| Savannakhet
is the capital of Savannakhet Province, and is located alongside the
Mekong River. With a population of about 120,000 it is the second largest
city of Laos, and widely considered to be its business capital. Get in Savannakhet.
By plane, Flight to Savannakhet.
Savannakhet has an airport. While there have been direct flights from
Vientiane in the past it seems as though Lao Airlines (the only domestic
Laos carrier) has terminated the route for the time being. Lao Airlines
does offer several direct flights a week from/to Bangkok Suvarnabhumi
Airport. Additionally, some Lao Airlines flights from Siem Reap to Luang
Prabang make a stop in Savannakhet; a Siem Reap to Savannakhet flight may
be possible if you contact the airline.
There are direct flights from Bangkok only on Sunday, Wednesday and
Friday.
By bus to Savannakhet.
There is bus service from Vientiane to Savannakhet. For the time being it
is the only way to practically get to Savannakhet from the capital. It is
a 9 hour bus ride on a newly paved road. While the ride is long, it is an
excellent way to see the local villages and lush country side of Laos.
There are two different types of buses that service the route:
* Local Bus - leaves from Vientiane and Savannakhet at different times of
the day and makes many different stops. Costs 60,000 kip one way. There is
also a local bus running from Lao Bao (35,000 Kip)
* VIP Bus - much like the local bus, but there are less stops, assigned
seats and all important air conditioning. Less frequent and costs more,
but well worth it.
International
* A new bridge, the Second Thai–Lao Friendship Bridge (the first connects
Nong Khai/Vientiane) across the Mekong to Mukdahan, Thailand opened to the
general public on January 9, 2007. There is a regular bus service between
Mukdahan and Savannakhet, with departures approximately once an hour. Cost
of the trip from Savannaket to Mukdahan is 45 Thai Baht (or 14,000 Kip).
* Daily buses make the 5 hour trip from Lao Bao in Vietnam via SeponLocal
bus 7(or9)am and noon.
* There is also a bus every second day to Dong Ha in Vietnam to
Savahnnaket via Lao Bao, most guest houses will know where this service
leaves from, so ask around.
* International Bus VIP to Hue leave 10AM Monay-Friday 8Hr. and Lowcost
Bus leave 10or11 PM Dairly cross broader in morning and arrived Hue about
noon next day.
Get around in Savannakhet.
The easiest way to get around Savannakhet is by foot. Tuk-tuk's are also
available around the city and are an easy way to get to a specific
location in a quick manner. Just be cautious about the fee for the tuk-tuk
and always set the price before the ride.
Places to see in Savannakhet.
* Savannakhet Tourist Office - (off of Khantabuli Road, before the Post
Office) a must visit for those wishing to see the city/area. The office
offers many different local walking tours as well as a wide variety of eco
tours. They also have a comprehensive free map of the city (extremely
important). The staff is very attentive and speaks good english.
* That Ing Hang Stupa - This 16th century stupa is one of the most revered
in the country of Laos. Each year in February, many Buddhist's journey to
this holy site for an annual festival. It is located 15 km north of
Savannakhet. Tuk Tuk ride should cost 70,000 kip round-trip.
* Wat Sayaphum - a 15th century temple
* DinoPark - an amusement park under construction - basically a small
field with huge, caricaturesque statues of dinosaurs and a playground
What to do in Savannakhet.
* Savannakhet Tennis Club - (on Khantabuli Road) While the tennis
clubhouse may look it needs upgrading, the three courts are in good
condition. Court fee is 20,000 kip. Bring your own racquets.
* Just relax in some of the cheap cafe's around, maybe rent a bike and
explore this little French colonial town. In the evening catch a beer by
the river and take some time out from the road.
* Lao Massage for just 30,000 kip at Dok Champa on the main street.
Excellent after a trek
* Eco-tourism treks advertised in most guesthouses are fantastic.
Homestays, forest food, school visits, local guides, etc... Highly
recommended.
* Savan Vegas, [1]. Open 24-hours a day, the casino offers restaurants,
entertainment, the promotions. edit
Public facilities in Savannakhet.
* The Provincial Post Office - (on Khantabuli Road)You can rent a PO Box
for 100.000 kip like 9 euro for 1 year and then every body can send mail
too your pobox in Lao
* Savannakhet Regional Hospital - (on Khantabuli Road down from the post
office) A public hospital which offers the highest level of care in the
Savannakhet province.
* Banque Pour Le Commerce Exterieur Lao- (on Latsavongseuk Road) ATM
located outside of bank. It accepts most foreign ATM cards. To exchange
foreign currency, go inside the bank and bring a piece of identification.
* Lao Development Bank - (on Oudomsin Road) offers many of the same
services as the other bank.
Buy
* There is an ATM next to the BCEL Bank on Th. Ratsaphanith that accepts
(at least) Visa, Mastercard and Maestro (withdrawal with Visa was
temporarily not available as of Nov. 2007)
* Dao Heuang Duty Free Shop - (on Sisavangong Road adjacent to the Dao
Heuang coffee shop) a duty free shop that offers a variety of products
including cigarettes, chocolates, liquor, and cuban cigars. One can also
find a wide variety of Dao Coffee (largest coffee producer in Laos)
products.
* The main roads in the city will have many different smaller shop's
offering a wide variety of products.
Where to eat / Restaurants in Savannakhet.
There is a wide selection of small bars and cafes up on the river front at
the north end of town.
For baguette sandwich and cheap street food (around 5000 kip each) head to
Ratsavongseuk street for cold beer lao great fish and chips/pizza and
local food try Phathxalin Restaurant 009/1 Ratssavongseuk street cool
western music and pool table
* Lao Paris Restaurant, (off Thahae Road (the street closest to the Mekong
River)). seems to have closed down.
The Lonely Planet S-E Asia guide everyone carries focuses on the southern
tip of town. Unfortunately, most of the listed restaurants have
disappeared. Instead, head to just north of the concentration of
guesthouses and find some great restaurants with fondue or hotpot,
chili-basil frog etc. (30-40,000 Kip)
* French Restaurant Dao Savanh, (off Khantabuli Road near the court yard
in front of the Catholic Church). Serves both lunch and dinner meals for a
reasonable price - the 3 course "Menu Dejeuner" for lunch (around 65,000
kip) is absolutely scrumptious, and a larger dinner menu includes entrees
from 100,000-300,000 kip. The ultimate decadent dish (with a hefty price)
is the 1kg imported fresh lobster flambéed in whiskey for 1,000,000 kip.
The staff are very attentive and all the dishes are presented in an
excellent manner. Possibly the epitome of fine French dining in Laos. edit
Drink
* There are many different street cafes and restaurants that serve a
variety of drinks, especially the ubiquitous Beer Lao.
* Many local cafes serve traditional Laos coffee with condensed milk at
the bottom and the coffee on top.
* For traditional cappuccino, latte or ice coffee, there are two Dao
Heuang coffee shops, one in the court yard in front of the Catholic
Church, the other on Sisavangong Road (just down the road from the bus
station).
Hotel, Lodge, Guest House in Savannakhet for Sleep.
Budget
* Leena's Guesthouse. (on Chao Kim Road) Town centre location. Clean rooms
with one double or two single beds, cable TV, air-con, and free coffee/tea
in the morning.A great hotel! It has also swedish TV-channels!! US$ 8.
edit
* Nongsoda Guesthouse. (on Tha He Road) On the road nearest the Mekong.
Clean though dingy air-con rooms, but no TV and no restaurant. US$11. edit
Mid-range
* Hoongthip Hotel, (near the Savannakhet Tennis Club). Free high speed
Internet for guests. US$25. edit
Splurge
Savan Vegas & Casino is the first, and only, five star hotel and Casino to
the north of town. The hotel has 180 rooms, accessed by four glass
elevators, and features the largest swimming pool in the area as well as a
spa offering massages and treatments. Savan Vegas is open 24 hours a day
and has more than 380 slot machines and 80 table games. There are several
restaurants and bars available, including a buffet. [2]
There is an new Hotel on the Mekong it name is Daosavanh resort & spa ,All
rooms offers the comfort of privacy with spacious size an Lao handicarft
of woodworrk décor. The have 83 rooms ,swimming pool with pool bar
[edit] Stay safe
* Watch where you walk during your visit in Savannakhet. There are many
holes in the sidewalk which could lead to a decent fall into the sewer
system.
* While Savannakhet is a safe city with police presence on main roads, be
careful at night by staying on main roads that are well lit. Don't wander
down dark alleys.
Postal service in Laos is slow and not particularly reliable, although
outgoing mail is usually OK. As of January 2006, sending a postcard to
most of the world outside Asia costs 7000 kip.
For more information of Laos visit
http://wikitravel.org/en/Laos
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/1.0/
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