LAOS

GENERAL INFORMATION
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GENERAL INFORMATION

A Beautiful Country Carrying the Scars of War

Officially known as the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Laos is landlocked between Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, China and Myanmar. Laos is a land of dramatic mountains, thick forests, winding rivers, ancient Buddhist temples and amazing friendly villages. For overlanders coming from China you have your freedom back as soon as you arrive at the border. Laos offers a slower and much quieter experience than some of its better-known Southeast Asian neighbors, with spectacular scenery and a strong sense of traditional culture.

Yet Laos is also a country whose beauty exists alongside one of the most painful legacies of modern warfare. The Vietnam War did not take place only in Vietnam. Laos suffered enormously during the wider conflict in Indochina, and more than half a century later, unexploded bombs and other unexploded ordnance remain a serious problem for the Lao people.

Perhaps the most tragic part of Laos’s wartime legacy is that the war is still not completely over for many communities. A significant proportion of the explosive ordnance dropped during the conflict failed to detonate. UXO Lao estimates that as much as 30 percent of the ordnance may have failed to explode, These unexploded weapons are still hidden in forests, fields and other areas even today. For Lao people, these weapons still remained a threat. A farmer working the land can encounter an unexploded device while cultivating a field. Children can sometimes mistake pieces of ordnance for ordinary metal objects.

It is important to understand that the problem is not simply landmines. Laos has contamination from many different types of unexploded ordnance, including cluster-bomb submunitions, bombs, artillery shells, grenades, mortars and anti-personnel landmines.

International organizations have been carrying out clearance work since 1996, and the scale of the task remains enormous. Ironicly during our visit we met many international organizations but not th USA who dropped the bomb? For us overlanders, the history of the bombing should not be treated as a distant historical footnote.

The capital, Vientiane, sits along the Mekong River and has a relaxed atmosphere that feels very different from the huge, crowded capitals elsewhere in Asia. You can explore Buddhist temples, monuments, markets and riverside areas while experiencing a city where traditional Lao culture and French colonial influences exist side by side.

Further north, Luang Prabang is perhaps Laos’s most famous tourist destination. Its historic center is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and early-morning alms-giving ceremonies, and traditional markets.

The turquoise pools and waterfalls of Kuang Si are a popular excursion, while the mountainous areas around Vang Vieng are famous for dramatic limestone cliffs, rivers and outdoor activities. In southern Laos, travelers can explore Pakse, the Bolaven Plateau, waterfalls and the ancient Khmer temple complex of Wat Phou. The Mekong River remains an important part of life throughout the country.

For Overlanders, Laos can be particularly rewarding for those who enjoy history, culture and nature rather than mass tourism. Travel is generally at a slower pace, and roads are average, but lots of opportunitis to go Off Road and stay around local communities

The War That Changed Laos

To understand modern Laos, however, it is essential to understand the Vietnam War and the wider conflict that engulfed Indochina.

Laos officially maintained a position of neutrality during the conflict, but the country became deeply involved in the fighting. The Ho Chi Minh Trail, a network of routes used by North Vietnamese forces to move troops and supplies toward South Vietnam, passed through parts of Laos.

The United States conducted an enormous bombing campaign over Laos between 1964 and 1973. According to the Lao National Unexploded Ordnance Programme, more than half a million bombing missions delivered more than two million tons of explosive ordnance onto Lao territory. More than 270 million submunitions from cluster munitions were dropped.This is why Laos is often described as the most heavily bombed country in the world on a per-capita basis.

The scale is difficult to comprehend. The bombing affected villages, farmland and rural communities, and countless Lao civilians were forced to leave their homes. Families hid in caves or moved from one area to another in an attempt to survive. The effects of the war did not simply disappear when the bombing ended.

It is part of modern Laos, and understanding it can make a visit much more meaningful.There are museums and visitor centers where travelers can learn about the Secret War, the bombing campaign and the continuing UXO problem. The fact is that people can still be injured or killed by weapons dropped decades ago is a powerful reminder that the consequences of war can last for generations.

In places such as Luang Prabang and other parts of the country, visitors can learn about the experiences of people whose families were affected by the war.

While travelling remote be aware of landmines and other unexploded ordnance, while looking for a bush camp. The safest approach is to follow local guidance

What makes Laos particularly moving is the contrast between its peaceful present and the violence that once devastated so much of the country.

Today, you may sit beside the Mekong at sunset, walk through the quiet streets of Luang Prabang, swim beneath waterfalls, or travel through spectacular mountain landscapes. Life continues, and Lao communities have rebuilt and adapted despite an extraordinary legacy of war.But beneath some of those beautiful landscapes are still the remnants of a conflict that ended more than fifty years ago.