Phonsavan

Phonsavan, also spelled Phonsavanh, is the capital of Xieng Khouang Province in northeastern Laos. It sits on the Xiangkhoang Plateau and serves as the administrative and economic center for the province. The town is the gateway to the Plain of Jars, a dispersed archaeological landscape located to the north and west of the town.

The Plain of Jars features thousands of ancient stone jars of varying sizes, dating from the Iron Age or earlier; the exact purpose of the jars remains the subject of debate. The sites, including several well-known locations such as Site 1, Site 2, and Site 3, attract researchers and visitors and are among the region’s principal landmarks.

During the Second Indochina War, the area around Phonsavan was heavily bombed by the United States in a campaign aimed at disrupting supply routes. The bombing left a long-standing problem of unexploded ordnance (UXO), which has caused casualties and hindered agriculture and development. Since the 1990s, international aid organizations and the Lao government have conducted UXO clearance, complemented by local education efforts.

Today, Phonsavan functions as a market town and service hub for visitors to the Plain of Jars. It hosts guesthouses and markets and provides access to cultural and historical attractions related to the war and the jars. The town is accessible by air via a domestic airport and is connected by road to other Lao provinces.

The region is inhabited by Lao and minority communities, including Hmong and Tai groups, with a culture shaped by highland traditions and modern Lao influences. The climate is tropical monsoon, with a pronounced dry season and a wet season.