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Voykit pocket guide · Laos
Don Khong
Spend 1–2 days on Don Khong for a quiet Mekong island vibe; one night is enough for market, village walk and a boat hop to Don Det.
Don Khong is the largest island in Si Phan Don, with about 20 villages where people fish and farm the Mekong floodplain. Tourist infrastructure is thin, so 1–2 days covers the market, a village ride and a boat hop to Don Det or Don Khon.
- Country
- Laos
- Best months
- Nov–Feb
- Avoid
- May–Oct (rainy season)
- Stay
- 1‑2 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 LAK 30,000–45,000 excl. bed · Mid LAK 45,000–70,000 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 |
|---|---|
| Fresh Mekong fish (market) | LAK 2,000–5,000 per kilo |
| Bicycle rental | LAK 5,000 per day |
| Boat ticket Pakse ↔ Don Khong | LAK 120,000 round‑trip |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- PKZ · Pakse Airport
- about 150 km (93 mi), 3‑hour bus to Pakse then boat to Don Khong (check schedules).about 93 mi (150 km), 3‑hour bus to Pakse then boat to Don Khong (check schedules).
Typical fares
- Pakse → Don Khong boat
- about LAK 120,000 round‑trip (check)
- Bike rental on Don Khong
- LAK 5,000 per day
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
Bicycle or walking are the main ways; boats run between islands a few times daily (check local timetable).
See and do
Known for
- Mekong fishing villages
- Muang Khong market
- Island hopping to Don Det and Don Khon
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Don Det | Boat from Don Khong pier, about 30 min | ≈45 min total |
| Don Khon | Boat from Don Khong pier, about 20 min | ≈35 min total |
Sleep
- Don Khong Guesthouse
- Simple bamboo rooms near the main market; good for 1‑2 nights.
- Mekong Riverside Bungalow
- Basic wooden bungalows on the riverbank; walkable to villages.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| How much? | ເທັ່ນແດ່thên dâe |
| Where is the market? | ຕະຫຼາດຢູ່ໃສ?tá-lát yù sái? |
| I would like a room for two nights | ຂ້ອຍຕ້ອງການຫ້ອງພັກສອງຄືນkhǒi tâwng kǎn hǒng pháak sǒng khǔen |
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
- Early market opens at 4:30 AM – be ready if you want fresh fish.
- Limited cash facilities; bring Lao kip and small change.
- No reliable internet; plan offline maps.
Don Khong is low‑risk; main concerns are river currents and limited medical services – carry basic first‑aid and avoid swimming at night.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Don Khong yet. Suggested stay: 1‑2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Mekong fishing villages
- Muang Khong market
- Island hopping to Don Det and 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.
- Laos Tourism Authority: laos.gov.la/en/tourism
- Wikivoyage: Don Khong, revision 4317323 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=4317323
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/don-khong). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.