Don’t think of the West Mekong Discovery Trail as “off-the-beaten path”. Think of it as a direct line to the culture, nature and absolute unspoiled splendor of the Greater Mekong Subregion – far from major urban centers, to be sure, but a bright and engaging spotlight on the most authentic parts of Thailand, Lao PDR, Cambodia, and Viet Nam.
Photo credit: Viet Nam Authority of Tourism
Start at Buriram, Thailand, set in the northeastern Isaan Region, and formerly a stronghold of the Khmer Empire that ruled parts of Thailand from the 9th to the 15th centuries CE.
Image courtesy of Leelaryonkul (CC BY-SA 4.0)
The province is home to Phanom Rung, Thailand’s best-preserved Angkorian site. Built between the 10th and 13th centuries and dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva, Phanom Rung stands on the summit of a dormant volcano. Its linear layout and stone carvings reflect strong ties to the Angkorian architectural style.
Buriram is also known for traditional textile production. In Na Pho village, silk weavers specialise in mudmee silk weaving, incorporating patterns such as naga serpents and symbolic ladders. The village operates a local handicraft centre with over 1,000 members. In recent years, Buriram has also positioned itself as a domestic sports destination, with the Chang Arena football stadium and Chang International Circuit for motor racing.
It’s only a short hop across the border into Champasak, Lao PDR, where the ancient Lao kingdom of Lan Xang left its imprint in structures like Wat Phou, a Khmer temple complex designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Like Phanom Rung, Wat Phou was originally dedicated to Shiva and is built into the base of a mountain considered sacred. Its axial design and sandstone carvings mirror those found at Angkor, though on a smaller scale.
South of Champasak lies Si Phan Don (Four Thousand Islands), where the Mekong River fans into a wide archipelago. Two main islands, Don Khon and Don Det, are connected by a bridge. Visitors typically explore the islands by foot or bicycle, with local activities including trips to Li Phi Falls and boat excursions to view Irrawaddy dolphins, a freshwater species found in this section of the river.
Entering Stung Treng, Cambodia,the Mekong flows into a Ramsar-listed wetland site. Boat trips operate along the river to view wildlife, including the same Irrawaddy dolphins seen upstream.
The Siem Pang sanctuary and nearby areas offer opportunities for birdwatching, especially between December and March. Stung Treng town itself serves as a regional trade hub and is connected to Lao PDR by the Sekong Bridge.
The trail ends in Pleiku, Viet Nam, the capital of Gia Lai province in the Central Highlands. Historically influenced by French colonial agricultural policy, the region is known for tea cultivation. The Bien Ho Che tea hills and nearby T’Nung Lake are local landmarks, often visited early in the morning.
Chu Dang Ya, an extinct volcano, and Buu Minh Pagoda, built in the 1930s, round out the area’s natural and cultural features.
At the heart of the capital stands Pleiku’s Great Solidarity Square, inaugurated in 2012, which serves as a civic space that reflects the region’s multi-ethnic composition and post-war development – a wonderful spot to take in all that is new (and ancient) in the long discovery trail you’ve just completed.
