Image by Austin Bush / Getty Images

Savannakhet

Languid, time-trapped and somnolent during the sweltering days that batter the old city's plasterwork, Savannakhet (ສະຫວັນນະເຂດ) is a charming blend of past and present Laos. The highlight is the historic quarter with its impressive display of decaying early-20th-century architecture. There's little to do in town but wander the riverfront and cool off in one of a clutch of stylish restaurants and bijou cafes that are steadily growing in number.

That said, there's plenty to do outside of town and outfits such as Marvelaos can help you plan intrepid trips into the nearby countryside and NPAs.

Explore Savannakhet

0

Top attractions

These are our favorite local haunts, touristy spots, and hidden gems throughout Savannakhet.

  • Wildlife Reserve

    Dong Natad

    Dong Natad is a sacred, semi-evergreen forest within a provincial protected area 15km east of Savannakhet. It's home to two villages that have been…

  • Buddhist Temple

    That Ing Hang

    Thought to have been built in the mid-16th century, this well-proportioned, 9m-high thâat is the second-holiest religious edifice in southern Laos after…

  • Buddhist Temple

    Wat Rattanalangsi

    Wat Rattanalangsi was built in 1951 and houses a monks' primary school. The sĭm (ordination hall) is unique in that it has glass windows (most windows in…

  • Museum

    Musée Des Dinosaures

    A major dig in the 1930s near a village 145km east of the city unearthed 110-million-year-old dinosaur fossils. The underwhelming Dinosaur Museum is the…

  • Museum

    Savannakhet Museum

    The rather dusty Savannakhet Museum houses old photos, war relics, artillery pieces and inactive examples of the deadly unexploded ordnance (UXO) that has…

  • Buddhist Temple

    Wat Sainyaphum

    One of the oldest and largest monasteries in southern Laos and an important centre of local Buddhism. The sprawling grounds include some centuries-old…