Sala Thongyon

The location is great, and the ladies who run the place are kind and helpful. But after arriving late in Savannakhet and finding our first two accommodation choices full, we chose what looked like cute cottages at Sala Thongyon. Once inside, we saw insect droppings on the bed, and the bamboo cottages were full of mosquitoes. We went looking for repellent but couldn't find many options, then spent the night with mosquitoes buzzing around our heads. The cabins are tiny, with nowhere to put bags. The bed was harder than any Asian bed I'd slept in and curved down the middle, so we rolled to either side. The water was warm, but not enough for a shower in the dry season on a 16-degree evening.

A lovely, quiet and comfortable little family-run guesthouse in a beautiful garden. It's a short walk to the Mekong and restaurants, and there's secure parking for motorcycles. Recommended.

Our bungalows were clean and cool, with everything we needed, and the balcony was a great place to sit through the afternoon downpours. They're set in a beautifully kept little jungle garden. The rooms are basic, but we were happy with them. The women who run the homestay were kind, thoughtful, fun and caring, cooked a beautiful breakfast, and treated us so well. We rented motorbikes from them and got good advice on places to visit. The location is great too, a 10-minute walk from one of the best night markets in SE Asia, with superb food, nightly musicians and good beverage vendors. We stayed five days while waiting for a delayed Vietnam Visa, after our first hotel cancelled on us. I'm so glad it did. This is the only place we'll stay when we go back to Savannahkhet.

The guesthouse is closer to town than to the embassy, about a 15-minute ride from the latter. The main street in Savannakhet, along with the night market and bars and restaurants, is around a 15-minute walk or a 5-minute motorbike ride away. They rent out motorbikes too. I stayed here while applying for a Thai visa, and things went smoothly. The women running the guesthouse were kind and hardworking, though I’m not sure whether they’re family, and they helped with everything. The rooms are fine if you’re not fussy, and all the electronics worked.