Many people who pass through Savannakhet on their way to Thailand or Vietnam would be surprised to discover that its name means ‘city of paradise’ in the Laos language.
Laos’ second-largest city has quite a bit going for it if you bother to scratch the surface. This is a good place to pause for a while as the town is used to receiving tourists and there are a good number of guesthouses, hotels and restaurants serving international food.
Savannakhet may be a sort of paradise for those who enjoy eating as there are plenty of types of food on offer. Top of the menu are curries and spicy salads from Thailand and Vietnamese noodles. French food also makes an appearance here in the form of baguettes stuffed with pâte.
Savannakhet’s close proximity to Thailand and Vietnam means that you will discover a number of different building styles as you explore. French architecture blends with the distinctive long sloping roofs of Lao-style temples, and there are also a number of Vietnamese temples to look around.
Getting There & Away
Most visitors cross into Laos on the Second Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge, which spans the Mekong River, connecting Savannakhet with Mukdahan in Thailand. Another way to reach the town is by boat from northern Lao areas such as Vientiane and Tha Khaek or from Pakse in the south. There are a few flights a week to Savannakhet Airport from Bangkok and Pakse.
Things to Do
Savannakhet Attractions
- That Ing Hang Stupa
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Built in the 16th century, this is one of the most important stupas in laos.
- Heuanehine
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Also known as the stone house, this rocky house was designed by the kham people and dates back to somewhere between 553 and 700 ad.
- Dino Park
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If you’re looking for something a bit different, this theme park features several large dinosaur statues.
- That Phon stupa
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Unlike most of the religious shrines and temples in laos, this stupa is hindu in origin and dedicated to shiva and other hindu deities.
- Dinosaur Exhibition Hall
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Located in the town of khanthabouly, the hall houses a collection of dinosaur remains.
- Wat Inghang
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This is the largest and most popular temple in the region, featuring traditional lao temple art and buddhist images.
- Catholic Church
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Built by the french, this church provides an interesting contrast to the surrounding temples and stupas.