Four-hundred eighty of these caves were used by the Pathet Lao during the Second Indochina War to shelter from American bombardment.
[1] Up to 23,000 people lived in the caves, which contained a hospital, a school, Pathet Lao offices, bakeries, shops, and even a theatre.
Viengxay served as a base for the communist forces (and holding facility for captured US servicemen) because it was close to the North Vietnamese border for logistical and political support.
It is an unusual site in that it offers the opportunity to explore a largely intact revolutionary base.
A project plan has been drawn up in conjunction with the Caves Office and implementation has begun, with improved signage and interpretation at sites.