🇱🇦 Sekong, Laos
Phoukhankham Hotel
📍 Sekong
Your stay — Phoukhankham Hotel
Live forecast for your dates · what's on · air quality & pollen📅 Pick your check-in & check-out above to unlock your day-by-day forecast, what's on during your stay, and live air quality & pollen for Sekong.
The Property — Phoukhankham Hotel
A modest three-storey concrete hotel on Sekong’s main road, the Phoukhankham feels like a staging post for the Bolaven Plateau rather than a destination in itself. The lobby is tiled, air-conditioned and functional, with a receptionist who can organise a motorbike or a guide into the Dong Hua Sao protected area. It suits independent travellers who need a clean, no-frills base for one or two nights while exploring southern Laos’ waterfalls and coffee country.
Chronicles of Sekong
Sekong was established as a provincial capital in 1984, carved out of Attapeu and Salavan to better administer the remote, mountainous southeast. The town grew around the Se Kong River crossing and remains a sleepy administrative hub with a single main street, a morning market and a small airport. Its architecture is almost entirely post-1970s concrete, with wooden stilt houses surviving in the surrounding villages. Contemporary Sekong is the launchpad for treks to ethnic minority settlements and the Xe Sap National Protected Area.
Best Time to Visit
Full Sekong guide →Best months
December to February: cool, dry days with temperatures in the mid-20s Celsius and low humidity, perfect for hiking the Bolaven Plateau without monsoon mud.
Peak / festival surge
January is peak season across southern Laos, with near-perfect weather. Hotel prices can rise 20-30% and advance booking is essential. No major festivals in Sekong itself, but visitors combine with Pakse’s boat races in February.
Budget shoulder season
November and March offer similar weather to peak months but with thinner crowds and slightly lower rates. Early November can still have rain at higher elevations.
Weather & packing
Sekong gets heavy rain even in the ‘dry’ shoulder months thanks to its position on the windward side of the Bolaven Plateau. Always pack a lightweight rain jacket and waterproof hiking shoes, regardless of the forecast.
Live City Briefing — Sekong
- The main road through Sekong (Route 11) has improved asphalt this year, cutting travel time to Pakse to under two hours by minibus.
- A new morning food market on the riverbank near the bridge opened in late 2025, selling fresh coffee, grilled fish and woven textiles from local Tai and Mon-Khmer groups.
- June is the start of the wet monsoon: expect daily heavy showers in the afternoon, and check road conditions before attempting the 40 km dirt track to Tad Hua Khon waterfall.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Phoukhankham Hotel, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the first floor (upper floor) at the rear of the building to avoid street noise from Ban Done Mai and the parking lot.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid ground-floor rooms near the front of the hotel — close to the unpaved parking lot and main entrance, where motorbike and car noise will be constant, and dust from the unpaved lot may drift in.
Best views
From first-floor rear rooms you may see the surrounding low-rise town or fields. Front rooms overlook the unpaved parking lot and Ban Done Mai road — less appealing.
Quietest floors
The first floor (upper floor) is the quietest. The ground floor has more foot traffic and parking lot noise.
🔊 Noise notes
The hotel is on a local road in Sekong town — expect motorbike traffic from early morning and occasional trucks. The unpaved lot generates crunching gravel noise. No lift means guest movement on stairs may be audible.
Insider tips
1. Park your vehicle close to the building to avoid having to carry luggage across the unpaved lot, especially in rainy season when it gets muddy. 2. The WiFi is basic; download maps or entertainment offline before arriving.
- 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 — Phoukhankham Hotel
Free, basic WiFi throughout. Speed is sufficient for messaging and email; streaming may buffer. No login or password required—connects on selection.
No lift. The hotel is a two-storey building with stairs only. No historic sections.
No newspapers or digital newsstand provided. The hotel has no notable heritage quirks; a concrete structure built in 2018.
Check-in from 14:00, check-out by 12:00. Early bag drop available from 07:00. Late check-out until 14:00 costs 100,000 LAK; after 14:00 charged a full night.
Free storage at reception before check-in and after check-out. No luggage room; bags are kept behind the front desk.
No step-free access. There is a single step at the main entrance, and no ramp. The property has narrow doorways and no adapted rooms. Not suitable for wheelchair users.
On-site free parking for motorbikes and cars in the hotel's unpaved lot. No valet. No EV charging. Nearest public car park: none; street parking is available.
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: None
Deposit & card hold: A deposit equal to the first night may be required at booking; a cash deposit of 300,000 LAK or credit card imprint is taken at check-in for incidentals.
5-Minute Radius Essentials
LPB Bank — 1.5 km · ~18 min walk
ຮ້ານຂາຍຢາສຸພະມິດ — 390 m · ~5 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Lao Kip, LAK
Exchange cash at BCEL Bank branches or ATMs in downtown Sekong; avoid airport kiosks and tourist bureaux as rates are poor.
Visa and Mastercard accepted at larger hotels and some restaurants; cash is king for markets, street stalls, and local transport.
Tipping not expected but rounding up a small amount is appreciated for good service; leave small change at restaurants, nothing for taxis, and 10,000–20,000 LAK for hotel staff if they help with bags.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →A glass of Lao-style iced coffee from a street vendor or market stall, about 8,000–12,000 LAK (often with condensed milk).
One-plate noodle soup or stir-fried rice from a local eatery, roughly 20,000–30,000 LAK.
A simple grilled meat or fish dish with sticky rice, around 30,000–40,000 LAK per main.
The main market area in central Sekong (near the bus station) has evening stalls selling grilled meats, papaya salad, and noodle bowls; also along the riverfront when vendors set up after dark.
Small local minimarts and general stores; there is no large supermarket chain in Sekong.
The central market sells inexpensive T-shirts, trousers, and basic textiles; limited selection compared to Pakse.
Walking is the cheapest way; tuk-tuks (songthaews) charge 10,000–20,000 LAK per short ride within town; from the airport a shared minibus into town costs about 30,000 LAK per person.
Eat at market stalls and local noodle shops instead of hotel restaurants; haggle gently in markets but not for food; buy bottled water and snacks from minimarts rather than tourist-oriented shops.
Emergency Contacts
SekongFor all emergencies, call 191 (national). English may not be spoken: have a Lao speaker or translation app ready. Sekong’s medical facilities are basic; for serious cases, head to Pakse (3–4 hours by road).
💡 Save these numbers in your phone. In life-threatening emergencies, call immediately.
Where to Eat
💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Sekong, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Phoukhankham Hotel
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · LPB Bank — 1.5 km · ~18 min walk — pharmacy · ຮ້ານຂາຍຢາສຸພະມິດ — 390 m · ~5 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Phoukhankham Hotel → Sekong town centre
💡 Flag one near the morning market or outside the hotel; drivers wait near the big Buddha statue. Short hops cost 10,000–20,000 kip.
Phoukhankham Hotel → Pakse Airport (PKZ) or bus station
💡 Hotel staff can organise a shared minivan for about 120,000 kip per person if you don't mind waiting for other passengers. Leaves early morning.
Phoukhankham Hotel → Sekong Bus Station (Talad Sekong)
💡 Songthaews run along Route 9 but don't stop right outside the hotel. Walk 200 m north to the main road and wave one down. Best for budget travel to Pakse or Attapeu.
Sekong Airport (NEU) → Phoukhankham Hotel
💡 Agree on price before you get in; drivers often add a surcharge after dark. Ask at the hotel desk for a reliable contact.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Phoukhankham Hotel?
Request a room on the first floor (upper floor) at the rear of the building to avoid street noise from Ban Done Mai and the parking lot.
Which rooms should I avoid at Phoukhankham Hotel?
Avoid ground-floor rooms near the front of the hotel — close to the unpaved parking lot and main entrance, where motorbike and car noise will be constant, and dust from the unpaved lot may drift in.
Is Phoukhankham Hotel noisy?
The hotel is on a local road in Sekong town — expect motorbike traffic from early morning and occasional trucks. The unpaved lot generates crunching gravel noise. No lift means guest movement on stairs may be audible.
Which rooms have the best views at Phoukhankham Hotel?
From first-floor rear rooms you may see the surrounding low-rise town or fields. Front rooms overlook the unpaved parking lot and Ban Done Mai road — less appealing.
What are insider tips for staying at Phoukhankham Hotel?
1. Park your vehicle close to the building to avoid having to carry luggage across the unpaved lot, especially in rainy season when it gets muddy. 2. The WiFi is basic; download maps or entertainment offline before arriving.
What time is check-in at Phoukhankham Hotel?
Check-in at Phoukhankham Hotel is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Phoukhankham Hotel have Wi-Fi?
Free, basic WiFi throughout. Speed is sufficient for messaging and email; streaming may buffer. No login or password required—connects on selection.
Is there a city or tourist tax at Phoukhankham Hotel?
None
Where can I eat cheaply near Phoukhankham Hotel?
One-plate noodle soup or stir-fried rice from a local eatery, roughly 20,000–30,000 LAK.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Phoukhankham Hotel?
Walking is the cheapest way; tuk-tuks (songthaews) charge 10,000–20,000 LAK per short ride within town; from the airport a shared minibus into town costs about 30,000 LAK per person.
When is the best time to visit Sekong?
December to February: cool, dry days with temperatures in the mid-20s Celsius and low humidity, perfect for hiking the Bolaven Plateau without monsoon mud.
Top Attractions in Sekong
💡 Arrive before 7am for the best selection of wild mushrooms and river fish—locals trade directly from their boats. Try the tamarind-glazed pork skewers.
💡 Ask the caretaker to unlock the back room—it has a rare collection of traditional Alak and Katu textiles not on public display.
💡 The best spot is just past the old ferry landing—there’s a bamboo bench under a sacred fig tree. Bring a beer from the nearby shop and watch the bats emerge at dusk.
💡 Combine with a walk up the path to the nearby small temple—they sometimes have a monk who speaks English and will share stories of the relic inside the stupa.
💡 Best visited in the late afternoon—the sun lights up the spray and you’ll have the place almost to yourself. Bring mosquito repellent.