The “Suang Huea” Tradition of Mekong Riverine Communities: Background and Revival after the Turning a Battlefield to a Market Place Policy

Abstract

This research was aimed at investigating the traditional role of “Suang Huea” (boat racing) and its adaptation to accommodate the Thai government policy, “Turning a Battlefield to a Market Place”. The study was conducted by documentary research and field data collection in the communities located along the Mekong River in Mukdahan, Nakhon Phanom and Nong Khai provinces of Thailand.

The study shows that the “Suang Huea” tradition was originally a tradition of the Lan Xang kingdom. It was documented in “Heet Sibsong Khong Sibsii” that this tradition was performed to worship all 15 clans of Naga. There was very little information on this tradition documented during the Lan Xang period; however, much information was found during the period of King Suriwongsa Thammikaraj (B.E. 2185). According to the record of Van Wus Toff, Holland ambassador of trade, the evidence was found in the Champasak chronicle in the reign of King Soi Samut Bhutthangkoon (B.E. 2256) as well as in Mr. Deleporte’s painting “The Basin of Mekong River” recorded in B.E. 2410. Laos was under the Thai control for 114 years (B.E. 2322-2436) and subsequently under the French colony for 61 years (B.E 2436-2497). It was independent between B.E. 2497-2518, totally 21 years. During the period of political changes, no evidence on the “Suang Huea” tradition was found. Not until B.E. 2522, the Thai and Lao governments co-organized the “Suang Huea” tradition in Nong Khai province to foster good relation and especially to encourage the people of two countries to interact with each other in trade and economic developments. In B.E. 2531, the Thai government approved the policy to jointly organize this long-boat racing tradition as a means to enhance the Thai-Lao relationship among the communities located along the Mekong River in three provinces. Finally, the “Suang Huea” tradition has been organized and practiced by the locals of the two countries ever since.