12 Thursday March 22, 2018 Vientiane Times Travel Don Khong island: a place for perfect rest Welcoming Visit Year 2018, Vientiane Times is publishing a series of feature articles and images inviting you to experience the authentic nature, culture, history and hospitality of Laos, Jewel of the . parts of Laos because of the fast-paced development sweeping across the country. I felt I was lucky to be able to explore the old lifestyle Bounfaeng Phaymanivong of Khong Island before the inevitable arrival of change. ew will argue against Accommodation an opportunity to There are many spend a few days choices when it comes to in the countryside. accommodation, depending It'sF often the perfect way on room rates at guesthouses to get away from the hustle and hotels and their location and bustle and stresses of on Don Det, or city life. Khong islands. The traffic, endless For example, a traveller competition and monotony with a limited budget can of life in large towns often choose to stay in a reasonably drives people crazy. Luckily, priced guesthouse or share a Laos still has many beautiful room with friends to save places where people can money and to stay for a few forget their worries, more days and nights. such as Khong district in My recent stay at a hotel Champassak province in the in town cost me 150,000 kip far south of Laos. per night. It was a bit costly This wonderful part but the facilities were good. A giant statue of Buddha perched on a hilltop near Khong Island. of Champassak is one Of course, visitors can of my favourite travel choose from a range of Leisure activities destinations because it is a cheaper guesthouses in the If one wishes to opt place of unique beauty with little town. Having more for leisure activities other numerous scenic attractions. than two travel mates will than cycling around Khong When one mentions Don also allow you to avoid Island in the cool of the Khong, a large island in spending too much on morning, a ride in a longtail Khong district, most Lao accommodation. boat is one of the most people will recognise it as Food interesting activities for the place that is home to the It’s not too difficult to tourists. magnificent Khonphapheng find restaurants to serve you Bookings for boat and Li Phi waterfalls. breakfast, lunch or dinner. trips can be made at some A day and night spent on But keep in mind that it’s guesthouses in the town Khong Island recently was not easy to find a place that centre. A ride takes at least sheer bliss, whiling away stays open late, so you need two hours, leaving from the hours in a restaurant to go out for dinner as early Khong Island and going with a soft drink, catching a as possible. down to Don Det and Don glimpse of a large statue of A wide array of food is Khon. Buddha bathed in sunlight on offer at restaurants that This gives visitors a across the Mekong River, cater to tourists but the close-up view of everyday and taking a ride in a longtail prices will be a bit higher life, including the fishermen boat. than at other places. on the river and farmers On the mighty river People can choose and selling their vegetables by were dozens of fishermen ask about the prices before the riverside in the early with their traditional nets, ordering, and this is a good evening. A fisherman casts his net into the placid waters of the Mekong. catching some fish to be way to avoid problems. Visitors can also enjoy served up in the many local Many of the dishes taking pictures of the deep and strong current to How to get there restaurants. involve some form of fish enchanting landscape, the get at the green riverweed, Taking a public bus from the Southern Bus Terminal The boat ride reminded because the Mekong River islands and their greenery, their favourite food during in Vientiane and travelling along Road No. 13 South is me that life around Khong is a breeding site for many and the clean environment. the dry season. the easiest and cheapest way to get to Khong Island. The Island is much slower and different varieties, especially Besides birds, one Nature lovers will enjoy overnight journey costs only 150,000 kip and one will arrive less complicated than my in the 4000 Islands (Si Phan can also watch buffalo breathing in the fresh air at Khong Island in the morning. life in the city. Don) area. Restaurants offer swimming from one island while sitting on a boats and So, don't skip your own homeland for an overseas holiday This sort of lifestyle is fish salad, fish soup and to another in search of food. watching what the island - go and discover the delights of Khong Island. Once you have a rare experience in most grilled fish. Many of them dive into the residents are up to. visited it, you will keep encouraging others to do the same.

The companies advertised on this page are sponsoring the Travel column

Welcome to the Luang Prabang View Hotel ບໍລິສັດ ສຸດໃຈ ທ່ອງທ່ຽວ ຈຳກັດຜູ້ດຽວ Soutchai travel Sole co.,ltd

Tour organize/Private Mini bus/Train-Bus Ticket/Visa/Hotel reservation and world-wide Air ticketing Location Nokeokoummane Rd, Ban Mixay, Chanthabouly District, Vientiane, Laos LUANG PRABANG VIEW HOTEL, Phou Meo, Lao-Thai Friendship Road, P.O.Box 675, Luang Prabang, Lao PDR. Tel:+856 21 254512-5, Mobile:+856 20 5483 0000, 20 5534 0000 Tel: +856 71 260 560; Fax: +856 71 260 290; Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] www.luangprabangview.com www. soutchaitravel.com PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor