Andrew Walker’s groundbreaking book The Legend of the Golden Boat has made a significant contribution to the study of border trade regulation in the upper Mekong area for more than a decade now. It is not my intention here to do provide a book review, but rather to keep the readers of New Mandala up to date with what has happened since the Golden Boat was published. There are several points that need to be revisited and updated. Of course, the firm establishment of the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) has been a crucial factor in altering trading conditions. I will spend the next few weeks (under the “Golden Boat Update” heading) posting on several selected issues revolving around Mekong border trade. I will focus on the trade route between Chiang Khong in Thailand, and Houaysai and Luang Prabang in Laos. Also the lives and work of the Lao long-distance river traders will be brought into light. It is another revised and updated chapter that is needed to bring “the legend of the Golden Boat” to the present day. Please stay tuned.