Why Laos is the most bombed country in the world
Laos is considered one of the most captivating countries in Southeast Asia. Mountains covered in forest, rural villages and an ancient culture coexist with a lesser-known reality: Laos is the most bombed country in modern history. During the Vietnam War, millions of bombs were dropped on its territory, leaving an enormous number of unexploded ordnances still present in the ground today.
The secret war in Laos
Between 1964 and 1973, Laos was subjected to a massive bombing campaign during the Vietnam War. Entire regions were struck by millions of ordnances. Some areas still bear these scars of history today, including the famous Plain of Jars, one of the most mysterious archaeological sites in Southeast Asia.
UXO: unexploded ordnances
UXO stands for Unexploded Ordnance. In Laos, these war remnants remain a real problem for local communities today. Agricultural fields, footpaths and forests still conceal objects from the war that can be deadly.
Key figures on the bombing of Laos
Between 1964 and 1973, the United States dropped over 2 million tonnes of bombs on Laos, making it the most heavily bombed country in history relative to its population. An estimated 270 million cluster bombs were dropped, roughly 30% of which failed to detonate — leaving around 80 million unexploded ordnances scattered across the country. A bomb fell on Laos every 8 minutes, 24 hours a day, for 9 consecutive years.
Since the end of the war in 1975, unexploded ordnances have killed or injured more than 25,000 people, many of them children. Even today, around 50 people a year are killed or injured by unexploded bombs while working in the fields or playing in rural areas.
Laos today
Despite this complex history, Laos is today one of the most authentic countries in Southeast Asia. Many travellers choose to visit it with awareness, favouring responsible tourism that respects local communities and the natural environment.
From war to transformation
In recent years, local craftspeople have begun recovering metals from war remnants and military scrap. This material is remelted and worked by artisans in the village of Ban Naphia, transformed into handcrafted objects and symbols of memory.
This transformation has also inspired projects involving jewellery made from bomb-derived metal, telling a different story: that of a metal that changes its meaning.
Skin-safe jewellery, born from history
The aluminium recovered from these ordnances is naturally nickel-free — safe even for the most sensitive skin, with no risk of contact allergies.
Nickel-free jewellery: what it is and why it matters
Transforming memory
Telling the story of Laos means remembering the past and imagining new possibilities. Some handcrafted objects today are born precisely from this transformation: materials tied to war become symbols of peace, work and memory.
Telling the story of Laos today means going beyond the aesthetics of travel. It means speaking about memory, responsibility and the future. It means recognising that an object can become a witness, not just an ornament.
→ Circle of Life Necklace — recycled aluminium from war ordnances in Laos. €35.90
Learn more
- UXO Lao: the most bombed country in the world
- Ban Naphia: where bombs become jewellery
- The Plain of Jars: UNESCO World Heritage
- Jewellery made from bombs
- Nickel-free jewellery
To truly understand the country's history, read the complete guide to Laos here: history and culture of Laos.