LAOS- SOUTHERN PROVINCES SALAVAN

SALAVAN

CAPITAL: SALAVANH

TOTAL AREA: 10691 SQUARE KILOMETRES

POPULATION: 366723

Salavan has vast tracts of forest and is home to 3 National Protected Areas that habor a wealth of biodiversity,Xe Xap ( 1335 square kilometres)Xe Bang Nouane (1970 square kilometres) and Phou Xieng Thong ( 1200 square kilometres) lie mostly within Salavan’s borders , have a range of habitatas and micro climates and are home to a diverse population of ethnic minority groups.

 The Mekong River separates Salavan from Thailand and the province also shares a border with Vietnam to the east. The main geologic features are the Bolaven Plateau, Mekong River Valley and Southern Annamite Mountains, which rise to over 2000 meters in the eastern portion of the province.

Most visitors access Salavan by route 20 from Pakse, stopping in Ban Houn, a roadside village that produces fine weavings and basketry.That Lo,  the best known attraction in the province is a wide,multi tiered waterfall surrounded by lush greenery and a number of well-planned resorts and guesthouses .

At that Lo you can rent a bicycle, enjoy nature walks and venture out to surrounding villages on the Bolaven Plateau. That Lo sits in the center of a major coffee and vegetable growing region, so there is usually a variety of fresh seasonal coffee prodce on the menu. East of That Lo and the provincial capital are Ta Oy and Samoui Districts, populated mostly by Mon Khemer speaking ethnic  groups .

Here you can see traditional longhouses that may houses up to 45 people. A nice outing in Ta Oy is a trip on the Xe Lanong to watch birds and walk to the La Lao waterfall. Crisscrossing the eastern half of the province is the famous Ho Chi Ming Trail network, still in use today as a link between remote villages. Along the trail you can see extensive evidence of the heavy aerial bombardment this part of the country suffered during the Second Indochina War.

On the Mekong is Khongsedone District, maker of some of the most potent Lao Lao whiskey in the country.Khongsedone has many unusual rock formations along the Mekong valley, best known among them is Phou Lahit with its prehistoric rock paintings.

One of the most entertaining songs and dances in the entire country ,, the Lam Salavan , was conceived here and this catchy tune really does make you want to get up and dance!There are excellent “Khaen” players in Salavan and the traditional instrument is still made here.Besides coffee, 2 famous Salavan products are the fragrant coconuts from Naxai Village and the delicious barbeque chicken that can be purchases at Napong village on route 13.

Like everywhere else in the country, Lao New Year or Pi Mai is celebrated throughout Salavan for a week around 14 April .Before this are the Katang and Ta Oy ethnic group’s annual festivals, which occur during lateJanuary-early February.