{"id":1255,"date":"2022-11-27T07:04:49","date_gmt":"2022-11-27T07:04:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.salalaoboutique.com\/saladonekhone\/?page_id=1255"},"modified":"2025-05-06T07:56:57","modified_gmt":"2025-05-06T07:56:57","slug":"history","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.salalaoboutique.com\/saladonekhone\/history\/","title":{"rendered":"History"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color has-large-font-size wp-elements-2c2b8e5555c15a5bb6b33fe9f2b6692b\" style=\"text-decoration:underline\"><strong><em>Sala Done Khone Boutique Hotel: Where History and Luxury Mee<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color has-medium-font-size wp-elements-ef8933d931c2c586bb4410bdda3331a3\"><strong><em>\u201cHistory creates legends, and legends create history\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<style>\n  .container {\n    display: flex;\n    align-items: center;\n    justify-content: space-between;\n  }\n\n  .text-left {\n    font-family: 'Gosent', sans-serif;\n    font-size: 20px;\n    color: black;\n    text-align: left;\n    max-width: 60%; \/* \u0e08\u0e33\u0e01\u0e31\u0e14\u0e02\u0e19\u0e32\u0e14\u0e02\u0e49\u0e2d\u0e04\u0e27\u0e32\u0e21 *\/\n  }\n\n  .image-right {\n    width: 300px; \/* \u0e1b\u0e23\u0e31\u0e1a\u0e02\u0e19\u0e32\u0e14\u0e23\u0e39\u0e1b\u0e15\u0e32\u0e21\u0e15\u0e49\u0e2d\u0e07\u0e01\u0e32\u0e23 *\/\n    margin-left: 20px;\n  }\n\n  \/* \u0e1b\u0e23\u0e31\u0e1a\u0e15\u0e33\u0e41\u0e2b\u0e19\u0e48\u0e07\u0e23\u0e39\u0e1b\u0e41\u0e25\u0e30\u0e02\u0e49\u0e2d\u0e04\u0e27\u0e32\u0e21\u0e43\u0e2b\u0e49\u0e2a\u0e25\u0e31\u0e1a\u0e01\u0e31\u0e19 *\/\n  .container-reverse {\n    display: flex;\n    align-items: center;\n    justify-content: space-between;\n    flex-direction: row-reverse; \/* \u0e2a\u0e25\u0e31\u0e1a\u0e15\u0e33\u0e41\u0e2b\u0e19\u0e48\u0e07\u0e02\u0e49\u0e2d\u0e04\u0e27\u0e32\u0e21\u0e41\u0e25\u0e30\u0e23\u0e39\u0e1b *\/\n  }\n\n  .custom-font-medium {\n    font-family: 'Gosent', sans-serif;\n    font-size: 20px; \/* \u0e40\u0e1b\u0e25\u0e35\u0e48\u0e22\u0e19\u0e02\u0e19\u0e32\u0e14\u0e1f\u0e2d\u0e19\u0e15\u0e4c\u0e40\u0e1b\u0e47\u0e19 20px *\/\n    color: black;\n    text-align: center;\n  }\n\n  .custom-font-left {\n    font-family: 'Gosent', sans-serif;\n    font-size: 30px; \/* \u0e40\u0e1b\u0e25\u0e35\u0e48\u0e22\u0e19\u0e02\u0e19\u0e32\u0e14\u0e1f\u0e2d\u0e19\u0e15\u0e4c\u0e40\u0e1b\u0e47\u0e19 30px *\/\n    color: black;\n    text-align: left;\n    font-weight: bold;\n  }\n .center-image {\n    display: block;\n    margin-left: auto;\n    margin-right: auto;\n    width: 50%; \/* \u0e1b\u0e23\u0e31\u0e1a\u0e02\u0e19\u0e32\u0e14\u0e15\u0e32\u0e21\u0e15\u0e49\u0e2d\u0e07\u0e01\u0e32\u0e23 *\/\n  }\n.custom-font-small {\n  font-family: 'Gosent', sans-serif;\n  font-size: 20px; \/* \u0e40\u0e1b\u0e25\u0e35\u0e48\u0e22\u0e19\u0e02\u0e19\u0e32\u0e14\u0e1f\u0e2d\u0e19\u0e15\u0e4c\u0e40\u0e1b\u0e47\u0e19 20px *\/\n  color: black;\n  text-align: left;\n}\n.center-images {\n  display: flex;\n  justify-content: center;  \/* Centers the images horizontally *\/\n  align-items: center;      \/* Vertically centers the images (optional) *\/\n  gap: 20px;                \/* Adds space between the images *\/\n}\n\n.image-center {\n  width: 45%;               \/* Adjust width of the images as needed *\/\n  display: block;           \/* Makes sure the images are treated as block elements *\/\n}\n.underline-italic {\n  font-family: 'Gosent', sans-serif;\n  font-size: 30px; \/* \u0e40\u0e1b\u0e25\u0e35\u0e48\u0e22\u0e19\u0e02\u0e19\u0e32\u0e14\u0e1f\u0e2d\u0e19\u0e15\u0e4c\u0e40\u0e1b\u0e47\u0e19 30px *\/\n  color: black;\n  text-align: left;\n  font-weight: bold;\n  text-decoration: underline; \/* \u0e40\u0e1e\u0e34\u0e48\u0e21\u0e40\u0e2a\u0e49\u0e19\u0e02\u0e35\u0e14\u0e43\u0e15\u0e49 *\/\n  font-style: italic; \/* \u0e17\u0e33\u0e43\u0e2b\u0e49\u0e15\u0e31\u0e27\u0e2d\u0e31\u0e01\u0e29\u0e23\u0e40\u0e2d\u0e35\u0e22\u0e07 *\/\n}\n.large-s {\n    font-size: 40px; \/* \u0e1b\u0e23\u0e31\u0e1a\u0e02\u0e19\u0e32\u0e14\u0e15\u0e31\u0e27 S \u0e43\u0e2b\u0e0d\u0e48\u0e02\u0e36\u0e49\u0e19 *\/\n    font-weight: bold; \/* \u0e40\u0e1e\u0e34\u0e48\u0e21\u0e04\u0e27\u0e32\u0e21\u0e2b\u0e19\u0e32\u0e02\u0e2d\u0e07\u0e15\u0e31\u0e27 S *\/\n}\n.highlight-text {\n    text-decoration: underline; \/* \u0e40\u0e1e\u0e34\u0e48\u0e21\u0e40\u0e2a\u0e49\u0e19\u0e02\u0e35\u0e14\u0e43\u0e15\u0e49 *\/\n    font-style: italic; \/* \u0e17\u0e33\u0e43\u0e2b\u0e49\u0e15\u0e31\u0e27\u0e2d\u0e31\u0e01\u0e29\u0e23\u0e40\u0e2d\u0e35\u0e22\u0e07 *\/\n    color: blue; \/* \u0e40\u0e1b\u0e25\u0e35\u0e48\u0e22\u0e19\u0e2a\u0e35\u0e40\u0e1b\u0e47\u0e19\u0e1f\u0e49\u0e32 *\/\n}\n<\/style>\n\n<br>\n<div class=\"custom-font-medium\">\n  History and legend are intertwined at Sala Done Khone Boutique Hotel, a <br>\n  beautiful property located on the banks of the Mekong River in Laos. The hotel is <br>\n  built on the site of a former French colonial railway station, and its stunning <br>\n  architecture and rich history make it a must-visit for any traveler interested in <br>\n  Southeast Asia.\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"custom-font-left underline-italic\">\n  Introduction:\n<\/div>\n\n<!-- \u0e23\u0e39\u0e1b\u0e41\u0e23\u0e01\u0e2d\u0e22\u0e39\u0e48\u0e14\u0e49\u0e32\u0e19\u0e02\u0e27\u0e32 -->\n<div class=\"container\">\n <div class=\"text-left\">\n    <span class=\"large-s\">S<\/span>even kilometers southward from the hotel&#8217;s current position, one can find the remnants of a French colonial pier. It is from this very spot that Ban Khone&#8217;s contemporary history unfolded.<br>\n    \u201cHistory creates legends, and legends create history\u201d\n<\/div>\n  <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.salalaoboutique.com\/saladonekhone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Ban-Hang-Khone.jpg\" class=\"image-right\" alt=\"Ban Khone Image\">\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"custom-font-medium\">\n  <span class=\"large-s\">F<\/span>or centuries, the Mekong River has been an important trade route for people living along its banks. However, the river&#8217;s fluctuating water levels (floods and droughts), as well as its course that is filled with rapids and waterfalls, make navigation on some parts of the river dangerous or impossible.\n<\/div>\n\n<!-- \u0e23\u0e39\u0e1b\u0e17\u0e35\u0e48 2 \u0e2d\u0e22\u0e39\u0e48\u0e14\u0e49\u0e32\u0e19\u0e0b\u0e49\u0e32\u0e22 -->\n<div class=\"container-reverse\">\n  <div class=\"text-left\">\n     <span class=\"large-s\">T<\/span>he Khone Phapheang Falls, a large waterfall, block natural navigation. <br>\n    And due to its location and terrain, Khone Island serves as a connecting point between the lower and middle Mekong river basins. <br>\n    Khone Island has been in the midst of various kingdoms, but it often served as a natural border line. Control of Khone Island has always been strategically important.\n  <\/div>\n  <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.salalaoboutique.com\/saladonekhone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Khone-Phapheang.jpg\" class=\"image-right\" alt=\"Khone Phapheang Falls\">\n<\/div>\n<br>\n\n<div class=\"custom-font-left underline-italic\">\n  The Construction of the Khone Island Railway\n<\/div>\n<br>\n<div class=\"container-reverse\">\n  <div class=\"text-left\">\n    <span class=\"large-s\">A<\/span> t this point, the Mekong River is \nabout 11 kilometers wide, consisting of \nsix main islands and many small rocky \nislands, which the Lao call this area \u201cSi \nPhan Done\u201d (4,000 Islands). The river \nflows swiftly through rapids and a \nwaterfall up to 14 meters high, named \n\u201cKhone Phapheang Falls\u201d, making it \nimpossible to use for cargo \ntransportation. To overcome this \nnatural obstacle to navigation, boaters had to choose Khone Island, as the island&#8217;s \nterrain makes it accessible from both the north and south, regardless of the water \nlevel. Additionally, the distance for cargo transportation on Khone Island is shorter \nthan on other islands.\n  <\/div>\n  <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.salalaoboutique.com\/saladonekhone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/\u0e19\u0e49\u0e33\u0e15\u0e01\u0e2b\u0e25\u0e35\u0e48\u0e1c\u0e35-1-scaled.jpg\" class=\"image-right\" alt=\"Khone Phapheang Falls\">\n<\/div>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.salalaoboutique.com\/saladonekhone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/image.png\" class=\"center-image\" alt=\"Image Description\">\n<br>\n<br>\n<div class=\"container-reverse\">\n<br>\n  <div class=\"text-left\">\n  <span class=\"large-s\">T<\/span> herefore, on April 9, 1896, the \nconstruction of the Khone Island \nRailway began. It was estimated that \nnearly 2,500 sleepers would be needed. \nJust three years after laying the first \ntrack for the transport of boats \nGarcerie, Colombert and Trentinian, \nthey were able to cross to Khone Island \nsuccessfully.\n  <\/div>\n  <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.salalaoboutique.com\/saladonekhone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/WhatsApp-Image-2024-10-21-at-20.34.33.jpeg\" class=\"image-right\" alt=\"Khone Phapheang Falls\">\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"container\">\n  <div class=\"text-left\">\n    <span class=\"large-s\">T<\/span>he railway on Khone Island was divided into two phases. The first phase (1896-1920) began from the port at Ban Hang Khone, the southernmost tip of the island (there are still traces of the old port), to Ban Khone North, the northernmost tip of the island. The purpose was to transport goods, passengers, and military supplies of the French \n  <\/div>\n  <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.salalaoboutique.com\/saladonekhone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/image-1.png\" class=\"image-right\" alt=\"Ban Khone Image\">\n<\/div>\n<div  class=\"custom-font-small\">\n\ncolony with its center in Saigon, up the Mekong River through Cambodia to the port \non the southern side of Khone Island. Then, they changed to trains to the port on the \nnorthern side of Khone Island, and then changed to boats to go up north to the \nprovinces in the north of Laos. The construction of the first phase was awarded to \n\u201cthe Compagnie Saigonaise de Navigation et de Transport\u201d.\n<\/div>\n<br>\n<div class=\"container-reverse\">\n\n  <div class=\"text-left\">\n   <span class=\"large-s\">D<\/span>uring this period, many public \n   utilities were built, including ports, railway \n   stations, military headquarters, railway \n   worker&#8217;s houses and high-ranking officer&#8217;s \n   houses, shipyards, markets, and more.\n   <span class=\"highlight-text\">The legend of the \u201cFrench Heritage building\u201d began here.<\/span>\n<\/div>\n  <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.salalaoboutique.com\/saladonekhone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/bpt6k6535267n_f470_cr-1.jpg\" class=\"image-right\" alt=\"Khone Phapheang Falls\">\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"container\">\n  <div class=\"text-left\">\n   <span class=\"large-s\">I<\/span> f you sit on the balcony of the heritage house and face west, you will see \nSala Done Khone restaurant today. Close your eyes and imagine back to the year \n1896, or about 120 years ago. In front of you, about 50 meters away from the \nMekong River, you will see the old \nFrench-style concrete pier. \n  <\/div>\n  <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.salalaoboutique.com\/saladonekhone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Don-Khone2.jpg\" class=\"image-right\" alt=\"Ban Khone Image\">\n<\/div>\n<div  class=\"custom-font-small\">village concrete road is where the railway used to be. If you go north for about 1 km, you will reach the port at the head of Khone Island, and if you go left for about 6 km, you will each the port at the tail of Khone Island. About 50 meters to the left of you is \u201cthe Khone Railway Station\u201d.\n<\/div>\n<br>\n <\/div>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.salalaoboutique.com\/saladonekhone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/WhatsApp-Image-2024-10-23-at-20.38.09.jpeg\" class=\"center-image\" alt=\"Khone Phapheang Falls\">\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"container\">\n  <div class=\"text-left\">\n   <span class=\"large-s\">A<\/span>bout 100 meters further is the house of the Khone Island district commander (about 10 years ago, the owner of Sala Done Khone Hotel saw traces of European-style bathtubs and toilets remaining. Today, it has been demolished and replaced by people&#8217;s houses). Next to it to the left, south (currently Sompamith&#8217;s Guesthouse), It used to be a shipyard that was transported via train from Ban Hang Khon Pier to be assembled here. \n  <\/div>\n  <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.salalaoboutique.com\/saladonekhone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/btv1b59681998_f1-1.jpg\" class=\"image-right\" alt=\"Ban Khone Image\">\n<\/div> \n<br>\n<div class=\"center-images\">\n  <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.salalaoboutique.com\/saladonekhone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/WhatsApp-Image-2024-11-17-at-23.08.50-1.jpeg\" class=\"image-center\" alt=\"Khone Phapheang Falls\">\n  <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.salalaoboutique.com\/saladonekhone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/btv1b5968212p_f1.jpg\" class=\"image-center\" alt=\"Khone Phapheang Falls\">\n<\/div>\n<div  class=\"custom-font-small\">\u201cThe French heritage building\u201d of Sala Done Khone Hotel, after France granted \nindependence to Laos (around after 1954), was abandoned for about 10 years. \nLater, it was used as a village health center until 1996, when it was sold to a private \ncompany (the current hotel owner) to conserve and develop as the first resort in the \nKhone Island area, named \u201cAuberge de Sala Done Khone\u201d, and later expanded \nthe business to become the \u201cSala Done Khone boutique hotel\u201d until the present\n<\/div>\n<br>\n<br>\n<div class=\"custom-font-small\"> \n <span class=\"large-s\">A<\/span>fter being purchased in 1996, this French heritage house consists of two  buildings. The first building in the front has 6 bedrooms. The small building in the back has 3 rooms, one kitchen and two rooms for servants. The condition of the house was very deteriorated both inside and outside, but thanks to the French architect who designed and constructed this building, most of the structure is still very solid and strong.\n  <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.salalaoboutique.com\/saladonekhone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/WhatsApp-Image-2024-10-23-at-20.42.51.jpeg\" class=\"center-image\" alt=\"Heritage House Image\">\n It is estimated that this building was built to \n  accommodate high-ranking officials of the French Indochina colony who came to \n  work and relax in this area. According to the recorded information, during the years \n  1900-1920, high-ranking officials such as the colonial governor came to inspect the \n  Four Thousand Islands area, including Mr. Paul Doumer (Governor-General of \n  French Indochina from 1897 to 1902, President of the French Republic from 1931, \n  he was assassinated on May 6, 1932), who came to work on Khong Island and \n  stopped here before returning.\n<\/div>\n<br>\n<br>\n<div  class=\"custom-font-small\">\u201cThe French heritage building\u201d of Sala Done Khone Hotel, after France granted \nindependence to Laos (around after 1954), was abandoned for about 10 years. \nLater, it was used as a village health center until 1996, when it was sold to a private \ncompany (the current hotel owner) to conserve and develop as the first resort in the \nKhone Island area, named \u201cAuberge de Sala Done Khone\u201d, and later expanded \nthe business to become the \u201cSala Done Khone boutique hotel\u201d until the present\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color has-medium-font-size wp-elements-60bba3c58072d57b468eea4932a89ea4\">Today, <em><span style=\"color: blue; font-size: 25px;\">Sala Done Khone Boutique Hotel<\/span> <\/em><span style=\"font-size: 20px;\">is a popular destination for travelers from all over the world.<\/span><br><strong><em> \u201cAll things must come into being and pass away over time, but legends will always remain<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Data:<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\uf0b7 French National Library<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\uf0b7 Ecole Francaise d\u2019Extreame-Orient (EFEO)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\uf0b7 University of Cote d\u2019Azur, Franc<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Sala Done Khone Boutique Hotel: Where History and Luxury Mee \u201cHistory creates legends, and legends create history\u201d History and legend are intertwined at Sala Done Khone Boutique Hotel, a beautiful property located on the banks of the Mekong River in Laos. The hotel is built on the site of a former French colonial railway station, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1255","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry","post"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.salalaoboutique.com\/saladonekhone\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1255"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.salalaoboutique.com\/saladonekhone\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.salalaoboutique.com\/saladonekhone\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.salalaoboutique.com\/saladonekhone\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.salalaoboutique.com\/saladonekhone\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1255"}],"version-history":[{"count":214,"href":"https:\/\/www.salalaoboutique.com\/saladonekhone\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1255\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2495,"href":"https:\/\/www.salalaoboutique.com\/saladonekhone\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1255\/revisions\/2495"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.salalaoboutique.com\/saladonekhone\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1255"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}