With a million people, Savannakhet is situated on the banks of the Mekong river opposite Mukdahan in Thailand. Its capital city is Kaysone Phomvihane.
The province bridges the country between Thailand and Vietnam, and Savannakhet town is a very active junction for trade between the two countries. The town itself can be easily explored by foot and has a number of interesting religious sites, including a Vietnamese temple and a large Catholic church. Much of the town’s architecture is French Colonial, as proof of the town's importance during colonial times. There are 11 ethnic minorities residing in the province, include Lowland Lao, Phoutai, Thai Dam, Katang, Mongkong, Vali, Lava, Soui, Kapo, Kaleung, and Ta-Oi.
