Welcome to Don Det, where the biggest decision of your day might just be whether to sunbathe in the river or nap in a hammock.

This tiny island in the Mekong River is your perfect getaway if you’re looking to live your best slow life. If you’ve ever dreamed of a place where “to-do lists” are replaced by “do-nothing lists”, then Don Det is calling your name!

In this guide, we’ll share everything you need to know to enjoy Don Det to its fullest: how to get here, where to stay, what to eat, and all the best things to do.

Best Time to Visit

As in much of Southeast Asia, you have two main seasons in Laos: the wet season, from May to October, and the dry season, from November to April. Everyone will recommend you visit during dry season, but we recommend avoiding the months of March to May due to the extreme heat.

For the best experience, the months of November to February are the best time to visit Laos in general.

Note: We visited Don Det in March, and the heat was so intense that even the accommodation fan felt useless. We ended up using wet towels to cool down just to get through the night 😅

How Long to Stay on Don Det

Don Det is really small and you can cover it all basically in one day, but we recommend staying a minimum of 3 days to really experience it. It’s a place designed for you to slow down and enjoy the little things in life.

How to Get to Don Det

The main gateway to Don Det and the 4000 Islands region is the city of Pakse, but you can also reach it from Vientiane or even Siem Reap in Cambodia. Here’s a quick guide on how to get there:

🇱🇦 From Pakse: you’ll need to get a bus or minivan ticket to Nakasong first. The journey takes about 3–4 hours (minivans are typically faster and more common than buses for this journey in particular).

Once you arrive in Nakasong, you’ll find boats heading to Don Det. The boat ride takes around 15–20 minutes. Tickets can usually be arranged on arrival or as part of your bus/minivan package.

Book your transportation from Pakse to Don Det here >

🎟️ The minivan ticket costs around 10 euros, and the boat trip to Don Det costs around 30,000 kip (around 1.50 euro) per person.

Pro tip: We highly recommend booking your transportation online through platforms like 12Go Asia or Bookaway (our trusted go-to options for travel in Southeast Asia).

🇱🇦 From Vientiane: first, you’ll need to reach Pakse. You can take an overnight sleeper bus to Pakse, which takes around 10–12 hours or you can opt for a domestic flight to Pakse, which is faster at about 1 hour (operated by Lao Airlines).

If you book the entire journey in advance, the transition from the sleeper bus to the minivan that takes you to Nakasong will be streamlined. Once in Nakasong, you can catch a boat to Don Det, as described above.

🇰🇭 From Siem Reap, Cambodia: if you’re coming from Siem Reap, you can book a van or bus that will take you directly to Don Det, passing through the Cambodia-Laos border. For this journey, you should ensure your visa or e-visa for Laos is prepared in advance.

Note: always have a few spare one-dollar bills with you when crossing borders in Southeast Asia. Unfortunately, informal “fees” or bribes are quite common, as we experienced firsthand when crossing from Vietnam to Laos.

Getting Around Don Det

Navigating Don Det is easier than finding your way out of a paper bag. There are no cars or scooters on the island, so rent a bike, and you’re golden! It’s cheap, easy, and the best way to feel like a local as you explore. Alternatively, your very good old feet can get you everywhere on the island.

Where to Stay on Don Det

Accommodation options on the island are mostly budget-friendly and very simple, so you should not expect any luxurious hotels or resorts (a room with AC is the biggest luxury you’ll find).

Location-wise, we recommend staying up to 15 minutes walking from the Don Det Ferry Boat as this is where most of the restaurants are. If you have a bike rental, then anywhere on the island is good to go.

Note: It’s highly recommended to book your accommodation in advance, as securing a last-minute booking can be quite challenging on this small island. We recommend using Agoda for bookings in Laos and around Southeast Asia for the best deals.

Where to Eat in Don Det

Here are some of our favorite spots to eat on Don Det Island:

🍛 Datta Bananaleaf: this place serves hands-down the best Indian food on the island. The flavors are super traditional, and we kept coming back!

🍉 Mama Tanon: for just 2 euros, you can enjoy a tasty breakfast bowl with beautiful river views here. It’s cozy, affordable, and perfect for starting the day.

🍚 Mama Leuah: if you want some local food, this is the one! The place is lovely and we even spotted water buffalos by the river in front of the restaurant.

🍹 The Garden Riverside: a bit fancier than the other spots, but worth it for the atmosphere and their amazing iced coffee.

Hot tip: for the best banana samosas and mango fruit shake, visit the Rockstar’s Coffeeshop stall near the pier!

Things to Do on Don Det

🚲 Cycle around the island: renting a bike and exploring Don Det and Don Khon is one of the best ways to experience the area. Just a heads-up: avoid riding at night as it gets pitch black out there, and with no streetlights, it can be tricky (trust us, we learned this the hard way).

💦 Visit the Li Phi Waterfall: cross the Historic Bridge to Don Khon and cycle for another 10-15 minutes to see the stunning Li Phi waterfalls. It’s an easy ride, and the views are so worth it!

🛶 Tube Down or Kayak the Mekong River: most guesthouses on the island offer tubing and kayaking tours. While we can’t say anything about kayaking here, tubing is definitely safer here than in Vang Vieng. You can expect to pay around 20,000 kip (~€1) to rent a tube plus a little extra if you want to be picked up.

😎 Relax on a river beach: head to Tawan Beach for a day of swimming by the riverbank, soaking up the sun, and just unwinding in the peaceful vibes.

🐬 Spot Irrawaddy dolphins: you can spot the rare Irrawaddy dolphins by heading to the southern tip of Don Khon at the old French Pier and hopping on a boat tour. The best time to see them is during the low season (Jan–May) and the boat tour costs around 120,000-150,000 kip (~€5-7) per person.

🌅 Watch the sunset overlooking the river: If there’s one thing you can’t miss here, it’s the sunsets. Grab a spot along the river (we loved The Garden Riverside bar for this) and watch the sky turn into a masterpiece. Absolute magic.

Note: Exercise caution during the monsoon season when engaging in any river activities. The Mekong is a mighty river, and its flow becomes especially strong and unpredictable during this time. Safety first!

Don Det on a Budget

🏠 Accommodation: the cheapest accommodations start at €4-6 a night for shared dorms and €8-12 for budget private rooms. Rooms with AC start at around €15+ a night.

🍔 Food: local food ranges between €1-6, averaging €3 per dish.

🚗 Transport: the boat to the island costs ~€1-2 and so does the bike rental per person for a day.

🎟️ Activities: it’s totally possible to visit Don Det without paying for any tours, but if you plan on at least tubing down the river, you should separate around 20,000 kip for that. The Irrawaddy dolphin tour is the most expensive one, but still super manageable on a budget!

Note: we visited Don Det on a budget in March 2023. We managed to stay on a budget of around €18 per person per day.

Tips for visiting Don Det

• ATMs are as rare as unicorns on Don Det, so make sure to bring enough cash to cover your stay, meals, and activities.
• Cell phone service and Wi-Fi can be hit or miss, so don’t rely on being connected 24/7.
• The island can get seriously toasty, so we’d recommend avoiding outdoor adventures during the midday heat.