Britannica
Sources used in this answer
How long is the Mekong River?
Created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Mekong River
The Irrawaddy and Mekong river basins and their drainage networks.
The Mekong River has a total length of approximately 2,700 miles (4,350 km).1
The river is divided into two major sections based on its physical geography:
* Upper Mekong: This section flows for 1,215 miles (1,955 km) through the mountains and plateaus of southwestern China.2
* Lower Mekong: This section extends 1,485 miles (2,390 km) from the point where the river forms the border between Myanmar and Laos to its delta in southern Vietnam.2
It is the longest river in Southeast Asia, the 7th longest in Asia, and the 12th longest in the world.1