Don Det

Si Phan Don (4000 Islands), Laos

The island where most travelers arrive, the main place to stay for backpackers with plenty of cheap hostels, cafes and restaurants.

Places in Don Det

Expat-owned riverside restaurant A restaurant owned by a lovely expat couple with chilled vibes where you can get water refills and a variety of western and Laotian dishes.
Don Det backpacker cafes and restaurants Plenty of cheap hostels, cafes and restaurants where young people hang out.
Don Det riverside cafes Cafes where young people hang out on the main backpacker island.
Don Det backpacker bars Bars among the plenty of cheap hostels, cafes and restaurants on the main backpacker island.

Best time to visit: December to April/May (dry season) offers the best conditions, coinciding with peak tourist season.
Getting around: Don Det is the main arrival point and backpacker hub, with Don Khone a short bridge crossing away for temples and waterfalls, and Don Khong offering a quieter, more upmarket base.
Currency: Lao Kip (₭)
Language: Lao. English is spoken at guesthouses.
Timezone: ICT (UTC+7)
Current trends: Si Phan Don's hospitality scene continues to split across its three main islands, with Don Det's cheap hostels and young backpacker energy contrasting Don Khong's quieter upmarket accommodation, while Don Khone's candy-colored colonial villas and dolphin-spotting kayak tours preserve the archipelago's laid-back, palm-fringed character.

Don Khone — A nice blend of upmarket and backpacker, with a good choice of restaurants and candy-colored colonial villas, home to temples and waterfalls.
Don Khong Island — More upmarket accommodation options, quieter than the more backpacker-centric Don Det.