• Get around
• See
• Do
• Buy
• Eat
• Drink
• Sleep
• Get out

The Plain of Jars is in Laos.

[edit] Get in

[edit] By plane

The nearest airport is in Phonsavan with at least four flights per week to Vientiane and some flights to Luang Prabang in winter. The nearest major airport (by Lao standards, anyway) is Luang Prabang. Lao Airlines schedule from October 07 to March 08 does not show any flights to Luang Prabang

[edit] By Bus

Local buses can be caught to Phonsavan from Luang Prabang and Vientiane. The buses are sometimes accompanied by military escorts of one or two men to protect the bus from bandits. There is also an 8 hour bus from Vinh in Vietnam to Phonsanan.

[edit] Get around

You can rent a small motorbike such as a Honda "Wave" from several places on the main street. They cost about 100,000kip/day. It's an easy ride to the "Plain of Jars" and you can do it on the motorbike in about 15 or 20 minutes.There is little traffic so if you have any experience riding a motorbike you will find this a good way to have a look around.

[edit] See

At the various sites of the Plain of Jars, you can see literally hundreds of jars. Some have been damaged in the Indochine war (mainly destroyed by the French army). Some of the sites even now, still have bomb craters where jars have been split in two from a shell.

Tours can be booked everywhere in Phonsavan.

[edit] Do

Visit the MAG shop close to the Dokkhoun guest house. The Mines Advisory Group help clear bombs left by the secret war of the sixties and early seventies. For a $10 donation you get a free T-shirt. Worth a visit to learn more about the legacy of cluster bombs dropped by B52s hoping to disrupt the Ho Chi Minh trail. website www.mag.org.uk.

[edit] Buy

[edit] Eat

The Nisha is a Indian restaurant run by Mohammed, an immigrant from Madras. In a small kitchen he seems to have an inexhaustable supply of ingredients and is able to produce superb cuisine whatever is ordered from the extensive menu. His eaterie is situated almost opposite the Dokkhoun guest house. There is an incredible French resturant atop a hill (visible from anywhere in town) the food and service are excellent. Can't comment of price because we were guest of a friend but it's a fabulous place!

[edit] Drink

[edit] Sleep

We stayed at "Nice Guest House" which is right about the middle of town and found it clean comfortable and the managers friendly and helpful. August 2008 price was 80,000kip/night. The room had refrigerator and TV. A/C isn't needed as the town is quite cool even in summer.

[edit] Get out

There is a daily (morning)bus to Luang Prabang an 8 hour journey for 95,000kip. Also a daily bus to Vinh in Vietnam if you are headed that direction.