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This sleepy city on its namesake river was built from scratch in 1984, the year Sekong Province was created. It's not a destination as such, and tourist infrastructure is minimal, but it makes a good base from which to explore some interesting waterfalls nearby.

A new bridge across the Sekong shortens the route from Ubon Ratchathani, Thailand, to the Vietnamese port of Danang. A border crossing should also be part of the equation, though it is still a work in progress.

By population, Sekong is the smallest of Laos' provinces and also the most ethnically diverse: almost all of its 90,000 inhabitants are from one of 14 different Mon-Khmer tribal groups, with the Alak, Katu, Talieng, Yai and Nge the largest. These diverse groups are not Buddhists, so you won't see temples. Rather, their belief systems mix animism and ancestor worship. Sekong is also one of the country's poorest provinces.

Best time to visit

The best time to visit Sekong is from November to March, this time is considered to be the dry season. 

Start from May to October, the rain will take place throughout the region. July to September would rain the most. It is a scenic province of rock and valley, rivers, and forests when travel is difficult in the monsoon season. As a result, the period between May and October is a decidedly low season.

Check the below table for the general idea of Sekong weather throughout the year.

Month Avg. High (°C) Avg. Mean (°C) Avg. Low (°C)
Jan 31.6 24.7 18.1
Feb 33.7 27.4 21.3
Mar 35.1 29.4 23.9
Apr 35.5 30 25.1
May 33.6 29.2 25.2
Jun 32.1 28.4 25.1
Jul 31.2 27.7 24.5
Aug 30.9 27.4 24.4
Sep 30.9 27.3 24.1
Oct 31.7 27.1 23.2
Nov 32.1 26.6 21.6
Dec 31.7 25.4 19.3

Sekong's current weather and 7-day forecast

SEKONG WEATHER

Be among the first to explore this remote province. Though access is challenging for much of Sekong, you can easily explore Bolaven Plateau waterfalls near Town.

Waterfalls

Route 11 between Sekong and Attapeu Towns follows the eastern rim of the Bolaven Plateau and the Sekong River, and presents three easy-to-reach waterfalls. At Km 14.5, a turnoff leads to Tad Faek, a 5-metre-high waterfall with pools at the top and bottom. The upper pool is good for swimming, but the lower pool is home to the sharp-toothed, evil-sounding pa pao puffer fish.

A few kilometres further, just past the Se Nam Noi River Bridge, a cart path leads to Tad Hua Khon (Waterfall of Heads), where the river steps down 7 metres at a 100-metre-wide shelf. The falls earned their name after a WW2 conflict, during which Japanese soldiers decapitated Lao forces and tossed their heads into the falls.

Also near Sekong Town and accessed from Route 11, the Huay Katam River explodes out of the Bolaven Plateau’s thick jungle and cascades down 100 metres into deep pools at the little-known but spectacular Katamtok Waterfall

Nature

The 1,335-km2 Xe Xap National Protected Area (NPA) covers Sekong’s far north-eastern mountains and overlaps into Salavan Province. Currently, there are no tourism activities available in the NPA, which is home to two species of bears, gaur, dhole, serow, large antlered muntjac, and tigers. They live in Xe Xap’s evergreen forests on rugged terrain and high plateaus at some 1,400 metres. Steep faces trim the NPAs eastern and southern sides, with Dong Be Mountain rising 2,066 metres.

However, 72 km from Sekong Town, you can visit natural sites in Kaleum District. You’ll find the natural Vang Ngai Pool in Ban Proy, Ban Bark’s hot springs, and the Thong Neum Plateau at Ban Dakran. It is recommended to hire a guide to explore these more remote natural attractions. Easier to find is the Kaeng Luang Rapids in Kaleum Town’s Ban Nava.

Culture

For a cultural experience, you can visit Ban Khan Don and immerse yourself in the traditional lifestyles of the Katu, Alak and Ngae ethnic groups. You’ll need to hire a guide in Sekong Town or Pakse for the journey to see the Katu’s finely hand-carved coffins and the Talieng weave the traditional chequered tha khatil cloth worn by men around their waists. In nearby Dakchung, you can admire thatched longhouses in a community that has stood for centuries, and survived the Indochina War.

Sekong remains a mystery for many, but you can tap into unseen Southern Laos from your base at a room in town.

Stay where the locals do in Sekong Town on the Xe Kong River between Salavan and Attapeu. You’ll mostly find modest yet new accommodation geared for domestic travellers in a typical rural Lao community.

Rooms average around $10-20, and most have TVs and air conditioning, though Wi-Fi is scarce. The guesthouses look like large houses and are family run, giving them a homestay feel. Many have gardens for relaxing, and balconies with views of the surrounding mountains. Some have spacious lobbies and offer refreshments, and the few hotels have small restaurants. As Sekong is only about 1 km long, the entire town and river are within easy walking distance of all accommodation.

Hounephathay Hotel

Formerly Tida Hotel, it’s a good choice for backpackers who want to stay on the river.

The small rooms have life yet with brightly painted walls, solid wood floors, windows, a table, box TV, minifridge, air-con, WiFi and a mirror. The tiled bathrooms are slightly mildewed but there’s a hot shower and western toilet.

The best part of the hotel (aside from the towel art) is the restaurant overlooking the chocolate brown Sekong River and the landscape beyond blanketed in greenery.

To find Hounephathay Hotel, travel along the river road. It’s towards the western end of town, less than two blocks from Vangxang Savanah Hotel and the ramp/ferry across the river. The building runs along the road, you can’t miss it.

Address: On the river, a block east of Vangxang Savanh Hotel
Room rates: Under US$10

Hongkham Hotel

On your right as you head into town from Thateng, Hongkham Hotel is a large Viet-style hotel and it’s one of the town’s best as the rooms are spacious, comfortable and generally uncontroversial.

Comfortable beds are topped with soft cotton linens. Amenities include a mini-fridge, dresser, wardrobe, vanity/desk, bedside table with a whopping eight sockets and a flatscreen TV (no English channels). The bathroom had a shower stall with hot water and excellent pressure, a sink with a plug. There are also multiple WiFi networks per floor. A slide lock for extra security and an in-room kettle seal the deal.

Address: Main Road (Road 16), Watluang Village, Sekong
Room rates: US$10 to 20

Vangxang Savanh Hotel

Follow the river road across to the western end of town, eventually a large sign heralds Vangxang Savanh Hotel.

They offer cheap fan guesthouse type rooms in a building block and air-con rooms, three per individual cottage. The air-con rooms of course are the best rooms and are fine for a night.

While it does have a riverside location, the big drawback is that it’s at the western edge of town. 

Address: On the river at the boat landing, western edge of town, Sekong
Room rates: Under US$10

Khun Phathai Hotel Restaurant

The location high above the river is reason enough to dine here, but the kitchen holds up its end of the bargain with good Thai food, including the obligatory đom yâm gùng (spicy shrimp soup) and stir-fried holy basil. The place has recently changed names and there is no sign: look out for the big log on display out front.

Hours: 6am-10pm
Price: mains 25,000-50,000K

Khamting Restaurant

This place serves good stir-fries, noodle soups and Thai standards. The forest animals on the menu are rarely available, but even if they are you should avoid them as some, like pangolin, are endangered species and others are poached illegally. Note that the menu has English but no prices.

It's 600m southwest of the market on the riverside road, opposite the Sekong Hotel.

Hours: 6am-9pm
Price: mains 20,000-70,000K

Sekong Market

Fresh food offerings in this market include mushrooms, squirrels, herbs and other forest products. It's best in the late afternoon.

Hours: 5am-6pm

How to reach Sekong

Though rather remote and without an airport, Sekong can be reached by bus from Vientiane and Central Laos. You can find more options in Southern Laos.

Pakse, about 140 km away, is the most popular gateway to Sekong, as its airport welcomes domestic and international flights. The regional hub can also be reached by bus from Thailand’s Ubon Rathchathani Province, Phnom Penh, and Siem Reap. Visas on arrival are available.

For those flying first to Pakse, Lao Airlines offers 14 direct weekly flights departing Vientiane at 07:10, 7:50, 8:10, and 10:30, depending on the day, for the 75-minute trip. The carrier also offers a daily direct flight from Luang Prabang departing at 10:40 and arriving at 12:20. 

Lao Airlines provides international routes to Pakse including daily flights from Siem Reap at 14:40, and on Tuesday and Thursday at 10:45. The airline departs Ho Cho Minh City at noon on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, and five days a week from Bangkok at 13:40.

Contact us for the latest flight schedule and price. Or you can check via some online platform such as SkyScanner.com or Kayak.com

Here you can find some tips to book the cheapest flight

Three busses to Sekong Town depart daily from Vientiane’s Southern Bus Terminal at 16:30, with prices ranging from LAK130,000-210,000, depending on the choice of local, express, or VIP sleeper coach.

From Pakse, public buses depart for the 139-km ride to Sekong Town six times a day between 07:00 and 15:15 for LAK30,000-50,000, depending on the class. Morning busses depart neighbouring Salavan Town, 86 km away, and cost LAK30,000 for the local coach and LAK45,000 for the express. Local busses depart Attapeu Town in the morning for the 78-km ride for LAK30,000. You can also rent motorcycles in Pakse for the journey.

Destinations in Central Laos also offer local, express, and VIP bus departures in the morning. From Bolikhamxay (644 km), tickets cost LAK100,000-160,000, LAK75,000-160,000 from Khammouane (461 km), and LAK65,000-130,000 from Savannakhet (386 km).

We recommend you check the latest bus schedule and price via rome2rio.com

Note: Flight and bus schedules and prices are subject to change. Please check before departing.

Get around

Transport within Sekong: Tuk-tuks, trishaws (lot-sam-lor) and jumbos (small tuk-tuks) are available all over town and are an easy way to get around.

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