Located along Laos' western border with the country of Thailand, this small city (more of a large town really) is a bit of a central hub for people coming and going through southern Laos. As with many of population centers in the country, Savannakhet lies along the side of the mighty Mekong River, the major lifeblood and artery for the entire Indochinese subcontinent. The 2nd Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge stretches across that river west to Mukdahan, Thailand, and the road to the east directly connects Vietnam via the Lao Bao International Border Gate, that, combined with the only north-south highway through the country also passing in the area, has ensured Savannakhet as a regional crossroads on the EWIC (East-West Economic Corridor).
Savannakhet
Our original plan for Savannakhet was to simply pass through on the way into Laos, and then return a few days later so that I could renew my visa at the Vietnamese consulate there. However, after 14 hours on the bus, we decided we had had enough and hopped off the bus, glad to be away from it and looking for some accommodations. New plan: hang around for a couple days and get my paperwork processed now, call the hotels down the road and try to push them back to a couple nights later. The hotel we found for our first night was quite uninspiring, so the second night we upgraded to a nice place (it may have been the nicest in town) and gave ourselves some time to explore this small city.
For me personally it was really great to be here, as it gave me a chance to see the Mekong River up close. As a student of geography I understand the importance and significance of the river to so many people, so it was really rewarding to stand in it's waters. Savannakhet turned out to be quite a charming little city. Although it lacks a true center or core, and the tourist infrastructure is lacking, it was still fun to get out and explore it, strolling through the local market, trying some of the local restaurants, drinking Beerlao. Although it's not a destination place, there are worse places to end up spending some time in SE Asia.
Soon enough we had my paperwork in order and it was time to head off to Pakse. But, we sure didn't regret out time here and stopping here ended up being a good choice to make.
For me personally it was really great to be here, as it gave me a chance to see the Mekong River up close. As a student of geography I understand the importance and significance of the river to so many people, so it was really rewarding to stand in it's waters. Savannakhet turned out to be quite a charming little city. Although it lacks a true center or core, and the tourist infrastructure is lacking, it was still fun to get out and explore it, strolling through the local market, trying some of the local restaurants, drinking Beerlao. Although it's not a destination place, there are worse places to end up spending some time in SE Asia.
Soon enough we had my paperwork in order and it was time to head off to Pakse. But, we sure didn't regret out time here and stopping here ended up being a good choice to make.
Wat Xayaphoum
One of the dominant religions in all of Southeast Asia is Buddhism. The other major religions exist, including Islam, Christianity, and Hindu, as well as plenty of native animistic religions, but the major player in most countries is Buddhism, and the temples for learning, study, and immersion in it are spread throughout the region. These temple complexes are usually known by different names depending on the country you are in, and in Laos they are known as "Wat". One of the nicest, largest, and most developed temple complexes in Savannakhet is called Wat Xayaphoum, located a block from the Mekong River in the central part of the town.
We had a spare afternoon in Savannakhet, so we found out way over to it, and spent a couple hours exploring the various corners of the grounds. There were too many numerous things to mention them all, but some highlights include seeing the Seated Buddha statues getting ready for transport elsewhere, and saying hello to the super-shy young boy hanging out on his bicycle.
We had a spare afternoon in Savannakhet, so we found out way over to it, and spent a couple hours exploring the various corners of the grounds. There were too many numerous things to mention them all, but some highlights include seeing the Seated Buddha statues getting ready for transport elsewhere, and saying hello to the super-shy young boy hanging out on his bicycle.
All photos copyright Kit Davidson unless otherwise noted.