Mulberries organic silk farm📍 landmark
An organic silk farm near Phonsavan producing traditional Lao silk.
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Phonsavan
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ℹ️Practical info — Phonsavan
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🌤 Weather — 5 days
📍 Nearby
Sights nearby
💡 Tips
- The Plain of Jars is best visited with a local guide who can explain the complex history and the lingering UXO (Unexploded Ordnance) situation.
- Stay strictly on the marked paths when visiting historical sites, as unexploded bombs from the Vietnam War era remain a hazard.
- The climate here is cooler than in most of Laos due to the high altitude; bring a jacket for the evenings.
- Rent a motorbike to visit the various jar sites, but be aware that road conditions can be rough.
- Visit the MAG (Mines Advisory Group) Information Center to understand the impact of unexploded ordnance in the province.
🍽 Food
🍽
Pho Phonsavan
Due to its proximity to Vietnam, you will find excellent, warming bowls of Pho in local morning eateries.
🍽
Fried Swallow
A regional specialty; adventurous eaters can look for this at traditional Lao restaurants in the town center.
🍽
Mulberry Tea
Enjoy this healthy local tea, often served at cafes supporting local organic farms.
🛍 Shopping · 🧘 Quiet spots
🛍
Phonsavan Central Market (Talat Nam Nguen)
An expansive market where you can find fresh local produce, forest products, and traditional Hmong textiles.
🛍
UXO Souvenirs
Several shops sell spoons and keychains made from scrap metal of defused bombs, often supporting local artisans.
🧘
War Memorials
Two hills near town host serene Lao and Vietnamese war memorials offering panoramic, quiet views of the city.
🧘
Jar Site 3
Located further out and accessed via a scenic walk through rice paddies, it is much quieter than Site 1.
Water temperature…
Phonsavan is the capital of Xieng Khouang Province in northeastern Laos, set on a windswept plateau at about 1,100 metres above sea level. The present town was rebuilt after the Vietnam War because the old provincial capital, Muang Khoun, had been almost completely destroyed by bombing. The region is best known for the Plain of Jars, an archaeological landscape of thousands of Iron Age stone jars that was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list in 2019. In Phonsavan itself, museums and Mine Action Visitor Centres recall the so-called Secret War, during which the United States dropped more than two million tons of ordnance on Laos. Many fields around town remain contaminated by unexploded cluster bombs to this day.
- Location: Laos
- Nearby: Xaisomboun (18 km)
- Population: ~37.507 (2026)
Best time to visit & climate
The most pleasant time to visit is Feb, Mar, Nov.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg °C | 17 | 19 | 21 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 21 | 19 | 16 |
| Rain mm | 11 | 7 | 30 | 59 | 129 | 119 | 191 | 221 | 137 | 63 | 22 | 9 |
Geography
Facts
- Capital of Xiangkhouang Province, built in the late 1970s to replace the old capital.
- Serves as the main gateway to the Plain of Jars archaeological landscape.
- The region was heavily bombed during the Secret War, leaving unexploded ordnance.
- Known for its cooler climate due to its elevation on the Xiangkhouang Plateau.
- Locals creatively use scrap metal from war remnants to make everyday tools.
- Features a unique landscape of pine forests, which is uncommon in Laos.
Explore nearby
Notable places around
Route planner — Car & Motorhome
Where do you start? We build the route here, with stops and country notes along the way.
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© OpenStreetMap contributors · OpenRouteService
Sights in the town Phonsavan (1)
Frequently asked questions
What is the main attraction of Phonsavan?
The Plain of Jars, a mysterious archaeological UNESCO World Heritage site.
Is it safe to visit the jars?
Yes, as long as you stay on marked paths, as there are many unexploded bombs (UXO) in the region.
What is the weather like in Phonsavan?
Being on a plateau, it is cooler than the rest of Laos, especially at night during winter.
What can one learn about the war?
The MAG visitor center provides information on the effects of massive bombings during the Vietnam War.
How do you get there?
By plane from Vientiane or by bus/minivan from Luang Prabang (approx. 6-8 hours drive).
Phonsavan: where is it located?
Phonsavan is located in Laos.
Phonsavan: when is the best time to visit?
The most pleasant time to visit is Feb, Mar, Nov.
Phonsavan: why is it worth visiting?
Phonsavan is the capital of Xieng Khouang Province in northeastern Laos, set on a windswept plateau at about 1,100 metres above sea level.
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Lao Mulberry Silk Farm
An agricultural facility focused on cultivating mulberry trees for rearing silkworms.
Plain of Jars
A group of thousands of stone jars scattered across the Xiangkhoang Plateau, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Nong Tang Battlefield
A lake and the surrounding crater-pocked hills where fierce fighting occurred during the Secret War in Laos.
Xiangkhoang Plateau
A large plateau in northern Laos, famous for the Plain of Jars, an Iron Age archaeological site.
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An impressive ruin in Muang Khoun featuring a large seated Buddha statue exposed after the temple walls were destroyed by bombs.
Old Muang Khoun Ruins
The remains of the historic old capital of Xieng Khouang province, which was largely destroyed by heavy bombing.
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