After my peaceful days in Don Det, I got back on the road toward Pakse—a transition that clearly marks a return to something a bit more urban, more structured, but still carrying that gentle pace typical of southern Laos.

To get from Don Det to Pakse, the journey is usually done in several stages: a short boat ride to leave the island, followed by a minivan or bus on the mainland. In total, it takes around 3 to 5 hours, depending on connections and waiting time at the port or along the road. In terms of budget, it’s usually around 10 to 15 USD for the whole trip, which remains quite affordable for such a smooth transition between two completely different atmospheres.

When I arrived in Pakse, I had a surprise I won’t forget anytime soon: my hostel. Honestly, Anou Hostel deserves a special mention, even a tribute. THE BEST HOSTEL I’ve had since the beginning of my trip. I’m not exaggerating when I say I’ve never slept in such a comfortable bed in a hostel. Privacy curtains, air conditioning (a luxury in this region), free breakfast included, a large and very pleasant common area, a perfect central location—and all of that for a very reasonable price. It’s simple: it’s a 10/10 on everything you look for when backpacking—comfort, atmosphere, cleanliness, and value for money. I highly recommend it without hesitation. Anou Hostel is truly the kind of place that changes your experience of a city. After the islands, where everything is very simple and open, finding a space so well designed feels like a real reset, especially before heading back on the road.

Pakse itself is an interesting city, often used as a base to explore southern Laos. Located at the confluence of the Mekong and the Xe Don River, it has long been influenced by different historical periods, including the French colonial era, which is still reflected in some of its architecture and in the layout of the city. It’s not a tourist city in the classic sense, but rather a transit hub, a place of commerce and connection between different regions of southern Laos. You can feel a mix of fairly intense local life, markets, traffic, and quieter pockets along the riverside.

Culturally, Pakse is also a gateway to the Bolaven Plateau and to more rural regions of Laos, which gives it a somewhat strategic role in travel itineraries. It’s a city where people don’t necessarily stay long, but rather use it as a base to explore, take a breath, and plan the next part of the journey.

In my case, I only stayed for one day, because my main goal was to go and do the famous Pakse Loop, which I’ll talk about in another article. So I mainly used this short break to rest, observe the city, and take a slower moment after the islands.

At the end of the day, I went to watch the sunset at Sunset Beacha small spot along the Mekong River that turned out to be a very pleasant surprise. There are built-in steps leading down to the river, perfect for sitting and watching the sun slowly set over the water. The atmosphere was very simple and soothing: people sitting quietly, fishermen casting their lines into the current, and that golden light that makes everything feel a bit softer. It was a very calm, almost suspended moment, like a perfect transition between the islands and the next part of the journey. Fun fact: while walking around, I don’t know how, but I came across a plant that I touched by accident, and every time I did, its leaves instantly folded in on themselves. It was genuinely fascinating. After looking it up, it turned out to be Mimosa pudica (also known as the sensitive plant or “touch-me-not”), a plant that reacts to touch by closing its leaves as a little defense mechanism.

After that, I went to eat at a small Indian restaurant I found almost by chance, and it turned out to be really excellent. Nothing complicated, but exactly what I needed after a transition day: a good meal, a quiet atmosphere, and that pleasant feeling of simply being there, without pressure.

And in the end, that’s pretty much what sums up my day in Pakse: a comfortable arrival, an incredible hostel that surprised me, a sunset by the Mekong River, and a good meal to finish it all off. A simple day, but perfect in the way it created a pause before heading into the next part of the adventure.