The Plain Of Jars Laos is probably South East Asia’s most enigmatic tourist attraction. Situated in the remote north east of Laos, the mountainous communist country which has only been open to tourists for just over a decade, are hundreds of huge stone jars scattered across several square miles. While most ancient Asian sites, such as the Angkor temples in Cambodia, have revealed many of their secrets, historians are still completely baffled as to where the jars came from, how old they are and what they signify. They are, in short, jars of a deeply spooky nature.
 Plain of Jars Laos |
 Plain of Jars Laos |
Whatever its ancient history, the Plain Of Jars has had a turbulent recent past. Thanks to its proximity to the North Vietnamese border, this area of Laos became of key significance during the Vietnam War and so was carpet bombed by the Americans. Laos holds the dubious record of being the most bombed country in the world, despite never officially being involved in the Vietnam war at all. The legacy of the war is still being felt, with farmers and their families regularly being killed or injured by the unexploded ordnance which still litters the Plain. The Jars have been fully cleared of all UXB, but not straying from the designated paths remains imperative.
Flying into Phonsovan, the town nearest the Plain Of Jars, it’s easy to still see the devastation caused by the bombing. Indeed, Phonsovan is Xiang Khouang province’s new capital, the old one having been abandoned because it was so badly damaged. Despite being the base from which virtually all visitors go to see the Jars, Phonsovan still feels like tourism has barely touched it.
The town centre itself is one muddy, dusty street, on which there are only a couple of places visitors can eat, although there are a fair few choices for accommodation.
