The canyon resembles a mountain sprouting out into the Mekong. Spectacular views can be seen here of both the canyon and the river. It is believed that this natural phenomena is caused by the rushing water, acting like a drill, eroding the canyon over thousands of years. Here you will find over 3000 holes, big and small scattered all over the place. Some holes look like familiar shapes, animals, etc. There is even a hole that looks like Mickey Mouse (or Deadmau5 if you prefer). The Esarn and Laotian word for ‘hole’ is ‘bok’, thus the translated name is Three (sam) Thousand (phan) Holes (bok).
There are several activities for you to do aside from wandering around the canyon. Take a boat ride on the Mekong and look at life on both sides of the river (Laos and Thailand). You can get on the boat at Had Salung (Salung Shore) which will take you to “Mahanatee Si Phan Don”. This area is a natural breeding ground for certain fish. In addition, you can also visit various shores, caves, and odd-looking rocks.