Photo Tour of Leftover Bombs and Mysterious Ancient Jars in Phonsavan

See why history buffs and conspiracy seekers come to look at both the ancient and recent past in Phonsavan.

 

The cost of clearing UXOs (UneXploded Objects or really… bombs)

 

Red dots are where the US dropped bombs over Laos--during and after the Vietnam war--called the "Secret War"

 

This is often the "ambulance" when someone is hurt by a UXO and unfortunately it tops out at 15 km/hr.

 

one of Lina's favorite new fruits! A very hairy lychee

 

durian. what we later discovered as our least favorite fruits

 

The local market, full of interesting fruit

 

noodles for sale

 

we weren't sure what the white melon was… or why it was white… it felt like it was covered in powder

 

another unidentified fruit/vegetable

 

water buffalo clearing the rice paddies

 

countryside

 

more horse play

 

we stumbled upon these two horses playing/fighting with eachother

 

love bites

 

the chase is on

 

open fields

 

22 UXOs were found on this site. It's safe to walk between the white parts of markers.

 

a path between rice paddies

 

The white markers mean that the path was cleared of UXOs

 

plain of jars site 3

 

Lina and a normal bunch of lychees on the plain of jars site 3

 

the closer rice looks like it needs some of that water that is just out of reach

 

cow yoga

 

University students taking a lunch break at the waterfall. These 2 guys requested a photo first, so why not take one with my camera? :-)

 

self portrait

 

Mr. Sone Makes Spoon From Bomb

 

Mr. Sone's setup

 

Mr. Sone making spoons from bombs

 

6 bombs cleared from this area in 2010 near Mr. Sone's home

 

Lina and a deserted Russian tank… no tracks

 

but the top didn't walk off to far.

 

plain of jars site 1

 

nope… nothing in here

 

Plain of Jars site 1

 

the only jar left that still had a lid

 

Lina in a jar

 

a bomb crater made sometime between 1964 and 1973. in the background, a cave that used to be creamatorium in the day of the jars

 

sun setting over the grassy field nearby Plain of Jars site 1

 

the clouds painted the sun as it set over the plain of jars

 

photo of a photo in the MAG office. elephant dragging a bomb out of the water

 

photo of a photo in the MAG office. locals extracting a bomb from the ground

More Phonsavan

Learn more about the Plain of Jars, the Secret War, and how to visit Phonsavan on a budget.

Which part of the photo tour was your favorite? Let us know in the comments!