The Mysterious Plain of Jars

TUE 14 MAR 2017 

Xieng KhouangIn has gone through many changes. In the 18th and at the beginning of the 19th century, it was the center of a kingdom of the Hmong (Meo). In 1832, it was conquered by the Vietnamese, annexing the entire region. The town of Xieng Khouang was totally destroyed during the Vietnam War. Even though it has been rebuilt in 1975, the name Xieng Khouang is now primarily used in reference to the province of the same name.

The highlight of our visit here is the Plain of Jars. Scattered over the area are hundreds of enormous limestone jars, each about 1 to 2.5 meters high, with a diameter of about 1 meter. There is still no explanation as to how the clay jars found their way onto the plain, nor what purpose they served.

 Archaeologists have come up with the wildest theories, among them a claim declaring them brewery cauldrons. More likely, the jars are enormous secondary burial urns. Many jars were destroyed or damaged during the Vietnam War, when the communist Pathet Lao his among the jars and built trenches to hid in.  There are caves they used for hiding as well. American planes bombed positions they thought the Pathet Lao were hiding in.

After the Plain of Jars visits we see how rice noodles are made and we visit the local market.  We take some time off to rest in the afternoon and then a break from local cuisine for some great Italian food with ice cream for desert, a nice change.