Kaysone Phomvihane City has earned a place among Laos’s top travel destinations, becoming one of four Lao cities to receive the ASEAN Clean Tourist City Award 2026-2028.
The announcement took place in early January in Cebu, the Philippines, alongside fellow Lao winners Luang Prabang City, Viengxay district in Houaphanh, and Pakse City in Champasak.
The award recognizes the city’s excellence across several key criteria, including effective waste disposal and hygiene standards, community-led initiatives for cleanliness and preservation, well-maintained green spaces, strong tourism infrastructure, and a peaceful and healthy environment for visitors.
As the capital of Savannakhet, Laos’ largest province, the city holds a strategic position as a regional transit hub, connecting travelers between Thailand and Vietnam, and facilitating travel southward from Vientiane.
Originally called Khanthabouly, the city was renamed in 2005 in honor of Kaysone Phomvihane, the nation’s first Prime Minister and revolutionary leader, and in 2018, it officially gained city status, joining Luang Prabang and Pakse in this distinction.
Savannakhet holds a strategic position as a regional transit hub, connecting travelers between Thailand and Vietnam and those heading from Vientiane southward.
The ASEAN Clean Tourist City Award is widely regarded as a vital benchmark for raising service standards across Laos, bolstering international marketing efforts and giving travelers greater confidence in the quality, safety, and cleanliness of their visit.


