Pathet Laos Secret War Capital

The first town we arrived at in Laos is one of the most remote locations that tourists visit. It is close to the Vietnam boarder and far from most other tourist sites, yet it is being actively developed by the Laos tourism board due to its political and nostalgic significance to the government. This town and the limestone caves surrounding it were the homes of the Pathet Laos during the "Secret War" of 1964 to 1975. In the next blog we talk a bit more about the bombs left here. But after the French pull out of forces in the 60's, a civil war broke out between the northern Vietnamese backed Pathet Laos and the US backed government in Vientiane. This northern city of Vaing Xei became the capital for the PL leaders. They expanded existing limestone caves up to 140 meters in the hillside to create safe shelter for the government bodies and families during the bombing raids of the American supplied planes. Other caves in the area were used as hospitals, schools, factories and locations for anti-aircraft installations. At the end of the war many of the leaders built new homes in front of their old caves.