The ancient stone jars at a site in Xieng Khuang province.           --Photo Vientiane Times

Prehistoric Plain of Jars a favourite tourist draw in Xieng Kuang  

Almost all tourists visiting Xieng Kuang province automatically make a beeline for the “Plain of Jars”, which has prehistoric sites with thousands of stone jars.
The stone jars sites, known locally as Thong Hai Hin, are popular with domestic and foreign tourists. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Plain of Jars is regarded as one of the most important prehistoric sites of Southeast Asia. 
Some residents of Paek district in Xieng Kuang told Vientiane Times that the region usually has good weather from November to January. During this time, the province becomes cooler and many foreigners arrive for a visit. In July though, the weather is sometimes hot, and sometimes it rains.
I’ve been to the province several times, and also visited the jar sites. There are many guesthouses and hotels, and a room on the third or fourth floor of these establishments usually offers a beautiful view of the nearby town. All parts of the town are not visible from rooms on lower floors because some tall buildings block the view.
Xieng Khuang has changed greatly in the past decade. The provincial capital Phonsavanh, in Paek district, now has a large number of hotels, guesthouses and restaurants, and plenty of lively activities as well.
The weather in the first week of July was delightful and everything glistened in the early morning light. The days were hot, though the nights were quite good.
The town is located in a low-lying area ringed by mountains and the large Nam Ngam Park.
Thong Hai Hin comprises about 80 distinct sites, but only 11 fall within the officially recognised World Heritage Site as these have the highest concentration of stone jars. Similar vessels can be found in Phoukhoun district of Luang Prabang province, which borders Xieng Khuang.
Those sites that are not part of the UNESCO-recognised heritage site cannot be accessed by road, but some can be reached on foot.
Three sites in particular are popular with visitors. The first is 15 km southwest of Phonsavanh in Paek district, and has about 300 jars. The second site is 25 km south of Phonsavanh and contains about 90 jars spread over two hills. The third site is 35 km southeast of Phonsavanh and has about 150 jars.
The mysterious structures were carved from sandstone and granite, and their size ranges from very small to about 3.5 metres high.
The spotlight is now squarely on Xieng Khuang province and this quiet region of Laos is becoming a top attraction after the Plain of Jars was named a World Heritage Site by UNESCO a few years ago.
Most visitors come to tour the main streets of Phonsavanh and interesting sites such as the Plain of Jars, Keng Mountain, Tham Piew cave, the old temple of Phiavat and the two waterfalls of Kha and Ka.
A popular restaurant called Hot Pot serves up dishes of the same name (also known as xinchom) and is well worth seeking out.
The Xieng Khuang bird is another popular dish on local menus. This refers to the swallow, or nok aen toung, and is a specialty found only in this province.
When foreigners visit Xieng Khuang, they usually make a trip to see the large Buddha at Phiavat temple in Khoun district, about 30 km from the provincial capital. Astonishingly, this statue remained unscathed throughout years of bombing raids by the Americans during the Indochina War.
Xieng Khuang province was once known as the land of unexploded ordnance, because of cluster bombs dropped by US warplanes during the Indochina War of 1964-1973, but it has now emerged as a favourite destination for domestic and foreign tourists.
Many bombs dropped on Xieng Khuang and other Lao provinces did not explode and they are still being removed so that the areas can be redeveloped.

By Times Reporters
(Latest Update July 12, 2022)