UXO Lao Visitor Center — Attraction in Luang Prabang

I’m not much of a museum person, but we decided to visit the UXO Lao Visitor Center out of curiosity—and I’m so glad we did. This small local museum puts light on the haunting reality of “unexploded ordnances” (UXOs) left behind in Laos, especially in rural areas—the poorest regions of the country—long after the Indochina War ended.

Call me naive, but this was the first time I’d ever heard about this ongoing issue. Laos is one of the most heavily bombed countries in the world, and I was shocked to learn that one-third of the munitions launched during the war FAILED to explode. These hidden bombs remain scattered across fields, causing deadly risks to innocent lives, especially farmers and construction workers who rely on the land to survive.

It’s heartbreaking to realize that even decades after the war, its aftermath continues to claim lives and spread fear. This is a harsh reminder that war never benefits anyone—it only causes destruction, hatred, and suffering, leaving scars that last for generations.

My heart goes out to those still living in fear, and I sincerely admire and honor the brave individuals working to clear these explosives, risking their own safety for the...

This is a heartbreaking center that should be a required visit of every American, Brit, Russian and French.

During the 2nd Indochina War, aka the Vietnam war, the Communist Vietnamese forces came across the border through Laos and Cambodia to avoid American and allied forces within Vietnam. That violated international law, but Communist countries never agreed to international rules of war. In an effort to stop them, the Americans bombed the Ho Chi Minh trail, as it was called, through Laos and Cambodia. Both sides denied they were in Laos.

Of the hundreds of thousands of cluster bombs dropped on the country, about 30% did not explode but are still live. These are the UXO, or unexploded ordnance that are still in the country and kill or maim on average one person every day. It is estimated some 30 million bomblets are still live in the country.

The UXO Lao mission is to clear the UXO from the country. They do this through education, metal detectors, and international support.

Please come here, and please help support their mission. Give what you can, buy the souvenirs.

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A sobering pitstop in paradise. UXO (Unexploded Ordinance) Lao doesn’t try to entertain you, it educates you, humbles you, and punches you in the gut with quiet dignity.

Laos holds the unenviable title of most bombed country per capita in history, thanks to a war most of us never learned about in school. Between 1964 and 1973, the country endured over 580,000 bombing missions, dropping over 2 million tons of ordnance, more than all bombs dropped in World War II combined. Roughly 30% didn’t explode, leaving behind an estimated 80 million UXOs, many still buried in fields and forests today.

Here, the silent exhibits speak louder than words. Rusting bomb shells repurposed as furniture, grainy footage, stories from villagers who still live with fear underfoot. It’s not flashy, it’s not “Instagrammable”, but it matters.

You’ll walk out with a lump in your throat and questions in your head. Questions like: Why? How? And what took me so long to care? Not a tourist attraction but a human wake up call. 🙏🏼

#UXOLao #HistoryHurts #NeverForget...