Paksong

Paksong is a sleepy town at an elevation of 1300 m in the Champasak province of Southern Laos on the Bolaven Plateau.

Get in
Buses from Pakse take about one and a half hours. Songthews also go from new market and cost 20k kip.

Get around
It's a small place. The main street is the highway from Pakse. Interesting walking on small side roads, if you don't mind dust and the odd barking farm dog. See blooming coffee trees, livestock, tiny shops. People are friendly, if a bit surprised to see anyone get off the main road.

Do
Beat the heat. PakSong is at an elevation of 1300 m, cool all year round. Very nice change during the HOT season.

Gym - PakSong Fitness 6-8am & 3-7:30pm. Small gym at far end of town from Pakse. After main road splits into three, it's on middle branch, a bit after a park. 10k kip per visit.

Buy
Coffee, you can buy great quality coffee on the market or on the side of the road. Or talk to the experts at Won/Koffie's Coffee or JHAI Coffee House, both on the main road, past the hospital.

Eat
There are quite a few places to eat along the main road. They often have menus in English and Thai. Possibilities include Khittavahn, Kham Toan, and Nang Eung opposite Lao Development Bank on the main road. Susu is a Vietnamese place just down the road from Won/Koffie's Coffee. They all have menus starting at 15k KIP and big Beer Lao for 10k. Further along away from Pakse are several reasonable Lao barbecue places. Just point at what you want.

During the day, the market has noodle and barbecue eateries, as well as sandwiches (5k kip), blended fruit drinks (5k kip), and fresh baked baguettes.

Drink
Coffee at for example Won/Koffie's Coffee 10k or JHAI Coffee House 15k

Every restaurant serves Beer Lao and there are several eating and drinking karaoke venues near Paksong Guesthouse.