Phonsavan, Xieng Khouang Province, Laos

Phou Khoun, Laos (27 December, 2005)


Phonsavan is the provincial capital of Xieng Khouang Province in Laos. It was established fairly recently, after the former capital, was virtually wiped out during the Vietnam War. You can well imagine the intensity of bombings that was carried out here. The town of that former capital has since been rebuilt, and is now renamed Muang Khun.

Phonsavan has a population of 60,000 and is rapidly expanding. As it is located in close proximity to the Plain of Jars, it is becoming a convenient entry point for visitors to the tourist attraction. Phonsavan is where the Xieng Khouang Airport - really an airfield - is located, and it was here that members of AsiaExplorers landed on our way to view the jars.

In the centre of town, there is a large market where you can see the local people sell a lot of interesting things. The things put on sale here include eels, bats, birds, huge rodents and even porcupines. It is a good place to mingle with the tribal people of Laos and admire their costumes.

Since it is located over a thousand meters above sea level, Phonsavan can get quite chilly at night, so warm clothing is advisable if you're coming during the winter months (November to February).

Getting into Phonsavan

There are four flights from Vientiane to Phonsavan per week. Alternatively, you can catch a local bus from Luang Prabang. Other than that, the best way to go to Phonsavan is by organised tour.


Ready for a meal of porcupines tonight?


The dining hut at our guesthouse, at early morning.


Scraps and remnants from the war.


AsiaExplorers group awaiting our breakfast

 Latest updates on Penang Travel Tips

 Share your travels and/or ask a travel-related question

Join the Penang Travel Tips Facebook Group to share photos, tips and anything related to your travels, or ask travel-related questions.

Map of Roads in Penang

Looking for information on Penang? Use this Map of Roads in Penang to zoom in on information about Penang, brought to you road by road.

Discover with Timothy

Let me take you to explore and discover Penang through my series of walking tours on YouTube. You may use these videos as your virtual tour guide. At the beginning of each video, I provide the starting point coordinates which you may key into your GPS, Google Maps or Waze, to be navigated to where I start the walk, and use the video as your virtual tour guide.

Disclaimer

Please use the information on this page as guidance only. The author endeavours to update the information on this page from time to time, but regrets any inaccuracies if there be any.

Songs about Penang

About this website

Hello and thanks for reading this page. My name is Timothy and my hobby is in describing places so that I can share the information with the general public. My website has become the go to site for a lot of people including students, teachers, journalists, etc. whenever they seek information on places, particularly those in Malaysia and Singapore. I have been doing this since 5 January 2003, for over twenty years already. You can read about me at Discover Timothy. By now I have compiled information on thousands of places, mostly in Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore, and I continue to add more almost every day. My goal is to describe every street in every town in Malaysia and Singapore.