MYSTERIES OF THE MEKONG documents a trip down the Mekong River, through the heart of Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam.

Producer/presenter GREG GRAINGER uncovers some of the great mysteries of the Mekong, such as the Plain of Jars - fields of giant stone containers - and the remains of the Khmer empire around Angkor Wat.

This journey begins at the notorious Golden Triangle that links Thailand, Burma, and Laos and takes us on a fast boat ride down the Mekong River.

Other highlights include:

* The primitive ceremonies of remote hilltribes: Sharmen, opium smoking, funerals, women chewing beetel nut.

* The biggest festival ever staged on the Mekong.

* The woman who could have been Queen of Laos

* The tunnels of the Vietcong

* A Church service that observes the best of all major religions

* The limestone caves of Pak Ou, filled with statues of the Buddha.

* A troupe of classical Laotian musicians, using instruments like this Ken... and a bamboo xylophone known as a ranaat ek.

* The National Game of Laos featuring 35 players a side.

* Ho Chi Minh's former home

* A series of extravagent mausoleums, the Royal Tombs, including the eccentric emporer Tu Duc.

* the grand banquets Emporer Tu Duc inspired re-created in the palace of one of his successors, King Khai Dinh.

* Quaint Hoi An with its Japanese covered bridge and colonies of silk worms.