Colonial-era Savannakhet

A colonial-era building awaiting its eventual make-over in Savannakhet

The crumbling colonial-era buildings of Savannakhet in southern Laos are reminders of the importance the French attached to what was their largest trading and administrative centre south of Vientiane. Around the Spanish-looking plaza, which features St Theresa's Catholic Church at one end, the cream of the town's colonial-era buildings are being renovated and brought back to life. On my recent visit I didn't have time to see much of the town including its Dinosaur Museum, but I saw enough of its colonial heritage and Mekong River frontage to be charmed by its slow and peaceful ambience.

The peaceful plaza at the heart of Savannakhet

Attractive colonial-era buildings jostle for space around the plaza

This renovated colonial building is now a trendy restaurant

This nicely renovated 1926 building is now the Sala Savan guesthouse

Another ochre-coloured colonial building awaiting its spruce-up

This street could be anywhere in Savannakhet - empty and peaceful