Sacred guardians in Buddhist and Hindu traditions, the Naga rise from the collective imagination as majestic, multi-headed snakes, dwellers of rivers and protectors of balance.

“The true Naga exists; only those with merit can see it,” says an old Thai proverb.

Legend tells that these serpentine creatures dwell in the depths of the Mekong, and that once, they sheltered the Buddha as he meditated, shielding him from the rain with their hoods. Today, their presence is still felt in every bend of the river, in every riverside temple, in every gaze lost in the horizon of sacred, flowing waters.

The Mekong is not just a border that separates Thailand and Laos; it is the lifeblood of a riverside culture unlike any other in old Siam. Along its course, life flows to its own rhythm, steeped in faith, mystery, and legend. Yet, I know I must continue cultivating merit before I can one day hope to see the Naga who inhabits the mother river Mekong.