Si Phan Don
Si Phan Don
4
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Best nearby
Restaurants
6 within 5 kms
Attractions
2 within 10 kms
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
4.0
78 reviews
Excellent
32
Very good
32
Average
12
Poor
2
Terrible
0
A_ninja
Hong Kong, China27 contributions
May 2013 • Friends
It's a chilled out place and if you're heading south anyway then go for it. But don’t go out of your way to see it if you are not traveling to Cambodia or seeing other things in southern Laos.
The two main islands of Don Det and Don Khon have become backpacker traps where the locals sit around and just milk off the fact that tourists come to town and don't do much else all day except for arranging transport and making food. Helpfulness and care have been all but eliminated considering there is always a steady stream of backpackers coming in who have to spend money on food and accommodation as its so isolated when you get there, i.e. no motivation to provide decent service. All the islanders know each other and all the prices are pretty much the same wherever you go.
Some tips about Si Phan Don:
- Stay in Don Det (Don Khon has VERY limited accommodation and food options and it very isolated because you have to pay a fee to go and see the more interesting areas. Don Det is still chilled out enough with equally good accommodation options).
- If you stay on Don Khon, they charge 25,000K to take the main road south towards the waterfalls and use the French Bridge to Don Det. If you just want to have a walk around without seeing the waterfalls, take one of the roads that cut across the island (due east from where all the tourist accommodation is) or take the road north. You will still have to pay at the waterfalls if you manage to avoid the toll booth.
- Do see the waterfall, it is pretty cool
- Meals are cooked early so forget sleeping in and having a late breakfast or other meals. If they restaurant doesn’t want to cater to your late wake up, you may go hungry or just have to make do.
- Hire a bike to see Don Khon and Don Det. Head out early as it gets very hot in the middle of the day.
- Avoid the kayaking tour with Wonderful tours. There was too much waiting around and very little instruction or information given from the guides. Rather disappointing given we spent 190,000Kip per person.
The two main islands of Don Det and Don Khon have become backpacker traps where the locals sit around and just milk off the fact that tourists come to town and don't do much else all day except for arranging transport and making food. Helpfulness and care have been all but eliminated considering there is always a steady stream of backpackers coming in who have to spend money on food and accommodation as its so isolated when you get there, i.e. no motivation to provide decent service. All the islanders know each other and all the prices are pretty much the same wherever you go.
Some tips about Si Phan Don:
- Stay in Don Det (Don Khon has VERY limited accommodation and food options and it very isolated because you have to pay a fee to go and see the more interesting areas. Don Det is still chilled out enough with equally good accommodation options).
- If you stay on Don Khon, they charge 25,000K to take the main road south towards the waterfalls and use the French Bridge to Don Det. If you just want to have a walk around without seeing the waterfalls, take one of the roads that cut across the island (due east from where all the tourist accommodation is) or take the road north. You will still have to pay at the waterfalls if you manage to avoid the toll booth.
- Do see the waterfall, it is pretty cool
- Meals are cooked early so forget sleeping in and having a late breakfast or other meals. If they restaurant doesn’t want to cater to your late wake up, you may go hungry or just have to make do.
- Hire a bike to see Don Khon and Don Det. Head out early as it gets very hot in the middle of the day.
- Avoid the kayaking tour with Wonderful tours. There was too much waiting around and very little instruction or information given from the guides. Rather disappointing given we spent 190,000Kip per person.
Written May 20, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
emma w
7 contributions
Jul 2016 • Couples
We stayed here for six nights. Don Det had nothing much to do at all, we had a few pool days and in the night there was 2 bars one playing movies another playing friends but we didn't enjoy as we aren't into the 'happy' stuff that everyone in there was taking. We went to Don Khon after Don Det and preferred it more in Don Khon as although night time there wasn't much about we didn't mind a few nights of just food a few drinks and bed! The views from the island are amazing also as all the waterfalls are on Don Khon so even if your staying on Don Det you will need to cross the bridge to see anything. The bridge is free unless you are going the waterfall and you just buy your waterfall ticket at bridge or at the entrance. We went to the waterfalls on a bike ride and it was a bumpy ride but totally worth it although there is an entrance fee we didn't mind as we went and swam in the calm bit of the waterfalls and chilled by the beach bar for a while. On the islands you will see signs exclaiming you can go dolphin kayaking and in Don Det it was about 18£ for that trip. However, we went to another little beach on the west side of the island, about 10 minute pedal bike ride away from the li phi waterfalls and got a man to take us dolphin spotting in his boat for a lot cheaper (3-4£) he knew his way around the river and we actually seen one as he knows the best places you can find them! Wouldn't recommend coming down if rushed for time, only Don Khone is worth it and even then I'm not sure the 20+ hours it took us to get down there from Vang Vieng was worth it.
Written July 21, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Liloo J
Ngwe Saung, Myanmar62 contributions
Jun 2014 • Couples
4000 Islande archipelago really worth a trip and several days stay. While buying ticket to go there, heavily insist to have written mention "including boat transport to Don Det (or Don Khone/Don Kong), otherwise you'll be charged again at the pier for transport to final destination. This stupide scamm is really unpleasant. For just relax, Don Khone is the best choice. Just take long rides deep in the island to meet the smiling people, enjoy a full day at Ly Phi waterfalls... This last place is fully equiped with bamboo huts, hamocs, long chairs, beach and tasty cheap restaurant. Entrance fée to waterfalls is 25000 LAK and it seems that money really returns to the maintenance or the site.
Written June 22, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Albeiror24
Kep Province, Cambodia62 contributions
Sep 2017 • Friends
I visited Si Phan Don (One Thousand Islands) in September 2017 coming from Cambodia. It is located just at the boarder of both countries. It is about a natural wonder of the Mekong River that is becoming very popular to see. It has already two biggest: 1) river archipelago & 2) waterfalls in Southeast Asia. The waterfalls are called "Khone Phapheng" (Mekong Falls). During the French Indochina colony, the French wanted to build a great commercial route from their colony, mainly from Sai Hong (Vietnam) up the river to China. It seemed a great Project. But they did not know Si Phan Don and Khone Phapheng, where that dream was stopped. Today we can see a very old French bridge (around 150 years old) connecting Don Det to Don Khong and it is related to that ancient project - maybe Laos and Cambodia could create a channel in the future.
The main island to visit (no the biggest) is Don Det. Any tour you arrange would bring you there. From Cambodia you can get a tour from Phnom Penh, Siem Reap or from Stung Treng. In Laos from Pakse. The transport let you at Nakasong, a village, from where you take the boat to Don Det. The island is now full of hotels, guest houses, bungalows and restaurants all along the river road. The food offering is really rich in Asian and Laotian culinary. It is a place for walking, cycling, renting a boat to go around islands and falls, exploring, meditating and relaxing. The locals are very friendly, though the English can be little in most of them. There are some tourist agencies with a fair attention. There are already some ATM and markets in Natasong and Don Det.
The main island to visit (no the biggest) is Don Det. Any tour you arrange would bring you there. From Cambodia you can get a tour from Phnom Penh, Siem Reap or from Stung Treng. In Laos from Pakse. The transport let you at Nakasong, a village, from where you take the boat to Don Det. The island is now full of hotels, guest houses, bungalows and restaurants all along the river road. The food offering is really rich in Asian and Laotian culinary. It is a place for walking, cycling, renting a boat to go around islands and falls, exploring, meditating and relaxing. The locals are very friendly, though the English can be little in most of them. There are some tourist agencies with a fair attention. There are already some ATM and markets in Natasong and Don Det.
Written September 13, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Fabian_Anja
1 contribution
Mar 2016
Don Det is a very relaxing place even though the locals are a little tourist spoiled and not very friendly. Be careful when you leave Don Det and heading to Cambodia. We booked the Sengchaluean VIP Bus with wonderful tours located in Don Det it self and it was the worst bus experience we had during our 8 month (!) trip. They promised us everything, for example that it is a direct bus with no changes needed (acutually we had to change twice with several waiting hours in between), that we will arrive in Siem Reap at 5 pm (we arrived at 8 pm), that the bus will drive us into town centre (it did not) and that it is a big bus all the time (which also wasn't true, we also had to sit in mini vans with way too many people inside it and no functioning AC). We felt very bad about all the lies. They promise you everything because on the next day you will leave the country and they will never see you again.
Moreover, you have to pay USD 2.00 per persons to the Lao boarder employees as "tea money" otherwise they won't give you a stamp.
On the island we also got to know that the community mafia (like the agents call it) charge every tourist usd 18.00 tax on the bus ticket which is why it is so much more expensive than usual.
Furthermore, the guest houses have fake weighing scales for the laundry service (they show you the double amount of weight).
So in general, a very nice island but connected with many hassle which is very sad.
Moreover, you have to pay USD 2.00 per persons to the Lao boarder employees as "tea money" otherwise they won't give you a stamp.
On the island we also got to know that the community mafia (like the agents call it) charge every tourist usd 18.00 tax on the bus ticket which is why it is so much more expensive than usual.
Furthermore, the guest houses have fake weighing scales for the laundry service (they show you the double amount of weight).
So in general, a very nice island but connected with many hassle which is very sad.
Written March 28, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tyrannosaurus_Ross
Edmonton, Canada124 contributions
Aug 2013 • Couples
My wife and I stayed on Don Det for 1 week and really had a great time. It is awesome for anyone wanting a place to recharge their batteries, chill, maybe go kayaking and see the Irrawaddy dolphins, and have a few beers while watching the sunset on the mighty Mekong. We found the locals to be extremely unfriendly towards foreigners, like the are resentful that we are there. We have been travelling around Asia for 5 months and have never had children through garbage at us or have so many locals not return a smile and hello then in Don Det. Come here if you want to chill in a hammock for a while but don't expect that this is what Laotian people are like everywhere else. Laos people are very friendly, welcoming and generous in other parts of the country, even in Vang Vieng which is another "party place".
Written September 24, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
HarrisDUB
50 contributions
Feb 2016 • Couples
Make sure you have enough money before heading here!
This was a great place to chill out! Hire a bike for cheap and ride round the island, do a kayak tour down the Mekong to see the Irrawaddy Dolphins (make sure you're fit enough if you get a single seater! My girlfriend and myself ended up in one each, tough going!) or even just hire a tube and float round the island! Cool place, would recommend for anyone getting away from city life!
This was a great place to chill out! Hire a bike for cheap and ride round the island, do a kayak tour down the Mekong to see the Irrawaddy Dolphins (make sure you're fit enough if you get a single seater! My girlfriend and myself ended up in one each, tough going!) or even just hire a tube and float round the island! Cool place, would recommend for anyone getting away from city life!
Written April 2, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ABCAus
Chatswood, Australia200 contributions
Dec 2014 • Couples
A nice way to spend a day in Southern Laos - by private car and boat.
We were driven through the countryside which, surprisingly, has a similar colour palate to the Australian landscape. This was followed by a pleasant boat ride through the islands. Saw some great waterfalls.
We did sit around on a boat for an hour waiting for the famous Irrawaddy Dolphins, right on the Cambodian border. Unfortunately, dolphins were nowhere to be seen. Our guide said this was the 1st time in his 40 times there when the dolphins didn't show - a shame.
A message to regular travellers - backpackers are falling from the rafters here. A couple of pappagallos tried to mooch a ride on our boat. We then found them spading 2 random women at a restaurant - since, as they had informed us earlier, they were yet to find accommodation for the night. Have some self-respect, please.
We were driven through the countryside which, surprisingly, has a similar colour palate to the Australian landscape. This was followed by a pleasant boat ride through the islands. Saw some great waterfalls.
We did sit around on a boat for an hour waiting for the famous Irrawaddy Dolphins, right on the Cambodian border. Unfortunately, dolphins were nowhere to be seen. Our guide said this was the 1st time in his 40 times there when the dolphins didn't show - a shame.
A message to regular travellers - backpackers are falling from the rafters here. A couple of pappagallos tried to mooch a ride on our boat. We then found them spading 2 random women at a restaurant - since, as they had informed us earlier, they were yet to find accommodation for the night. Have some self-respect, please.
Written December 17, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Anastasia T
Thessaloniki Region, Greece132 contributions
Dec 2014 • Couples
It's a dream to live for sometime on any of the islands of Mekong's delta like. We experienced Don Khong, the biggest one, last year and Don Khone, the most beautiful one this year, while we keep on visiting Don Dhet every now and then. We are absolutely charmed by the sweet local people, the grandioso Mekong, although low level of water, as now dry period and the jungle like surroundings. Don Khone has a couple of most beautiful waterfalls, 15'-30', waking distance, both with a kind of a sandy beach, where one could possibly get into the water, but not actually swim. Wonderful surroundings, big local fish traps at Khonpasoi waterfalls, the fishmonger as they call it. To get there you pass a rope hanging bridge. Cafe/restautants at both waterfalls. At one of them a ticket of 25.000-35.000 kipp is requested. But then, this one is supposed to be the biggest waterfalls in SE Asia. Westerns up and down for cayaking, tubing and trekking. Locals with their boats up down the river all day long. Very good food, drinks and hi quality coffee. That is why Don Khone a little bit more expensive than the other islands. And if you take the local boat towards Cambodia, you could see the dolphins jumping at sunset!
Written December 29, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Nicky F
Jerusalem, Israel161 contributions
Mar 2013 • Couples
After experiencing Laos in the north we decided to go south and to spent a few days in Si Phan Don.
We stayed on the big island, which it quieter.
The island is amazing.
We made a bicycle trip through the whole island.
There are many small hidden places near tiny waterfalls where you can go inside the water.
Next to the Irrawadin dolphins is a hidden area with sand beaches.
The best place to go bathing in the Mekong river!
We stayed on the big island, which it quieter.
The island is amazing.
We made a bicycle trip through the whole island.
There are many small hidden places near tiny waterfalls where you can go inside the water.
Next to the Irrawadin dolphins is a hidden area with sand beaches.
The best place to go bathing in the Mekong river!
Written June 12, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Are there silk weavers in the area? I like to go to silk villages and buy scarves.
Written September 10, 2019
Hi ! I "ll travel Siphandone this weekend , pls help me the way to Donkhone island from Pakse city. Thanks
Written April 7, 2019
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