Kham Mouan

Thakhek (Kham Mouan) is a town in south-central Laos on the Mekong River and facing Nakhon Phanom across the river in northeastern Thailand. It is the capital of Khammouane Province.

The city has many French colonial style official buildings, villas and shops. Western scientists first encountered the Laotian rock rat - kha-nyou (Laonastes aenigmamus) in Thakhek's market. Remnants of the abortive Thakhek - Tan Ap railway can be seen in and near the town. The railway would have run between Thakhek and Tân Ấp Railway Station, Quảng Bình Province, Vietnam through the Mụ Giạ Pass. In 1943, 85% of the population of Thakhek were Vietnamese due to French policy of encouraging Vietnamese immigrants to Laos.

Construction of the Third Thai–Lao Friendship Bridge, linking Thakhek to Nakhon Phanom, started in 2009 and was commemorated on 11/11/11.

The population is 85,000 people according to 2012 census data.

District & municipality in Khammouane Province, Laos, Thakhèk is situated in Khammouan, Laos and has an approximate population of 85,000 people. The local currency used in Laos is LAK Kip. The languages that are spoken in Laos are mainly Lao, French and English.