A newly built concrete road linking Road 13 South with Nakasang village makes travel easier for local students, residents and visitors to this area of Champasak province. --Photos Bounfaeng Phaymanivong

Improved roads, riverfront facilities strengthen tourism links on Don Det and Don Khone

Khong district, Champasak province: Improved roads, safer riverfront access and upgraded visitor facilities are making it easier for tourists to explore Don Det and Don Khone islands in the Mekong River in southern Laos, following the completion of nearly US$4 million in infrastructure works.
The improvements were delivered under the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Tourism Infrastructure for Inclusive Growth Project, Phase 2, a more than US$48 million initiative jointly funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Lao government.
The wider GMS initiative covers Luang Prabang, Vientiane and Champasak provinces. Infrastructure improvements have been implemented in provinces of Vientiane and Champasak, with a focus on upgrading roads, bridges and other facilities at key tourism destinations.
The investment has upgraded transport links and visitor facilities in Nakasang village and on the two islands, improving access to local attractions while creating better conditions for tourism businesses to expand and local communities to benefit from growing visitor numbers.
ADB Country Director for the Lao PDR Shanny Campbell and Director General of the Tourism Development Department under the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Mrs Phonemaly Inthaphom, led a media delegation from Vientiane on a three-day visit to Khong district from October 29-31 to inspect the completed works and assess their contribution to tourism development.

Mrs Phonemaly Inthaphom (left), who oversees the ADB-supported Greater Mekong Subregion Tourism Infrastructure for Inclusive Growth Project (Phase II), briefs reporters on the project and related activities on Thursday.

Organised by ADB in collaboration with the Tourism Development Department, the visit gave journalists an opportunity to see how improved infrastructure and visitor services are supporting tourism, creating business opportunities and potentially generating employment and income for local communities.
Speaking during the visit, Ms Campbell said investment in tourism could bring substantial economic benefits to Laos through foreign exchange earnings and employment opportunities.
She highlighted the importance of creating jobs within local communities so residents could establish their own businesses and earn a living without having to seek employment elsewhere.
Mrs Phonemaly, who also serves as the project's Director, said the improvements were supporting government efforts to promote regional tourism linkages. She also expressed appreciation to ADB for its partnership in developing tourism infrastructure in the province.
The Champasak component of the project was completed on June 30, 2023, at a cost of US$3.96 million, following delays caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. Phoukhong Construction Co., Ltd. carried out the works under a contract signed in December 2019.
At Nakasang village, the main departure point for visitors and residents travelling to the islands, a 2.9-kilometre reinforced concrete road was built, complete with drainage and safety barriers, while the boat dock was upgraded to improve passenger access.
Other improvements include a 123-metre riverside walkway, an embankment, safety railings and a new reinforced concrete bridge replacing an older structure with a steel frame and timber deck.
Solar-powered streetlights, a renovated ticket office and waiting area, and improvements to the parking area have further enhanced facilities for people travelling through the village.
On Don Det, three concrete roads with a combined length of 5.91 kilometres now connect key locations around the island, including the former port, the goods-transfer area, rice fields and the bridge linking Don Det and Don Khone across the Mekong River.
Two parking areas were also improved, while a new viewpoint gives visitors another place to appreciate the surrounding river landscape.
On neighbouring Don Khone, five roads covering about 12.3 kilometres have improved access to important locations, including Hang Khone, the riverside route along the island's eastern side and the junction leading to Li Phi waterfall.
At Hang Khone village, upgraded parking facilities have made it easier for visitors to reach the area and enjoy its natural scenery near the Lao-Cambodian border.
With Laos well known for its waterfalls, river landscapes and historical attractions, improved infrastructure is expected to help unlock the tourism potential of these destinations, encourage longer visitor stays and create more opportunities for local businesses.
By linking better transport access with improved visitor services, the investment is also intended to support employment, raise household incomes and promote more sustainable and inclusive economic growth.

By Bounfaeng Phaymanivong
 (Latest Update October 31, 2026)