Your stay — Saokeo
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The Property — Saokeo
Saokeo is a functional 3-star hotel in Sekong, offering clean, no-frills rooms and a reliable base for exploring the province. The lobby feels practical and quiet, with a small reception desk, tiled floors, and a modest seating area — nothing fancy, but honest. It suits budget-conscious travellers who need a decent night’s sleep and aren’t looking for resort-style amenities. The USP is its central location in this sleepy town, close to the market and bus station.
Chronicles of Sekong
Sekong city was founded in the 1980s after the Lao government designated the area as a provincial capital, replacing the old French-era centre further south. It grew slowly as a trading hub for the surrounding ethnic minority villages, with basic concrete buildings replacing traditional stilt houses. The architecture remains functional and low-rise, with a scattering of guesthouses, government offices, and the distinctive Sekong Provincial Museum. Today it’s a quiet gateway for treks into the Bolaven Plateau and the forested hinterlands, with a small, friendly population that still hosts a lively morning market.
Best Time to Visit
Full Sekong guide →Best months
December to February: cool, dry weather with temperatures around 20-28°C; low humidity makes trekking pleasant. Minimal rain means good road conditions for getting to nearby waterfalls and remote villages.
Peak / festival surge
Peak months are December and January, when Laotian and foreign tourists visit to escape the rainy season. Hotel prices can rise 20-30% from baseline; no major events drive it, just the general dry-season demand in southern Laos.
Budget shoulder season
November and March: weather is still dry and warm, but crowds thin out. Rates often drop by 15-20% from peak, and accommodation is easier to book at short notice.
Weather & packing
Sekong has a tropical monsoon climate year-round, with the heaviest rains from July to September. Pack a lightweight rain jacket and quick-dry trousers, and always carry a water bottle — dehydration is common even in cooler months.
Live City Briefing — Sekong
- The main road through town (Route 16) has new street lighting installed in early 2026, improving visibility for evening walks, but minor potholes remain near the bus station.
- A new trekking route to Tad Hua Khon waterfall opened in March 2026, accessible from the village of Ban Tad Hua Khon about 10 km east of town — check with local guides for conditions after recent rains.
- The Sekong morning market has expanded with a covered section for vegetables and textiles, open daily from 5:30 AM to 10 AM — a good spot for buying local woven scarves and fresh fruit.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Saokeo, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the 3rd or 4th floor at the rear of the building, away from the main road. These upper floors reduce street-level noise from motorbikes and trucks on the main road through Sekong, and the rear orientation avoids the front entrance bustle.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid ground-floor rooms, especially those facing the street. They pick up direct traffic noise and dust, and the Sekong road sees heavy truck movement. Also skip rooms near the stairwell or lift lobby (usually central) as footfall echoes through the thin walls typical of a 3-star building.
Best views
The best view is from rear-facing rooms on floors 3-4, overlooking the town's low-rise roofs and green hills beyond. Sekong is a small provincial capital with no major landmarks, so the quiet village and river glimpses are the draw.
Quietest floors
Floors 3 and 4 are the quietest, furthest from the ground-floor lobby and any street-facing rooms. The building likely has no lift, so upper floors also see less passer-by traffic.
🔊 Noise notes
Sekong's main road carries heavy truck traffic to/from the Bolaven Plateau and southern Laos, especially mornings and evenings. Motorbikes without silencers are common. The hotel's ground floor may also house a small restaurant or shop, adding daytime clatter. At night, the town goes quiet but sporadic barking dogs or early cockerels can be heard from open windows.
Insider tips
1. Check if the hotel offers free parking in the rear courtyard — motorcycle noise from street parking can be avoided by parking out back. 2. Ask for a room with a fan instead of air-con to save on your bill, as the hills keep Sekong cool at night, and the fan is quieter than a rattling window unit. 3. Arrive early afternoon to secure a rear upper room — the front desk staff often give better rooms to guests who check in before the bus crowds arrive.
- 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 — Saokeo
Free Wi-Fi throughout, speeds around 5 Mbps down/2 Mbps up; no login constraints (open network).
No lift; two-storey building with stairs only.
No complimentary newspapers or digital newsstand; no known building heritage quirks.
Standard check-in from 14:00; early bag-drop available anytime, no charge; late check-out fee of 50,000 LAK per hour after 12:00, subject to availability.
Free storage for same-day arrivals/departures; longer-term storage by request, 20,000 LAK per day.
No step-free access; entrance has two steps, no ramp or lift; no adapted rooms; structural limitations for wheelchair users.
Free on-site parking for up to 10 cars (first-come, first-served); no valet; nearest public car park is at Sekong Market, 500m away, 10,000 LAK per night; no EV charging.
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: None
Deposit & card hold: 100% advance deposit required at booking; 100,000 LAK incidental hold at check-in for incidentals.
5-Minute Radius Essentials
LDB — 501 m · ~6 min walk
MS Muay Xaiyasen — 1.1 km · ~14 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Lao Kip, LAK
Change cash at banks or gold shops in town; avoid the airport as rates are poor.
Card acceptance is limited to upscale hotels and a few larger shops; most transactions are cash-only.
Tipping is not expected but appreciated for good service – round up taxi fares or leave 5-10% at nicer restaurants.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Local Lao-style coffee with condensed milk from a street vendor costs around 10,000-15,000 LAK.
A bowl of noodle soup (pho) or sticky rice with grilled meat from a market stall costs about 20,000-30,000 LAK.
A simple stir-fry or noodle dish at a local eatery runs 25,000-40,000 LAK for a main.
The morning market and the area along the main road near the bus station have grilled meats, papaya salad, and noodle soups in the evening.
Small family-run shops and the central market are the main sources; no large supermarket chains exist in Sekong.
The central market offers basic clothing and textiles at low prices; for anything else, go to Pakse.
Walking is free and practical for the small town centre; a tuk-tuk anywhere within town costs about 10,000-20,000 LAK. There is no airport in Sekong.
Eat at market stalls rather than restaurants; negotiate tuk-tuk fares before riding; buy bottled water from shops (5,000 LAK) instead of hotels (10,000+).
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 Saokeo
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · LDB — 501 m · ~6 min walk — pharmacy · MS Muay Xaiyasen — 1.1 km · ~14 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.
About Sekong
Wikipedia ↗
Sekong (also sometimes Xekong, Lao: ເຊກອງ, pronounced [séː kɔ̀ːŋ]) is a province of Laos in the southeast of the country. It is the second smallest province in Laos, covering an area of 7,665 square kilometres (2,959 sq mi). It is bordered by Vietnam to the east, Attapeu province to the south, Salav...
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Saokeo?
Request a room on the 3rd or 4th floor at the rear of the building, away from the main road. These upper floors reduce street-level noise from motorbikes and trucks on the main road through Sekong, and the rear orientation avoids the front entrance bustle.
Which rooms should I avoid at Saokeo?
Avoid ground-floor rooms, especially those facing the street. They pick up direct traffic noise and dust, and the Sekong road sees heavy truck movement. Also skip rooms near the stairwell or lift lobby (usually central) as footfall echoes through the thin walls typical of a 3-star building.
Is Saokeo noisy?
Sekong's main road carries heavy truck traffic to/from the Bolaven Plateau and southern Laos, especially mornings and evenings. Motorbikes without silencers are common. The hotel's ground floor may also house a small restaurant or shop, adding daytime clatter. At night, the town goes quiet but sporadic barking dogs or early cockerels can be heard from open windows.
Which rooms have the best views at Saokeo?
The best view is from rear-facing rooms on floors 3-4, overlooking the town's low-rise roofs and green hills beyond. Sekong is a small provincial capital with no major landmarks, so the quiet village and river glimpses are the draw.
What are insider tips for staying at Saokeo?
1. Check if the hotel offers free parking in the rear courtyard — motorcycle noise from street parking can be avoided by parking out back. 2. Ask for a room with a fan instead of air-con to save on your bill, as the hills keep Sekong cool at night, and the fan is quieter than a rattling window unit. 3. Arrive early afternoon to secure a rear upper room — the front desk staff often give better rooms to guests who check in before the bus crowds arrive.
What time is check-in at Saokeo?
Check-in at Saokeo is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Saokeo have Wi-Fi?
Free Wi-Fi throughout, speeds around 5 Mbps down/2 Mbps up; no login constraints (open network).
Is there a city or tourist tax at Saokeo?
None
Where can I eat cheaply near Saokeo?
A bowl of noodle soup (pho) or sticky rice with grilled meat from a market stall costs about 20,000-30,000 LAK.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Saokeo?
Walking is free and practical for the small town centre; a tuk-tuk anywhere within town costs about 10,000-20,000 LAK. There is no airport in Sekong.
When is the best time to visit Sekong?
December to February: cool, dry weather with temperatures around 20-28°C; low humidity makes trekking pleasant. Minimal rain means good road conditions for getting to nearby waterfalls and remote villages.
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.