Champasak province
The kingdom had only three kings, Soi Sisamut (1713–37), nephew of Suriya Vangas, Sainya Kuman (1737–91) and lastly Fai Na (1791–1811).[4] The Mekong forms part of the border with neighboring Thailand and, after a sharp bend projecting westward, turns east and flows southeasterly through the province down to Cambodia.Champasak can be reached from Thailand through Sirindhorn District's Chong Mek border crossing, to Vang Tao on the Lao side, from where the highway leads east towards the provincial capital, Pakse.The Khone Phapheng Falls to the east of Don Khon, also on the Mekong, cascade along a broad mouth of rock slopes in a curvilinear pattern.[2] The Mekong Channel from Phou Xiang Thong to Siphandon Important Bird Area (IBA) is 34,200 ha (85,000 acres) in size.A portion of the IBA (10,000 hectares) overlaps with the 120,000 ha (300,000 acres) Phou Xieng Thong National Protected Area.Notable avifauna include the grey-faced tit-babbler, green peafowl, red-collared woodpecker, and Siamese fireback.[2] Following the building of the Lao Nippon bridge across the Mekong at Pakse in 2002, trade with Thailand has multiplied several fold.The bridge lies at the junction of roads to the Bolaven Plateau in the east, Thailand in the west, and Si Phan Don to the south.[14] Tormor Rocky Channel is the 15th National Heritage Site in Laos; it is about 11 km (6.8 mi) southeast of Wat Phou Champasak on the left bank of the Mekong.[2] The museum has few artifacts, but many old documents, three old Dong Son bronze drums, 7th century lintels made of sandstone, textile and jewelry collections including items such as iron ankle bracelets, ivory ear plugs, musical instruments, a stele in Thai script (15th to 18th century), a water jar of 11th or 12th century vintage, a small Shiva linga, a model of Wat Phu Champasak, Buddha images, and American weaponry.During the third lunar month (February), celebrations at Angkor precede Champasack's traditional Wat Phou Festival at the site of ruins.The festival is noted for elephant racing, cockfighting, and cultural performances of traditional Lao music and dance.