Pakse is situated at the confluence of the Se River and the Mekong (Pakse means 'mouth of the Se'), surrounded by mountains. It is the capital of Champasak Province.

The Champasak area has a long history that began with Khmer occupation during the Funan and Chenla empires between the 1^st and 9^th centuries A.D. From the 10^th to 13^th centuries Champasak was part of the Angkor Empire. It broke away from the Lan Xang kingdom in the 18^th century.

The city of Pakse was built by the French early this century. During the colonial days, French used Pakse as its colonial administrative centre.

Nowadays, it is the second largest town in Laos and a busy trading town. Pakse is the most important town of South Laos. It is an important railroad junction and river port. The city is a distribution point for products, such as cardamom, tea, and cinchona, cultivated in the nearby Bolovens Plateau.

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