Although relatively short in kilometres this is a longish day for most people as its is very mountainous. However, the rewards are in the views and the countryside. With relatively little traffic it is also a pleasure to drive. The major hazards were local domestic animals wandering on the narrow roads. On arrival there is also a chance to see the amazing Plain of Jars which is littered with hundreds of stone jars carved from rock brought from more than 100kms away! No-one knows hat they were for or who brought them There are no records of this civilisaton that occupied this area more than 2000 years ago.
Phon Sa VAn is also the epicentre of the Secret War that the Americans waged against the people of Laos during the Vietnam War. They dropped more bombs on Laos than in the whole of the first two world wars. Not only that, many of the bombs were cluster bombs which still kill people to this day. That is shameful enough but the USA have not faced up to their responsibility and offered to help clear the ordnance. This is done by UK and European mine clearance groups.
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