![[insert caption here]](/lao/images/Souphanouvong-red-prince_1.gif "[insert caption here]") |
| Prince Souphanouvong was in his office in the cave during the Indochina war |
Lao authorities
plan to develop the town of Vienxay into a historical tourist attraction
showcasing the revolutionary battles and hiding places of the Lao People’s Revolutionary
Party leaders during the Indochina war, with the hope that it will attract hundreds
of thousands of foreign tourists to visit the caves annually.
Mr.
Somphong Mongkhonvilay, Minister to the Prime Minister’s Office and President of
the Lao Tourism Authority, announced that his agency will develop Viengxay as a
historical tourist destination exhibiting the story of the Lao People’s
Revolutionary Party leaders and members’ as well as their hideouts as they
fought during Indochina War. The development of this tourist site is aimed not
only to pass on to both domestic and foreign tourists the astonishing revolutionary
story of the communist leaders who lived in the caves, but also to reduce the poverty
of the multi-ethnic people in the Viengxay district and others in Houaphanh
Province.
According
to Mr. Mongkhonvialy, the outstanding backgrounds of the Viengxay caves,
especially the 10 caves where the Lao revolutionary leaders lived for almost
ten years, which cannot be found anywhere in world history, make them a potential tourist
![[insert caption here]](/lao/images/Pathet-Lao-s-Jungle-Force.gif "[insert caption here]") |
Jungle armed force of Pathet Lao were mapping out their battle plan
|
development
source in Houaphanh Province. After being completely developed, these
historical tourist sites will be able to attract a large number of tourists,
and tourism experts have estimated that there will be at least a hundred
thousand tourists descending on the district to visit the caves, he added. The Vienxay
district, which was the stronghold of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party of
the Pathet Lao during 1960s and 1970s, abounds in natural caves. The revolutionary leaders drilled and
expanded a total of 28 caves to turn into offices, meeting rooms and shelters
for themselves and their party’s members. Lao authorities have so far opened
only seven caves to local and foreign tourists, including the living quarters
of key leaders such as Mr. Kaysone Phomvihane, Prince Souphanouvong, Mr. Phoumy
Vongvichit, Mr. Nouhak Phoumsavanh, and Mr. Khamtay Siphandone. The Lao Tourism
Authority hopes to comprehensively develop all 28 caves to serve tourists in
the near future.
![[insert caption here]](/lao/images/Kaysone-forces.gif "[insert caption here]") |
Lao armed forces led by Mr. Kaysone Phomvihane
|
A major
obstacle to developing Viengxay District into a tourist site is transportation
constraints. Currently, travelling from Vientiane to Viengxay by car takes at
least 13 hours, while small planes are available only on Monday, Thursday and
Saturday, to serve passengers who prefer to travel by air. In addition, flights are often cancelled due
to either bad weather or not enough passengers to fly to cover the cost of the
service. Consequently, only ten thousand foreign tourists visited Houaphanh
province and Vienxay District throughout 2008.As a result, Houaphanh Province received minimal income from tourism, while
over 50% of its population of more three hundred thousand people have an
average income of less than US$1 per day.
Songrit Pongern reported in Lao on June 13, 2009. For more details in
Lao, listen to his report or read our Lao version. (English translation by
Buasawan Simmala and Dara Baccam)
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