Khammouan is situated in the central part of Lao P.D.R., with an area of moderately high mountains sloping down to the Mekong valley. Fertile land here is well suited to plantations of rice, cabbage, sugar cane, bananas, etc. A total population of 260,000, is made up of lowland and up-land Lao groups: Phuan, Tahoy, Kri, Katang etc. Thakhek is the provincial capital, situated across the Mekong from Nakorn Phanom in Thailand. It also has much well preserved French colonial architecture similar to that found in Vientiane.
350 km south on the svannakhet - pakse road. The capital of the khamouane province,thakhek is a small city whose old, French colonial houses give a quaint charm, reminiscent of the early 20th century. Not far is one of laos most scenic sights made up of a jagged jimestone mountain range from the karstian era. Accessible from road 12.