JASON MICHAEL LANG Photographed “Drifting Down the Mekong,”

A Bangkok-based American photographer, Lang’s latest assignment for

DestinAsian took him and the magazine’s editor-inchief Christopher P. Hill on a boutique cruise down the Mekong River from Thailand’s Golden Triangle region to Luang Prabang, the spiritual capital of Laos. “When Chris asked me to join him on the Gypsy, an ultra-exclusive two-cabin river cruiser managed by the parent company of the Anantara hotel brand, I literally jumped at the chance. I have lived in Thailand for a whole bunch of years now and during that time I’ve paid many lovely visits to Laos, but never like this. This was something totally unique. Quietly winding our way through the lush Laotian jungle and watching life unfold along the riverbank was extraordinary. A dream for anyone who knows how uncomfortable traveling by road in this area can be— and not too bad for photos either!”