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Sam Neua, Houaphan Province, Tham Than Kaysone
Project gen story hotsia
Than Kaysone Phomvihane Cave, Phomvihane Cave http://www.hotsia.com > (Kaysone Phomvihane, ໄກສອນ ພົມວິຫານ) During the Second Indochina War (called the Vietnam War in the West and the American War in Vietnam) which began due to conflict between the US-supported South Vietnamese government and the North Vietnamese forces including the Viet Cong, now known as the Vietnam People's Army.
It started in the late 1950s and ended in 1979. The US, which supported France in the first war, then supported the South Vietnamese government against the communist Viet Cong and North Vietnam. The North received military and financial support from China and the Soviet Union. Fighting also took place in Cambodia between US-supported forces and the communist Khmer Rouge (known as the Cambodian Civil War).
In Laos, there was fighting between the US-supported government, the Vietnam People's Army, and the communist Pathet Lao movement (known as the Laotian Civil War). Than Chairman Kaysone Phomvihane Cave was originally called Pha Yon. The cave originally had many bees. Locals wanted honey but it was difficult to climb the cliff, so they lowered ropes to collect honey, hence the name 'Yon Cave.' This natural cave consists of two connected caves. In 1964, Chairman Kaysone moved in. Initially, no improvements were made, but later two caves were connected by drilling, totaling 140 meters in length. The cave is higher than ground level and has 32 steps. It includes a defense room, reception room, party center and guest reception, meeting room, and club room for sports and arts. Chairman Kaysone especially enjoyed sports like table tennis. There are also research rooms and bedrooms.
At the cave entrance, there is a small cave used as a kitchen during the war. In early 1973, a house was built as Chairman Kaysone's residence but was not completed, using temporary wooden roofing while awaiting a new building. Before completion, Chairman Kaysone moved to Vientiane. This house was later used to store documents and historical items. Mr.Hotsia recommends hotels in Sam Neua for convenient travel and to see Chairman Kaysone's belongings.
During the war against American forces, Chairman Suphanouvong also had a stronghold in Vieng Xai. See the cave map below. At the meeting table, Kaysone sat at the head, with Chairman Suphanouvong on the left and Nu Hak on the right. During the war, the leaders stayed in this cave and fought together for many years until the war ended.
Actually, Chairman Kaysone led the revolution first, and Chairman Suphanouvong joined later. Therefore, the Lao government places more importance on Chairman Kaysone. Also, as a commoner without royal lineage and of Vietnamese descent, who were allies since the revolution began, this added to his significance. Inside Kaysone's cave, the rooms are very simple: bedroom, meeting room, bathroom with simple wooden furniture. The cave is cool with airflow.
A special feature of this cave is a safe room for protection when American planes dropped chemical weapons. It is a sealed room with an air purifier inside. This room fits only a few people and is reserved for important persons. Kaysone is a hero of Laos. Vieng Xai, Houaphan Province, is a victorious city. The government built the Kaew Hak Muang monument in Sam Neua (30 km apart).
There is also a monument to Kaysone in Vientiane. Although the war ended long ago, Lao people still feel the closeness from fighting together. Than Kaysone's cave serves as a reminder for national unity in the future. In contrast, Thailand, having been distant from war and not fighting other countries for a long time, has seen a decline in national unity despite many monuments.
People in Thailand may not feel connected to these monuments because too much time has passed. On my trip to Laos, I saw the love and unity among their people and thought of our home today. I hope monuments serve as reminders, not places to hide from each other’s bullets. This is Chairman Kaysone's bedroom. Additional history from Wikipedia: Kaysone Phomvihane (English: Kaysone Phomvihane, Lao: ໄກສອນ ພົມວິຫານ) - December 13, 1920 - November 21, 1992.
He was the first General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party from March 22, 1955. After the establishment of the Lao People's Democratic Republic on December 2, 1975, Suphanouvong became the first President, and Kaysone Phomvihane was the first Prime Minister, later becoming President until his death in 1992. Kaysone Phomvihane, also known as Nguyen Cai Song,
was the son of Nguyen Tri Loan and a Lao mother. He was born in Ban Nasang, Khantabouli District, now Kaysone Phomvihane District, Savannakhet Province, Laos. Kaysone Phomvihane officially visited Thailand as a guest of the government and royal guest of His Majesty the King, inviting the King and Queen to open the first Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge in Nong Khai Province.
Map of Vieng Xai and the tour map of Than Kaysone Cave. The Lao Tourism Office in Vieng Xai provides information and guides who cycle visitors to various caves and inside the caves. The guide service is free but there is a small bicycle rental fee. The first cave I visited was Than Kaysone Phomvihane Cave, with a sign at the entrance. Inside are many rooms: bedrooms, workrooms, children's bedrooms, bathrooms, and a chemical weapons shelter.
This shelter has an air purifier. There is a meeting room and seating arrangement for Lao leaders. There are bedrooms for soldiers inside Than Kaysone Cave. The guide explained the history during the Lao-American war. Let's enter the cave together. The tour lasts nearly ten minutes, like traveling on your own. The shelter protects against chemical weapons. We are about to start exploring the cave, passing through a newly built resting room after the war. After the war, Kaysone still stayed here.
Sam Neua, Houaphan Province, Than Kaysone Cave Picture 2
