Travel and Transport Info for Lak Sao, Laos by Hobo Maps- - - Home

Lak Sao / Lak Xao / Lak 20 - all 3 are common names for the same town

- click to see our Lak Sao Map

Lak Sao town images below:

In Lao language Sao means the number 20 and Lak is like a kilometer marker so Lak Sao means "a place 20 km away". Maybe it originally meant 20 km from the Vietnam border but the border is much further away than that now.

Lak Sao is a decent and clean town with a new bus station and fresh market along with mountain views and fresh air. Its the half way point on the Thakhek Loop. Border crossing traffic to & from Vietnam gives it a commercial feel. In 2020 we found several nice-looking guest houses and decent rooms go for 60,000 kip and up. Things are a bit more costly here than in other parts of Laos due to the remote location.

We didn't see any public transport, tuk tuks or roaming songtaew buses. But it's not a large town and can be walked.

Lak Sao Bus Station schedule below is from March 2020 at the new bus station. If anyone can help us with translations for the places we haven't translated please send us email so we can make the schedule more complete. The A, B, C & D codings indicate these are the same place and can be grouped.

To catch buses from roadside along Road 8 we found it best to make a sign in English and in Lao to display beside the road since many buses don't have English signs and the crews can't read English. Just put the sign on your bags beside the road and have a seat but be ready to board the bus quickly. You can download and print signs in English and Lao HERE for destinations around the Loop.

Shopping - We found Lak Sao to be the best place on the Thakhek Loop for shopping (other than Thakhek). Goods from Vietnam dominate. There's even a bakery and a big fresh market. Fresh fruit stands are scattered along the main roads. Almost nobody speaks English.

Cycling - we found Lak Sao excellent for cycling as the roads are quiet and in good condition but you need to bring your own bike.

Scenery is great with nearby dramatic tall mountains. Lots of fresh air.

Dining - 2 or 3 nice restaurants are right at town center across the road from the big police hut at the major intersection

Mountains outside Lak Sao

See our Thakhek Loop Map HERE