By bus it takes from 15 to 17 hours to travel 813 km from Vientiane to Don Det in the 4,000 Islands area of Southern Laos. It is not possible to travel direct to Don Det from Luang Prabang or Vang Vieng by public transport, you first need to go to Vientiane to get a bus or minivan to Don Det.
Bus Times from Vientiane to Don Det
There are 2 bus services a day from Vientiane to Don Det available to book online.
| Vientiane | Don Det | Ticket | Company |
| 18:00 | 11:00 | $35 USD | Soutchai Travel |
| 20:00 | 11:30 | $37 USD | Green Paradise |
Buy Tickets from Vientiane to Don Det
Use the Search Box below to buy your bus tickets from Vientiane to Don Det.
Vientiane Bus Station
Green Paradise bus services from Vientiane to Don Det depart from Vientiane Southern Bus Station.
Don Det Bus Station
Bus Services from Vientiane to Don Det terminate near the Green Paradise Tour Office at the north end of Don Det.
About Don Det
Don Det is one of the four large islands in the Si Phan Don area of Southern Laos. Si Phan Don means the ‘4,000 Islands’ which is a cluster of islands in the mighty Mekong River near the border with Cambodia.
Mekong River at Don DetDon Det is Popular with Younger Travellers
Of the three main islands where people tend to stay in the Si Phan Don area, Don Det is the most popular with younger travellers. The atmosphere is very much like it was in Vang Vieng before the Laotian authorities decided to regulate the area.
Basic Facilities
Don Det is an island which you need to take a boat to and, whilst it now has 24 hour a day electricity, it still has no hospital, police station or ATM machines. The accommodation on the island is very basic and the food is not particularly good.
Things to do in Don Det
There are however plenty of things to do there and its a popular destination:
- You can party hard in the evening, eat pizzas and shakes which will make you feel ‘happy’.
- You float around in the river in a large rubber tube, visit waterfalls, or take boat trips to try and spot the elusive Irrawaddy dolphins which will be trying their best to avoid human contact.
- You can also cycle over the bridge connecting Don Det to the larger island of Don Khon to the south, which tends to attract older travellers and has better hotels.
Alternatively, you can spend a few days doing the most popular activity in Don Det which is lying a hammock staring at the very picturesque Mekong River flowing past your bungalow.