The trans-boundary river Mekong of South-East Asia does not pass through which of the following countries?
- (a)Cambodia
- (b)Vietnam
- (c)Bangladesh
- (d)Laos
Correct — C, Bangladesh. The Mekong rises on the Tibetan Plateau (China) and flows south-east through Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam before draining into the South China Sea via the Mekong Delta in southern Vietnam. Bangladesh lies outside this basin entirely — it is drained by the separate Ganga-Brahmaputra-Meghna river system.
- (a)Cambodia — The Mekong runs directly through Cambodia, feeding the Tonle Sap lake system there.
- (b)Vietnam — The Mekong's delta — one of the world's major river deltas — lies in southern Vietnam.
- (d)Laos — The Mekong forms a long stretch of the Laos–Thailand border and also flows within Laos itself.
The Mekong is South-East Asia's longest trans-boundary river, rising on the Tibetan Plateau and flowing through six countries — China, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam — before emptying into the South China Sea. It is a recurring exam favourite alongside other multi-country rivers like the Danube, Nile and Zambezi.
Trap options in 'does not pass through' questions are usually a country that is geographically close but not actually on the river's course. Bangladesh sits near South-East Asia on a map but is drained by an entirely separate system (Ganga-Brahmaputra-Meghna), not the Mekong.
- The Mekong rises on the Tibetan Plateau in China.
- It flows through Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam — six riparian countries in total.
- Its delta lies in southern Vietnam, one of the world's most fertile river deltas.
- Bangladesh is drained by the Ganga-Brahmaputra-Meghna system, unrelated to the Mekong.
- Assuming Bangladesh — a South/South-East Asia-adjacent country — must lie on the Mekong's course
- Confusing the Mekong with the Irrawaddy or Salween, which also rise in the Tibetan Plateau region
UPSC/MPPSC test this as 'does NOT pass through', or via statements on the Mekong's source, riparian countries, or delta location — lock the six-country chain and the delta's location in Vietnam.
The great Asian river Mekong does not run through
- (a) China
- (b) Malaysia
- (c) Cambodia
- (d) Laos
Answer(b) Malaysia — the Mekong never enters Malaysia.
Near-identical framing tested by UPSC in 2004 — 'which country does the Mekong NOT pass through' — just with a different set of distractor countries (Malaysia there, Bangladesh here).
- practice — not a real PYQ
The Mekong-Ganga Cooperation (MGC) initiative involves India and which group of countries?
- (a)Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam
- (b)China, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand
- (c)Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam
- (d)Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, Thailand
Answer(a) Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam — the five Mekong-basin ASEAN countries partnering with India under MGC; China is not a member.
- practice — not a real PYQ
In which country does the Mekong Delta lie?
- (a)Cambodia
- (b)Thailand
- (c)Vietnam
- (d)Myanmar
Answer(c) Vietnam — the delta is in southern Vietnam.