Tham Piu Cave, Xieng Khouang

This is a Laotian historical site, of some significance, located 57 km to the east of Phonsavan. The site was the scene of a human tragedy during the war years. In 1968 the US Air force fired a missile directly into the cave (at the time being used as a shelter), killing 374 people. The cave is a memorial and, compared to other more visually impressive caves in the country, is hardly remarkable. It’s a location where local people go to pay their respects. The interior of the cave is filled with small rock-piles, as a memorial to all those who died. For anyone who’s interested in visiting this site, the best option is to get on a guided tour from Phonsavan. This will obviously include transportation in a minivan. For the more adventurous, going independently on a motorbike is doable. However, getting there involves a ride over a mountain range and even though the road is sealed, it’s quite rough (and steep) in places. Safe travels, Mega

Tragic part of Lao history and the Vietnam war. Partner a visit here with the hot water springs down the road.