Vientiane, Laos - Remnants of bygone conflicts

A piece of info that I was not aware of prior to my research for this trip - Laos is the most bombed country, per capita, in history. The effects of the Vietnam War reached far and many. From 1964 to 1973, the US Government dropped more than 260 million ordnance to disrupt the Ho Chi Minh trail which was used to transport Vietnamese troops and supplies from North Vietnam to the South, and also in a secret war to support the Royal Lao government against the communists. Out of the 260 millions ordnance dropped, up to 80 million did not explode and because of this, at least one person is still killed or injured every day by unexploded ordnance (UXO) in Laos.

Cooperative Orthotic and Prosthetic Enterprise (COPE) is one of those noble missions set up to provide ccomprehensive rehabilitation services for the UXO survivors. The COPE Visitor Centre in Vientiane is the home of a permanent exhibition providing education on UXO in Laos, as well as information on the rehabilitation services that COPE offers.  I would never have thought that a centre on bombs and prosthetic limbs could be the #1 attraction to see in Vientiane but we were intrigued enough to go there on our second day in Vientiane.

For a Visitor Centre focusing on such sombre things, it is nowhere near being stuffy and boring. There is something artsy about the way the exhibits were set up, in fact I almost felt like I was in an art gallery with prosthetic legs and cluster bombs installations.

On the walls are information boards providing insights into the UXO problem currently faced by the people of Laos and the work undertaken by COPE for people affected by UXOs. 

There is a small movie theater (on the left, as you walk in through the entrance) where you can choose to watch any one of the short documentaries. In my opinion, this is one of the best features of the Visitor Centre. While we were inside the theatre sleeping watching a documentary, I remember thinking what a perfect place this is to kill a few hours if you are stuck in Vientiane waiting for the next bus or for your hotel room to be ready. It is dark and cold (a respite from the scorching heat outside) and you could watch a movie or two. For free.

The centre also has many quiet corners where you can just sit down to read booklets relating to COPE efforts, watch short videos on those affected by UXO on the TV provided (with headphones) and even try on a prosthetic leg. Snufkin enjoyed going in and out of the mock village house displaying the ways the villagers use bomb shells and shrapnel in their day to day lives.

I would recommend COPE Visitor Centre to parents travelling with their kids to Vientiane. While they may not understand the complications of Vietnam War, they could walk away with some sense that war and fighting only inflict devastation, and that they are  fortunate enough to be able to play and run around at home without risking a limb or even life. 

If that is not enough, the homemade ice-cream sold at adjacent Karma Cafe would do the trick. And iced Lao coffee for Mummy and Daddy.

  

Note:

COPE Visitor Centre is located on Khou Vieng Road, 1km from the Talat Sao (Morning Market) and opposite Green Park Hotel. It is open everyday from 9.00a.m. to 6.00pm. Entrance is free but every kip/dollar you spend at Karma Cafe and the gift shop go directly to fund COPE services.