Thakhek (

Lao language Lao, sometimes referred to as Laotian (, 'Lao' or , 'Lao language'), is a Kra–Dai language of the Lao people. It is spoken in Laos, where it is the official language for around 7 million people, as well as in northeast Thailand, where ...

: ທ່າແຂກ), the capital of Khammouane Province, is a town in south-central

Laos Laos (, ''Lāo'' )), officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic ( Lao: ສາທາລະນະລັດ ປະຊາທິປະໄຕ ປະຊາຊົນລາວ, French: République démocratique populaire lao), is a socialist s ...

on the Mekong River. The Third Thai–Lao Friendship Bridge, linking Thakhek and

Nakhon Phanom Nakhon Phanom ( th, นครพนม, ) is a town (''thesaban mueang'') in northeastern Thailand, capital of Nakhon Phanom Province. The town covers ''tambons'' Nai Mueang and Nong Saeng and parts of ''tambons'' At Samat and Nong Yat, all in ...

, Thailand, across the river, started in 2009 and was opened on 11 November 2011. The city has many French colonial style official buildings, villas, and shops. In 1943, 85% of the population of Thakhek were Vietnamese due to the French policy of encouraging Vietnamese immigrants to Laos. Remnants of the abortive Thakhek-Tan Ap railway can be seen in and near the town. The railway would have run between Thakhek and Tân Ấp Railway Station, Quảng Bình Province,

Vietnam Vietnam or Viet Nam ( vi, Việt Nam, ), officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam,., group="n" is a country in Southeast Asia, at the eastern edge of mainland Southeast Asia, with an area of and population of 96 million, making ...

through the Mụ Giạ Pass. Western scientists first encountered the Laotian rock rat, ''kha nyou'' (Laonastes aenigmamus), in Thakhek's market. 05_Sook_Som_Boon_Market_-_panoramio

Climate

References

External links

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Destination: Khammouane Province
{{Districts of South Laos Laos–Thailand border crossings Populated places in Khammouane Province Populated places on the Mekong River Provincial capitals in Laos