Savannakhet, Laos

Savannakhet town is situated on the banks of the Mekong river opposite Mukdahan in Thailand.  The province bridges the country between Thailand and Vietnam, and the town is a very active junction for trade between the two countries.  The town itself can be easily explored by foot and has a number of interesting temples, including Vietnamese temple and school plus a large Catholic church. Much of the town's architecture is French Colonial. Numerous examples of French architecture tell of the town's importance during the colonial era. You can reach Savannakhet by boat from the north (Vientiane, Tha Khek) or the south (Pakse), although these services change regularly. Buses run several times a day from Vientiane, Tha Kek and Pakse. The journey takes up to nine hours from Vientiane.

See this link for more history of Savannakhet, including pictures from the ceremony for the opening of the Lao-Thai Bridge (also widely known as the Friendship Bridge) http://www.savannanet.com/savannakhet.html