Book a day trip to Savannakhet from your hotel reception or otherwise, if you go near the border custom, there are normally taxis lining up there that ready to take you for a day trip to Laos. However, beware of crooks who are most likely to charge expensive price to foreigners. Very good bargaining skill is highly needed here, even for local Thai tourists as well. My recommendation is to ask your hotel reception to book a tour for you just for a piece of mind.
Savannakhet is a small yet very quiet city with not so many things to explore. However, just visiting this ancient That Ing Hang stupa, the most sacred worship place or Vat Xaiyaphoum, the oldest Buddhist temple here, definitely made a good day trip.
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| Pha That Ing Hang |
There are restaurants and cafes that pretty decent around Savannakhet. But we made an effort to go to Xeno, neighbourhood city, less than an hour drive from Savannakhet. This place is very popular with their grilled chicken. You literally can find a vendor after vendor along the 13 road that sell grilled chickens. We drove pass the shops twice before we decide on which vendor to go to. We landed in one of seems to be the cleanest and freshest looking chicken shop.
They use organic chickens here, so the meat rather thin and a little tough but the flavours were good. I personally love their jeow bong or chili paste. More like sweet and savory with a tiny hint of spiciness. Having these chickens and spicy papaya salad pairing with hot sticky rice, it made one great meal.
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| Phasouk Cafe 1966 |
Before heading back to our hotel in Thailand, we made a quick stop at this vintage cafe located in the corner of Khantabouli and Latsakhanai street. According to reviews I've read, they seem to serve good coffee drinks. However, it was late in the afternoon and the weather was extremely hot, so I wasn't feeling like coffee at that time. Ended up with chocolate frappuccino and blueberry yogurt smoothie. With old brick walls, some paints were even come off and those ancient furnitures add to the timeless atmosphere of the cafe. It is also made a great photo background.
In the corner of Khantabouli and Latsakhanai street
i prefer Vichian buri grilled chicken more than the Xeno's one any day.
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