From the massive mountain ranges in the Himalayan plateau, the Mekong River is a trans-boundary river that flows through the territory of six nations. As the river runs its 4000-kilometer course, it supports around 90 million people with life-sustaining water, most notably in the southern region of Vietnam – the Mekong Delta.

Thailand facing record drought stoked concerns of a supply shortage and lifted rice export prices to a more than 6-1/2 year high this week, while strong domestic demand amid a coronavirus outbreak pushed Vietnamese rates to more than a one-year peak. These reasons from two key rice exporters Thailand and Vietnam cause the international prices of rice surged suddenly.