Nine stories of the lives, dreams and struggles of the people of three Mekong River countries - Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia - are featured at an exhibition in the Mekong Delta province of An Giang. “The Mekong’s story: Challenge and dream,” a mobile exhibition, was jointly opened at the provincial museum on March 30 by the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Department of Heritage and Culture under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

The stories focus on the traditional and contemporary customs, and the lives and culture of people in the three countries where generations have relied on the legendary river for their survival.

The stories are told via a collection of 200 artefacts and photos, providing visitors an insight into the lives of millions of Southeast Asian residents living along the river as well as their struggles against natural disasters and environmental pollution.

Visitors are enabled to experience and explore the diverse cultures of the three nations through each story, as well as share their own dreams with the local residents.

The exhibition aims to call upon people to contribute to reducing poverty, protecting the environment and ensuring sustainable development along the river. The three-month event is part of a cultural preservation project sponsored by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency and carried out by 15 museums and agencies of the three countries over the past four years.

The exhibition will move on to Cambodia, Laos and Sweden from now until 2012.