Amazing experience - Its not the elephant ride as impressive as you may believe. I had the same thought initially. However when you see the sunsine on the lake, the traditional wooden boats and the fishers you understand how magic is the nature there. Furthermore the visit of the village, the amazing guide and his information travell you to another world, another century. Ethnical minority that still lives in the same place with its animals, fishes with traditional ways, believe in the existence of multi«gods» and has a matriarchal structure as community. It is so rare to find such a real traditional and unique population, and at the same time such a great guide. (He was also kind and fair with money, I gave the half of the amount in usd and he calculated the currency, with the official currency!! First time I saw it in vietnam) Dont miss it. Even if the elephant part is a bit touristic, the whole experience is once in lifetime. Its like reading pages of national geographic!