A longtail boat on the Mekong below forested hills

Impact Stories

Meet the people behind the heritage and discover their stories of keeping Mekong traditions alive through creativity, innovation and new opportunities.

Aerial view of the Mekong river winding between forested mountains at dawn
Mekong Institute
The temple ruins of Ayutthaya
AyutthayaSiem ReapHueLuang PrabangBagan

keeping heritage alive, by hand

Artisans, cooks and cultural practitioners carrying knowledge into work that pays today.

LET THE
MAKERS
SPEAK

Tradition turned into new opportunity.

Across the Mekong region, heritage is kept alive not only through historic places and traditional practices, but also through the people who continue to create, adapt and pass their knowledge on to new generations. From artisans and craftspeople to entrepreneurs, cultural practitioners and creative businesses, these people are finding new ways to connect tradition with contemporary life.

Explore their stories and discover how creativity and innovation can help transform traditional knowledge and cultural heritage into new opportunities for communities, businesses and future generations, while keeping the unique identity and spirit of Mekong heritage alive.

Artisans at work near Angkor, Siem Reap
Siem Reap, Cambodia

Angkuoch – Keeping a Traditional Cambodian Sound Alive

The Angkuoch, a traditional Cambodian mouth harp, is a simple but distinctive musical instrument deeply connected to Cambodia's cultural heritage. For generations, it has been played by local communities and traditional musicians, but changing lifestyles, limited opportunities for younger generations to learn, and low visibility have made it increasingly difficult to keep the tradition alive.

The Challenge

Like many traditional crafts and cultural practices, Angkuoch faces the challenge of preserving tradition while creating opportunities for it to remain relevant today.

Traditional knowledge can be lost when younger generations have fewer opportunities to learn, practise and earn income from their heritage. At the same time, visitors may know little about the instrument or the people behind it.

1 / 2 Stories
Artisans at work near Angkor, Siem Reap
Featured Story: Bringing Angkuoch Back to Life

Siem Reap, Cambodia

The Angkuoch, a traditional Cambodian mouth harp, is a simple but distinctive musical instrument deeply connected to Cambodia's cultural heritage. For generations, it has been played by local communities and traditional musicians, but changing lifestyles, limited opportunities for younger generations to learn, and low visibility have made it increasingly difficult to keep the tradition alive.

The Perfume River and imperial city of Hue
Featured story

Hue, Viet Nam

A featured story showcasing how a traditional craft was revitalized through capacity building, product development, and new market connections.