Nong Papha: Located within Dondaeng Village is Nong Papha (Turtle Lake). Unlike in other areas of Laos, the turtles in Nong Papha are big and plentiful. This is because the villagers surrounding the lake hold the turtles sacred and believe they are protected by the ghosts in the spirit house, who cause injury or even death to anybody that harms the turtles that reside within the lake. If a turtle should die, it is given a proper funeral by the villagers of Dondaeng.
Nong Papha has become a popular place to visit where one can walk along the pier connecting the shore to a shrine sitting in the middle of the lake. Children call the turtles to them by singing local songs and then reward them with sweets, such as khao tom, which is made from rice and banana.
Besides the approximately 450 asiatic softshell turtles living in the 300 square meter (3200 square feet) lake, the waters are teeming with fish, including carp and tilapia.