About
The Plain of Jars is a megalithic archaeological landscape on the Xieng Khouang Plateau, featuring thousands of stone jars scattered across the rolling highlands of northeastern Laos. Dating from the Iron Age (500 BCE – 500 CE), these massive stone urns are believed to have been used for burial rituals or as funerary storage. The landscape is both mysterious and striking — vast meadows dotted with centuries-old carved stone cylinders, many weighing several tons.
History
Created by an Iron Age civilisation between 500 BCE and 500 CE, the jars remain one of Southeast Asia's greatest archaeological mysteries. The site was heavily bombed during the Vietnam War-era Secret War (1964–1973), and unexploded ordnance (UXO) still litters the area. UNESCO inscribed the Plain of Jars in 2019, recognising its exceptional universal value as an Iron Age burial landscape.
Highlights
- Site 1 (Thong Hai Hin) — largest jar cluster
- Site 2 (Hai Hin Phu Salato)
- Site 3 (Hai Hin Lat Khai)
- UXO Museum
- Hmong village visits
Location
Visit Information
Opening Hours
8:00 - 17:00
Entry Fee
10,000 LAK per site
Best Time to Visit
October to April
