In 2016, the Mekong Delta—Vietnam’s vital agricultural heartland—faced one of its most severe environmental crises in decades. A historic drought, intensified by El Niño, led to widespread saltwater intrusion, crippling rice and aquaculture production. At the same time, upstream dam construction, illegal sand mining, and escalating pollution degraded the river's health, threatening both ecosystems and the millions who depend on its waters.
Mother Water documents the intricate and fragile relationship between the Mekong River and the communities living along its delta. Named after the river’s original meaning, the project explores daily life shaped by water—its abundance, its scarcity, and its spiritual significance. Through intimate visual narratives, the reportage captures a landscape on the brink, where climate change, economic pressures, and environmental degradation collide.
