Savannakhet
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Savannakhet is a province in the south of Laos; it is bordered by Thailand on the west and Vietnam on its east. Savannakhet the city is the capital of Savannakhet the province. Typically a transport stop between Vientiane and Pakxe, Thailand and Vietnam, Savannakhet is gaining more popularity as a tourist destination. Historically, Savannakhet was a trading post for the French and thus retains much of its French architecture and often draws comparisons with Hanoi in Vietnam.
While Savannakhet has an airport, it is not currently being used. The most common way of reaching Savannakhet is via bus from Vientiane that takes nine hours and traverses through the beautiful village and countryside of Laos. From Thailand, tourists can cross via ferry, bus or foot on the second Thai-Lao Friendship bridge, the Mekong Bridge, that connects Savannakhet with Mukdahan, Thailand. Buses also connect to Savannakhet from Lao Bao, Vietnam.
Getting around in Savannakhet can be difficult due to the similarity of streets and sometimes even unnamed streets. Because the city is spread out, it is suggested that tourists travel by tuk tuks or rent a bicycle to explore the city. If traveling to Savannakhet via ferry from Thailand, you will disembark at the Old French Quarter which is a convenient place to find accommodation due to its location near a few museums and a Buddhist stupa.
Savannakhet is not known for any particular attractions and is ideal for tourists who are looking for a picturesque place to stop and relax for a few days. Savannakhet has three National Biodiversity Conservations Areas (NBCAs) that can be explored via tours. The tours are priced depending on the number of people in the group and the length of the tour. The Dong Natad National Provincial Protected Area is the closest NBCA and one can attempt to visit it on their own if they are brave enough to endure getting lost in the forest. Guided tours are worth the money and time and offer a peek into the background of Laos. This particular tour takes you to salt mines and then through the forest where the guide will show you edible plants. Longer tours may involve homestays and camping in the forests.
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