High schools, universities and educational groups –
join us for an unforgettable Mekong learning adventure!  

The Trip

Don Daeng is a peaceful island in the middle of the gently flowing Mekong River in southern Lao PDR. It is also inside the Vat Phou – Champassak Heritage Landscape – a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The island offers a tranquil environment with sandy beaches and is the perfect starting off point for historical discovery of pre-Angkorian ruins while enjoying the warm hospitality and friendly smiles of the traditional Lao communities.

Don Dang is a large island with approximately 3,000 people living on it. It is an ideal for walks and bicycle rides along pleasant country paths meandering between the clean and friendly villages. Sights to see include traditional Buddhist temples, an ancient forest stupa, basket weaving villages and a protected community forest. There are many schools on the island which provide the perfect opportunity for your own students’ community service requirements.  

Don Dang also provides a living historical classroom with its rich heritage of culturally important sites; including an ancient brick stupa and collection of stone Buddha images located in the center of the island and the ruins of Tomo Temple located on the east bank of the Mekong River . The main attraction though is Vat Phou Temple Complex to the west.  

Vat Phou dates to the 7^th -8^th centuries AD and is a rare form of hilltop Khmer temple planning, developed to take full advantage of the topography of the site. It stretches 1,400 meters along an east-west axis and was built on the slope of Phou Kao Mountains as a place for the ancient Khmer to make offerings to the gods that would hopefully provide some harmony in their lives.  

Tomo Temple , on the opposite side of the Mekong, is said to have been the female counterpart to the Temple of Shiva at Vat Phou.   

North by North East guides in cooperation with Maekok River Resort educational experts will inspire your students with the Mekong 's natural, cultural and historical environments. Step out the standard classroom setting to enter rarely seen natural and cultural landscapes of the Mekong – a true living-classroom.

Project Key Stages  

Pre:                          Villagers will dismantle the school and sort usable wood etc,
1^st school            Build cement and brick foundation
2^nd school           Raise support beams and rafters
Interim               Villagers will put on sheet metal roofing
3^rd school                Apply wooden siding – building finished!
Post                   Blackboards, tables and chairs built by villagers  

Materials Needed
Iron re-bar 70 lines                    
Iron r-bar 80 lines                                     
Bricks (10,000)                         
Steel wire 50 kg                          
Wood 15x5x4m  32pcs             
Wood 12x5x4m  45 pcs            
Sheet roofing 270 pcs              
Wood siding 210 pcs               
Door / window frames 21 pcs   
Doors and windows                  
Gravel                                      
Cement 5 tons                            

Estimated Total Cost                        $9,000 US

Contribution per participating school  $3, 000 US

The Result

Students on this Mekong Educational Adventure will gain an invaluable insight into the histories and natural landscapes that have created such cultural diversity in this UNESCO world-class heritage site. With the North by North East team of experts your students will gain confidence as they successfully learn about life on our planet and themselves.  All this as you connect with a Mekong community in a living classroom of comfort and style.  

Join us and let life-enhancing learning into your world!

Most of all – relax and enjoy as we
take you on a truly Life-Enhancing Education Adventure

Ban Hua Don Daeng comfortable and clean community lodge is supported by the Lao National Tourism Authority & Asian Development Bank Mekong Tourism Development Project (a local poverty alleviation project)
Vat Phou UNESCO World Heritage Site and the sandy beaches of Don Daeng