Champasak Province

Champasak Province
Location of Champasak Province in Laos
Country	Laos
Established
Capital	Pakse
Area
- Total	15,415 km2 (5,951.8 sq mi)
Population (2004)
- Total	575,600
- Density	37.3/km2 (96.7/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+07
ISO 3166 code	LA-XI

Champasak (or Champassak, Champasack - Lao: ຈຳປາສັກ [càmpàːsák]) is a province in southwestern Laos, near the borders with Thailand and Cambodia. It is one of the three principalities that succeeded the Lao kingdom of Lan Xang. Population: 500,994 (2001 estimate). The river Mekong flows through the province. The capital of the province is Pakxe, but it takes its name from Champasak, the former capital of the Kingdom of Champasak. Champasak plays a central role in the history of Siam and Laos, with frequent battles taking place in and around Champasak. An English translation of Thao Suranaree, History of Important Thais, authored by Manit Plophinit and translated by Frank G Anderson, details the many references to Champasak.

View from near the top of Wat Phu

The small town of Champasak, location of the Khmer ruins of Wat Phu, is the seat of the Champasak District. Khone Phapheng Falls is in the province. The province was the site of Laos's first railway, the Don Det - Don Khon narrow gauge railway on Don Det and Don Khon islands.

Neighboring are (from North clockwise) the provinces Salavan, Xekong and Attapu, as well as Cambodia (provinces Stung Treng and Preah Vihear) to the south and Thailand (Ubon Ratchathani Province) to the west.

Champasak can be reached from Thailand through the Chong Mek border crossing, at Vang Tao, from where the highway leads east towards the city of Pakxe. Crossing the border at Chong Mek is relatively straightforward, as there are large border posts on both sides of the border, as well as large outdoor markets. It is possible to obtain a Lao visa from this border post, and Thai baht and American dollars are widely accepted for purchases on the Lao side of the border.

Administrative divisions

The province is made up of the following districts:

1. Bachiangchaleunsouk District (16-03)
2. Champassack District (16-07)
3. Khong District (16-10)
4. Mounlapamok District (16-09)
5. Pak Sé District (16-01)
6. Paksong District (16-04)
7. Pathoumphone District (16-05)
8. Phonthong District (16-06)
9. Sanasomboun District (16-02)
10. Soukhouma District (16-08)

Coordinates: 14°53′N 105°52′E / 14.883°N 105.867°E / 14.883; 105.867