THAILAND
The third Thai Lao Friendship Bridge - courtisy of Yothin M - Flickr: IMG_1469, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=19484530
LAO
Roundtrip to Lao
The Second & Third Thai - Lao
Friendship bridges round trip
If you want to take a trip to Lao, here is a good suggestion for you. Book and prepay the hotels in Lao at Agoda.com, Booking or Hotel web sites. Bring enough Thai baht to pay for the entry visa to Lao, bus and taxi rides and the restaurants/bars.
See more of the bridge here.
Google street view of the bridge.
At some the restaurants in Lao you can pay with cards; but most places close to the Mekong river usually accept Thai baht If you run out of cash, there are international ATM’s both in Thakhek and Savannakhet but they can be hard to find may not always be functional.
See some photos from Thakhek, Lao.
See some photos from Sawannakhet, Lao.
See some photos from Mukdahan, Thailand.
While you are there - Thakhek
Tham Kong Lo or Kong Lor Cave is a karst limestone cave, located roughly 130 km north of Thakhek. The sight inside is dramatic and the cave has been cited as a "one of Southeast Asia's geological wonders". The cave is long and wide (around 7 km and some places; 90 meters high). In the cave there is a pool which glows a bright emerald colour which locals hold as sacred, believing it to reflect the skin of the Hindi god Indra.
Eating tip (click the name for google maps)
In Thakhek: Sabaidee Thakhek, walk the street from Mekong Hotel to Sunset Restaurant.
While you are there - Savannakhet
The Wat Xayaphoum (Sainyaphum) temple was built in 1542 in Xayaphoum village on during the period when Ban Thahir or Nakham temple was built. It is located in the middle of the old city; close to the cafe area and the dinosaur musem. As the Buddhist centre and largest monastery in Laos, its arts and architecture are dated to the earliest Savannakhet period. The temple has a large garden with ancient trees surrounding it. There is also a workshop near the entrance from the river side where golden Buddha statues are made. Pimai Lao festival is held in the province and boat racing is an important event.
Google street view: Wat Xayaphoum, dinosaur museum,
Eating tip (click the name for google street view)
Lin's cafe, Mirchi Indian Cuzine
See the cave and Temple here
Restaurant close to the bus station in Sawannakhet, good food - worth a visit.
The trip – ask at the reception for bus information.
1) go by bus, crossing the Third bridge to Thakhek and get a taxi to the river.
2) enjoy the food and view at the many friendly and English speaking restaurants and bars.
3) get the bus to Savannakhet and enjoy the hotels, restaurants and bars area around the bus station.
4) get the bus to Mukdahan across the Second bridge and change to get back to Nakhon Phanom.
Dinosaur Footprints Park - Tha Uthen, Ban Panom Sub-district
The dinosaur footprints were found at Huai Dan Chum Site in Tha Uthen about 90 minutes drive north of Nakhon Phanom. The Theropods and Ornithopods footprints are about 100 million years old and they are found in reddish brown sandstone. The area used to be a plain on the banks of a river.
Wat Phra That Phanom - That Phanom
The Wat Phra That Phanom temple is in the small city of That Phanom around one hour drive south of Nakhon Phanom. The temple is said to contain the Buddha's breastbone and is the most popular Buddhist temple in Nakhon Phanom province.
It was built before the 12th century by the king of Laos; King Setthathirath of Lan Xang. The pagoda, which is believed to have originally been of Khmer design, was renovated through the years to its present Laotian design.
The pagoda is 53 meters high, 12 meters wide and it has a 100 kg solid gold spire.
The Replica Of Buddha Footprints - Tha Uthen, Wern Phra Bat Sub-district
The replica of the Buddha footprints is located at Phra Bat Wern Pla Temple, in Wern Pla Village, Wern Phra Bat sub-district - about 40 min drive north following the river. It is located on the small rock near the Mekong river, 100 meters away from the shore in the north west direction. The small rock is about 10 meters long and only 2 meters above the water.
The footprints are found on the top of the rock and are best seen during the hot season from March to April. Every year during the months of January-May and during Songkran Day, there is a ceremony worshipping the footprints.
Click for google street view.
Phu Langka National Park
(not to be confused with Phu Langka Forest Park in Phayao).
The national park covers 50 km2 of forests and hills, and includes the Nam Tok Tat Kham and Nam Tok Tat Pho waterfalls as its most popular attractions. Flowers such as the Lady Slipper Orchid and diverse wildlife are found in the park. The park lies in between three mountains overlapping each other in Pai Loam Sub-district, Ban Phaeng District of Nakhon Phanom Province, and Seka District of Nong Khai Province. There are lush forests such as dry evergreen forest, mixed deciduous forest and dry dipterocarp forest which are habitats of abundant wildlife and watershed for many streams.
Best times for visiting the park, is between May to October. You will see numbers of wild flowers and orchids bloom on top of Phu Langka Mountain. Recommended sights inside the national park are the waterfalls; surrounded by shady trees and a rock field, suitable for relaxation. The last tier of the Nam Tok Tat Kham waterfall is filled with water all year round. Nam Tok Tat Pho waterfall is originated from the Phu Langka Mountain range. As beautiful as Tat Kham Waterfall, c is a four-tiered waterfall more than 10 meters tall at each tier. The second tier is over 30 meters high.
Click for google street view.
