Dong Natad is a sacred, semievergreen forest within a provincial protected area 15km from Savannakhet. It's home to two villages that have been coexisting with the forest for about 400 years, with villagers gathering forest products such as mushrooms (in the rainy season), fruit, oils, honey (from March to May), resins and insects. If you visit, there's a good chance you'll encounter villagers collecting red ants, cicadas or some other critter, depending on the season; all are important parts of their diet and economy.
It's possible to visit Dong Natad on your own, by bicycle, motorbike or in a tuk-tuk from Savannakhet. However, it will be something of a 'forest-lite' experience. It's better to engage one of Savannakhet's English-speaking guides through the Eco-Guide Unit. The unit offers various programs, ranging from multi-day homestays to one day cycling trips, and ranging in price from 1,000,00K to 2,000,000K for one person (prices drop substantially the more people there are) in a group of two. These community-based treks have had plenty of positive feedback and the combination of English-speaking guide and village guide proves a great source of information about how the local people live. Arrange trips at least a day ahead.
