Four Thousand Islands

In the middle of the Mekong River near the Cambodian border lies a stretch of water that in the dry season is home to thousands of islets, or islands, and hence its name. The larger islands of Don Khone, Don Det and Don Khong are inhabited and are a wonderful place to relax, soak up the exotic scenery and observe a fascinating way of life. The islands have networks of flat trails for walking or cycling, and some interesting relics from the area's French colonial past which include old colonial houses, a section of the first Lao railway and a rusting locomotive. Another big draw in this area are the roaring Liphi waterfalls, also known as the Samphamith, which forms a natural border between Laos and Cambodia. Above all, this is a great place to kick back and read a book on one of the many waterfront hammocks.