THURSDAY, March 28, 2024
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Done Det, Done Khone islands: the second visit but still need more time to explore

Done Det, Done Khone islands: the second visit but still need more time to explore

CHAMPASSAK - Sitting in a long-tailed boat crossing the Mekong River from Nakasang village to Done Det Island at the southernmost tip of Laos, I was reminded of my first visit to this stunning tourist destination over 10 years ago.

 
After a quick trip of about 15 minutes, my right foot touched the soil of Done Det Island. But although I am a native Lao and was back home in my own backyard, I felt like a foreign tourist because almost everyone in front of me came from another country.
Back in 2006, my first ever visit to Done Det and Done Khone islands, it was quite exciting to see Western tourists. These two communities had become magnets for both Lao and foreign tourists, even though the number of visitors was relatively low.
 
Generally acknowledged as a must-see during a holiday in Laos, the natural beauty of these islands and the river that surrounds them is now attracting a huge number of foreign visitors. While most come from Thailand, the rest travel here from the Republic of Korea, China, Japan and Europe.
 
Local authorities in Khong district aim to vastly improve services in the area in a bid to swell the number of domestic and international tourist arrivals.
 
Improvements are expected to start among tour operators, accommodation and restaurants because they are the key drivers in boos ting visitors to the Si Phan Done or 4000 Islands area.
 
Governor of Khong district Mr Sanan Siphaphommachan told Vientiane Times recently the development of tourist facilities is vital because tourism plays a critical role in the socio-economic development of the district, which encompasses many of these islands.
 
“Our plan targets economic growth of 8 percent from 2016-20, and tourism will play a key role in that growth,” Mr Sanan said.
 
In 2015, more than 400,000 people visited the area. The majority were Lao, who comprised 58 percent of the total, while the rest came from Thailand, Vietnam, China, Cambodia and various European countries.
 
“We expect that more than 500,000 tourists will come to Khong district this year, which will contribute to the rapid growth of our economy,” Mr Sanan added.
 
Khong district has three main attractions for tourists, including the Khonephapheng and Somph amit waterfalls on the Mekong River. But boat trips are increasingly popular so that visitors can observe island life and enjoy being out in the fresh air.
 
Done Det is the starting point for a truck service to Done Kho ne and Hangkhone villages. The truck carries a maximum of 13 people and costs 270,000 kip per round trip. For the more energetic, bicycles are available at most guesthouses and bungalows, with the cheapest price being 10,000 kip per bike per day.
 
Khong Island, the largest of the islands, now has a bridge connecting it to the mainland, making it much easier for visitors to get to the island from the capital of Champassak province, Pakxe.
 
The bridge, co-funded by the governments of Laos and China, was officially opened to traffic at the end of 2014 after construction began in mid-2012.
 
Visitors can spend a couple of days and nights on this larger and more developed island, where they can stay in comfortable hotels, guesthouses and villas with more modern facilities.
 
In the morning, the best start to the day, after the obligatory cup of locally produced coffee, is a bicycle tour of Khong Island. This provides views of the extensive rice fields and serene hills that form the backbone of the island.
 
The remaining old wooden buildings, stupas and temples are still well-preserved by local communities.
 
But to explore the 4000 Islands and get a true feeling for the area, a couple of days is nothing like enough and it may take a couple of weeks to get some understanding of the daily life of the islanders and fishermen, and to fully benefit from the glories of nature.
 
Nowadays the green spaces are shrinking and garbage pollution is increasing, but the natural beauty of Done Det and Done Khone remains magical and basically hasn't changed since my first visit. In the near future, I will return for another revitalising holiday here as an island man and will again recall my childhood memories.
 
 
 
 
 
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