🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026
Savannakhet, officially the city of Kaysone Phomvihane, is the main town of Savannakhet Province and sits directly across from Mukdahan, separated by the Mekong and linked by the second Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge. What stands out here is the slow, quiet feel of the town, with rows of French colonial-era shophouses lining the old quarter, some beautifully restored, some left to fade in a way that has its own charm. You can easily spend half a day to a full day just wandering and taking photos.
Let's be straight up front: Savannakhet isn't a town packed with flashy highlights or big-name attractions. The people who come away loving it are the ones who like walking a town slowly, looking at old architecture, drinking strong Lao coffee with Vietnamese pho, and ticking off the experience of crossing into another country the easy way. If you're expecting somewhere lively like Vientiane or Luang Prabang, it might feel a bit too quiet. But if you come in a chilled-out mood, it's a great add-on trip while you're based in Mukdahan.
How the border crossing works and what documents you need
Crossing into Savannakhet is done at the Mukdahan border checkpoint at the foot of Friendship Bridge 2, about 7 kilometres north of central Mukdahan. The key thing to remember is that you cannot walk across the bridge yourself. You have to take the international shuttle bus, or sort out the proper paperwork to drive your own vehicle across. Most people doing the day trip choose the bus, because it's convenient and you don't have to mess with vehicle documents.
- Thai nationals use a passport — you can enter Laos straight away, stay up to 30 days, and travel anywhere in the country, not just Savannakhet. Your passport needs at least 6 months of validity left.
- Border Pass — an option for people who are registered residents of Mukdahan Province. It only lets you travel within Savannakhet Province, and you apply for it at the district office. It suits locals who pop across and back often.
- Foreign nationals — many nationalities can get a visa on arrival at the Lao checkpoint. Bring one photo, your passport, and the fee in US dollars. Filling out the online immigration form (LDIF) in advance helps speed things up.
- Small fees at the checkpoint — at certain times there's a small immigration fee for after-hours or holiday processing. Carrying some cash makes things smoother.
Have your money ready
Carry both Thai baht and Lao kip. On the Savannakhet side a lot of shops accept baht but give change in kip at a not-so-great rate, so it's better value to exchange some kip beforehand at an exchange shop in Mukdahan town before you cross. For the bus fare and the checkpoint fees, just have cash ready to go.
Want more out of Mukdahan? Book tours & activities
Booking online ahead on Klook or GetYourGuide is usually cheaper than the gate and skips the queue. Pick only the experiences you actually want — prices and availability are shown live on each site.
How to take the bus across the bridge and what it costs
The easiest way is to take the international Mukdahan-Savannakhet bus (locals call it Route 4) from the Mukdahan provincial bus terminal in town. The bus runs across Friendship Bridge 2 and into the Savannakhet bus terminal. The fare is around 45-55 THB each way, the distance is roughly 17 kilometres, and the whole trip including immigration on both sides takes about 1 hour.
- Departure times — there are several runs a day. From the Mukdahan side, departures run roughly 07:30-18:30; from the Savannakhet side, roughly 08:15-19:30. Morning runs have shorter queues at the checkpoint.
- What happens on the bus — the bus stops to let you off to get your exit stamp at the Mukdahan checkpoint, then you reboard the same bus and get off again for your entry stamp at the Savannakhet checkpoint. Keep your ticket safe.
- The return — you can buy your return ticket right at the Savannakhet bus terminal. Check the last run of the day to be sure, and don't leave it until evening, because the late runs get crowded and the checkpoint has closing hours.
Straight talk
The busiest times are mornings from 06:00-09:00 and weekends. Normally you'll wait around 15-30 minutes at the checkpoint. If you go on a weekday and leave a little later in the morning, it's much more comfortable, but don't leave too late or you'll be left with very little time on the Lao side.
Getting around once you arrive
The old quarter and the main sights in Savannakhet town are all close together, almost all within walking distance. The streets are flat and there's not much traffic, so it's great for walking or cycling. If you want to reach somewhere further out of town like That Ing Hang Stupa, then hire a tuk-tuk or a samlor (three-wheeler) for that.
- On foot — the old quarter, the square, the church and the cafes are all within an easy walking radius. It's the way to get the most feel for the town.
- Bike rental — there are rental shops for around 1 USD per day. You can cycle around the old town all day since the streets are flat and quiet.
- Tuk-tuk / samlor — for out-of-town spots like That Ing Hang Stupa. Agree on the price before you get in, every time, and keep kip handy to pay.
Sights in Savannakhet you shouldn't miss
The whole town can be done in a day, with the heart of it being the riverside old quarter and the square in front of the church. Fit the rest in around the time you have.
Old Town Square + St. Theresa Church
The centre of the old quarter is the square that people call the evening market, ringed by French colonial shophouses, with the yellow Catholic St. Theresa Church standing out as a landmark. In the evening, food stalls set up here, and it's the best atmosphere in town.
Riverside French colonial quarter
Walk along the old road beside the Mekong, lined with colonial-era shophouses. Some are now cafes and guesthouses, some are left to crumble, and the whole zone photographs beautifully.
Savannakhet Dinosaur Museum
A small museum in town displaying fossils and dinosaur skeletons actually excavated in this province. Entry is cheap, and it's good if you're with kids or want to duck out of the sun for a while.
Wat Xaiyaphum
An old riverside temple in town, shady and green, a quiet spot to sit and rest between walks.
That Ing Hang Stupa
A centuries-old stupa about 12 kilometres out of town, revered by the people of Savannakhet. Its shape is similar to That Phanom on the Thai side. You'll need to hire transport to get there.
Mekong riverside looking back at Mukdahan
Walk along the Mekong on the Lao side in the evening and look back across to the Mukdahan skyline. It's an angle Thai travellers don't often photograph.
Markets worth stopping at
Savannakhet has a few different markets to wander, from a big general market to evening food stalls by the river. If you like walking markets and watching daily Lao life, you'll get the feel of the place here.
- Savan Xai Market (Singapore Market) — the biggest market in town, on Sisavangvong Road. People call it Singapore Market because a Singaporean investor built it. Clothes, household goods and food are all in one place.
- Evening market in front of the church (Talat Yen) — food stalls that set up in the evening at the old town square, with som tam, grilled chicken, pork skewers and fried potatoes. Sit at a plastic table and eat in a chilled, nice atmosphere.
- Night market behind the old cinema — an evening food market behind the Lao Chaleun Rama cinema, open from dusk until around 10 pm, with grilled and fried food and desserts lined up along the river (good if you're staying overnight, since day-trippers usually have to head back before this).
The food is better value than the shopping
Most of the goods in Singapore Market are imported from China, Thailand and Vietnam, and they're not really cheaper or more special than buying in Thailand. If you come planning to shop, it may not be worth it, but if you come to soak up the atmosphere and eat local food, you'll get more out of it.
Savannakhet food worth trying
The charm of eating here is Lao food with a French and Vietnamese accent: strong Lao coffee, hot pho, and old European restaurants that are still going. Most prices are easy on the wallet.
Vietnamese pho + Lao coffee at a morning shop
The classic breakfast of this town: hot beef or chicken pho in a clear broth, followed by strong Lao coffee with condensed milk. Small shops in the old quarter give you several to choose from, and it's the meal locals actually eat.
Lin's Cafe
A cafe on the corner of the evening market square, with a long menu of breakfast, salads, sandwiches, pasta, and fried rice. There's air conditioning downstairs and wifi, making it a good place to rest out of the sun and plan the rest of your day.
Café Chez Boune
An old European-style restaurant in town serving pizza, pasta, lasagne and steak, with a cool air-conditioned room and European paintings on the walls. Good for a long lunch.
Sabaidee Restaurant
A Lao-style grill and hot-pot spot, with sets starting around 65,000 kip. It's fun to eat as a group, good if you've come with several people and want a heavier meal.
Sooksavan Coffee and Bistro
A small, narrow cafe with bare brick floors, blue leather chairs, and old black-and-white photos on the walls. It serves a good iced latte and noodle and rice dishes, a nice place to stop and take photos.
Macchiato de Coffee
A town-style cafe with nicely plated food and drinks, plenty of smoothies and coffees to choose from. Good for an afternoon break before you carry on walking.
Khao Piak
A Lao-style noodle dish with soft noodles in a thick broth. It's eaten a bit like khao soi but with different noodles and broth. It's a morning-to-midday meal you'll find at noodle shops around town, filling and cheap.
Evening market stalls in front of the church
Som tam, grilled chicken, pork skewers and fried potatoes that set up in the evening at the square. Easy to eat and light on the wallet, with the atmosphere of a plastic table by the old town.
A one-day plan, there and back in a day
Here's a plan that works on the ground for people based in Mukdahan crossing to Savannakhet for the day. Always build in buffer time for the checkpoint.
Cross the border + start walking the old town
Market, museum and lunch
Cafe, riverside, then back to Mukdahan
Plan to make it worthwhile
If you want to catch the night market behind the old cinema and the town's after-dark atmosphere too, you should stay one night in Savannakhet, because the last bus runs back to Mukdahan are in the evening. But if you're set on a day trip, the plan above covers all the daytime highlights and gets you back in plenty of time.
What to know before you go
- Checkpoint hours — the Mukdahan border checkpoint is open daily roughly 06:00-22:00. Hours may shift during festivals, so check ahead if you're going on a long holiday weekend.
- Time difference — Laos and Thailand are in the same time zone, so no need to change your watch, but always build in buffer time for the checkpoint.
- Language — Lao people understand Thai fine, so you can chat easily, and you can read a lot of the signs.
- SIM / data — you can buy a Lao SIM at the checkpoint or in town, or set up roaming before you cross, since most Thai SIMs don't work on the Lao side.
- Dress — for temples and stupas, dress modestly with shoulders and knees covered.
Plan your whole Mukdahan trip before crossing to Laos
See the Mukdahan travel guide →