Xaiburi village near Viengxay

Here we visited the Laotian girl who guided us into the Khaysone Phomvihane's cave.
Up to 23,000 people lived in the caves, which contained a hospital, a school, Pathet Lao offices, bakeries, shops, and even a theatre, the Khaysone Phomvihane's cave was one of many.
The area was home to the Communist army, who were fighting the royalist forces, based in Vientiane. The caves were used for living and working in because the US Army was bombing the area so heavily. Locals say that farmers had to farm at night to avoid bombing raids. Vieng Xay served as a base for the Communist forces because it was close to the Vietnamese border for logistical and political support.