Don Det

A guesthouse is seen in Don Det, Laos. With a population of just 400 people, this tiny island is part of Si Phan Don (literally “4,000 islands”, in Laotian), a unique archipelago in the Mekong River, Southern Laos. Famous for its natural beauty and tranquility, Don Det is a mix of riverside bungalows and restaurants overlooking the Mekong River, a few pagodas, water buffalos, Irrawaddy dolphins and quaint rural homes where locals go about their day. The recent construction of dams along the Mekong River, however, poses a threat to the local environment, culture, traditions and ways of living.