During the American/ Vietnam war, Laos remained a neutral country, however between 1964 and 1973, during the years of the secret war, 2 million tons of ordnance were dropped on Laos by the American Airforce along the Ho Chi Minh trail in 580,000 - the equivalent of one planeload every 8 minutes, 24 hours a day for 9 years.
The economic value of the scrap metal means that is a source of income for some families, despite the associated danger.
Some information about the ‘secret war’ and the extent of the bombing in Laos.
One of the displays at the COPE museum about the development of prosthetics for the land mine and unexploded explosive victims.
A visit to the Golden Stupa in Vientiane .
Bike ride along the Mekong River in Vientiane.
Peddling as fast as I could ...