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District & municipality in Champasak province, Laos
Photo: Prince Roy, CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Pakse (ປາກເຊ) is the relatively modern and friendly capital (pop. 116,200 in 2020) of Champasak province. The transport hub of Southern Laos, Pakse is not a tourist destination in itself, but a necessary and useful stop on the tourist trail to Si Phan Don and the Bolaven Plateau, and the nearest big town to Wat Phou.
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The most beautiful green rice fields of Pakse, a former French army camp, and is home to the oldest market of Pakse.
Wat Phusalao ວັດພູສະເຫຼົ້າ
Built in 2011 adjacent to the Japanese bridge. 300 steps to the top, a great view of the river and city.
Many food stalls that are a feast to the eyes and nose.
The biggest and most beautiful temple of Pakse, and home of Buddhist monk school. This is also the best place to see the monk alms giving rituals often seen in Luang Prabang.
The oldest and largest temple of Pakse, and believed to have Buddha's footprint, from which its name is derived.
A Sin Daat (cook yourself Lao BBQ) restaurant that also serves Thai, Vietnamese and some Western food. A Sin Daat is intended to be shared between two or more which makes for an economical option. Their fried springrolls are among the best in Paksé.
Serves enormous bowls of noodle soup with fresh herbs and salad. Recommended for breakfast
The left shop in a block of two popular pho restaurants in Pakse.
Garden restaurant, bar and guesthouse serving burgers, steaks, salads, Lao food, fusion dishes and vegetarian options, plus cocktails, wine, coffee, juices and fruit shakes. Guesthouse rooms with Mekong river views. Tours, motorbike rental, bus tickets and travel services available.
Cafe has free Wi-Fi for patrons and fancy frappe drinks, cakes and basic restaurant menu.
Offers Western food options such as pasta (20,000-30,000 kip), pizzas (35,000-50,000 kip), sandwiches, hamburgers (15,000-20,000 kip), and desserts baked on-site. Known also for good quality, locally sourced coffee. Prices are quite reasonable and the staff friendly.
Pakse Hotel
The only rooftop restaurant in Pakse. On the 7th floor of Pakse Hotel, with a beautiful view over the town and the Mekong. Western, Asian and fusion dishes. Not cheap, but the view makes up for it, and probably the best pizza and Western dishes in town.
Clean and surprisingly has an OK lounge downstairs along with large stacks of Time and Newsweek. Free Wi-Fi, but only at reception.
It's the only guesthouse in town with basic dorms. The shared showers have hot water. They also have basic rooms. 50,000-60,000 kip for the dorm and 80,000 kip for single or double rooms. Apparently being mentioned in the Lonely Planet has gone to their heads as the rooms are overpriced & they charge for any extras. They will not keep your bags while you visit the Bolaven plateau and suggest you leave them with whomever you rent a bike from. Laundry 10,000 kip/kg. Have a day tour to Bolaven at 180,000-250,000 kip depending on the number of persons.
Simple furnished rooms with desk and air con. Prices Nov 2025: single room (double bed) 200k; small twin 220k; large twin 300k. Key deposit (returned after check-out) is 100k. No longer listed on OTA platforms but well priced.
Good clean, smallish rooms with air-con and cable TV. Wi-Fi in the lobby. Cannot be booked online.
Staff are accommodating and single rooms, although tiny, are immaculately clean. Just don't rent a scooter from them; they are likely to break down.
6 types of rooms. A good hotel with nice rooms, good service, helpful staff and a lovely roof-top restaurant. Can arrange tours to nearby sights. Good included buffet breakfast. Non-guests can eat at the buffet for 100,000 kip.
A recommened homestay in the home of Nicolas and Khiao
Good location, on the banks of the Mekong River with a beautiful view. Great if you feel like a bit of a splurge. They also offer cheaper rooms for US$35, but the deluxe rooms are worth the money.
The former royal palace is the most upmarket option in town. The hotel is nicknamed a "Thousand Doors and Windows" due to its sheer size and scale. That said, the cheapest rooms have no windows. Get to the breakfast buffet early because it does run out after 09:00
Changes money, cashes traveller's cheques and does cash advances on credit cards (a bad deal). There is an ATM in front of the building that accepts most foreign cards.
Can exchange kip to US dollars, vital if travelling onward overland to Vietnam. Across the road, directly opposite the bank is an ATM which accepts international cards such as Cirrus. There is a limit of 700,000 kip per transaction, although you can withdraw several times. Those who are heading to Cambodia, gather a few riel to tide you over for your first few hours in Cambodia from the Lao Development Bank.
Lasts most of the day.
New Market
By boat
There is no regular slow-boat service to Si Phan Don. If you can get a group together, you might be able to rent a private boat. An example fare would be US$250.
By bus
Pakse has two bus stations that mainly serve locals. One serves traffic to the north and one to the south.
Chong Mek border crossing from Thailand
VIP buses from Thailand via the Chong Mek border crossing (on the Lao side it is known as Vang Tao) take about 2 hours and charge US$5/200 baht in Ubon bus station near Big C.
On foot
While the immediate downtown area with the highest concentration of lodging and restaurants is walkable, many things outside are small city center are spread far apart.
By bicycle
If your accommodation provides bicycles, this is a fast, easy way to get around town.
By tuk-tuk
Tuk-tuks and motorbike taxis hang around the main road east of the bridge leading to the airport, as well as near the wet market and in the surrounding street blocks.
By scooter or motorbike
Travel agencies, guesthouses, and some hotels in the center rent out scooters and motorbikes; common prices are 50,000–70,000 kip/day for a semi-automatic and 90,000–100,000 kip/day for an automatic…
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Pakse · International · PKZ
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