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Voykit pocket guide · Laos
Don Det
Spend 2 days on Don Det: bike the 7 km island loop on day 1, then kayak or visit Don Khon on day 2; longer stays are for slow‑travel lovers.
Don Det is a small Mekong island in Si Phan Don, popular with backpackers for its relaxed vibe, cheap guesthouses and easy bike routes. A two‑day stay lets you see the whole island, try tubing, and take a short trip across the historic bridge to Don Khon.
- Country
- Laos
- Best months
- Nov–Feb
- Avoid
- May–Oct (rainy season)
- Stay
- 2 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- LAK
- Money
- Lao kip (LAK) in small notes for markets, tuk-tuks and food stalls.
- Daily spend
- Budget 15,000–25,000 LAK excl. bed · Mid 25,000–45,000 LAK excl. bed · High 45,000+ LAK excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Unitel, Lao Telecom and ETL sell SIMs at airports and shops; passport registration required.
- Emergency
- Police 191 · Fire 190 · Ambulance 195
- Plugs
- Types A, B, C, E, F · 230 V · 50 Hz · Most sockets take flat US and round European pins.
- Tipping
- Restaurants: Round up or leave LAK 10,000–20,000.; Guides and drivers: LAK 50,000–100,000 a day.; Massage: LAK 20,000–30,000.
- Water
- Not drinkable from the tap; bottled and refill water everywhere.
- Toilets
- Western toilets in hotels and cafés; squat toilets with a water scoop at bus stops and markets.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Bike rental | 10,000 kip per day (mountain bike ~20,000 kip) |
| Bridge day pass (Don Det ↔ Don Khon) | 20,000 kip |
| Tubing rental | 10,000 kip |
| Beer Lao | 10,000–15,000 kip |
| Guesthouse night (basic bungalow) | 20,000–50,000 kip |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- PKS · Pakse Airport
- Boat from Ban Nakasang (2½ h bus) then 30‑min boat to Don Det
Typical fares
- Boat Ban Nakasang → Don Det
- 40,000 kip solo; 20,000 kip per person if 2+ (check after 17:30 +5,000 kip, no boats after 20:00)40,000 kip solo; 20,000 kip per person if 2+ (check after 5:30 PM +5,000 kip, no boats after 8:00 PM)
- Bike rental
- 10,000 kip per day (mountain bike ~20,000 kip)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
The island’s paved sunrise side and dirt sunset side are walkable; the 7.2 km (4.5 mi) loop takes ~2 h on foot. Rent a bike for 10,000 kip (mountain bike ~20,000 kip) to cut travel time. Bridge crossing to Don Khon costs 20,000 kip per day.The island’s paved sunrise side and dirt sunset side are walkable; the 4.5 mi (7.2 km) loop takes ~2 h on foot. Rent a bike for 10,000 kip (mountain bike ~20,000 kip) to cut travel time. Bridge crossing to Don Khon costs 20,000 kip per day.
See and do
Known for
- Backpacker chill spot
- Mekong River swimming and tubing
- Bike‑friendly island loop
- Historic French bridge to Don Khon
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Don Khon | Bike across the historic French bridge (20,000 kip day pass) | ≈30 min each way |
Sleep
- The Smiling Lao
- Sunrise side, basic bungalow, double bed, porch, ~50,000 kip per night
- Mr B’s Guesthouse
- Sunset side, simple bungalow, fan/air‑con, 30,000 kip per night
- Paradise Guesthouse
- Sunrise side, hammock‑bungalow, 20,000 kip low season, 50,000 kip high season
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| How much is this? | ເງິນບໍ?ngern baw? |
| Do you have a room for 2? | ມີຫ້ອງສອງຄົນບໍ?mee hong song khon baw? |
| Where is the ATM? | ATM ຢູ່ໃສ?ATM yuu sai? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Nop (palms together) and 'sabaidee'; avoid: Loud greetings and hugs
- Temples: Covered shoulders and knees, shoes off; avoid: Pointing feet at images; women touching monks
- Keeping calm: Stay relaxed; 'bor pen nyang'; avoid: Anger in public
- Baci ceremony: Keep the white strings on your wrist for three days; avoid: Cutting them off
- Head and feet: Keep feet down; avoid: Touching heads
Scams and watch-outs
- No ATMs on the island (use Ban Nakasang mainland ATMs, 08:30‑15:00).
- River currents can be strong; swim only if confident.
- National curfew: bars close by 23:00.
Generally safe for tourists; keep valuables secure, respect the 23:00 curfew and watch river currents.Generally safe for tourists; keep valuables secure, respect the 11:00 PM curfew and watch river currents.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Don Det yet. Suggested stay: 2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Backpacker chill spot
- Mekong River swimming and tubing
- Bike‑friendly island loop
- Historic French bridge to Don Khon
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikidata – Don Det: www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q123456
- Wikivoyage: Don Det, revision 5240633 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5240633
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/don-det). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.