Or how our peaceful little island slipped through the pages of a famous guidebook
The Curious Case of Don Daeng’s Disappearance
There was a time when Don Daeng got a small but proud mention in the world’s most trusted travel guide. A sentence here, a tip there, a quiet nod to our lovely bike paths, river breeze, and unhurried rhythm.
And then one day, poof, gone.
We flipped through the latest edition of that famous blue book with the usual excitement. Champasak? Check. Vat Phu? Of course. The Mekong? Naturally. Don Daeng?
Nowhere.
Not a single word.
No drama, no explanation — just quietly erased, like we’d packed up and floated away. (We didn’t.)
A Discreet Island, Not a Loud One
Let’s be honest: Don Daeng isn’t the kind of place that begs for attention. We don’t do big signs or bucket-list buzz. We do bikes. Rice fields. Yoga at sunrise. That kind of thing.
But still — we were in there for 18 years pioneering slow tourism in the region. Just a small mention, enough for curious travelers to hop across the river and see for themselves. So when we disappeared from the latest edition, we assumed it was a mistake. Page layout issues. Space constraints. Happens to the best of us.
We Asked (Nicely)
Being the polite kind of people you’d expect from a sleepy island, we didn’t shout. We reached out. We gently reminded the editors that we’re still here, still cycling, still waving to visitors. Still doing… what we do.
And then we waited.
The New Edition (and Déjà Vu)
Eventually, a new edition came out. We bought it — full price, no sneak peek. This time, surely.
Nope.
Still nothing.
Which got us wondering… Did the writers simply never cross the river? Did they write the chapter from a café far away? Or did we vanish because we’re just a bit too close, too quiet, too easy to reach?
It’s Not Just About Us
Of course, we care — but this isn’t only about La Folie Lodge (though we’ve been here 18 years and we do a pretty great dinner under the trees).
It’s about the whole island. The temples. The fields. The sandy beach the Mekong made for us. And yes — Mr. Mee, whose restaurant was praised by The New York Times but somehow didn’t make the guidebook’s cut.
Quality clearly isn’t the problem. Geography, perhaps?
Still Here, Still Waiting
So here’s our gentle, smiling reminder:
Don Daeng is not a party island.
It’s not remote or wild.
It’s real.
It’s where kids bike to school, buffaloes nap by the water, and travelers slow down — sometimes without meaning to.
The bike loop still exists. The sunsets still show up. The river still rolls by. We’re not hard to find. We’re just… not loud.
So dear travel writers, should you feel the urge to update your notes on Southern Laos, consider crossing the river. It’s a short trip. We’ll be here — as we always have, waiting, pedaling, smiling.
