Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The
Champasak Provincial Museum
, located in a bright-white building, is home to some
fine examples of ornately carved pre-Angkorian sandstone
lintels
, taken from sites around
the province. It's worth swinging by the museum if you've already walked or cycled this far
east, but it's easy to leave the place feeling slightly underwhelmed.
The New Market
Just off No. 38 Road, around 2km southeast of the centre
Even if you don't need to buy anything, the huge
New Market
(Talat Dao Heuang) is well
worth a visit. Along with the usual array of mounds of tobacco, plastic ware and live chick-
ens, specialities available at the market include tea, coffee and a variety of fruit and veget-
ables, much of this from the bountiful Bolaven Plateau, as well as fish from the islands of Si
Phan Don, including gigantic golden carp featherbacks, and the fermented fish paste known
as
pa dàek
, sold out of ceramic jars.
Ban Saphai
15km north of Pakse, a few kilometres west of Route 13 ∙ Regular sawngthaews depart from the sawngthaew
lot at Pakse's New Market, and stop at the market in the centre of town; check to see when they return to Pakse,
as transport along the route is limited.
BAN SAPHAI
is a sizeable village on the left bank of the Mekong river, where women
weave on traditional hand looms in the shade of their family house. Their textiles are sold in
one or two shops in the village market, or, if you prefer, you can negotiate with one of the
weavers directly, although there's nothing here that you won't find in Pakse. Most visitors
only stay for a quick look around, primarily using the village as a staging post for boat trips
to the island of Don Kho.
Don Kho
Across the water from Ban Saphai ∙ Take a sawngthaew to Ban Saphai and then hire a boat from the riverbank
to ferry you across and back (40,000K for up to four people).
The villagers of
DONKHO
, a shady island located directly across the river from Ban Saphai,
are well known for their talent at the loom. Rather than spending time in Ban Saphai, you
might well opt to head straight here, as the friendliness of the villagers and the meandering
dirt paths along the Mekong make for a pleasant, surprisingly relaxing visit. If you decide
to stay, you'll find a small guesthouse on the island (30,000K) and bikes can be rented for
20,000K per day.
