Getting Around Savannakhet
Savannakhet is a compact, low-key city on the Mekong in western Laos, and getting around it is refreshingly simple. There is no metro, tram or train network to navigate here, so your choices come down to your own two feet, a bicycle, a tuk-tuk, or a rented motorbike. The sections below cover each option in turn, along with how to reach the city from its airport and how to arrive from elsewhere in Laos and beyond.
On Foot and by Bicycle
The easiest way to get around Savannakhet is by foot or bicycle. The city centre is small enough that most of what a visitor wants to see is within comfortable walking distance, and cycling lets you cover a bit more ground without much effort. If you plan to explore the surrounding districts, keep in mind that the minor roads there are often badly paved, so a bicycle is a more dependable choice than a motorbike for those areas.
Rail, Metro and Tram
Savannakhet has no rail, metro or tram network. There is nothing of the sort to plan around, so you can disregard trains entirely when organising your movements in and around the city.
Tuk-Tuks
Tuk-tuks are available around the city and are an easy way to get to a specific location quickly. They are the main form of on-demand transport for visitors. Two practical points: be cautious about the fee, and always agree on the price with the driver before you set off. Tuk-tuks are also the usual way to cover the short hop between the bus station and the city centre.
Motorbike Rental
Renting a motorbike is possible in principle, but a reliable, cheap motorbike can be hard to find in Savannakhet town. If you do manage to rent one, treat the poorly paved minor roads in the outlying districts as a reason for extra care.
Buses and Public Transport
Savannakhet does not have a local city bus network that visitors would use for getting around town. Buses here are for longer journeys, and the city's bus station sits about 2 km north of the city centre. A tuk-tuk from the bus station into town costs roughly 50 baht.
For travel to and from other destinations, the following services are available:
- Vientiane: Bus service connects the capital with Savannakhet, and for the time being this is the only practical way to reach Savannakhet from Vientiane. Buses from Vientiane to Pakse often stop in Savannakhet as well.
- Local bus: Public buses leave Vientiane and Savannakhet throughout the morning, making many stops to pick up passengers and goods. It is a genuine Lao experience and the cheaper of the two options.
- VIP bus: Similar to the local bus but with fewer stops, assigned seats, a toilet and air conditioning. These are less frequent and cost more, and they run as night buses. Two types are available: one with bunk beds and one with seats. Each bunk accommodates two people, so if you are travelling alone or in an odd-numbered group, it is highly recommended that you buy the space next to you rather than sleep beside a stranger.
- Other domestic destinations: Local buses connect Savannakhet with Tha Khaek, Pakse, Si Phan Don, and less-travelled places such as Sekong, Salavan, Attapeu and Sepon.
- Thailand: The Second Thai–Lao Friendship Bridge over the Mekong links Savannakhet with Mukdahan in Thailand, and a regular bus service runs between the two with departures roughly once an hour. If you need to process a visa at Lao immigration, the bus driver will not wait unless you ask.
- Vietnam: Daily buses make the trip from and to the Lao Bao border via Sepon, with local departures in the morning. VIP buses to Dong Ha and Hue run on weekdays only; information and reservations for the Hue service are available at the Savanbanhao Hotel downtown. Local overnight buses to these Vietnamese destinations also exist, but the Hue local bus is not recommended, because you end up waiting at the border checkpoint from the small hours until it opens, with little chance of proper night rest. The same caveat applies to local buses to Danang.
Thai citizens have an additional option: a Thai government border pass office next to the Thai passport control station at the Friendship Bridge issues a border pass valid for three days, with an application fee. The pass is valid only for crossing into Savannakhet and cannot be used at any other crossing.
Taxis and Ride-Hailing
Plan on tuk-tuks rather than app-based services, and settle the fare before you ride.
Getting from the Airport into the City
Savannakhet Airport (ZVK) is not far from downtown, which makes the transfer into the city short and straightforward. Lao Airlines and Lao Skyway both fly here to and from Vientiane. Because the airport sits close to the centre, you can expect a brief ride rather than a long commute; tuk-tuks are the natural way to make the trip, and the usual rule applies — agree on the price before you get in.