From Wikitravel

Don Det is an island in Si Phan Don in Laos.

[edit] Understand

Don Det used to be a really off the beaten track place only ten to five years ago. While even still today you won't find the same crowds here as in Vang Vieng for example, tens of guesthouses have mushroomed around this once well kept secret. The installation of electricity poles and wires is now completed and Don Det will have 24 hour electrical service. This will most likely lead to increasingly more services and development.

Mostly backpackers in their 20's and 30's come to this island to relax. Some stay a day or two, some for weeks and a few have decided to stay for good.

[edit] Get in

By boat

• Ban Nakasang - three to five hours by bus / jumbo from Pakse. Local public transport leaves from southern bus station in Pakse.
• Cambodia

[edit] Get around

Don Det is a small island. Walking around it takes an hour or two. It is possible to rent bicycles for 8,000 kip (although cycles in decent shape are usually 10,000 Kip) from guesthouses and restaurants. Most tourists who do this cycle over the old railway bridge to Don Khon. The cost of crossing the bridge is 9,000 for a day pass.

[edit][add listing] See

There are no sites to see on Don Det. That being said the island and tranquil surroundings are the real gem people come to see.

[edit][add listing] Do

If laying in a hammock in front of your bungalow isn't enough for you, there are some other very relaxing things to do in Don Det:

• Swim in the Mekong River. There is a little beach where boats drop people off. It's possible to swin in the waters infront of most of the guesthouses. There are even little fish in the water, which nibble off dead foot skin, if you keep still enough.  edit
• Tubing. Rent a tube and float in the Mekong river for a few hours. 5,000 kip.  edit
• Waterfalls. Go see waterfalls on Don Khon island.  edit
• Dolphin Watching. Take a boat tour and see dolphins  edit
• Take any one of the numerous scenic tours to outlying islands. The sunset barbeque tours offered going north of the island to pristine sand beaches are also quite good.

[edit][add listing] Buy

[edit][add listing] Eat

South East Asian "backpacker food" is available for cheap prices.

• Mr Mans restaurant (opposite Mr Mans accommodation) has an excellent and inexpensive menu. Their lentil curry and rice soup are highly recommended!

• Bakery: Surprisingly Don Det has its very own bakery. Serves carrott cake, various muffins and fresh breads cooked daily by Darren's expert hands.

• King Kong restaurant located in the south of Don Det has an ever increasing array of western foods. Including pizza, fish and chips and sunday roasts. The owner, Mini is quite a friendly and cordial guy.

• For authentic homestyle Laotian cooking Mr. Vong's restaurant approximately 500 meters north of the bridge offers very good local food and is very affordable. The proprietor speaks some of the best English on the island and is a wealth of local information.

[edit][add listing] Drink

Beer Lao available everywhere for 10000 Kip.

A plastic water bottle of rice whiskey is also widely available for 10,000 Kip.

[edit][add listing] Sleep

Tens of Guesthouses from 10,000 Kip (although can be substantially more during the peak season) a night and up - all have basic bungalows that usually have a porch with a hammock, a bed and a mosquito net. There might be a little bit differences with conditions of bungalows, matrices and mosquito nets. Most important thing when selecting your accomodition is that do you want to stay at sunrise or sunset side of Don Det. Bungalows on sunrise side might get pretty warm early on morning resulting you to wake up earlier than you would like to.

In general the bungalows in the north and sunset tend to be more centered to the party crowd and the places in the south tend to get more of the nature lovers. Don't expect late nights out partying though because there is a curfew that often times changes it is now 11 PM closing time strictly enforced.

[edit] Contact

There are two internet cafes on the island. They charge 400 kip per minuite. Taking into account that they haven't got mains electricty yet, this is pretty amazing.

[edit] Get out

• Don Khong - a "French bridge" connects these two islands.

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