Laos

In poor Laos, China has moved entire villages to build rails for a flashy speed train to the capital Vientiane. Laos is also building countless dams on the Mekong and its tributaries with Chinese money, with the aim of becoming the 'battery' of Southeast Asia and thus lifting itself out of poverty. Ruben visits a small fishing community that takes action on the banks of the Mekong in Thailand. Their way of life has now become almost impossible. In Laos, Ruben boards the new train. In a village that was moved for the train, there is still one old couple living in their old house.