Savannakhet Travel Guide

Savannakhet is the second-largest city in Laos in terms of population and is home to various ethnicities including Lao, Thai, Chinese, Vietnamese, etc. This is also a must-visit destination in Laos with a variety of tourist destinations, from temples to colonial monuments, and natural landscapes.

General Information

Capital of the province of the same name, Savannakhet does not have any major tourist attractions but remains an essential stop on a tour of Laos. Do not hesitate to get lost in the small streets of the colonial city to discover its well-hidden treasures: temples, colonial monuments, museums, etc. The French influence is found through the architecture of the center, even if unfortunately most of the buildings are now in disrepair. However, they allow us to imagine a bygone era, during which Laos was part of French Indochina.

Its name comes originally from Savanh Nakhone, which means “city of paradise”. Savannakhet is about a 6-7 hour drive from the capital Vientiane. Although Savannakhet has not developed as quickly as Vientiane and Luang Prabang, this city is still considered one of the most popular places in the country for trade. This city in central Laos serves as Laos’ active trading area with Vietnam and Thailand.

Weather And Best Time to Visit Savannakhet

In Savannakhet, the wet season is oppressive and overcast, the dry season is moist and partly cloudy, and it’s hot year-round. Throughout the year, the temperature generally ranges from 15°C to 35 °C and is rarely below 11 °C or above 39 °C.

The best time to visit Savannakhet is between October and February. The weather is not hot, and the humidity is less during these months. It’s a great time to be outdoors in the city. Boat rides and swimming in the lakes are quite popular around this time of the year as the sunsets and sunrises are fantastic around this time. From the end of February, summer slowly sets in, with March to May being the hottest months. The monsoon begins at the end of July and lasts until September. The city is then the scene of landslides and floods.

Getting to Savannakhet

By plane

National Lao Airlines remains the sole carrier serving Savannakhet Airport (ZVK). This operates direct flights to and from Vientiane. You can also land in Savannakhet on a direct domestic flight from Pakse. This route is available three times a week: Sunday, Friday, and Wednesday. Otherwise, a flight from Bangkok is functional on the same days.

By bus

This city is located at the intersection of Route 13 North-South and Route 12 East-West. This means that there are different buses that can take you there.

From Vientiane (9 hours on average): by local bus, the journey costs 75,000 kips per person and 25,000 kips by bicycle and includes several stops along the way (passengers and goods). By VIP bus, there are fewer stops and more comfort (air conditioning, toilets, reserved seats, bunk beds for night journeys). The seat costs 120,000 kips for a bus with a bed and 110,000 kips for a model with a seat.

There are many local bus lines. Several cities and localities offer it from Thakhek, Pakse, the 4000 islands, Sekong, Salavan, Attapeu, and Sepon.

Savannakhet bus stations also accept buses from neighboring countries of Laos:

• From Vietnam: across the Lao Bao border.
• From Thailand: across the 2nd Laos – Thai Friendship Bridge.

Getting around Savannakhet

Without a doubt, walking and cycling are the best ways to get around the city and explore its streets and corners.

To cover long distances and avoid being too tired during your visit, there are tuk-tuks running around every corner. It’s perfect for getting to a certain place quickly, but you have to bargain first before hopping in.

Accommodation in Savannakhet

Savannakhet is a big city and a very busy crossing point, you can find hotels of all ranges from guesthouses to standard hotels. The Savannakhet region also offers some homestays that will allow you to embrace the local culture.

Places to Visit in Savannakhet

That Ing Hang Stupa

That Ing Hang Stupa is about 9 meters high and features beautiful carvings. A sacred stupa is an important place of worship not only for Lao Buddhists but also for Thai Buddhists who live in northern Thailand. Every year in December, many Buddhists visit this holy place for the annual “Boun Pha” ceremony.

There are many stalls and shops nearby if you want to buy souvenirs.

• Location: Ban That village, Savannakhet.
• Opening hours: Every day from 08h00 – 16h30.

The Dinosaur Museum

A good place to learn more about the prehistoric period of Savannakhet. The hall features a massive collection of fossils dating from 1930 to the present day, including four dinosaurs and mammals that lived 200 million years ago, even fragments of a meteorite over 100 million years old are preserved here. Labels and captions are written in Lao and French.

• Location: Thanon Khanthaburi, Ban Sayaphoum, Muang Khanthaburi, Khoueng.
• Opening hours: Every day from 8:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. and closed on Saturday and Sunday.

Wat Xayaphoum

Wat Xayaphoum is considered the most beautiful temple in Kaysone Phomvihane. The temple was built in 1542 and is one of the oldest in Savannakhet. It is an important center for local Buddhism. At Wat Xayaphoum you will find a Buddhist workshop where local villagers make Buddha images. Many important festivals and ceremonies take place at Wat Xayaphoum, such as the Pimai Laos and the annual boat racing festival.

• Location: Village of Ban Xayaphoum, located on the banks of the Mekong.
• Opening hours: Every day from 8:00 a.m to 6:00 p.m

Old French Colonial Buildings

These houses with French colonial architecture are often the object of wonder for travelers. Villas, personal houses, and administrative buildings abound here and there. Dating from the 1920s, most of these buildings have been abandoned, but others have benefited from some repair work. Their beauty can only be admired from the outside, as all are off-limits properties.

Savannakhet Museum

The museum was an administrative building during the French colonial period. It was recently renovated to become the city’s Museum. It includes archaeological remains and artifacts related to the Vietnam War, as well as historical photos.

• Location: Near Provincial Library and Post Office.
• Opening hours: Every day from 8:00 a.m to 12:00 a.m and 1:30 p.m to 4:00 p.m

Must-try Activities in Savannakhet

Shopping

In the streets of Savannakhet, drop by the “villa-shops” or “store-houses”, you will find everything, for very affordable prices, and you are able to interact with the locals.

Still haven’t found your little souvenir to take home? You will surely find some in the big market. Built on 2 levels, it is filled with local products from Laos as well as Thai products. It is surrounded by exchange offices and ATMs (withdrawal terminals) and you will also find the only restaurant that serves Western dishes, Café Chez Boune. In the evening, walk to the night market and tasty grilled meats and vegetables, local specialties, for a ridiculous price.

Trekking

Dong Natad

Located just 15 km from the city center and 11 km from the Mekong Bridge to the north, Dong Natad is undoubtedly the best option for trekking. Day trips are available, but it is recommended to spend the night there, which gives you a good opportunity to stay with the locals and experience the local culture. In addition, you will have the chance to observe birds, small wild animals such as red ants and spiders. You will visit the nearby salt mines, where you can learn about salt processing before it is sold to the factory.

Dong Phou Vieng

A little further in the forest of Dong Sakee, visitors will also discover an “oil tree” which, when felled, produces a flammable liquid used by the villagers. Visitors also have the opportunity to learn about the use of natural products such as leaves, herbs, and edible bush fruits along the hiking trail. The trek to Dong Phou Vieng usually takes three to four days and visitors can stay in surrounding villages, where dinner is prepared following the traditional Baci ceremony.

Casino

Savan Vegas Casino, located in Nongdeune village, Kaishonephomvihan district, 5 km from Savannakhet is the only casino in Laos. The Savan Vegas Hotel & Casino has over 500 machines and 100 table games.

Tennis

Savannakhet Tennis Club can be found on the street of Khantabuli which may appear to be in dire need of repairs. In fact, there are three courts that are in good condition, but players will need to bring their own racquets.

Swimming

Sea Paradise Pool, located on Latsavongseuk Road near Nan Hai Hotel. Temperatures can be very high in Savannakhet, so a swim in this public swimming pool (10 x 20 meters) is a good refreshment. There is also a pool for children.

What To Eat in Savannakhet

Grilled chicken

Savannakhet grilled chicken is famous for its appealing flavor. After being cleaned, the chicken is covered with the local spices, then attached to a bamboo stick. It is grilled directly over red charcoal until cooked through. Then the aroma of delicious spices and the burning skin when grilling on the charcoal make the chicken even more appealing. Savannakhet chicken is served with small balls of sticky rice and “jaew boong” sauce. It costs around 50,000 kips.

Khao Jee Pate

Khao Jee Paté is similar to “bánh mì” from Vietnam. This is a famous street food easily found in Savannakhet. Baguette, or French bread, was introduced to Laos when the country was part of French Indochina. It is made by splitting the baguette lengthwise and spreading it with a thick layer of pork liver pate, stuffed with pork sausage or Lao sausage, sliced ​​papaya, carrots, shallots or onion, cucumber, cilantro, and sometimes Jaew boong or chili sauce.

Savannakhet Travel Tips

Here are some necessary guides for your trip to Savannakhet:

• ATMs are scattered around the city. They generally accept Visa and Master cards. The fee is 20,000 kips per transaction, 500,000 kips maximum.
• The traffic situation has improved rapidly over the past two decades but is still quite dangerous as locals often don’t wear helmets and don’t usually obey traffic laws.
• As a pedestrian, you have to be careful because there are a lot of holes in the sidewalk.
• Savannakhet has very aggressive dogs, when traveling alone you need to be careful and keep your distance from them.
• Do not take photos of the military base in the town of Seno (35 km northeast of Savannakhet) although there are no warning signs indicating that taking photos is prohibited.
• In sacred places, like temples or museums,.. dress decently. You must always cover your shoulders and legs.

We hope that the information in the article “Travel Guide to Savannakhet” will be useful to you. If you want to have more information and ideas to build an unforgettable itinerary in Laos, do not hesitate to contact us!