Savannakhet

Savannakhet is a leisurely and tropical small town, serving as a key transit point between Vietnam’s Lao Bao border and Laos. It’s worth spending a day here. Located on the left bank of the Mekong River, the eastern half of Savannakhet consists of hills and valleys in the central part of the Annamite Range, while the western part features hills through which the Se Bang Hiang River flows. The town is home to a teachers’ college, public high schools, a Buddhist high school, a business school, and the Savannakhet Institute of Technology. The residents of the Bolaven Plateau are primarily the Lao Theung people, and the population is sparse. The area produces coffee, teak, and other crops. The valleys are inhabited by the Lao and Phu Thai ethnic groups, who grow rice. Mineral resources include petroleum, gypsum, copper, and gold. The drive from the Laos–Vietnam border to Savannakhet takes about eight hours. The first part of the road is quite bumpy, but the scenery along the way is stunning. After driving for just over an hour, the bus stops to pick up or drop off passengers in Sepon. If you spend a day in Sepon, you can find a local guide to take you to see nearby sections of the Ho Chi Minh Trail.