Savannakhet
Decide whether to visit or live in Savannakhet, then explore current conditions, local people, the map, and concise sourced context.
Check visit & living safetyUpdated Thursday, October 15, 2026 · sourced live layer and versioned editorial content
AI-assisted, evidence-constrained research · how this page is made
Would you visit or live in Savannakhet?
Choose your plan and circumstances. The result changes immediately using today's advisory, weather, air-quality, and sourced local signals.
Generally suitable with routine precautions
Updated information on flooding risks during periods of heavy rain, with advice to avoid all but essential travel to parts.
high source confidence · current planning signal, not a personal-safety guaranteeSee the evidence and calculation
- No high-severity wording detected in the supplied advisory
- Latest air-quality reading is not elevated
- Flooding risks during periods of heavy rain
The score combines dated official-advisory wording, weather, air quality, sourced local context, and your selections. It does not predict crime or individual outcomes. Check local authorities and professional advice before a safety-critical decision.
Climate normals · 2016–2025
When to go: Savannakhet month by month
Judged purely on 2016–2025 weather records, the friendliest months in Savannakhet are typically January, November and December, with average daytime highs around 28–30°C. April is usually the warmest month (average high 35°C), January the coldest (average low 17°C), and July the wettest (about 368 mm). These are long-run averages, not a forecast.
| Month | Avg high (°C) | Avg low (°C) | Rain (mm) | Sunshine (h/day) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 29.1 | 17.4 | 9 | 10.1 |
| February | 30.7 | 18.4 | 13 | 10.6 |
| March | 33.3 | 22.1 | 55 | 11.0 |
| April | 34.5 | 24.7 | 63 | 11.1 |
| May | 32.6 | 25.1 | 209 | 9.6 |
| June | 31.4 | 25.1 | 232 | 9.5 |
| July | 30.4 | 24.5 | 368 | 8.1 |
| August | 30.2 | 24.3 | 328 | 8.0 |
| September | 29.9 | 23.8 | 333 | 8.3 |
| October | 30.0 | 22.4 | 138 | 9.3 |
| November | 29.8 | 20.8 | 22 | 10.0 |
| December | 28.4 | 18.1 | 6 | 9.9 |
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People and places shaping Savannakhet
AI-assisted local research, regenerated with the dated live layer. Every requested module remains visible; facts appear only after a source check, and unavailable categories explain what is still being researched.
Research updated Saturday, October 3, 2026Past and future events in Savannakhet
Upcoming
No future event in Savannakhet currently has a sufficiently reliable date and source. This is checked again on every refresh.
Previously
- Renaming to Kaysone Phomvihane
City renamed from Savannakhet to Kaysone Phomvihane in 2005
- Upgrade to city status
Savannakhet upgraded to city status in 2018 after meeting population and financial criteria
Sources checked (2)
Interactive geography
See Savannakhet in context
Keep the deeper context
Stable history, culture, districts, and practical reference remain in the main reading flow while the live layers above continue changing.
01 · HistoryHow Savannakhet took shape
History
Savannakhet is a city in western Laos and the capital of Savannakhet Province. With a population of 125,760 in 2018, it functions as the second-largest city in Laos, trailing only Vientiane.
Daily movement
- Crossings across the Mekong via the 1,600-metre-long Second Thai–Lao Friendship Bridge, which opened in 2007 to connect with Mukdahan Province in Thailand.
- Transit arrivals handled through Savannakhet Airport.
- Commercial traffic passing through the Savan-Seno Special Economic Zone (SASEZ), driving manufacturing, trade, and logistics.
- Local banking activity centered at the Lao Development Bank (LDB) branch on Oudomsin Road in Sounantha Village.
Formerly called Khanthaboury before taking the name Savannakhet, the settlement was officially renamed Kaysone Phomvihane in 2005. As the birthplace of Kaysone Phomvihane, who served as the first leader of Laos from 1975 to 1992 following the dissolution of the Kingdom of Laos, the municipality attained formal city status in 2018. The urban landscape accommodates diverse architectural and cultural heritage sites, including the 15th-century Buddhist temple Wat Sainyaphum, a Chinese temple, the Catholic Co-Cathedral of St. Therese, and a local mosque.
02 · Food & cultureFood and everyday culture in Savannakhet
Food Culture
Savannakhet is a city in western Laos and the capital of Savannakhet Province. With a population of 125,760 recorded in 2018, it functions as the second-largest city in Laos, positioned just after Vientiane.
Daily Movement
Morning rhythms along Oudomsin Road.
Commercial currents flowing through the Savan-Seno Special Economic Zone.
Cross-border traffic moving across the Second Thai–Lao Friendship Bridge toward Mukdahan Province in Thailand.
Local commerce centered near the branch of the Lao Development Bank in Sounantha Village.
03 · DistrictsDistricts and local character in Savannakhet
Neighborhoods of Savannakhet
Savannakhet is a city in western Laos that serves as the capital of Savannakhet Province. Home to 125,760 residents as of 2018, it is the second-largest city in Laos, positioned after Vientiane.
Daily movement
- Oudomsin Road: A thoroughfare in Sounantha Village hosting a branch of the Lao Development Bank.
- The Second Thai–Lao Friendship Bridge: A 1,600-metre-long crossing over the Mekong that connects the area to Mukdahan Province in Thailand.
- Savannakhet Airport: An aviation facility serving transportation needs within the regional commercial center.
04 · ArtsArts and cultural life in Savannakhet
Daily Movement
Savannakhet, officially named Kaysone Phomvihane since 2005 and previously known as Khanthaboury, is a city situated in western Laos. Functioning as the capital of Savannakhet Province, it stands as the second-largest city in the country, trailing only Vientiane, and holds a recorded population of 125,760.
Morning paths converge across commercial zones and logistical corridors within the Savan-Seno Special Economic Zone. Daily transit routes extend toward Oudomsin Road in Sounantha Village, home to a branch of the Lao Development Bank. Travelers and regional commerce cross the Mekong River via the Second Thai–Lao Friendship Bridge, linking the municipality directly to Mukdahan Province in Thailand. Meanwhile, civil aviation traffic relies upon Savannakhet Airport, and daily routines intersect with local languages including lo, fr, and en.
05 · QuestionsQuestions about Savannakhet
Where is Savannakhet?
Savannakhet is a city located in western Laos and serves as the capital of Savannakhet Province. Officially named Kaysone Phomvihane since 2005 and previously known as Khanthaboury, it functions as the second-largest city in Laos after Vientiane, with a recorded population of 125,760 in 2018.
How does daily movement cross borders?
Daily movement and transit rely heavily on regional infrastructure spanning the Mekong. The Second Thai–Lao Friendship Bridge, a 1,600-metre-long and two-lane crossing that opened in 2007, links the area directly to Mukdahan Province in Thailand. Additionally, local and regional transit is served by Savannakhet Airport, facilitating connectivity for this commercial center in southern Laos.
What fuels the daily economy?
Economic activity extends across trade, manufacturing, and logistics, bolstered significantly by investments within the Savan-Seno Special Economic Zone. Daily financial operations are further supported by institutions such as the branch of the Lao Development Bank located on Oudomsin Road in Sounantha Village.
06 · EconomyWork and the economy in Savannakhet
Daily movement and commercial currents
Savannakhet functions as a key commercial center in southern Laos, maintaining a population of 125,760 residents within Savannakhet Province. Daily movement through the municipality reflects its financial standing, backed by an annual per capita income of US$2,041 recorded in 2018.
Economic activity flows through targeted infrastructure and financial institutions. The Savan-Seno Special Economic Zone drives investment across manufacturing, trade, and logistics operations. Meanwhile, daily monetary transactions anchor to physical locations such as the Lao Development Bank branch situated on Oudomsin Road inside Sounantha Village.
Transportation networks facilitate regional exchange, notably through the Second Thai–Lao Friendship Bridge. This crossing spans the Mekong River to connect the area with Mukdahan Province in Thailand, supporting continuous cross-border transit alongside the services provided by Savannakhet Airport.
07 · OverviewSavannakhet, in brief
Evocative fragments of daily movement
Savannakhet is a city in western Laos serving as the capital of Savannakhet Province. Operating as the second-largest city in Laos after Vientiane, the municipality records a population of 125,760 inhabitants.
Daily movement intersects the Mekong River. Vehicles and travelers cross the waterway via the Second Thai–Lao Friendship Bridge, which links the municipality directly to Mukdahan Province in Thailand. Opened in 2007, the two-lane span measures 1,600 metres long and 12 metres wide.
Urban routines flow past diverse houses of worship located across the settlement. The architectural landscape encompasses the 15th-century Buddhist temple Wat Sainyaphum, alongside a Chinese temple, a mosque, and the Catholic Co-Cathedral of St. Therese.
Economic activity and transit shape the daily environment of the municipal area. The Savan-Seno Special Economic Zone drives investment in manufacturing, trade, and logistics. Financial business is conducted at institutions including a branch of the Lao Development Bank situated on Oudomsin Road within Sounantha Village, while aviation services operate through Savannakhet Airport.
Official designations link the municipality to national history. Formally called Khanthaboury before taking its current provincial name, the settlement has been officially named Kaysone Phomvihane since 2005 in honor of the birthplace of the first leader of Laos from 1975 to 1992. The municipality attained official city status in 2018.
Additional details regarding regional geography and documentation are available through the Savannakhet reference entry and the GeoNames record for Savannakhet.
Frequently Asked Questions about Savannakhet
Essential geographic, demographic, currency, and travel context verified from primary records.
01 · Q&AWhere is Savannakhet located and what are its coordinates?
Savannakhet is situated in Laos at geographic coordinates 16.5703, 104.7622, with an elevation monitored in regional geographic surveys.
02 · Q&AWhat is the population and time zone of Savannakhet?
Savannakhet has a recorded population of approximately 125,760 and observes the Asia/Vientiane time zone.
03 · Q&AWhat languages and currency are used in Savannakhet?
Official and commonly spoken languages in Savannakhet include LO, French, English, with LAK used for local transactions.
04 · Q&AHow can I check live conditions and daily updates for Savannakhet?
Today's Atlas provides continuous tracking for Savannakhet, featuring real-time weather conditions, daylight cycles, local geographic signals, and verified daily briefs.