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About
Savanakhet
Savannakhet town is situated on
the banks of the Mekong river opposite Mukdahan in Thailand. The
province bridges the country between Thailand and Vietnam and the
town is a very active junction for trade between the two countries.
The town itself can be easily explored by foot and has a number of
interesting temples, including Vietnamese temple and school and a
large Catholic church. Much of the town's architecture is French
Colonial. Numerous examples of French architecture tell of the
town's importance during the colonial era.
Getting there
Lao Aviation flies to and
from Vientiane. Lao
Aviation's domestic timetable.
You can reach Savannakhet by
boat from the north (Vientiane, Tha Khek) or the south (Pakse),
although these services change regularly.Buses run several times a
day from Vientiane, Tha Kek and Pakse. The journey takes up to
nine hours from Vientiane.
From Thailand:
Savannakhet is a designated international border checkpoint,
although visas are not available on entry. You will need a visa in
advance or you will have to make arrangements with a tour company.
The ferry from Mukdahan, in Thailand runs all day between 0830 and
1700 on weekdays, with some restrictions at weekends.
From Vietnam: The
Vietnamese border town of Lao Bao can be reached 180km west of
Savannakhet on Route 9. Tourists can freely pass between Laos and
Vietnam, but note that visas are required in advance by both
countries.
The Hochiminh Trail
During the Vietnam war, the
North Vietnamese Army (NVA) used a network of trails, caves and
gravel roads to move ordnance, tanks, trucks, men and provisions to
South Vietnam. The trail became known as the Ho Chi Minh Trail and
its existence at the time was denied by the NVA. The USA, on the
other hand, denied saturation bombing the Trail, within Laos - with
900 sorties per day and over one million tonnes of explosive.
All of the jungle area of the
Trail, previously destroyed with defoliants and herbicides has grown
back. It is possible to visit parts of the trail - but this must be
done with a guide, since there remain tonnes of unexploded ordnance
(UXO) in the area. Venturing off by yourself is not recommended!
Khanthebouly's main attractions are its noteworthy temples such as
the beautiful Wat Saya Phoum and That Inghang.
That Inghang Stupa
That Inghang stupa is one of the
national stupa, which is the holiest edifice in southern Laos,
housing a hollow chamber with a distinguished collection of Buddha
images. It was built by King Sikhotabong and located about 15 km
east from the provincial capital of Khamthabouly.
That Phon stupa is one of the
significant stupa since it was contracted between the year of 557 to
700. The contraction was taken quite a long time. Festival rite is
annually organized in the full moon of the first month of lunar
calendar to play respect to Phra Shiva and other Lords of Hinduism.
Heuanehine or Stone House, the
rocky house designed by Kham people is also one of the most
interesting sites in this province. Not as old as these prehistoric
relicts, but of no less significance, is the northernmost example of
Khmer art at Heuan Hin (stone house). The building were constructed
between 553 AD and 700AD. Today little more than unrestored ruins
remain.
Near Muang Phin, on the route to
Vietnam, dinosaur remains are on display. A French scientist
discovered them in the 1930s.
Dinosaur Exhibition Hall is
situated in Khanthabouly, the capital city of the province. Daily
opened from 8.00 to12.00, and afternoon from 13.00 to 16.00,
starting from Monday to Friday.
Hortai (Wat Nonglamchan village)
is the old wooden building where the Buddha's words have been kept.
One of the tourist attraction in
Savannakhet is the beautiful waterfall.
See also
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