Tourist Attractions & Monuments Laos

That Dam means "black stupa". It is one of the oldest monuments in Vientiane, and its corroded coating is beginning to crumble... However, under its decaying appearance, it is said to shelter the seven-headed dragon, the city's saviour who appeared in 1828, in whose honour this monument was built in the 14th century... According to another legend, it was originally covered with gold, then was plundered in 1828; it was therefore renamed the black stupa, in memory of this despicable act. It is located in the middle of a quiet square, in the middle of a small garden.

A statue of King Sisavang Vong is enthroned at the main entrance of this temple which is very important to the inhabitants. Indeed, it contains the square pillar that founded the city, considered to be the home of Vientiane's protective spirit and its tutelary genius. Its phallic form also makes it a place of worship for fertility. As such, it is one of the most visited temples in the capital. It was erected in 1563, when King Setthathirath settled in his new capital. Destroyed in the 19th century, the sim was rebuilt in 1915. An old statue of the Buddha currently surrounding the pillar is said to have powers of divination and may grant certain wishes, particularly those relating to procreation. Legend has it that the king asked that a hole be dug to house the pillar, and that it be big enough to house a person and a horse. A woman three months pregnant came on foot from a village a day's walk away to offer herself as a sacrifice. She was put in the hole and then a horse was forced in there as well. Both were buried alive. Buddhists from Laos and other countries are attracted by the miraculous powers that the temple would possess. The faithful come here to share their wishes that they hope will be granted. If these wishes come true, then they must return to give offerings (candles, coconuts, food, money...). These offerings can be obtained at the entrance if you wish to perform these rituals.

The city of Sepon, or Xepon, is one of the starting points to cross the Ho Chi Minh trail. The many debris still visible are minute compared to the countless anti-personnel mines hidden by the surrounding vegetation and scattered throughout the territory. To really understand the extent of the bombings and this period of history, one must get off the beaten track and follow a local guide. The accommodations and restaurants of the circuit are present but sketchy.
The Ho Chi Minh Trail is a complex network of trails and dirt and gravel roads linking Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. In Laos, it starts east of Savannakhet and runs along the Vietnamese border. Used in particular by the Viet Minh in the 1950s to infiltrate the south of the territory occupied by the French, this trail is mainly associated with the Indochina War (1963-1974) and the Vietnam War (1955-1975). The Vietnamese long denied its existence, even when the Americans were continuously bombing the region. It was used by the Vietnamese People's Army to supply South Vietnam. It passed through the areas that were then under the control of the Pathet Lao. The Ho Chi Minh Trail, also known as the Truong Son Trail, has a total length of over 2,000 km.

Recommendation: Never venture off the tracks alone! Because many unexploded bombs on impact (UXO) are still buried in the ground and could explode. Extreme caution must be exercised.

This cave is covered by large trees and procedurally. The artisans of Ban Taad's village manufacture traditional musical instruments for their quality.

This village of weavers is the right place to buy quality fabric at low prices. If you take the bus linking Phonsavan and Sam Neua (2 hours and 4 hours from the village), or the bus to Nong Khiaw (6 hours), this place is a quick stop to eat and buy some handicrafts. If you miss your connection, Nam Neun has a restaurant and a guesthouse, very basic but at least it helps. The next day to leave, get up early because bus and songtheo are few.

Located on the banks of the Mekong River, this monastery is famous for the carved wooden panels that adorn its doors and windows. From the original place of worship, destroyed in 1827 by the Siamese, only an imposing bronze Buddha in a seated position remains. Several statues of elephants adorn the courtyard of the enclosure. There is also a beautiful image of a Buddha calling for rain, the last remnant of a series of mural illustrations also destroyed during the multiple invasions. About twenty young monks live within these walls.

English site on the music of Laotian artists installed worldwide, and especially in the United States. Pictures, music extracts, interviews, musicians of all styles.

Branch of the Economic Mission of the Embassy of France in Laos, which regularly publishes information on the country's economy and bilateral relations.

To keep up-to-date on the political, cultural and foreign news of Laos, here is the virtual version of the English newspaper in Vientiane, which appears every day. Many ads and cinema program.

The website of Laos's Francophone weekly magazine.

Commercial site in English on tourist interests in Laos, and events there.

It is the ecotourism branch of the Lao Tourism national office, with information on the various activities and programmes offered to tourists, respecting nature and traditions. In English.

Website of the Lao National Tourist Office.

The Lao Fact Book of the CIA, containing all statistics and news from the country: economic, demographic, political, etc. data by the US government.

These are the travel councils of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Select from the list of countries Laos to know the conditions of security, health, etc. at the time of your trip, and special precautions to take.

Official site of the Embassy of Laos in France (Paris), for example obtaining information on visa applications.

The site of the French Embassy in Laos (Vientiane). In addition to official information, there is an agenda for Franco-Lao cultural events, as well as a few ideas of travel to Laos.

This is a virtual library dedicated to Laos, in English since this site is Australian. It is not up to date, but contains a wealth of extensive information, maps, corporate articles, politics, history, photos and links that make it a serious and highly documented site.

This English site proposes to display all cultural and artistic events in the country of your choice for the coming year. Select Laos from the list…

Amateurs of colors, this site will surprise you. A large quantity of quality and high-quality photos illustrates this site dedicated to Laos and the ceremonies that are taking place there. This site is also intended to be an ambassador from Laos abroad by proposing, among other things, pages on history or poems, but also many links to Laos media and associations.

If you are looking for pictures of Laos and its recoins and a high-colour site, you may be disappointed. On the other hand, you will find a remarkable source of information here. This veritable encyclopedia will delight all those who wish to know the country's detailed history, but also local traditional medicine, Who's Who Laos, the music, the economy, geography, religion and the founding texts that have contributed to the evolution of Laos. Unavoidable.

Laos in music and image, this is what is proposed to you on this site: an original way to discover the culture of this country.

Brief presentation of Laos by a child of the country living in France. In particular, there is a description of the daily rhythm of the Laotian people.

A very comprehensive site created by Laotiens to make their country known, including the town of Luang Prabang. On the menu, a presentation of the different aspects of Laos, some recipes, photos…

Site of an American association for the defence of the rights of Hmong people living in Laos, listing all official actions and communications in the world on this subject.

This project was initiated by the travel agency Exotissimo and the German GTZ organization to create an ecotourism programme managed by the Akha community.

You can discover the daily life of this community and its environment. The groups are limited to 8 people. A joint fund has been set up to create a solidarity fund for the development of the village and a percentage of the towers are paid.

Contact the tourist office or the Exotissimo tour operator (tel (021) 252 382 - [email protected]).

With that of Muang Sing, the Luang Nam Tha tourism office is one of the best in Laos. English speaking Staff organizes ecotourism outings from 1 to 4 days. Departures occur several times in the week, provided that enough people are gathered.

You'll have the choice between trekking, T.T.T… Écoguides are locally trained under the Nam Ha Ecotourism Project. If there is no departure, you can always take advantage of the courses in the surroundings, some are feasible for bicycle or walking.

Framed by a young dynamic team speaking fairly well English, you will find a printed map of the city, the timetables for transport and, above all, information about the proposed trekkings in the region in the context of ecotourism and guided by residents of traditional villages trained.

Find out about planned travel (depending on the number of participants) and book your place.

At least one person speaks English. Here you will find practical information (transport schedules, city map…) and excursions to the region: visits to villages inhabited by ethnic minorities, coffee plantations at the Plateau des Bolovens, hiking in the protected national area of Xe Pian. The tourism office deals with the organization in collaboration with the local guides, but the participants need to be enough to make a start. There is also a tourist office in the Champassak Palace. You will find a good welcome and people who speak French.

Many panels explain the lives of the different ethnic groups living around. According to the days of the week, the office and its guides organise outings from 1 to 3 days. The groups are limited to 8 people. This organization allows to meet many ethnicities and ways of living, while participating in their protection.

To reach this cave you will have to cross rice fields and villages, the road leading to it is worth the trip alone! Tham Pha Tok was used as a military base by the Pathet Lao during the civil war, you can even see craters caused by bombs and bullet impacts on the walls on your way to the second cave. This excursion is not recommended for people with reduced mobility as the interior is very dark and some parts are quite difficult to access. A historical site in the area.

These beautiful 7 m high (and 100 m wide) falls are also called Tad Se Noy. Tad Hua Khon means "falls of human heads" because during the war, the Japanese threw the heads of Lao resistance fighters into the falls and beheaded them. Laotians now come there at weekends to picnic and bathe. The water is sometimes up to 10 meters deep, ideal for good swimmers, a little less for others... To get there, take road 16 to km 16 and cross the bridge... The waterfalls are close by.

This easily accessible cave is located southwest of the city, just after the second bridge. Its particularity is that it was used as a bunker during the Chinese invasion at the beginning of the 19th century. The gallery extends over 4 km but it is only illuminated for 800 m. A spring is located about 50 meters after the entrance. Outside, it is possible to swim in the lake, from where you can access another cave. Nearby is another small cave with a sitting Buddha.

This mountain offers different climbing circuits to be reserved for the most adventurous. To reach the summit and the Lusi cave, you will have to climb many walls with the help of rocks or frail bamboo ladders... It is a high-risk climb that we strongly advise against. If you want to do it with full knowledge of the facts, you should check out the climbing clubs in the town, which offer professional supervision and adequate equipment.

The caves of Vieng Xai, also known as the caves of the Lao Pathet, are one of the most fascinating testimonies of the Vietnam War (or Second Indochina War), the one that gave birth to the Lao People's Democratic Republic.

For nearly a decade, about 23,000 soldiers and civilians survived the intense aerial bombardment by the U.S. Air Force by living underground in this hidden city. There have been more than 100 caves, but only about 20 are officially open to visitors, the same ones that were occupied by prominent members of the Pathet Lao during the period 1964 to 1973. As they are scattered at the bottom of a valley, in the middle of limestone massifs (karstic formations) covered by tropical vegetation, aerial observation was almost impossible. Some caves are shallow and have been enlarged with explosives and their entrances protected by concrete walls. Real small bunkers were built inside to protect against intensive bombardment. This is also where the American prisoners were imprisoned. From 1973 onwards, villas and other outbuildings were built outside the cave shelters, as the American bombardments had ceased. It should be noted that it was in this region that the Pathet Lao had set up re-education camps, where Party opponents such as members of the royal family, pro-Western intellectuals, etc. were interned. The programme included forced indoctrination and hard physical labour.

It is now possible to visit the caves without official permission. For visual comfort, a flashlight should be brought along, as the lighting in the main caves is rather dim. It is possible to rent a bicycle (15,000 kips) at the visitors' centre to get to the different sites. Audio guides are also available, a first in Laos! These are excellent and very informative, however if you speak English it is best to hire the services of a licensed guide to better understand the history of the site. It is best to arrive early to take the time to read the explanatory panels in the visitor centre. The guided tour lasts about 3 hours.

There are many anecdotes about these caves, as well as the events that took place there and the prestigious people who stayed there. In an interview, Yasser Arafat admitted that he had spent several days there with the leaders of the Pathet Lao to learn about their guerrilla techniques, which he himself intended to put into practice as part of the Palestinian people's struggle against Israel. Obviously equipped with thick concrete walls, capable of resisting American bombardments, these caves are built like veritable underground bunkers, with guard room, meeting room, kitchen, bedroom, bathroom, room where the air was purified when American planes dropped their chemical bombs, as well as medical care blocks in case of emergency. A Soviet-made pump was used to provide fresh air around the caves, creating a liveable environment.

The Laotian leaders did not stay permanently in their natural shelters or cloistered in their blockhouses. They only took shelter there when there were alerts and lived the rest of the time in the open air, close to their shelters. After the end of the American bombings in 1973, most members of the Pathet Lao settled in a house built next to their cave. Nostalgia, when you have us? "By my cave, I lived happily..."

Tham Than Kaysone. This cave, formerly known as Tham Yonesong, is important for many reasons. It was here that the headquarters of the Pathet Lao was located, under the leadership of Mr. Kaysone Phomvihane (future Prime Minister, then second president of the Lao Republic until 1992). It is the deepest cave (150 m long) and the most imposing because of its long corridor. One can see in the reception room the table surrounded by the seven seats of the leaders (the original furniture has since been replaced).

Tham Than Souphanouvong or the "cave of the Red Prince", which joined the party. Inside, several objects that belonged to him are religiously guarded and venerated. The cave has been laid out like the inside of a house, with rooms separated by wooden partitions. After the end of the bombings (in 1973), a small residence was built just in front of the entrance. There is a heart-shaped pool in front of the villa. It was built in a bomb crater. The prince's son is buried under a stupa not far from there.

Tham Than Khamtay. This cave sheltered the former Prime Minister. At the entrance you can still see several craters, now partly covered. The meeting room downstairs is long and very impressive.

Tham Than Xang Lot. Contrary to the others, this one did not shelter any important person in the long term. Because of its size, it was chosen to be used as a conference room or auditorium. One could install a hundred spectators there. Its name comes from the fact that an elephant could have moved around there without hindrance.

Tham Xieng Muang. From a depth of 200 m, it would have sheltered a hospital.

Tham Along. 2.5 km to the right on the road to Vietnam, it can be visited without a guide.

The Elephant Conservation Centre is a sanctuary dedicated to the protection of the animal emblem of Laos, located in Sayaboury, just 2 hours from Luang Prabang. The Centre hosts about thirty elephants on a forest territory of 530 hectares. The elephants live there in semi-liberty, in a natural paradise located on the banks of Lake Nam Tien. Visitors have the opportunity to discover some of the conservation projects carried out by the team of passionate specialists.