Savannakhet is the most populous province in Laos
and regarded as a very active
place for communication and commerce between Thailand and Vietnam (via Vietnamese
border town of Lao Bao). Most people living in the province are Lao Lum, Thai Dam,
Phu Thai, some of the Mon-Khmer groups.
Savannakhet Savannakhet town is on the banks of the Mekong River opposite Mukdahan
town in Thailand. Most parts of the province are low land with some agriculture
plots in the north and east of Savannakhet city. Savannakhet has a couple of temples
and stupas, but mostly offers a way to get even further off the beaten track. If
you want to enter Thailand you have to cross the river between 8:30 am and 5 pm.
A ferry brings you to the Thai side. No special permission is necessary.
What to do?
Normally, Savannakhet is just a place where people get on or off the buses to other
places such as the ruins of Wat Pho near Champasak or Vietnam.
The town itself can
be easily explored by foot and has a number of interesting temples, including Vietnamese
temple and school and a large Catholic church. Much of the town's architecture is
French Colonial. Numerous examples of French architecture tell of the town's importance
during the colonial era.
The most beautiful part of Savannakhet is Wat Sayaphum,
with its tranquil grounds just across the ferry terminal road from the Mekong. It
dates from the end of the 19th century and much of it has been restored to house
a large resident population of monks and novices and provide secondary education
for day pupils as well as its own
