Sekong (Xekong) is one of the most remote places in Laos, lying as it does in Sekong Province in the southeast of the country. Is it popular with those into trekking and looking to get off the beaten path.
Sekong Province is bordered by Vietnam and Attapeu, Salavanh, and Champasak provinces and has the distinction of being one of Laos’s smallest provinces with the lowest population. These figures are even more appealing to intrepid travelers, with even the larger villages mostly inaccessible during the rainy season.
This relative isolation means that much of the region is well forested, containing an abundance of wildlife, including elephants, reptiles, and birds. Many ethnic traditions have also been saved in this region, while bombs still remain a threat along part of the Ho Chi Minh Trail from the Vietnam War.
Getting There & Away
Despite its relative remoteness and isolation, Sekong is becoming more accessible, with the Triangle Development Initiative set up by the Vietnamese government to improve road infrastructure in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. Buses come up the Mekong valley from the tourist city of Pakse, while Sekong is also connected to Vietnam to the east. Pakse has an international airport with flights from all over Southeast Asia.
Things to Do
Sekong Attractions
- Sekong trekking
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This moderately mountainous area has some good trekking, although hiring a local guide is a must.
- Sekong demographics
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The town is the least populous province of laos, with many varieties of ethnic tribe people in the lowlands and hills still retaining ancient traditions.