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Island in Champasak, Laos
Photo: Basile Morin, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Don Det (ດອນເດດ), is an island in the middle of the Mekong River in Si Phan Don in Laos.
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There is a little beach where boats drop people off, or it's possible to swim in the waters in front of most of the guesthouses. There are even little fish in the water, which nibble off dead foot skin, if you keep still enough. Be careful! Currents can be very strong, and jumping in the river is not recommended if you are not a confident swimmer. Just like in the ocean, if you do get caught in a current that's difficult to swim against, don't fight it, but turn 90 degrees and swim out of it. You may end up some way downstream, but it's better to have to walk back to where you started, or even wade back through the shallows, then to be caught in the middle of the river with no energy left to swim. At Don Det there's almost guaranteed to be an easy place to get out of the water and back up to the ring road further downstream.
Rent a tube and float in the Mekong river for a few hours. 10k for a tube, and another 15,000 kip if you want to be driven out a bit by boat. Bring some drinks and have fun.
Go see waterfalls on Don Khon island.
Have a drink at the Garden of Nang, a small sandy private beach open to anyone who makes a purchase at the friendly locally-run restaurant across the street. Located on the southwest shore of the island near the bridge to Don Khon.
Restaurant and guesthouse run by a relaxed local family. Private bungalows with double bed, shared balcony overlooking the river, and individual hammock. Very basic and somewhat run-down (check for broken mosquito nets and door bolts), but nice location. Outdoor restaurant hanging over the river is a nice place to hang out, and competitively priced. Restaurant and bungalow balconies are fully shaded from the mid-day sun.
Run-down bungalows operated by a hustler from Vientiane who seems more interested in selling you drugs than providing quality accommodation.
Owned by a very kind and accommodating family, these simple yet clean bungalows, with shared bathroom, overlook the Mekong River.
The bungalows are simple with nothing more than a double bed, fan/air-con and mosquito net, but for the most part, you will be out on your private deck soaking up the sunset on your own hammock. Shared bathrooms, cold water showers, best sunset view of the Mekong, bike rentals available, food is pretty cheap.
Owned & managed by a friendly Belgian citizen and his Laotian wife. 2 kind of rooms: standard (250,000 kip, 35USD) & deluxe (400,000 kip, 50USD) with breakfast included. Restaurant. Swimming pool with bar (open as well to non guests for a 40,000 kip fee, 5USD). Wifi everywhere. It's 100 m from the pier, with an excellent view over the Mekong, including for sunset. Beautiful architecture (colonial style).
Owned by a sweet Lao family. Watch the sunrise and moonrise from the hammock of your Mekong River bungalow with beautifully decorated shared bathrooms with sit-down toilets, mosquito net, fans, electricity 24/7. Restaurant is 06:00-21:00/22:00 (depending on season). Boating trips can be arranged with the family. Wi-Fi.
Run by Aek, a charming Lao who speaks excellent English and is usually willing to chat. Bungalows have nice river views across to Don Khon, private bathrooms (cold water shower) and a lovely little riverfront restaurant that is cantilevered out over the river. Good food at the little restaurant and Wifi available.
Don Det is a small island.2 km, and takes about two hours. A bicycle will make it a lot quicker.
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