Fundriding 2023 in Laos – from Vieng Thong to Paksan

After our stay in Vieng Thong, we continued our fundriding tour towards Muangkgan and then drove on to Phonsavan. Our journey took us past Tham Piew Cave. This cave served as a refuge for hundreds of villagers during the early years of the US's secret war in Laos. Over a period of four years, they built a community there until they were discovered by a US reconnaissance plane in November 1968. The villagers who had retreated here had established a communal life in the dark rooms of the cave, complete with sleeping quarters, a school, a communication center, a hospital, and even a shrine. However, on November 24, 1968, everything changed when a rocket hit the cave, killing 374 people.

A more positive highlight was the Plain of Jars—an area with huge stone jars that, like Stonehenge in England, remains a mystery to this day. Archaeological research has shown that some of the giant stone jars could be over 3,000 years old, and the human remains and grave goods found next to the jars are between 700 and 1,200 years old. Most of the jars are made of sandstone, but some are made of harder granite and limestone. The question of how these massive vessels, some weighing up to 10 tons, were transported remains a mystery to this day.

According to Laotian legends, the jars were created by a giant who needed a place to store his rice wine, which he wanted to consume at a large celebration after a military victory. Another story tells of an evil king, Chao Angka, and a good king, Khun Jeuam, who defeated him. However, most archaeologists believe that the jars served as burial urns, with the bodies being placed in the jars to decompose before being cremated and their ashes buried in sacred sites or returned to the jars. The majority of the finders found the mythological Laotian version of the story more appealing.

As a result, our trip along the Nam Ngiap River offered breathtaking natural scenery. The picturesque river courses, surrounded by dense greenery and rolling hills and spanned by adventurous bridge constructions, were a real treat for the senses.

Our arrival in Paksan, where we once again encountered the mighty Mekong River, was another highlight of our journey. The Mekong, the lifeline of Southeast Asia, welcomed us with its impressive expanse and beauty. Encountering this great river was a symbolic moment that brought home to us the interconnectedness of the regions and people along its banks.