Plain Of Jars: Unique Places Around The World

Plain Of Jars: Unique Places Around The World

Plain of Jars is a large archaeological landscape found in Laos.



The Plain of Jars site.

The Plain of Jars is perhaps one of the most prolific sites in Laos. From overall aesthetics to the essential details, the plain symbolizes an oasis of ancient artifacts amid threats of a diminishing history around the region. Apart from being an established sanctuary, the Plain of Jars contributes majorly towards the economy. Although this nature reserve stands out as a major positive contributor towards the livelihood, it most certainly faces significant threats which may require future consideration.

5. Description



The Plain of Jars is located far in the northern regions of Annamese Cordillera, which is one of the largest mountain range in Southeast Asia. The archaeological landscape consists of various stones shaped in the form of jars. These beautiful jars are carefully arranged in a cluster-like manner. The distribution of the jars spans both the valley as well as the foothills in the mid-plain of Laos. It was not until 1930 that Madeleine Colani, a famous French researcher established that the jars came as a result of ancient burial practices. Excavation projects since then have confirmed this.

4. Tourism

Like many prehistoric sites, the Plain of Jars attracts many tourists from around the globe every year. This translates to a significant economic value regarding foreign exchange and other aspects such as international relationships. The breathtaking landscape acts as a distinct region where tourists come to quench their thirst for new experiences. The government has equally invested in the region by ensuring a safe and a convenient passage to the tourist site. There is a bus and air travel to the regions surrounding the plains. Although tourism in the region is still being fostered due to the bombings which occurred between 1964 to 1973, there are profound measures which have been put to restore the pride of the Plain of Jars.

3. Uniqueness

Even though there is substantial evidence to ascertain the origin of the jars in the region, the jars continue to carry an air of mystery. There is no clear fact that shows the maker of the jars and their reason. The bizarre collection of scattered jars in the plain is one of the unique sites one’s eyes meet upon visiting the plain. The presence of five different types of stones within the wall structure of the jars is also a startling occurrence that further serves to explore the uniqueness of the jars.

2. Habitat

The jars are mostly located in a plain which mostly has grass and scattered trees growing around them. Although the most attractive features about the plain are the jars, wildlife is also an occasional occurrence as small animals can be seen on the plains.

1. Threats



Between the years of 1964 to 1973, the U.S. Air Force bombed the Plain of Jars heavily in an effort against the communist forces of Pathet Lao and North Vietnam. A staggering amount of these bombs never exploded, and remain an active deadly threat in the area. As such, sightseeing can only be done on paths which have been clearly indicated. A program titled "Safeguarding the Plain of Jars" is a joint effort between Laos and the United Nations, with the intention to make the Plain of Jars safe enough to be a UNESCO Heritage Site.

~News courtesy of World Atlas~

Laos, Cambodia eye extra flights to boost tourism

Laos, Cambodia eye extra flights to boost tourism

Laos and Cambodia on Monday signed a document agreeing on the need to increase flights between the two neighbours to meet the growing demand for air transport.

Head of the Air Transport Division, Department of Civil Aviation, Mr Viengsay Singkham told Vientiane Times yesterday the minute of a meeting between aviation officials from the two countries was signed in Cambodia following the meeting.

The document aims to amend the Aviation Cooperation Agreement between Laos and Cambodia to facilitate and encourage regional airlines to increase flights between both countries in a bid to promote tourism and economic development.

Officials from both sides will submit the outcomes of the meeting to their higher authorities and proceed with the next steps to amend the agreement.

Director for Air Transport at Cambodia's State Secretariat of Civil Aviation, Vann Chanty, told the Khmer Times that the move will push airlines in both countries to operate more flights between Cambodia and Laos due to increasing demand from tourists.

We need to update the agreement to comply with reality and the demands of the market, Mr Chanty was quoted as saying.

Currently, there are three airlines offering flights between Laos and Cambodia. They are Cambodia Angkor Air, Lao Airlines and Vietnam Airlines, and they operate about 21 flights a week.

Mr Chanty said the passenger load between the two countries increased by 5 percent last year to 178,000 and he believed the figure would hit 200,000 in the next two years.

Director-General of the State Secretariat of Civil Aviation, Keo Sivorn, told the Khmer Times the new agreement would make it easier for airlines to have direct flights between Cambodia and Laos and would open up new routes, such as from Phnom Penh and Preah Sihanouk to Vientiane or Luang Prabang.

Lao and Cambodian officials say that increasing transport connectivity will boost tourism growth in both countries as tourism businesses and tour operators are introducing joint package tours to encourage visitors arriving one country to travel onward to another country.

Earlier this month, both Cambodia and Laos, in a bid to promote bilateral tourism, announced they would create joint tour packages to facilitate travel to both countries.

Some 1.3 million international tourists visited Cambodia in the first two months of 2017, of which 65,675 were from Laos. This was a 64.5 percent increase compared to last year, according to the Khmer Times .

Meanwhile, Laos welcomed more than 4.23 million foreign visitors in 2016, of whom 16,536 were Cambodians.

~News courtesy of Vientiane Times~

Lao-Thai railway section I ready for service

Lao-Thai railway section I ready for service

The Lao-Thai Railway Construction Project Phase II (Section I) is now completed, while Section II will begin operations at the end of this year.

The project handover ceremony was held yesterday between the Ministry of Public Works and Transport and Neighbouring Countries Economic Development Cooperation Agency (NEDA) of Thailand.



The ceremony was attended by Deputy Minister of Public Works and Transport, Mr Lattanamany Khounnivong, Thai Ambassador to Laos, Mr NoppadonTheppitak, senior officials from the ministry and NEDA along with local authorities from relevant sectors.

This section was financially supported with over 656 million baht (about 155.2 billion kip) by NEDA, of which 30 percent is a grant and 70 percent a low interest loan, the Lao Railway Department Director General, Dr Sompong Pholsena reported at the ceremony.

The project began in September, 2013 with a 24 month construction period undertaken by TEAM Consulting Engineering and Management Co., Ltd, (TEAM) in association with LTEC and TEAM Lao Co., Ltd and contractor Sermsanguan Construction Co., Ltd.

The section comprises a siding track at Thanalaeng Station, 5,800 m of railway mainline expansion from Thanalaeng station to a container yard, along with upgrading of the signalling and telecommunications system from analogue to digital allowing computer controls, he explained.

Also completed was a 38,000 square metre container yard and more than 2,000 m of concrete access roads, an over 5,000 square metre warehouse, three floors of administration offices, weight entry gate and other facilities, such as electrical system, water supply, fire prevention system and waste management facility.

The project also completed construction of the railway department building and employee dormitories in September, 2015, Dr Sompong said.

The facilities are important for socio-economic development especially the container yard as a logistic centre in Vientiane and to ease rail transport between Laos-Thailand via Laemsabang seaport and overseas.

This will reduce transport costs, improve safety and environmental management while giving entrepreneurs more choices to export and import their products.

Meanwhile, NEDA President Mr Newin Sinsiri noted the agency had supported millions of baht in financial and technical assistance for Laos through different projects.

This is one of the projects to boost close cooperation between the two governments of Laos and Thailand, he said. It is also to promote trading and investment as well as tourism between two countries in order to link with Asia and the region, Mr Newin added.

Section II, which comprises a 7.5km railway expansion from Thanalaeng station to Vientiane station at Khamsavath village and other facilities will begin at the end of this year.

This section will cost 994.7 million baht (about 235.6 billion kip), of which 30 percent is a grant and 70 percent a low interest loan from NEDA.

~News courtesy of Vientiane Times~