Kong Keo Guesthouse
Wooden bungalows with character
What we say: 
The front garden and entrance to the extremely popular Kong Keo is looking a bit dated these days with long grass and some scraps of furniture ready for the rubbish dump. In the corner is a wooden shack that does duty as a bar, but it would have to be one of the least attractive bars in town – head to Bamboozle for a drink instead. Stacked all around the grounds are loads of old bomb parts and other war remnants, but the highlight is a cosy wooden balcony, which serves as a restaurant. The menu is limited and the food is the standard Laos/traveller range you see in many places. Out the back is a collection of individual wooden bungalows, all with private bathroom and hot shower. They are clean, with big beds and piney scent, but quite basic and do let in their fair share of insects. Rooms in the main building are nothing special, less clean, most sharing a bathroom with hot shower and Western toilet which could do with a scrub, and without fan. The bungalows are definitely the better option. Perceptions of the Kong Keo are divided; some love the earthy atmosphere, some hate it because of how basic it is. When we visited it did feel that the whole place could do with a spruce up, but when you're paying these prices it's hard to complain too much. And besides, Kong Keo does have character. They run tours to the Plain of Jars, with price depending on the number of people, but outside of high season you'll struggle to get enough people together – rent a motorbike or visit a tour shop in town instead. Come here if you're on a strict budget, otherwise pay 20,000 more and get a more modern room elsewhere. To find this place, head to the main cluster of hotels in town and look for White Orchid Guesthouse. It's across from Nice Hotel. Head down that road and look for a sign pointing down a dusty dirt road to Kong Keo.
Check rates around Phonsavan best price guarantee!Contact details:
Down the road from White Orchid (follow the signs). T: (061) 211 354, (020) 658 2683Email them at: kongkeojar@hotmail.com
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Adam gave up a corporate career in 2009 and left Australia for the hustle and bustle of Southeast Asia. He now lives in Indonesia, where as well as writing for Travelfish.org he plays around with www.pergidulu.com.
What we were quoted
| Type of room | Low season | High season | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dbl fan share b'room | 50,000 Kip | 50,000 Kip | |
| Bungalow fan private b'room | 100,000 Kip | 100,000 Kip | |
| Sgl fan share b'room | 40,000 Kip | 40,000 Kip |
Added to Travelfish on: 23rd October, 2004
Last visited or updated on: 19th December, 2012
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Onward travel
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Muang Sui
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Read Kong Keo Guesthouse reviews
Rated 3.5 out of 5
Based on 11 ratings and 11 reviews
Rundown and Rats
My wife and I decided to stay in this guesthouse based on Lonely Planet review and also some positive reviews on Travelfish website, as it seemed like a good place to meet people and quite laid back. Initial impressions of the place were not bad , it seemed a bit run down but we decided that meant more character. We were shown one of the new rooms and also one of the bungalows, the room was dirty with dirty bedclothes but the bungalow seemed fine so we went for that. I am afraid after spending the night I have nothing good to say. I awoke in the middle of the night to hear something rummaging in one of the plastic bags in the room, and was not too happy to see a large brown rat scurry away. On looking closer at the room and the walls noticed that there were rat droppings around the walls in many places which suggests it is not a new problem.To add to this there was no water in the morning and also electricity. Avoid this place as seems to living off old lonely planet review and should not be open for trade.
Kong Keo Guesthouse reviewed by SCTrip2010 (Total reviews: 2) on
Fantastic tour and hospitality
What a place! We had heard about Kong before we arrived in Phonsavan, so when we arrived we set out to find him. Upon meeting him, we promptly booked a tour for the next day- he just sounded like an interesting guy and had a big character. We liked him straight away and we decided that he would offer more than just the typical tourist tour! At 9am the next moring we arrived with 2 friends and also 2 people who had been let down that morn- a lot of tour operaters in the town promise that they have the right numbers to go and then if they don't they just let you down- a bit crap as then you are stuck in Phonsavan longer than you want. Kong was up front about the situation and said he would only run the tour with min 4 people- hence why we found 2 friends!! So we ended up with max numbers-4 of us, plus 2 girls just doing the morning stuff, and then the 2 who were let down. A great group for a great day. We set off in a spacious people carrier with Zang (Kong's uncle) and visited some really interesting places (bomb craters, UFO's, cave, village that was badly bombed, Plain of jars), timing it perfectly so as not to bump in to another tourist! The tour was very relaxed and Zang was full of interesting information and had great humour. It was a long day, but was organised really well, with the right number of stops, and basically at our own pace. Zang was a great tour guide and a safe driver!!! We got back about 5, and Kong prepared a Laos BBQ for the group for a couple of dollars each. We had a fabulous night with fantastic food- some of which was cooked in a BBQ that was an old bomb shell!! Shots of Laos Laos were flowing all night as well as music and merriment provided by Kong and Zang. They said how much they were enjoying themselves, but I think it is the 8 of us that need to say what an absolutely fantastic evening we had- thank you very much- definately a highlight of our time in Laos. Everyone was sad that the evening had to end-but we all had buses to catch about 7am! (which so kindly Zang took us to the bus station) Sadly we did not stay at Kongs (as we checked in to another place before finding him), so I do not know what the rooms are like (hence ignore room ratings), but I would definately recommend looking him and his uncle up for a day trip. Top marks!!!! Thank you Kong- The Hunts!!
Kong Keo Guesthouse reviewed by dhunt81 (Total reviews: 1) on
My Favourite in all of Laos
I've been meaning to get on here for months now but when you get back home after travelling you never really seem to get around to anything.. Anyway, I'd like to say that this is a brilliant guesthouse! The place is very cheap and rooms good, but the main reason to come here is the staff - Kong himself is fluent in English and will almost certainly have been to more countries that you have, which means his conversation is amazing and he will be truly open and honest about Laos and its history.. his tour of the plain of jars and bomb craters and to a beautiful waterfall all in the one day was our best day in Laos.. but jamming with him and his kind brother on the guitar late at night was what sealed the deal for me.. Kong, if you are reading this, hope you are still doing well and remember Dave & Emma Irving
Kong Keo Guesthouse reviewed by daveirving (Total reviews: 3) on
best choice in this town
clean rooms, very valuable, hottest shower I got in Laos. Here you get the best trips with best guides.
Kong Keo Guesthouse reviewed by fritzla08 (Total reviews: 10) on
fine but cold!
Stayed in a bungalow for $5. There was supposed to be warm water but there wasn't. Enough blankets to keep warm but very cold if you have to use the toilet at night.There still is a fireplace and the owner is nice and speaks English quite well. Breakfast is only omlets or pancake but nice enough.
Kong Keo Guesthouse reviewed by milou13 (Total reviews: 8) on
Eccentric but welcoming
I enjoyed the Kong Keo very much, but I can see why some people might not. The $4 bungalow was nice, but there is a special knack to getting the water lukewarm rather than cold. Ask them to show you. Apparently the new $10 bungalows have 'real' hot water. The tour was good enough, but if you're on a budget and not many people are staying you could probably get cheaper at an agency in the town. The best thing about the place is the communal area with the fire in a bomb casing and the eccentric owner, who gives out lao-lao, sings crazy songs with his guitar and tells old Lao folk tales about Buffalo and Horses. He's priceless and in my view unmissable.
Kong Keo Guesthouse reviewed by pauljaymes (Total reviews: 3) on
Great time had
The Kong Keo guesthouse is THE guesthouse to stay in, in Phonsavan. I read about it in my guidebook and found a guy leading people there from the bus station - unfortunately all the bungalows were booked up when we arrived, and I'd definitely recommend them over the main building whose shared bathroom was possibly the worst feature of the guesthouse. However that night the owner cooked us two pigs and invited all his friends around for a party - many shots of lao-lao were consumed. The tour with the guest house was to site 1 of the Plain of Jars and a cratered field (where once there was a garage), and the Hmong village with Cluster bomb casings (used as pigeon coop stilts and fences). All these were amazing. We finished the tour at a hot springs which were really not good - A similar tour is provided with a waterfall instead though. The next night was more celebration... Overall the spirit, character and food make this guesthouse a vital part of your itinerary in Laos.
Kong Keo Guesthouse reviewed by hyacin3 (Total reviews: 2) on
Needs to wake up to iteslf
There is a lot more competition in town now, and Kong Keo's seems to still do well in recruiting guests. But it does little to keep them. The place really needs just a bit of basic maintenance, I mean the toilet seat in the upstairs bathroom was broken in half! Still no hot water and often no cold either while I was there. Tour mini-bus had two broken windows, not even plastic stuck over them to keep the wind and rain out. Minimal meals available, and the fireplace has gone so the communal area is a lot less inviting now. KK's still has more soul than some of the other guesthouses, but really needs to get its act together and reverse the decline into apathy.
Kong Keo Guesthouse reviewed by BC (Total reviews: 22) on
Surely there's a much better option in town
Not the best place to stay. Stayed in one of the bungalows. Even though the staff tell you there is hot water, there isn't and it is freezing at night!!! They have two options for tours around the area. We organised to go on one but on the day they made up an excuse because they only wanted to take one group out that day. So we couldn't go on the tour we wanted. Whatever you do, do not make an argeement with the guesthouse and a group of other people to be dropped off at the bus station. They will be keen at first then 15 minutes before the bus leaves they say the van has a flat battery before pointing out a 4WD and saying "needs a push start" and everyone in the group will take turns pushing the car around the airstrip out the front, until someone points out a jeep. Everyone in, but no one to drive. Back to pushing the jeep around. With a minute to spare someone else will come out and offer to take everyone to the station for an exorbitant amount because the bus is about to leave! I wouldn't stay there again. Be wary of overcharging.
Kong Keo Guesthouse reviewed by joant (Total reviews: 6) on
Great rooms but was that guy wasted or what?!
OK great double room in the house, $4 with bathroom and hot water at night, no complaints and interesting garden with war scraps used as planters and fence posts but the guy that ran the place geez...don't know what was up with him. 5 of us were trying to get an answer out of him about the tours he ran and the cost but he just kept laughing and wouldnt give us a straight answer. Finally he said $10US for a day each mumbling something about paying buffalo prices getting buffalo tour, pay chickens prices get chicken tour, but he was just such a waster we couldn't be sure what was going on so we booked in town at a travel agency for $10 for the day taking in Plain of Jars, village that uses bomb scraps in daily use, buddha cave and medicine cave. The caves were not too interesting but the first half of the day was. Personally I would only stay the full day in Phonsavan then move on. But anyway the accomodation was fine.
Kong Keo Guesthouse reviewed by noushymoo (Total reviews: 6) on
Much more than a bed for the night
Stayed in a bungalow - not five-star but comfortable enough. Didn't see any evidence of rats, possibly because there is a very approachable (and at the time, very pregnant) cat in residence, to be found around the bombshell fireplace in the evening. Food is definitely available now, and it is very good and very reasonably priced. Our hot water didn't work too well, but in fairness we never got around to asking to have it fixed/turned on/whatever so we can't really complain. Kong Keo, the owner, is a bright chap in every sense, a wealth of information, with excellent English (and some other languages too). He no longer works with MAG (ask him why) but is involved with local villages who deal with UXO every day in places other than tourist sites. Praise for his tours is well deserved - ''Pet'' wasn't available the day we went (we did meet him at the airport and he seems very good), but we had the pleasure of Kong Keo himself in the morning and Toovee (sp?) in the afternoon and they were great. Prices are about $10 per person now, and if numbers are low you can hire a car with guide for the day. Wish we had been able to spend more time at this place.
Kong Keo Guesthouse reviewed by BC (Total reviews: 22) on