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Pakse

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City
—°
Pakse (Laos)
ℹ️

Practical info — Pakse

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🌤 Weather — 5 days

📍 Nearby

Sights nearby

💡 Tips

  • Pakse is the handy starting point for a multi-day scooter loop around the Bolaven Plateau.
  • When renting a scooter, thoroughly check the brakes before heading into the mountains.
  • The climate is hot and tropical; stay hydrated and avoid the intense midday sun.
  • Enjoy spectacular sunsets over the Mekong River from a rooftop bar or riverside restaurant.
  • Always negotiate your tuk-tuk fare before starting the journey.

🍽 Food

🍽
Lao Coffee

Try the strong, robust coffee sourced from the Bolaven Plateau in local cafes

🍽
Khao Piak Sen

This thick, chewy tapioca noodle soup is the ultimate street-stall breakfast

🍽
Fresh River Fish

Order grilled Mekong fish at one of the floating restaurants

🛍 Shopping · 🧘 Quiet spots

🛍
Dao Heuang Market

One of the largest markets in Laos, excellent for buying coffee and silk

🛍
Local craft shops

Look for hand-woven textiles made in the surrounding villages

🧘
Wat Luang

The largest and most ornate temple in the city has a peaceful retreat

🧘
Xe Don riverfront promenade

A relaxing spot for a walk during the cooler evening hours

Pakse, written Pakxe in Lao, has around 120,000 inhabitants and is the most important city in southern Laos as well as the capital of Champasak Province. It was founded in 1905 by the French colonial administration at the confluence of the Mekong and Xe Don rivers and served for decades as a regional administrative hub. Today it is the gateway to the Bolaven Plateau with its coffee plantations and dramatic waterfalls such as Tad Fane and Tad Yuang, and to the UNESCO World Heritage site of Vat Phou. The city has international border crossings into Thailand and Cambodia, a small airport and large markets like Daoheuang. Its streets are lined with colonial-era shophouses, Chinese-Vietnamese temples and the distinctive two-tier Lao-Nippon Bridge.

Best time to visit & climate

The most pleasant time to visit is Jan, Feb, Dec.

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Avg °C232527282625242424242422
Rain mm5529511231542602842291043117

Geography

Population
77,900 (2026)
Coordinates
15.11650, 105.78650

Facts

  • Founded by the French in 1905 as an administrative outpost on the Mekong.
  • Serves as the primary gateway to the fertile Bolaven Plateau.
  • The city is the capital of Champasak Province in southern Laos.
  • Nearby is the ancient Khmer Hindu temple complex of Vat Phou, a UNESCO site.
  • Features the massive Dao Heuang Market, one of the biggest in the country.
  • The Pakse Bridge over the Mekong River was opened in 2000.

Explore nearby

Notable places around

Pakse Japan SME SEZPakse Japan SME SEZ2 km · NExplore →
Vat PhouVat Phou9 km · EExplore →
Oum Muong TempleOum Muong Temple10 km · EExplore →
ChampasakChampasak11 km · NEExplore →
Dong Hua Sao National Protected AreaDong Hua Sao National Protected Area24 km · NExplore →
Dong Hua Sao National ParkDong Hua Sao National Park26 km · NExplore →
Bolaven PlateauBolaven Plateau29 km · NExplore →
Muang KhongMuang Khong31 km · EExplore →

Route planner — Car & Motorhome

Where do you start? We build the route here, with stops and country notes along the way.

Vehicle
Only stops with (optional):

© OpenStreetMap contributors · OpenRouteService

Frequently asked questions

What is the main attraction near Pakse?
The Bolaven Plateau is famous for its coffee beans and spectacular waterfalls like Tad Fane.
How far is Wat Phou?
The Khmer temple complex (UNESCO) is located about 45 km south of Pakse in Champasak town.
Is there an airport in Pakse?
Yes, Pakse International Airport connects the region with Vientiane, Luang Prabang, and Bangkok.
What is the best way to explore the surroundings?
Many rent scooters for the 'Bolaven Loop', a multi-day circuit trip across the plateau.
Where is a good place to eat?
Along the Mekong, there are many floating restaurants with fresh fish and great views.
Pakse: where is it located?
Pakse is located in Laos.
Pakse: when is the best time to visit?
The most pleasant time to visit is Jan, Feb, Dec.
Pakse: why is it worth visiting?
Pakse, written Pakxe in Lao, has around 120,000 inhabitants and is the most important city in southern Laos as well as the capital of Champasak Province.
View on map → The Top 50 Attractions → OpenStreetMap →
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Nearby cities

Muang Khong — Pakse (Laos)
Muang Khong
Muang Khong is the main town on the island of Don Khong in the 4000 Islands region.
Champasak — Pakse (Laos)
Champasak
Champasak is a historic town in southern Laos.
Si Phan Don (4000 Islands) — Pakse (Laos)
Si Phan Don (4000 Islands)
An idyllic archipelago in the Mekong River, famous for its thundering waterfalls and an extremely laid-back lifestyle.
Don Det — Pakse (Laos)
Don Det
A relaxed island popular with travelers, known for its spectacular sunsets and simple riverside wooden bungalows.
Tad Fane — Pakse (Laos)
Tad Fane
Spectacular twin waterfalls on the Bolaven Plateau, plunging over 100 meters into a jungle-clad gorge.
Don Khon — Pakse (Laos)
Don Khon
The quieter sister island of Don Det, known for historic French ruins and impressive waterfalls.
Tad Yuang — Pakse (Laos)
Tad Yuang
A picturesque and easily accessible waterfall on the Bolaven Plateau, perfect for picnicking and relaxing.

History & landmarks

Vat Phou — Pakse (Laos)
Vat Phou
A ruined Khmer temple complex in southern Laos, located at the base of Mount Phou Kao.

More places

Pakse Japan SME SEZ — Pakse (Laos)
Pakse Japan SME SEZ
A specialized economic zone in the south focusing on Japanese small and medium-sized enterprises, particularly in labor-intensive manufac…
Vat Phou — Pakse (Laos)
Vat Phou
An ancient Khmer temple complex at the base of Mount Phu Kao, older than Angkor Wat.
Oum Muong Temple — Pakse (Laos)
Oum Muong Temple
A remote and atmospheric Khmer ruin hidden in a forested area near the Mekong River in southern Laos.
Dong Hua Sao National Protected Area — Pakse (Laos)
Dong Hua Sao National Protected Area
A nature reserve in the south where steep cliffs and deep forests provide habitat for wild Asian elephants and hornbills.
Dong Hua Sao National Park — Pakse (Laos)
Dong Hua Sao National Park
A protected area descending from the cool heights of the Bolaven Plateau down into the hot lowlands of the Mekong Valley.
Bolaven Plateau — Pakse (Laos)
Bolaven Plateau
A plateau in southern Laos, famous for its scenic waterfalls, lush landscapes, and coffee plantations.
🗺️
Xe Pian National Park
An extensive protected area in the far south, encompassing vast wetlands and dense forests, bordering Cambodia.
🗺️
Xe Pian National Protected Area
An extensive protected area with wetlands and forests, housing an immense diversity of bird species.