Savannakhet between the Mekong, cultural heritage and wetlands

Savannakhet Province lies on the Mekong, opposite Thailand’s Mukdahan Province. When planning your hotel stay, you can weigh up the different sides of the region: religious and historic sites, local markets and crafts, and landscapes rich in biodiversity.

Mekong, wetlands and sandstone

The Xe Champhone Wetlands are in Champhone District in Savannakhet Province and are the largest of Laos’s two Ramsar sites. They are home to a wide variety of aquatic species, including one of the last remaining populations of the endangered Siamese crocodile. Endangered turtle species and wetland birds also inhabit this ecosystem.

In Tansoum village, the Xe Champhone Wetlands and Crocodile Information Centre introduces visitors to the wetlands through information panels and murals. It opened in May 2025. The Phu Xang Hae National Protected Area offers a different kind of scenery, with a steep sandstone slope and extensive sandstone outcrops.

Stupas, temples and historic sites

That Ing Hang is an important pilgrimage site for Lao and Thai Buddhists. The stupa is about nine metres tall and decorated with elaborate carvings and ornamentation. It can be reached by tuk-tuk, bicycle or motorbike; locally available transport options may vary. Vat Xaiyaphoume is another religious landmark: Savannakhet’s oldest Buddhist temple was originally founded in 1542.

Heuan Hin is a pre-Angkorian stone building on the Mekong, about 40 kilometres downstream from the city. On 29 January 2026, the National Heritage Department recognised the site as national cultural heritage. These cultural sites have different focuses: That Ing Hang is a pilgrimage site, Vat Xaiyaphoume represents an early Buddhist foundation, and Heuan Hin showcases pre-Angkorian stone architecture.

Savannakhet’s French colonial heritage includes St. Theresa’s Catholic Church and numerous colonial-era shophouses in Kaysone Phomvihanh Town. The Provincial Museum is housed in a remarkable building in Savannakhet’s old town. As its renovation status and opening hours may change, check the latest visiting hours in advance.

The province also has a connection to dinosaur history. The Dinosaur Museum displays fossils and information about around four species whose fossils were excavated in the area around Ban Tangvai, 120 kilometres east of the province. These include sauropods, theropods, Iguanodon and Psittacosaurus.

Festivals, crafts and regional cuisine

The Heuan Hin Stone Castle Festival is held annually and promotes traditional arts, culture and customs. The That Ing Hang Festival is usually celebrated at the full moon in December; exact dates vary with the lunar calendar. If either festival fits your travel plans, check the event dates in advance.

The Lao Silk-Cotton Weaving Centre in Ban Nongkadeang, in Vilabouly District, offers bags, shirts, Lao skirts and Lao silk. One regional speciality is Sin savanh: dried, flattened, sweet beef with sesame. It comes from Savannakhet and is available at local markets.

Food and handicrafts are sold daily from 5:00 to 18:00 at Savanxay Market. As market hours may change, check them before your visit. The Mekong promenade is used for exercising, socialising and watching the sunset. You can plan your days around regional cuisine and crafts, religious and historic heritage, and nature and landscapes.

Discover more destinations: Savannakhet, Dong, Vientiane, Sayaburi, Xieng Khouang, Luang Namtha, Khammuan, Oudomxay.

For the main travel overview: Laos.