10 of the best places to visit in Laos

The Vieng Xai Caves are an incredible historical site located in Laos' remote northeast on the border with Vietnam. During the so-called "Secret War" in Laos from 1964 to 1973, the Pathet Lao revolutionary movement discovered and used a network of 480 caves hidden in the jungle around Vieng Xai as a hidden city for their leaders and 20,000 followers. The caves were equipped with hospitals, communication centers, meeting rooms, a large theater cave for rallies, weddings, and movie screenings. After being preserved and opened to the public, the caves offer a fascinating insight into Laos' wartime history and the extraordinary efforts made by the people who survived there. The surrounding area is characterized by beautiful limestone mountains covered in jungle foliage, reminiscent of Vang Vieng or Krabi in Thailand.