"Laos: Don Sao, an Island ..." a Mae Sai Travel Page by BorderHopper

I would hardly call a visit to Don Sao Island an authentic Lao experience but the fact remains that this small Mekong River island is Lao territory. To reach Don Sao island from Mae Sai you must find your way to the small town of Sop Ruak on the Thai side of the Mekong River. At the boat docks in Sop Ruak we were able to hire a fast boat to take us across the river to the small island on the Lao side. There are usually two Lao police who will collect a small fee from you once you set foot on their island.

The fee for entry to Don Sao is apx. 20 baht, but keep in mind that the round trip boat ride from Sop Ruak will cost you about 350 baht. There isn't much to Don Sao other than a ring of bamboo thatched huts that ring a portion of the island. You can wander from hut to hut while shopping for Lao related souveniers. The people who are on the island are Lao but I'm not so sure they actually live here. This island is set up exsclusively for tourists so most of the people who work here must come from the Lao mainland in Bokkeo Province.

This was our 3rd or 4th visit to Don Sao island and each time we go we end up leaving with two bags of Lao snake whiskey. This is the primary reason we come to Don Sao. You can also buy a few cans of cold Beer Lao, the national beer of Laos, or take photos in front of the numerous "Welcome to Laos" signs on the island.

For a nice view into the Lao mainland you can walk down a path towards the rear of the island and you'll come across a muddy bank at the rivers edge. Here you'll be able to look across the narrow stretch of water and see into Bokkeo province. My son and I were able to see some young kinds jumping from sand bar to sand bar and a few fisherman wading in shallow water. It would probably be possible to walk across this stretch of river since it was so shallow but I don't think you'd want to chance getting trouble by the Lao authorities.

Back in the center of the island is a nice spread of grass & open space which my son enjoyed running around on. My friends & their young daughter were with us on our most recent visit to the island so the kids played around while we sipped our Beer Lao and wrote postcards to home. You can purcase Lao postcards from any of the shops and send it off with a Laos post mark. If you're so inclined you can even have them stamp your passport with a Lao post mark just to prove you made it to Laos. If you want to enter the Lao mainland you'll have to do so at an official border crossing such as the one at Huy Xai. Be sure you have a Lao visa if you use that border crossing. Other border crossings such as the one at Nong Khai, Thailand will allow most travellers to purchase a visa upon entry to the country.