That is amazing, floating down the Mekong.. I was at Udorn on some some contract work and heard about two other Americans that age that tried it. They disappeared and there was a big fuss, some planes were sent out to look for them. Rumor was they were captured by the Lao insurgents. I think one was named Sharman, I remember it sounded like the toilet paper. You must have been lucky. You must also have some lovely pictures.
The Mekong is very low now due to all the power dams China put in up river.
I was amazed how many locals were panning gold along the river.
Just did this in 2020..