Nam Ou River Boy Returns Home
About the Author: Ounheuan Saiyasith is a Development Officer for the Australian Aid Program. In late-2015, Oun joined IFC and Lao PDR’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment on their field work to record biophysical and social data in the Nam Ou River Basin in northern Lao PDR.
Born in a small village in the Nam Ou River Basin near Luang Prabang province in northern Lao PDR, I feel very attached to this beautiful river and the surrounding landscape.
As the longest tributary of the Mekong – approximately 448 kilometers – this mighty river has been key to the culture and livelihoods of riverine communities for ages. For the people that live along the river, it is a source of income, food, transportation, joy, and tradition. When I was young, for instance, I would go with my family to pan for gold in the river, grow vegetables along the river banks, swim with friends after classes, and help my brothers steer their boat while fishing.
The Nam Ou flows from the northern province of Phongsaly through Oudomxay and Luang Prabang provinces, before meeting the Mekong River near the famous Buddha Cave in Luang Prabang. Over the past two decades, the Nam Ou has rapidly changed due to the use of water resources to boost regional economic development. It has received great attention in recent years as major site for hydropower plants. Currently seven hydropower dams are being built along the river, with an estimated installed capacity of approximately 1,146 megawatts. These developments will unavoidably alter the river system in many ways, impacting local ecosystems and the livelihoods of local villagers.
How these dams are built and managed will be vital for the people who rely on the Nam Ou. A sustainable economic growth model for the river, with integrated and inclusive management, can minimise the potential negative impact on the economy and local communities. It will also contribute to long term development and sustainable growth in the region.
As a person born in the Nam Ou area and now an Australian Aid staff member, I am proud and excited to be part of the effort to manage this important river. The Australian-supported International Finance Corporation (IFC) program is working with Department of Water Resources, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE), and provincial line agencies, about compiling the first ever Nam Ou River Profile. This will be the first attempt to quantify social and economic data and development activities along the river. This crucial document will help inform the efforts of the government and other stakeholders to sustainably manage and develop the river.
Relevant provincial and district officials from Phongsaly, Oudomxay, and Luang Prabang took part in a four-day workshop on the profile. The participants agreed on the data collection method (both secondary and primary data) and visited the data collection site for river morphology and a village (Ban Vanglae) in Pak Ou district, where they distributed a test questionnaire. About 1,500 households along the river will be interviewed by district officials to obtain data on livelihoods and river use.
For me, it always feels good to be visit and enjoy this beautiful river. It brings back so many precious memories, and it’s good to reconnect with my home, and with people I haven’t seen in years. As a Nam Ou River Basin native, I feel grateful to Australian government, IFC, and Lao PDR’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, who understand the profound importance of the sustainable management of these shared resources. They are a great asset for Lao PDR, and vital for the multi-ethnic communities who live there. I am confident the work we are doing will contribute to more effective management of the Nam Our River, the water resources in Lao PDR, and across the Mekong region more broadly.
