This riverside beach in Pakxan district is destined to become a tourist hotspot. - Borikhamxay newspaper
VIENTIANE (Vientiane Times/Asia News Network): Borikhamxay authorities are building visitor facilities at the popular Hadxaikhao beach on the Mekong River in Don village, Pakxan district, ready to welcome visitors starting next month.
The broad sandy beach has always been a favourite with locals as it’s a great place for a picnic and has panoramic views of the river, while some spectacular sunsets can also be observed.
A row of rustic huts is now being built next to the river, offering a shady retreat and a convenient place to admire the view, breathe in some fresh air, and enjoy a meal with family or friends.
A restaurant is also under construction, with all of the new facilities being built by a local company and expected to be open to visitors in March, according to the Borikhamxay newspaper.
The province is also home to numerous waterfalls such as Tad Xay, Tad Leak, Tad Mangkon, Tad Nampa, Tad Huay Kou, Tad Thon, Tad Khoun, Tad Tek and Tad Kai, as well as a Buddha footprint in Sanaen Cave, and Vat Phrabath Temple.
Visitors can enjoy local dishes such as jeo pa bam (fermented fish with chilli sauce), chicken soup, and phan seen (grilled pork or beef with chilli and herbs wrapped in pomelo leaves).
The province also stages some colourful festivals such as the Boun Phabath Phonesan Stupa festival, which is the biggest festival held in Borikhamxay and is celebrated in January each year. The province has 117 officially designated tourist sites, of which 101 are nature-based, 13 are of cultural interest, and three are historical, according to statistics from tourism authorities.
Borikhamxay province is located to the east of Vientiane in central Laos and offers several eco-tourism activities through its two national protected areas and extensive system of wetlands.
The journey from Ban Khoun Kham to Lak Sao on Road No 8 offers some spectacular scenery comprising karst mountain landscapes and is considered to be one of the most impressive routes in the country, according to the Tourism Development Department.
Last year more than 164,000 people from around Laos and other countries visited Borikhamxay province as tourists, according to a provincial official.
