle Sap Lake.
Questions about the Mekong River map
Which way does the Mekong River flow?
Which Southeast Asian countries does the Mekong not flow through?
How many kilometers of the Mekong form a border?
Sources: river course, borders and countries, Natural Earth; lengths and border stretches calculated on that course, for a total length of 4,909 km (Liu et al., 2009); Mekong River Commission. Updated October 8, 2026 by Pierre-Marie Coupry.