Sunset in Pakse
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Time for a Lao beer at Hongfa Restaurant...
...with an impressive view of the Mekong River
Small traffic on road 13
Some buildings with old flair
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Also the red communist flags are part of the old flair. But US-Dollars are welcome everywhere.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT5zIacTv1clcCx3qSCKU88e9srx251LHiQ-KPEef1HDvEtgsBP48XUhDSit6h9mSciwGRU3ahn6OeyhQUlQASRKkrQNoEWzc_L-4LdEExoNQIs2G7hb4gqf0Uk5p7Wwf5Li_t2TGKo8KD/s400/Paksea.jpg)
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Shophouse near Champasak Plaza
Vat Luang:
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![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC3Y9m-kfAB6EVElDAR5VYDqlp0eEM6HKIjoRGH05LLuM1JfPzmFz4V45-SGPeksHPABDpcD0QKCnp9SY3HWEL2bBjcMwgcvsrOMMZ99oDRoFDtK2kp5Ktu6tGwYgw9D5E_9LUbMEoUOim/s400/25112010567a+Temple+Cats.jpg)
Temple cats
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Vat Tham Fai
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![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGgNthG8XYAlwAwakFnP1ENFNr1QnFooTNESzY4TmlbrzYiKkrBuvkyJ7Qqaw3hW_LC-kS8TDF52w8rln6bdfIs6jtEbJ_aPhf470h-CebBaH7nve1cXM36fmUdV9R_Glz7ikP_mZOjEyY/s400/ThamFai.jpg)
Outside fruit and vegetables market as it used to be...
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-GXytQ8N5qzYKcodQd0BmZ7fE7dFYjI1bFHm3parRjG0VA3r63VSwiVh1QP4gdxWcXilMHNuwteCTFovHMtBl90M7Ye_hhXl3yBp-a89yVKVjAtOYBdibIXMeheWpeSFWdNX2h6p8LHnq/s400/Pakse.jpg)
...and the modern Champasak Plaza with escalators inside
Mekong River:
In dry season the river banks are used as farmland, in the wet season they are under water
Chinese Association:
Xe Don River:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxl2QHx7KARTb_nXeFrtuu5Fd9ahLw8Y6JwT_enO-crBizf5cUum-DXoNXQ4P5N6M3-ReXVCNbjvqTRpzfSiUP2F3vx8Y5Cy_cfs33EdbjlDRHkR7feLcNOhDFLPEtQ2C2bdgb9SE-ut7T/s400/XeDon.jpg)
Sunset over Pakse and the Mekong River
Where to stay
Champasak Palace Hotel: From 26 USD. Ask for a room with terrace towards Xe Don River and you will have a peaceful setting in front of you. And if you stay on the east wing, it will also be quiet, otherwise you may here music from tourgroups, who like karaoke...
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ9poTWgWhIpn4r3i5jS6BipB-KSaNLI_56caTAAqOkrQXmySBKAOzI-UxUaq9VkVkObByZi8534rsdIUnTxKXAL08YEfjwQnTSdrpZJn8QKNFWCkuB_VsiTKv19hl_1bcwPAQSZmpbGCI/s400/45185996+PalaceOverview.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQHHmtZ7UoT5YdfnYg9nvhDqSkfmZfLMfwmGyIBbJRchedmsFwOICG2lWrLdoQp5mv6k49BNxPjHmPXc1e_QCT_K_QgkMGH79I-Q3pMcPDr0LQA5axVZSXYD_ugIEJvMDquTpmaH0kDAkH/s400/01122010670.jpg)
This hotel has an outstanding architecture. It has been built from 1968 by the Prince of Champasak, Chao Boun Oum, Prime Minister of the royal governmemt from 1960 to 1962 and an ally of France and the USA (read a story by Harward Crimson). Before the palace was finished, the communist Pathet Lao mouvement took ower the power in Laos and Boun Oum had to flee to France. The palace now was used by the state. In 1995 a Thai company took it over, completed the building and opened the hotel. About the hotel you read mixed reviews on tripadvisor.com. The quality of the rooms seems to be different, the breakfast is not great but the meals for lunch and dinner are well done. From the top of the hotel you ennjoy a great view across Pakse.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBCKsxbbSZ-No15T7STiZc2hTr4Kfza4GtJSv9pXFzpznCM2dlJFA9zIUVsjfvkCAddomJ-3RANpaH_xXZ9jSSmkuR_9-xxk5ocdbwatgZHsMFjFshLKuEJnjgDLJzLsxH9LSmoY67y1EU/s400/PB250036+Champasak+Palace+Pakse+a.jpg)
Terrace towards Xe Don River
Russian bridge across Xe Don River
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In the garden restaurant
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The spirit house
Arawan Riverside Hotel: From 35 USD. Not so good review on tripadvisor.com. Better reviews on agoda.com
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Champasak Grand Hotel: From 45 USD. Lao Nippon Bridge Mekong Riverside. A comfortable hotel, often used by Asian tour groups, but quite distant (3 km) from the town centre. Quite good reviews on tripadvisor.com.
Pakse Hotel: From 25 USD. Eco rooms without windows, rooms on the top floor with fine views, according to travelfish.org
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYoV92BNWzFTIrQ1n_crUChUh8Ty80YYeg0AUua98GXzOR3go7U69-tOReAyEGsv3g1hztdpTCXFwP5ARBYtXNHb0DTD_vPP2mrDFhL9xfP66mq9IojWCEXcoBTEP5G49VdI33bPMwOQTc/s400/3609970089_fc4670b58c_b+rooftop.jpg)
The rooftop restaurant. See Tennessee Embassy's views from the rooftop restaurant.
Laochaleun Hotel: "Average" is the rating of travelfish.org
Lankham Hotel:
Royal Pakse Hotel:
Salachampa Hotel:
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Seng Aroun Hotel: From 24 USD. 13 Road. Clean rooms, but a bit small, says travelfish.org. Good reviews on tripadvisor.com
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim7jqjtLHfF5noQHJb4C5-sjOQn_tgBu9H5QCYgjxp_-NiDS3fHomo8nPK9LCBSrnns5OeHooAcALasXShfAObTKqwKmUWSnesOngCeAw92X0hchtgmjgl0GH5t-_4zutvEcQ_Pq89gM_C/s400/5291159004_11abe26c3b_b+sengaroun.jpg)
Thaluang Hotel: From 10 USD.
Guesthouses:
Phonsavanh Guesthouse: From 4 USD. Basic rooms according to petitfute.com, see room-picture by escapade-asie.blogspot.com
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSJPW2iYnMhyphenhyphenI6Z2GGRWTyot_DNa4MaFthxE6n1Y17f6GeyduObO9nVgmNb3Y4AsouDM9PMHiaX1qhJh7CnGSu5I9n6fnUZ9lzb5Y8Mj4Q0aUBHEQAZlUjxYwCNhKijU0LdFgiTDiDQKnf/s400/01122010674+Phonsavanh+Guesthouse.jpg)
Sabaidy 2: Good reviews on tripadvisor.com. Most popular backpacker choice according to travelfish.org.
Where to eat
Café Sinouk:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghW0FLT6cB1XWElob1wrbEKS-Py_xJTA-yyXg_kCc5quYuI8iR5vkmVcPV2ggVOBinohZpkVx3fCZZSFCCFz67cNCAVDl41vtVPxDv_xkCBFr-s5lIzFie5hc31sEiiHIKS7KayqEIRoTT/s400/PB260113a.jpg)
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At Champady you sip an exzellent coffee.
How to arrive
By Bus
From Ubon Ratchathani: Bus by https://www.transport.co.th/. Leaving Ubon Ratchathani at 7.30 and 9.30 pm. And returning from Pakse Champasak road 14.30 and 15.30.
Help for finding the timetable on transport.co.th: On top orange navigation bar choose first tab from left, go down to second listing, this opens grey drop down menu, drive with the mouse over each option and look at the URL in bottom bar of your browser window, you will see north, northeast, pakse, etc at the end of the URL, then click your destination.
You can also take a bus to Chong Mek at the Lao border and then a minibus zu Pakse. Or you take a taxi to Chong Mek and from there another taxi zu Pakse.
You will get a visa on arrival at the border of Laos.
Tours from Pakse
Discovery Indochina: Half day to Tad Fane Waterfalls, ethnic minority villages of the Lavai and Yaheune tribes and a tea and coffee plantation. One day to Vat Phu, first by boat to Champasak, after Vat Phu 2 hours elephant tour from Ban Khiet Ngong to Phu Asa temple.
SODETOUR (Societe de Developpernent Touristique): On the corner of Rte 13 and Thanon Tha Luang
Lane Xang Travel & Tours: Next to the Suksamlan Hotel on Thanon Wat Luang
Inter-Lao Tourisme: on the ground floor of the Champasak Palace Hotel.