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Revolution’s Sacred Land in Green and Stone
Discover Viengxay, Houaphanh –… Part 1
2024.05.01
In early August 2023, we made our first visit to Viengxay Village in northeastern Laos, joining a tourism development project led by the NPO ADDP. This multi-year initiative, running through 2026, supports the discovery, restoration, and promotion of local tourism resources. Over four reports, Koi Lao and others will share scenes from the field.
A one-hour flight from Vientiane takes you to Nong Khang International Airport, newly opened in May. From there, it’s about 40 minutes by car to the village. On both sides of the road, freshly exposed red earth and minimal development give the sense of a place still in the making.
Viengxay lies near the Vietnamese border in Houaphanh Province. Surrounded by dramatic limestone peaks and wetlands, the village is known for its stunning scenery—and its history. Our first stop was a lookout called the “View Point,” offering sweeping views: orange rooftops nestled in green hills, sparkling water reflecting sunlight, and the lively sounds of birds.
Viengxay is also known for its revolutionary past. During the war, leaders of the Pathet Lao movement lived and operated in a vast network of caves. Many have been preserved, including meeting rooms, living quarters, and even a stage used for music and performances. Guided by Bunphan from the local center, we visited five caves, where up to 20,000 soldiers once lived.
He showed us wartime videos filmed in those exact places.
The contrast between the dark caves and bright outdoors was striking. One can only imagine how the soldiers felt. Viengxay is not only beautiful, but deeply moving—a place that deserves to be seen.
Cooperation: ADDP / Jumping Tour
*ADDP
The NPO "Association for Aid and Relief, Asia"
Since 1992, this NPO has supported people with disabilities across Asia. In Laos, it promotes education, sports, and employment. In 2015, it launched a cherry blossom park and café project in Viengxay to support deaf workers, which evolved into a tourism initiative. In 2023, it began a new revitalization project using a PPT strategy with Houaphanh Province.
* Jumping Tour Co., Ltd.
A travel agency specializing in Laos. It serves as the representative office of the Lao Ministry of Information, Culture, and Tourism in Japan, and is a member of the Japan-Laos Association. The company produces and coordinates the regional revitalization project in Viengxay Village.
