Wat Luang

Wat Luang

There are about 20 wats in Pakse, among which the riverside Wat Luang is one of the largest. The old monastic school, built in 1935, features a commanding tiled roof and ornate concrete pillars while two newer buildings have modern murals telling the Buddha’s life story and other tales.

Sacred Heart Cathedral

This modest, tin-roofed building isn’t much to look at from the outside, but the one-of-a-kind paintings inside are worth the trip. They show Jesus in various spots around southern Laos, including Wat Phu Champasak and Khon Phapheng Falls, meeting with various tribal peoples wearing traditional dress.

Wat Phou Salao

The centrepiece of this hilltop temple across the Mekong from Pakse is the giant Buddha statue looking out over the city. The views from his perch are as fantastic as you’d expect, especially at sunset. To enjoy them, take the first left after the bridge and either climb up the long staircase or take the […]

Champasak Historical Heritage Museum

Though the labelling certainly could be better, this is a museum worth visiting. Highlights include ancient Dong Son bronze drums, unusual stone carvings unearthed up on the Bolaven Plateau in Bachieng District, stelae in Tham script dating from the 15th to 18th centuries, Khmer stone carvings, musical instruments, and some American unexploded ordnance (UXO). Also […]

Talat Dao Heuang

This vast market near the Lao–Japanese Bridge is one of the biggest in the country. It’s at its most chaotic in the food zones, but just about anything a person might need – from medicinal herbs to mobile phones – is sold here. It’s highly worth a wander.