Fishermen cast their nets from traditional dug-out canoes in a scene unchanged in millennia. Here, in the far south, close to the border with Cambodia, the Mekong changes character, becoming not one river but many, with creeks and tributaries creating a network of small islands known locally as Si Phan Don (‘4,000 Islands’). Life on the islands is laid-back, the pace
of life slow. With its palm-fringed waters, orange-hued sunsets and abundance of peaceful riverside accommodation, the main island of Don Det is where travellers come to rest for a few days but end up staying for weeks.