Discover Thakhek on the Mekong

Thakhek lies on the banks of the Mekong. Many old colonial buildings still line the main streets in the town centre. Together, the riverside setting and historic houses offer two distinct starting points for your exploration: the town itself and its history on the one hand, and nearby destinations on the other. Whether you would rather stroll through Thakhek or explore nearby caves and natural sites can also help guide your search for a suitable holiday rental.

Colonial houses in the town centre

Many old colonial buildings line the main streets in the centre of Thakhek. Visitors can stroll among the old houses and buildings and photograph them. If you are interested in architecture and the townscape, this is a concrete reason to set aside time in the centre. The houses are more than a single photo opportunity: their location along the main streets makes it possible to plan a walk around several buildings. This lets you shape a day in town around your interest in historic architecture, rather than focusing your stay exclusively on a single destination.

History at the monument and in the memorial hall

That Sikhottabong is an ancient monument from the time of the Sikhottabong Kingdom, dating approximately to the 9th to 10th centuries. It is about six kilometres from the centre of Thakhek. The That Sikhottabong Festival is also held there every year in the third lunar month. The monument and the festival thus offer two different ways to experience the same place: its historical roots reach far back in time, while the festival date is tied to the lunar calendar.

In Thakhek, the March 21st Memorial Hall preserves historical events, photographs and information about the battle of 21 March 1946. It is a place to visit where you can learn about the history of Laos and the struggle for national liberation. Its connection to a specific date and its photographs make the hall a different kind of historical experience from the ancient monument. If you are planning your trip together, these different historical themes can help you discuss the group's interests.

Caves and nature nearby

Nang Aen Cave lies 18 kilometres northeast of Thakhek on National Road 12. Xiang Liap Cave is near Xiang Liap village on Route 12 and approximately 14 kilometres northeast of Thakhek District. Both descriptions place a cave northeast of the destination; however, their distance figures refer to different reference points. This is useful when comparing the destinations: the figures should not be read as a single distance measurement from the centre.

The surrounding landscape also offers striking features. The sandstone blocks of the Phu Khanna Great Wall are about one metre thick. Khoun Nam Don is a large natural spring and the source of the Nam Don. These destinations complement the caves with two other kinds of nature experience: striking sandstone formations and a spring directly connected to the Nam Don River. When planning your trip, you can therefore first decide whether you are most interested in the caves, the monument or the natural landscape. This makes it easier to choose a theme for your trip without combining these different places into a single route.

Choose the right focus for your stay

When looking for a holiday rental, you can first consider whether you would like to focus on the centre of Thakhek, with its colonial houses and the Memorial Hall, or whether you are particularly interested in nearby destinations. The town's history, the ancient monument, the caves and the natural sites offer different themes for your trip. If you are travelling with children or several generations, discussing these interests together can make the initial selection easier: some may want to discover old buildings and history, while others may prefer caves or landscapes. The best location for your holiday rental will therefore depend on the focus you choose for your stay.

Discover more destinations: Nam Theun, Ban Nakham, Na Hi, Ban Namsanam, Ban Lao.

See the broader travel overview: Khammuan.