The second-largest city in Laos sits along the Mekong River, with French colonial buildings, Buddhist temples, and a dinosaur museum displaying local fossils.
Savannakhet, Laos's second-largest city, stretches along the Mekong River facing Thailand. In the old quarter, you'll find yellow-painted French colonial mansions with wooden shutters, while monks in saffron robes walk between 15th-century temple compounds. Each evening, food vendors set up their stalls at the Talat Yen night market, filling the air with the aroma of grilled meats and fresh herbs.
Getting Around Savannakhet
You can easily walk or cycle through the compact city center. Tuk-tuks run throughout Savannakhet, charging around 20,000 kip for short rides within the city. Look for drivers near the central plaza and main temples. Bring small bills, as drivers rarely carry change.
Religious Buildings in Savannakhet
At Wat Sainyaphum, built in the 15th century, more than 200 monks and novices live and study in the largest monastery complex in the region. The That Ing Hang stupa rises 13 kilometers northeast of the city, where locals come to pray at what they believe is a relic of Buddha's spine. The white stone walls and octagonal spire of St. Therese Catholic Church, built in 1930, mark the center of the main square.
French Colonial Architecture
Walk along the Mekong riverfront to see the old quarter's 1900s French colonial buildings. The structures maintain their original high ceilings and wooden shutters, though paint peels from many facades. The streets around St. Therese Church contain several restored colonial-era buildings with their original tiles and ironwork.
Dinosaur Museum and Prehistoric Sites
The Dinosaur Museum holds fossils discovered in Xonbouly District during the 1930s. You can examine three types of dinosaur remains: Pode, Iguanodon, and Sauropode specimens. The exhibits explain the region's prehistoric period through maps, timelines, and fossil displays.
Markets and Food
From 5 PM daily, food vendors fill the square in front of St. Therese Church for the Talat Yen night market. Try khao piak (thick rice noodle soup) or sandwiches filled with pate and fresh herbs. During daytime hours, walk through the central market where locals buy fresh produce, meat, and household goods.
Day Trips from Savannakhet
Buddhist pilgrims visit the That Ing Hang stupa throughout the year, with crowds peaking during the December full moon festival. Travel 65 kilometers south to see the Heuan Hin (Stone House), a 12th-century structure built during King Jayavarman VII's reign. This building was one of 121 rest houses constructed along the Khmer Empire's road network.
Transport Connections
Cross the 1,600-meter Second Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge to reach Mukdahan, Thailand. The bridge, opened in 2007, makes Savannakhet a key stop between Thailand and Vietnam. Regular buses connect to major Laotian cities, including Vientiane and Pakse.
