A slow-paced town bracing for the inevitable onslaught of tourism, low-density Attapeu is recommended if you have the time to get here. Few tuk-tuks seem to traverse the streets, but walking is the best way to explore anyway, ideally in the early morning or late afternoon, and the town grid is unusually straightforward. Mosquitoes are abundant in the rainy season so be sure to protect yourself as malaria is a seasonal risk here.

Within reach of the town are a range of natural sights -- including the Dong Ampham Forest and Xepiane Forest -- a portion of the historically important Ho Chi Minh trail, cultural items of interest and villages home to many ethnic groups, including the Oye, Tallang, Yae, Lavenh, Yaheune, Lavae, Cheng, Ta Oy, Hmong and Lao Lum. Local entrepreneurs offer treks to villages in the hills around the town, which are still novel for this region and should be considered by the adventurous and culturally sensitive only. Dress conservatively and take adequate sun protection, water and mosquito repellent.

Two main impediments have stymied tourism development in the region: unexploded ordnance (UXO) and poor public transport. Considerable clearance of UXO has been undertaken but as you'd expect in one of the most heavily bombed nations on earth, plenty remain and unescorted bush-bashing is strongly discouraged. Established tracks are considered safe and exploration with a guide is not enforced but prudent.

The road from Attapeu to Pakse is terrific, but the buses are appalling and often take six to seven hours to make what should be a two or three hour trip. It is possible to charter vehicles in Pakse, so if you can rustle a group together keep this in mind.

Orientation
Attapeu is bordered to the east and south by the Sekong River. The southern stretch is where you'll find the riverside restaurants, the hospital, some places to stay, and the ferry to Ban Sekhaman. To the east you'll find the market and the bridge to Xaysettha. There isn't much to see or do to the north and west of the Attapeu Palace, with the exception of the bus station and the road to Sanamxai, 3km from the town center along the main road.

There's only one internet terminal publicly available in Attapeu -- at the Attapeu Palace. It costs 1,000 kip per minute, and only works when someone is around who knows how to hook it up -- the night staff generally don't know anything about it, so try to show up before 19:00.

The post office (T:(036) 211 012) is located across the street from the Attapeu Palace -- open weekdays from 08:00 to 11:30. Though there's a prominent sign advertising Western Union services, no such services exist here -- only at the Lao Development Bank in the centre of town, open weekdays 08:30 to 3:30. You can exchange Baht and US dollars and cash travellers' cheques -- no credit card advances are available. You can also pick up some Vietnamese dong at the Thanh Nga Guesthouse if you're headed to Vietnam.