Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
plenty of services to Vientiane, Savannakhet and Phonsavan passing by from around 6.30am
in the morning.
Services
The Lao Development bank, next to the bus station, changes money.
ACCOMMODATION AND EATING
BK Guesthouse
Around 500m south of Paksan Hotel (walk down the road just opposite the
hotel's entrance) 054 212638.
Calm, well-run place with cheap rooms and a quiet garden,
where tall star-fruit trees provide shade and
snacks.
The
place is
taken care of by a welcom-
ing, English-speaking host. Double with fan
50,000K
, a/c
70,000K
Paksan Hotel
On Route 13, around 800m east of the bus station 054 791333.
Pretty
enough from the outside, but something of a disappointment once you ste
p throug
h the door.
The double rooms in the block at the back are reasonable value, however.
70,000K
SaynamxanRestaurant
On Route 13, on the west side of the bridge crossing the Nam Xan.
The longest-established of Paksan's proper sit-down restaurants has a huge terrace overlook-
ing the Nam Xan. Meals don't quite match the views, but make a nice change from the noodle
shops in town.
Daily 8am-10pm.
Route 8 towards Vietnam
At the tiny junction town of
BanViengKham
, 47km south of Pakkading,
Route8
begins its
journey over the Annamite Mountains to Vietnam. These days the majority of travellers pass
through here on direct, air-conditioned buses running the Vientiane-Vinh route, but if you
have time it's worth pausing at the spectacularly located village of
Na Hin
, a handy access
point for
Kong Lo Cave
, or at the frontier town of
Lak Xao
- the closest settlement of any
size to the Vietnamese border.
Na Hin
Tracing a centuries-old trading route to Vietnam, Route 8 zigzags through hilly countryside,
dotted with woods and tiny stream valleys, the southern horizon punctuated by black-topped
limestone pillars draped in lush vegetation. An hour's drive along this route from Ban Vieng
Kham takes you to the village of
NA HIN
, which sprang up during the construction of the
Theun-Hin Boun Dam
, completed in 1998. The hydroelectric potential of the area is vigor-
ously demonstrated during the monsoon season, when the rains recharge a medley of water-
falls on the surrounding hillsides. The densely forested hill guarding the valley's southeastern
side alone supports as many as six sizeable falls, all visible from the highway. Today Na Hin
has found a new lease of life as a gateway into the Phou Hin Poun NBCA, more popularly
known as the
Khammouane Limestone NBCA
.
