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Viengxay Caves

who we are

Viengxay Caves

Limestone peaks form the beautiful landscape of Viengxay, a small, quiet town in Houaphanh province, northeastern Laos.  You would never guess that inside these rocky crags is a network of caves - a "Hidden City" - that was once at the centre of Lao and world history.

During the 1960s, politcal developments in Laos were influential in the future of SE Asia.  The US believed that Laos was crucial to the prevention of communist expansion, so this small country became caught up in the conflict between the US and the North Vietnamese.  In 1964 the US began intensive bombing of the Lao revolutionary movement (Pathet Lao) base in Xieng Khouang.  The Pathet Lao moved east to the limestone karsts of Viengxay, from where they directed and long struggle against the American-backed Royal Lao Government.

During nine years of constant bombing, around 20,000 people sheltered in caves and forests, leading their lives mostly at night.  Schools, hospitals and markets, government ministries, a radio station, a theatre and military barracks were all built inside the hundreds of caves of the ‘hidden city' where weddings were held and babies born.

After the 1973 ceasefire, Viengxay became capital of the liberated zone.  In December 1975 the Lao PDRwas declared, the capital moved to Vientiane and the Viengxay caves became quiet once more.

what we do

With assistance from the Netherlands Development Organisation (SNV), the Kaysone Phomvihane Memorial Cave Office (KPMCO) in Viengxay is developing the cave sites as a ‘flagship' heritage tourism attraction including:

  • The Viengxay Caves Visitor Centre; displaying the history of the ‘Hidden City', running guided tours of the leaders' caves and providing tourism information.
  • Preparing and implementing a heritage interpretation strategy.
  • Developing tourist services at the cave sites and surrounding area.
  • Recording oral histories of peoples' memories of the conflict.

Through these developments, the KPMCO is using the legacy of the past to create economic, environmental and socio-cultural benefits for the people in the Viengxay area.