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Activities
The best way to enjoy the authentic, serene atmosphere of the old town is on foot or by bike, unless you prefer to take a tuk-tuk (information available from the Tourist Office). This walk, which lasts around 3 hours, will enable you to discover the many murals scattered around the city, as well as its most remarkable buildings. Download the map HERE and let yourself be seduced by the city's unique atmosphere.
Tourism Information Center
Located in front of St Theresa's church, open Monday to Sunday from 9am to 4pm. It is the starting and finishing point for this discovery tour.
Laochaleun Cinema and Square
The Laochaleun cinema dates back to the 1930s and was once a beautiful Art Deco building. It is a single-storey cinema that has been somewhat damaged over the years, but has retained its soul and charm. A wide covered corridor framed by compartments leads from Khanthabouly Street to the cinema entrance.
Adjacent to the cinema, a large open-air area leading to the Mekong River is home to an outdoor market. Stalls sell mainly food every day from 5 to 10 pm. The square is quite popular and is a good place to mix with the locals.
Khounsavanh, formerly Nang Lit Cinema
is an Art Deco-style cinema rarely used for many years. As the owning family left Laos in 1975, the province recovered the site, which was renamed Khounsavanh in 2011.
Renovation work is planned, including the renovation of the cinema and the installation of a restaurant.
Talat Yen Plaza (Night market)
The Talat Yen Plaza (the former night market place) between Khanthabouly Street and Phetsarat Street, is considered to be the historic center of the town, around which the old town grid is structured. It is framed by a number of remarkable colonial and art-deco buildings.
Vat Xaiyaphoume
is the oldest Buddhist temple in Savannakhet, originally established in 1542. The current buildings were constructed in the last century. They, however, maintain the original Savannakhet style of architecture. The temple also houses a Buddhist school.
Saint Theresa catholic Church
The church, built in the 1920s, is a landmark in Savannakhet's historic centre, although it does not directly face Talat Yen square. It is mainly frequented by the city's Vietnamese community.
The Vietnamese temple and Chinese temple
bear witness to Savannakhet's economic boom in the 1920s and 1930s. At that time, many Vietnamese and Chinese settled here to cater for the commercial activity. Other evidence of the large Vietnamese presence in the town is the number of restaurants serving Vietnamese specialities.
The Provincial Museum
Situated on Khanthabouly Street at the end of a hundred-year-old avenue of trees and facing some fine colonial buildings, the provincial museum is one of the most remarkable buildings in the old town. The museum is the subject of a highly ambitious plan: renovation of the building, renewal of the collections and the scenography. The museum will eventually (from 2026) become one of the must-sees on any visit to Laos.
Dinosaur Museum
Many dinosaur remains were discovered in Savannakhet province in the 20th century. They are on display in the small but very interesting Dinosaur Museum.
Kaysone Phomvihane House
This is the house of former President Kaysone Phomvihane who was born in Savannakhet in 1920. He served as the first Prime Minister of Lao PDR from 1975 to 1991, and then as President until his death in 1992.
Mekong River Banks
The recently renovated Mekong River promenade is a popular spot for locals and Thais alike. This is the perfect area for socializing, sport activities leisure, especially late afternoon. Many local and Thai people also like to walk near the big Naga and make offerings there or at the nearby temple.
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