Thakhèk

Thakhèk is a town in south‑central Laos on the Mekong River.

It serves as the administrative centre of Thakhèk district in Khammouane Province.

Bridge corridor

The Third Thai–Lao Friendship Bridge, opened on 11 November 2011 after construction began in 2009, spans the Mekong and connects the town with Nakhon Phanom, Thailand (source).

Colonial enclave

Within the town, French

Riverbanks and colonial remnants

Thakhèk is a city situated in south-central Laos along the Mekong River. Serving as the capital of Khammouane Province, the urban center functions as the administrative hub for the surrounding district.

Geographically positioned at latitude 17.41027 and longitude 104.83068 within the Asia/Vientiane timezone, the locality registers a population of 90800 residents. Spoken languages in the area include lo, fr, and en, while financial transactions utilize the LAK currency.

Historical infrastructure shapes the landscape, featuring official structures, villas, and commercial shops built in the French colonial style. Historical policy under colonial administration previously encouraged Vietnamese migration, resulting in a demographic composition where 85% of the inhabitants were Vietnamese in 1943. Physical traces of the incomplete Thakhek-Tan Ap railway remain visible both within the town and its surrounding areas, marking a historical route intended to connect through the Mụ Giạ Pass toward Tân Ấp Railway Station in Quảng Bình Province, Vietnam.

Transportation infrastructure connects the municipality across the Mekong River via the Third Thai–Lao Friendship Bridge, which links the area directly to Nakhon Phanom in Thailand. Construction on this river crossing began in 2009, and the bridge officially opened to traffic on 11 November 2011.

Earlier designations for the settlement during the Lan Xang era included Sikhottabong, Muang Kabong, and Lakhon. Further details on the geography and region are documented in the Thakhek overview and the GeoNames record for Thakhèk.