Plain Of Jars
Still unsure of their true significance, historians and lay people alike continue to be intrigued by the huge stones of the Plain of Jars in northern Laos, some of which weigh about six tons. Some stand tall as a man and tilted by time, others are eroded into the ground; many have moldered for millennia, perhaps the remnants of a trade route or the markers of burial pits.
While the Plain of Jars' ancient origins remain cryptic, in the last century they have gained a different unfortunate notoriety. Between 1964 and 1973, American planes carpet bombed Xieng Khuang province, where the Plain of Jars is located, due to its close proximity to the North Vietnamese border. In just under a decade, Laos achieved the dubious distinction of being the most bombed country in the world. This sorrowful chapter in Laotian history is commemorated by the nearby Vietnamese and Lao war memorials.
Experiences
A handpicked selection of experiences endorsed by our experts. If you can’t see what you’re looking for, let us know, as our extensive network of local contacts can open many doors.
Chinese Market
Take a stroll through the Chinese Market and purchase anything from gold and silver to delicacies like wild mushrooms and ordinary items for daily use. The market has its own unique cultural bent, and is a good way to enjoy an evening.
Lao War Memorial
Erected in 1998, the Lao War Memorial, located on a hilltop, offers a picturesque view of the surrounding area. The Pathet Lao (Laotian communist) soldiers who died in the war have their names etched in stone.
Plain of Jars
The Plain of Jars is a peaceful but mysterious place, a vast open plain, dotted with odd giant stones, stretching to the distant mountains. Reminiscent of the fields of Naza Lines in Peru, the Plain of Jars piques our curiosity with the hint of ancient and esoteric human activity. European research in the 1930s found that the jars were used in prehistoric burial rituals and date back to the Iron Age of 500 B.C. The plain is a field day for photography enthusiasts.
Vietnamese War Memorial
Dedicated to the Vietnamese soldiers who fought and died in northeast Laos, the memorial was created as a gesture of solidarity between the two countries in the wake of the "American War."
Laos Regions
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Exclusively Asia
With Remote Lands you'll travel with people who have made Asia the solitary focus of their own lifelong adventure. As our guest, you'll discover Asia on a journey that is completely, authentically your own, adapted from our own remarkable experiences and adventures over the years.
With Remote Lands you'll travel with people who have made Asia the solitary focus of their own lifelong adventure. As our guest, in the continent that our north American founders Catherine and Jay have adored and explored for decades, you'll discover Asia on a journey that is completely, authentically your own, adapted from our own remarkable experiences and adventures over the years.
Travelogues
An Asia-focused magazine brought to you by Remote Lands - a platform for adventure, luxury, and authenticity from experts and explorers around the continent.
The Plain of Jars Just Got More Interesting
- Author
- Travelogues
Some of the Plain of Jars megaliths are thought to be much older than previously thought.
The Plain of Jars in Laos Officially Becomes a UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Author
- Travelogues
After more than 20 years of effort, UNESCO finally presented Laos with a certificate recognizing the Plain of Jars earlier this week.
The Laos Loop: A Motorcycle Journey in the Jungle
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- Travelogues
Few experiences match that roaring between the thighs and the singular sense of freedom in the jungle footpaths and winding alleys of the Southeast Asian countryside by motorcycle. For the sheer thrill of open-road exploration there is nowhere quite like Laos.
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