Northeastern Laos is one of the least visited regions of the country but received a great deal of attention from both the Americans and Vietnamese during the Vietnam War when the area was heavily bombed, obliterating whole villages and forcing the population to retreat to caves for shelter.

Many relics remain from that period, both in the form of bombs shells propping up village houses and in the physical scars on the population.

For visitors, the mysterious Plain of Jars is a highlight, with huge stone vessels scattered over several locations close to the main town of Phonsavan.