Xieng Khouang – a peaceful, mysterious land

435km southwest of Vientiane (Laos People’s Democratic Republic) is a large plateau with a cool climate and many famous sights. It is Xieng Khouang province located at an altitude of 1,200m above sea level, bordering Nghe An province of Vietnam. This land has diverse terrain and scenery with hot springs, forests, beautiful waterfalls and monuments…

Field of Chum. The Mystery of the Plain of Jars The most famous in Xieng Khouang is the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Plain of Jars with more than 2,000 stone jars of all shapes and sizes, dating from about 500 BC to 500. A.C. The stone jars are scattered in many places in Xieng Khouang, however, only 3 places around Phonsavan town have been put into tourism; the first site has about 250 jars, the second site has 100 jars and the third site has more than 100 jars. The remaining areas are still being studied because there are many mines that have not been cleared thoroughly. The average height of the jars is 1-2m, some are up to 3.5m high, weighing tens of tons. Most of the jars do not have lids, some are raised above the ground, some are partially submerged in the ground, the mouth of the jar is elliptical, square, round… The strange thing is that there are no rocky mountains around this area. Where did ancient people carve out these giant jars and how to transport them to Xieng Khouang, that is still an unanswered question. There have been many theories as to how the jars were created to hold wine to celebrate the victory during the reign of King Khun Cheung. There is an opinion that because in the dry season, in Xieng Khouang there is a serious lack of water, so the ancients made these giant jars to store water. Archaeologists believe that these are urns related to prehistoric burial rituals when many remains, burial items and ceramics were discovered around the stone jars. The Plain of Jars is located at the intersection of the Mekong and Red River systems, so it has favorable conditions for trade and cultural exchange. The distribution of stone jars throughout Xieng Khouang is said to be associated with the routes. overland trade and trade and they are the most striking evidence of Iron Age civilization. Explore the ancient kingdom of Tai Phuan Talking about the ancient kingdom of Tai Phuan, it is impossible to forget the town of Khoun, 36km southeast of Phonsavan. In the 14th century, Tai Phuan was once a busy commercial center in the area and later belonged to the kingdom of Laos Lane Xang. Since then, Tai Phuan has become a center of Buddhist architectural art with many temples built everywhere, and perhaps, the most famous is the sitting Buddha statue at Wat Phia Wat. After that, the French came and brought their culture into the architecture of this land. Sitting Buddha statue Wat Phia Wat. Despite being heavily destroyed by bombs during the war, you can still tour the ruins of different eras around the town. Wat Phia Wat is said to have been built in 1322 but it was destroyed by the French and Americans between 1953 and 1966 respectively. The Buddha statue here may not be beautiful when one eye is missing, right cheek and lip scarred. However, this is a testament to the resilience and ability of the people to rise up after almost total destruction. Perhaps that is the reason why the statue is so revered by many people, who often come to worship. In addition to the Buddha image, you can visit That Foun stupa – said to be the place to keep the ashes of the Buddha, and the 500-year-old That Chompet tower covered with green grass. Waterfalls and hot springs Kha is a famous waterfall near Khang Phanieng village, Nong Het district. Thac Kha is hidden in limestone cliffs and cascades over 100m long, alternating with steep waterfalls. In addition, Tad Kha waterfall near Tajok village is also very interesting. You will have to walk along the forest trail to reach the falls. This is a popular destination for locals, especially during the Lao New Year holidays. Located in Kham district, about 50km north of Phonsavan, is a hot spring with very few tourists. Ideally you would walk 3-4 hours along the Mat river valley to the Plain of Jars. Afterwards, head back for a refreshing dip in the hot springs. Not vibrant, not majestic, Xieng Khouang brings a sense of peace and comfort. This land attracts tourists mainly by the simplicity, freshness and hospitality of the local people. Going to Xieng Khouang, you will see an attractive Laos with many unspoiled landscapes, fresh and primitive nature.