Your stay — Phaythavone Hotel
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The Property — Phaythavone Hotel
Phaythavone Hotel is a no-fuss, clean budget stop near the central market in Pakse. Its lobby feels like a quiet provincial guesthouse: functional tiled floors, a small reception desk, and a low-key breakfast corner. The USPs are reliable air-con, a basic rooftop seating area with views over the Mekong, and a location that puts you within walking distance of the bus station and night market. This suits the practical traveller who just needs a safe, cheap base for a night or two before heading south to the 4000 Islands or east over the Bolaven Plateau.
Chronicles of Pakse
Pakse was founded in 1905 as a French administrative outpost at the confluence of the Mekong and Sedone rivers. Its grid of streets, set back from the river, retains a scattering of colonial shophouses, many with faded facades. The city grew as a transit hub for coffee and cardamom from the Bolaven Plateau, and today it serves as the gateway to southern Laos for travellers. Contemporary Pakse feels like a workaday Lao provincial capital: motorbikes and tuk-tuks weave past noodle stalls, and a new Chinese-built road bridge is reshaping the skyline. Its cultural identity is pragmatic and welcoming, blending Buddhist temple life with a brisk trade in guesthouses and tour operators.
Best Time to Visit
Full Pakse guide →Best months
November to February — the cool, dry season with daytime temps around 25–30°C and very little rain. This is the most comfortable time for exploring Pakse and the plateau, and crowds are moderate outside the Christmas/New Year bump.
Peak / festival surge
December and January are peak season, driven by European winter holidays and the dry weather. Hotel prices can double, especially around Christmas and New Year. The That Luang festival (late January or early February) also fills rooms in Pakse.
Budget shoulder season
March and October are good budget shoulders. March is hot (35°C+) but still dry, with big discounts. October sees the tail end of the monsoon; you'll get rain but also greener landscapes, fewer tourists, and low prices.
Weather & packing
If you come in July (the wet season), expect heavy, short downpours most afternoons. Pack a lightweight rain jacket or a compact umbrella, and bring quick-dry footwear — the streets flood quickly after a storm.
Live City Briefing — Pakse
- The new Mekong bridge (opened late 2024), connecting Pakse to the eastern bank, is now fully operational and has replaced the old ferry. This cuts travel time to Vang Tao and the 4000 Islands.
- Several coffee shops and a small craft brewery have opened along the Sedone riverbank near the night market, giving the city a better evening dining scene than a few years ago.
- July is the peak of the monsoon so expect muddy trails on the Bolaven Plateau; many waterfalls are roaring but some roads near Tad Fane may close after heavy rain.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Phaythavone Hotel, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a high-floor room on the side facing away from the main road (if the building has a rear or courtyard side). The 4th or 5th floor offers better air circulation and less street-level dust. Upper rooms also get more natural light in the afternoon.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid ground-floor rooms directly behind the reception or near the stairwell – they can be stuffy and pick up foot traffic noise from the lobby. Also skip rooms facing the main street below the 3rd floor due to traffic rumble.
Best views
Rooms on the upper floors (4th/5th) with windows on the side or rear of the building look out over low-rise Pakse rooftops and the Mekong floodplain. No direct river view from standard rooms, but you get a broad skyline and morning sun.
Quietest floors
Floors 4 and 5 – the topmost floors are farthest from street noise and communal areas.
🔊 Noise notes
Pakse's main road runs right past the hotel – tuk-tuks and songthaews start from 5:30am. The lift is old and clanks when passing the second floor. No bar or disco on-site, but there's a small karaoke place two doors down that can bleed until 11pm on weekends.
Insider tips
1) If you arrive by motorbike, ask to park around the back alley – the front pavement gets crowded and is occasionally used as a shortcut. 2) The hotel's breakfast is basic (instant coffee, baguette, omelette), so walk 3 minutes to the market for fresh noodle soup – cheaper and tastier.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Facilities — Phaythavone Hotel
Free WiFi throughout; decent speed for email and browsing but may slow during peak evening hours; no login required
No lift; hotel is two-storey with stairs only (no historic section restriction)
No complimentary newspapers or digital newsstand; a small TV in lobby showing Lao news
Standard check-in from 14:00; early bag-drop available anytime free; late check-out until 12:00 for 50,000 LAK (negotiable based on occupancy)
Free luggage storage at reception for same-day arrivals/departures
No step-free access; entrance has one step and all rooms upstairs; not suitable for wheelchair users
Free on-site parking for motorbikes and cars (uncovered); no EV charging
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: None
Deposit & card hold: 50% advance deposit required; 200,000 LAK incidental hold on credit card at check-in
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Buddhist temple: Vat Phonsavanh (734 m · ~9 min walk)
- Buddhist temple: Vat Phone Koung (777 m · ~10 min walk)
- Buddhist temple: Wat Tham Fai (Wat Pha Bat) (961 m · ~12 min walk)
- Buddhist temple: ຈັດ ຮອງຄະຍອມ (1.1 km · ~13 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
FRIENDSHIP MALL — 744 m · ~9 min walk
Champasak Cultural Museum — 2.4 km · ~30 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Nearest — 131 m · ~2 min walk
Saythala Osot — 529 m · ~7 min walk
Chinese Grocery — 252 m · ~3 min walk
Pakse Bus Station — 2.5 km · ~31 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Laotian Kip, LAK
Exchange US dollars or Thai baht at private exchange shops on the main streets; avoid the airport and tourist bureaux as they offer poor rates.
Credit cards are accepted only at upscale hotels and larger restaurants; most local shops, street vendors, and guesthouses require cash.
Tipping is not expected but appreciated; leave small change (5-10% of the bill) at nicer restaurants, and round up taxi fares or give 10,000–20,000 kip to hotel staff for extra services.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Instant Lao coffee from street-side stalls or local cafés, often served with condensed milk; about 10,000–15,000 kip.
A bowl of noodle soup (pho or khao piak sen) at a simple local eatery; around 20,000–30,000 kip.
A plate of stir-fried noodles or rice with meat at a family-run restaurant; roughly 30,000–40,000 kip for a main dish.
The night market stalls along the Mekong riverfront and the market area near the old bus station offer grilled meats, papaya salad, and sticky rice.
Tops Market and Phimphone Minimart are common budget supermarkets in central Pakse.
Pakse's morning market (Talat Daoheuang) has cheap t-shirts, sarongs, and local textiles; the main road shops sell basic clothing at low prices.
Walking is the cheapest way for short distances; for longer trips, use a jumbo (tuk-tuk) for 10,000–20,000 kip per ride. From the airport, a shared minivan into town costs about 30,000 kip per person.
Eat at market stalls and local noodle shops instead of tourist-catered restaurants. Use shared songthaews or minivans for day trips to nearby sites rather than hiring a private driver. Always carry small-denomination kip notes for street food and markets to avoid inflated prices.
Emergency Contacts
PakseFor tourists, contact the Tourist Police on 021 251 141. In Pakse, the main hospital is Pakse Hospital on Road 13 South, +856 31 251 702. The provincial police station is on Road 23, near the old airport. Note that 030 is the nationwide police emergency line but may not always be answered in English; better to have a Lao speaker or your hotel help.
💡 Save these numbers in your phone. In life-threatening emergencies, call immediately.
Where to Eat
💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Pakse, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Phaythavone Hotel
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Nearest — 131 m · ~2 min walk — pharmacy · Saythala Osot — 529 m · ~7 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Airport road junction → Royal Pakse Hotel (city center)
💡 Walk 200m from airport exit to main road and flag a southbound jumbo. Cheaper than taxi but less convenient with luggage.
Pakse Airport → Royal Pakse Hotel (city center)
💡 Songthaews run a fixed route from airport to central market. Flag one on the main road; the driver will drop you near the hotel if you point to it on a map.
Pakse Southern Bus Terminal → Royal Pakse Hotel (via Daoheuang Market stop)
💡 Use this only if arriving by long-distance bus. Get off at the market and walk 5 mins north on Route 13.
Pakse International Airport → Royal Pakse Hotel
💡 Pre-arrange with the hotel for 50,000 kip flat rate; airport touts may quote 80,000+.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Phaythavone Hotel?
Request a high-floor room on the side facing away from the main road (if the building has a rear or courtyard side). The 4th or 5th floor offers better air circulation and less street-level dust. Upper rooms also get more natural light in the afternoon.
Which rooms should I avoid at Phaythavone Hotel?
Avoid ground-floor rooms directly behind the reception or near the stairwell – they can be stuffy and pick up foot traffic noise from the lobby. Also skip rooms facing the main street below the 3rd floor due to traffic rumble.
Is Phaythavone Hotel noisy?
Pakse's main road runs right past the hotel – tuk-tuks and songthaews start from 5:30am. The lift is old and clanks when passing the second floor. No bar or disco on-site, but there's a small karaoke place two doors down that can bleed until 11pm on weekends.
Which rooms have the best views at Phaythavone Hotel?
Rooms on the upper floors (4th/5th) with windows on the side or rear of the building look out over low-rise Pakse rooftops and the Mekong floodplain. No direct river view from standard rooms, but you get a broad skyline and morning sun.
What are insider tips for staying at Phaythavone Hotel?
1) If you arrive by motorbike, ask to park around the back alley – the front pavement gets crowded and is occasionally used as a shortcut. 2) The hotel's breakfast is basic (instant coffee, baguette, omelette), so walk 3 minutes to the market for fresh noodle soup – cheaper and tastier.
What time is check-in at Phaythavone Hotel?
Check-in at Phaythavone Hotel is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Phaythavone Hotel have Wi-Fi?
Free WiFi throughout; decent speed for email and browsing but may slow during peak evening hours; no login required
Is there a city or tourist tax at Phaythavone Hotel?
None
Where can I eat cheaply near Phaythavone Hotel?
A bowl of noodle soup (pho or khao piak sen) at a simple local eatery; around 20,000–30,000 kip.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Phaythavone Hotel?
Walking is the cheapest way for short distances; for longer trips, use a jumbo (tuk-tuk) for 10,000–20,000 kip per ride. From the airport, a shared minivan into town costs about 30,000 kip per person.
When is the best time to visit Pakse?
November to February — the cool, dry season with daytime temps around 25–30°C and very little rain. This is the most comfortable time for exploring Pakse and the plateau, and crowds are moderate outside the Christmas/New Year bump.
Top Attractions in Pakse
💡 Best photographed from a distance. Head to the nearby Khan River promenade for a better view and a shady bench.
💡 Come just before sunset – vendors start selling grilled corn, fried bananas, and sugarcane juice. It's also a launching point for boat trips to the Don Khong islands (paid).
💡 Arrive early (6–7am) for the real bustle. Try the grilled riverweed with sesame – a local specialty for 5,000 kip.
💡 Entry is free, but you need to show a passport or ID. Allow 30–45 minutes. Signage is in Lao and French – use Google Lens for translation.
💡 Go around 5pm to catch the sunset and avoid the midday heat. The climb up the stairs is steep – take water.