Laos – After years of war and isolation, Southeast Asia’s most pristine environment, intact cultures and quite possibly the most chilled-out people on earth mean destination Laos is fast earning cult status among travellers
Before it was renamed Salavan (Sarawan in Thai) by the Siamese in 1828, this area was a Champasak kingdom outpost known as Muang Mam and inhabited mostly by Mon-Khrner minorities. The provincial capital of Salavan was all but destroyed in the Indochina War, when it bounced back and forth between Royal Lao Army and Pathet Lao occupation. The rebuilt town is a collection of brick and wood buildings – only the post office shows evidence of the French era.
Salavan
Places to Stay & Eat
Saise Guest House Dorm beds with ran US$2.50 doubles with air-con” with- out/with bath US$4.40/5. The government-owned Saise is a cluster of three buildings with three- and five-bed dorm rooms. located about 2km from the bus terminal. Although it’s no longer the only accommodation option in town, you wouldn’t know it from the condition of the shared bathrooms here.
Getting There & Away
Air Lao Aviation lists a fare of US$91 to Salavan from Vientiane or US $44 from Savannakhet. In reality service was suspended in 1995 for the upgrading of Salavan’sairstrip and has yet tore sume,
Salavan
During the dry season you can take Rte 23 north via Tumlan to Rte 9 in the Sepon area. If you’re thinking that Salavan might be a shortcut for reaching Lao Bao from far- ther south, it may look shorter on ‘a map but Rte 23 north from Salavan is in very poor Condition: the fords are a particular problemas the French-built concrete bridges were all bombed out during the Indochina War. It is, however, a very interesting route from the perspective of those interested in the local Austro-Asiatic tribes.
