Central Laos

Central Laos shares borders with and , as well as with and Laos.
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Photo: Wikimedia, CC0.

Essential Destinations

Top destinations include Vientiane and Savannakhet.

Photo: Benh, CC BY-SA 3.0.
is the capital of , with stunning temples, vibrant night markets, beautiful French-Indochinese architecture, lively street food stalls, and traditional craft markets.

Photo: Tango7174, CC BY-SA 4.0.
and officially known as "Kaysone Phomvihane", is the capital of Province in . It is on the Mekong River. With an estimated population of 120,000, it is the second largest city of .

Photo: Emmece, CC BY-SA 3.0.
The is a UNESCO world heritage site in Central Laos. It consists of thousands of stone jars scattered around the valleys and foothills of the Xiangkhoang Plateau.

Destinations to Discover

Explore places such as Vang Vieng and Thakhek.

Photo: Ssuri, CC BY-SA 3.0.
, sometimes spelled Vang Viang, is a riverside town in Central Laos. It is the adventure capital of Laos, with a river flowing through the spectacularly wild karst formations, laid-back countryside and many caves. Many outdoor tours are available.

Photo: Tango7174, CC BY-SA 4.0.
is the capital of Khammouane Province, in Central Laos. It is a small town on the Mekong with a nearby border crossing to Thailand. Tourists usually come here to embark on the Loop.

Photo: Torbenbrinker, CC BY-SA 3.0.
is the capital of Xieng Khouang Province in Central Laos. It is known primarily as the gateway to the .

Photo: Tango7174, CC BY-SA 4.0.
is in Bolikhamsai Province, in Central Laos. It is not a particularly appealing town but has become a busy place due to the ever increasing traffic on Hwy 13.

Photo: Wikimedia, CC BY-SA 3.0.
is the capital of Hua Phan Province, .

Photo: Wikimedia, CC BY-SA 3.0.
is a district and town in Hua Phan province, visited for its famous caves. The former Pathet Lao revolutionary headquarters sit in a striking valley of fertile hills and limestone cliffs riddled with caves, several of which were used to shelter PL soldiers and civilians from clandestine US bombing during the so-called "Secret War" from 1964 until 1973.

, also known as Ban Khoun Kham and Na Hin village is a settlement on Rte 8 in northern Khammouane Province, in Central Laos.

Photo: Tango7174, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Phou Khao Khouay National Park is a protected area in . It is located 40 kilometres northeast of . It covers an area of 1920 km2, extending into Xaisomboun Province, Prefecture, Vientiane Province, and Bolikhamsai Province.

Central Laos

Latitude of center
18.26° or 18° 15′ 36″ north
Longitude of center
103.82° or 103° 49′ 12″ east
Wiki­data ID
Q14210500
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Satellite Map

Discover Central Laos from above in high-definition satellite imagery.
© Stadia Maps, Airbus DS, CNES, PlanetObserver, and Copernicus

In Other Languages

From Bengali to Vietnamese—“Central Laos” goes by many names.
  • Bengali: “মধ্য লাওস”
  • Chinese: “中寮”
  • Italian: “Laos centrale”
  • Slovenian: “Osrednji Laos”
  • Swedish: “centrala Laos”
  • Vietnamese: “Trung Lào”

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