1. At the common crossing spots for Hmong from Laos looking towards Thailand during the rainy seasons. The Mekong River is high.
2. Mekong River valley. Laos on the left side, fogs covering the Mekong River, and Thailand is on the right.
3. From this and other locations along the banks of the Mekong River in Vientiane province of Laos, tens of thousands of families fled to Thailand, on the far side. They were seeking refuge in the decades after the end of the U.S. secret war in 1975. Many did not make it, as they could not swim and had little or no floating support, or were shot and dumped into the river by bandits, perishing in the strong cold currents, most often in the dark of night.
Research suggestions:
* Length and width of Mekong River
* Meaning of river's name
*source and mouth of river location
*What are the estimates of the number of those fleeing Laos who died in the Mekong?
* Where were the most common crossing points for refugees fleeing Laos to come to Thailand? (This info will then be incorporated into our map at the beginning of the book, showing the Hmong refugee camp locations in Thailand, most of which are along the Mekong.)