Across the Mekong from Mukdahan (which we will visit later on this trip), and conveniently near the 2nd Laos Thailand Friendship Bridge, Savannakhet became a prosperous commercial centre under the French in the first half of the 20th century. It's now a fairly sleepy, mid-size provincial capital where few tourists go, apart from those doing visa runs.
The town centre is an attractive mix of old wooden shophouses, crumbling mid-century architecture, modern houses, and trendy cafes. Add in decent night markets, and friendly locals (and local cats) and you have a pleasant place to wander for a day.
There are few sites for tourists; there is a dinosaur museum showcasing paleontological finds from the area, but it was inexplicably closed when I visited (so I have no idea if it's any good or not, although Travelfish describes it as "comically dull").
But dull dinosaurs notwithstanding, I did enjoy exploring the town centre for a day.
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| A cat says hello (and demands pets) |
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