Journal of Mekong Societies

Re-constructing “Chineseness” in the Frontiers of Statehood, Memory, and Territory: The Kuomintang Communities of Northern Thailand

Hardina Ohlendorf — 2025-08-31

Diasporic identity is not merely inherited, but is actively constructed through memory, heritage, and negotiation with shifting geopolitical forces. Yet, little attention has been paid to how communities at the margins of statehood reimagine belonging through cultural memory. This study addresses that gap by examining a distinct Kuomintang diaspora community in Northern Thailand, where such identity work is particularly visible. It discusses the reconstruction of “Chineseness” in the small village of Mae Salong, which was founded by Chinese Kuomintang (KMT) soldiers fleeing the Chinese Civil War. The article examines how geopolitical events, cross border migration, and memory have shaped this community’s identity at the frontiers of statehood and territory. Using theories of collective and cultural memory, the article analyzes key sites of memory, including the Chinese Martyrs’ Memorial and General Xi Duanwen’s tomb, to show how these communities have utilized memory and heritage to carve out new spaces of identity and belonging. The role of tourism in influencing these memory constructions is also emphasized, with a focus on how local traditions are displayed to meet tourists’ expectations. By analyzing how historical narratives and cultural practices are preserved, adapted, and reimagined in Mae Salong, this article offers insights into the broader dynamics of identity formation in Chinese diaspora communities.

Sense of Community in Collective Living Quarters in Hanoi: Changes and Restructuring

Nguyen Vu Hoang — 2025-08-31

The term “collective living quarters” (KTT) in Hanoi refers to the architectural structures built in the city with support from Soviet and North Korean experts after the end of the war against the French in 1954. These quarters provided living space for thousands of people working in the government sector. While historical and architectural approaches have been discussed in relation to the historical expansion of the city and technologies/materials, the literature shows a lack of understanding of the community from an insider’s perspective. The present article, using an anthropological approach, analyzes the sense of community among the members of KTTs in Hanoi. The research was based on ethnographic data and materials gathered from 2020 to 2022 in several KTTs in Hanoi. The article questions whether there is a sense of community and how it has changed through different periods of time. By analyzing the changes in socio-economic situations in Vietnam, this article argues that while the sense of community has been established by the daily interactions of local residents, it is very dynamic and has changed constantly with the alternation of the stakeholders.

An Institutional Analysis of the Implementation of the “One Village One Product” Policy in China and Thailand

Lingtong Liu — 2025-08-31

The One Village One Product (OVOP) program, which originated in Japan in the 1960s, has been implemented in both China and Thailand, each employing distinct institutional frameworks. The objective of this study was to examine how China and Thailand have adapted the concepts of Japan’s original OVOP policy to address their own rural development challenges. The authors employed the Institutional Analysis and Development (IAD) framework and a qualitative and interpretive research methodology, collecting data through interviews with key informants from China and Thailand and document research. The findings are as follows. China and Thailand, facing their own rural development challenges, integrated elements of OVOP into their respective strategies. China’s OVOP program addresses its “Three Rural Issues” with an approach characterized by centralized governance. Despite the predominant control of the central government, there is evident decentralization in production models and local economic initiatives. Conversely, Thailand’s One Tambon One Product (OTOP) policy champions “local wisdom” and moderated growth, emphasizing diverse product development and quality control, with a more decentralized approach. While both China and Thailand aim for rural revitalization and economic growth, their strategies differ due to their unique institutional structures and political systems. Both policies highlight the need to strike a balance between centralized decision making and localized execution. This balance fosters tailored solutions addressing the distinct needs of different regions, enhancing policy effectiveness. The present study enriches the discourse on public policy and rural development by providing insights into how institutional attributes dictate policy instrument choices and effectiveness. Future research avenues include assessing these policies’ long-term rural impacts and the potential for cross-country collaboration towards rural sustainability.

The Mekong River in Contemporary Traditions of Northeastern Thailand: Borderland, Tourism, and Development Discourse

Pathom Hongsuwan — 2025-08-31

The primary focus of this article is the way in which the Mekong River in Thailand’s Northeastern region is represented within the context of tourism. The article investigates how these representations are shaped by government policies that foster tourism and economic development in rural and border areas, such as the Mekong River Area Development Project, the initiatives to develop tourism routes along the river, and the development of economic collaboration with the neighboring countries. Through these projects, the Mekong River area emerges as a focal point for showcasing its significance as a border region, a narrative woven into the development discourse to drive tourism activities in Thailand. The article focuses on the following four main overlapping themes that serve as representative images of the Mekong River: 1) a space of national security, 2) a space of integration, 3) a space of global and modern significance, and 4) an arena of capitalism and consumerism, wherein local communities grapple with social transformations. The modern Isan Mekong communities, particularly over the past decade, epitomize the complexity inherent in these four themes. These issues continue to resonate deeply with communities along the Mekong River, profoundly shaping their way of life to the present day.

Mekong Riverfront Cultural Public Spaces in Nakhon Phanom City, Thailand

Methee Piriyakarnnon — 2025-08-31

This study explores the cultural public spaces of Nakhon Phanom city, examining the relationship between culture and public space. It encompasses physical, public, and cultural components, ethnic groups, and the significance of culture in public spaces. The analysis covers management and development, cultural changes in space management, and an examination of cultural factors influencing public spaces. The study aims to summarize the diverse characteristics of cultural public spaces in Nakhon Phanom and highlight their importance in the city. Findings indicate that the Mekong Riverfront intertwines traditional, contemporary, and mixed cultures. It features physical potential, diverse cultural activities, and distinct periods. The area has gained cultural significance through societal processes, reflecting use patterns, perception, and management. It has also undergone noticeable physical transformations over time.

Textual Analysis and Decoding of Cryptocurrency Ads in Thai Society: Unveiling the Meanings and Audience Interpretations

Jhitsayarat Siripai — 2025-08-31

This qualitative study explores the construction of the meaning of cryptocurrency advertising in Thai society. It employs textual analysis and in-depth interviews, examining cryptocurrency ads (crypto ads) and how the audiences decode the crypto ads. The following seven distinct themes of meaning were identified: 1) fast and easy trading with high-profit potential everywhere, anytime, 2) cryptocurrency literacy, 3) Cryptocurrency–Bitcoin, the decentralized digital money, 4) working hard on learning crypto and being patient for profit potential, 5) the cryptocurrency-money revolution for the diversity of people in society, 6) making money with non-fungible tokens (NFTs), and 7) developing cryptocurrency for the future structure of the monetary system for Thailand. Additionally, in-depth interviews with 21 participants were conducted to decode the understanding of polysemic ad messages, featuring preferred, negotiated, and opposed readings. This study emphasizes the significance of responsible advertising practices, transparent communication of risks, and comprehensive cryptocurrency literacy. It highlights the role of advertising in articulating audience perceptions towards cryptocurrencies and offers practical understandings for advertisers, policy decision-makers, and researchers in navigating the cryptocurrency landscape in Thai society.

Students’ Voices in Translanguaging Practices in English Medium Instruction in Southeast Asian Universities

Banchakarn Sameephet — 2025-08-31

Much research on language use in English Medium Instruction (EMI) classes indicates that lecturers commonly use translanguaging to support students’ content learning. The present comparative study aims to build momentum by focusing on students’ self-reported translanguaging practices to accomplish content learning-related activities both in and outside the classroom. The data consist of nine focus group discussions involving domestic and international students enrolled at three Southeast Asian universities—in Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam. The grounded theory analysis examines students’ voices of the situations, reasons for using translanguaging, and their perspectives on such practice across the three countries. The findings reveal that, in addition to using translanguaging in classroom interactions and group discussions, students employ it to support their reading and writing activities. Key differences in translanguaging practices and perspectives are discussed across research contexts. This study offers implications for language education policymakers and EMI practitioners in multilingual contexts.

Negotiating Local Identity in EFL Reading Classrooms: Reflection through Critical Dialogue and Social Issues

Thidawan Wichanee — 2025-08-31

Locality and identity play a crucial role in reading practices. In this study, we explored how Thai students in a culturally diverse EFL reading classroom negotiated their local identities through critical dialogue engaged in social issues. To examine this interplay, we investigated how critical dialogue practices influenced students’ reflection on locality and identity in reading. The participants of this study were 30 EFL English major students enrolled in a fundamental reading and writing course at a public university in Northeastern Thailand. We collected qualitative data from the participants’ reflective journals, teachers’ field notes, and interviews, and analyzed them using analytic induction and thematic analysis. Findings reveal that the participants actively negotiated their identities through their locality in reading practices and expressed their thoughts in relation to linguistic, religious, and sociocultural experiences. The findings indicate that the participants negotiated, presented, and affirmed their identities through reading practices by actively engaging in reflective discourse. Our findings suggest that students’ locality and identity could establish connections between texts and lived experiences, and subsequently foster their confidence in self-expression. All the findings consequently highlight the vital role of critical dialogue in EFL reading practices, and the significance of locality and identity that shape student engagement.