Itinerary:

9:00 – 11:00

The Light Bulb that Sparked Development
Drive 35 km from Phonsavan to Ban Namkha (about 45 mins.), meet your local guide, and investigate the Swiss NGO Helvetas-supported renewable energy systems used and learn how they helped this Hmong village, while learning about their culture.

11:00 – 14.00

Trek to War Spoon Village Napia
Head off on an easy-to--moderate 1.5-hour trek to Ban Napia for an ethnic Phuan lunch (and optional overnight stay). Learn about traditional Phuan house building at the home-stay lodge, and then stroll down the village path to watch the “War Spoon” demonstration. Since the late 1980s, the villagers have produced spoons from aluminium UXO (unexploded bombs) scrap from the Second Indochina War, and will show you the process and sell you the finished products along with bracelets, hand-woven textiles and tastes of homemade Lao Lao whiskey.

14:00 – 17:00

The Secret War is No Longer a Secret…The Plain of Jars Still Is.
Continue 18 km to Jar Site 1 to enjoy the sunset at the most popular site with 331 jars, including the largest single jar, said to have been the 6th-century victory cup of King Khun Jeuam. Jar Site 1 was also of strategic military importance during the Second Indochina War, as seen by the trenches and foxholes, anti-aircraft positions and a tank ruins on top of the site’s cave. Several bomb craters are juxtaposed over the historic jars. Return 8 km to Phonsavan,

The entrance fee goes to the management of the jar site, while a significant portion of the tour fee goes to Ban Napia villagers.

For more information: Visit the Tourism Information Office in Phonsavan Town, Xiengkhouang Province.