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Photos of Buddhist monks in Laos praying in region littered with unexploded bombs
More than one-third of bombs dropped during the U.S.-led Secret War in Laos remain unexploded, continuing to limit agriculture and affect communities in Luang Prabang.
- At dawn, Buddhist monks perform the tak bat ritual in Luang Prabang, captured in a photo gallery curated by The Associated Press, copyright 2025.
- During the 1964–1973 Secret War, more than 2 million tons of ordnance were dropped on Laos and an estimated one-third failed to explode.
- Routine scenes — markets and monastic education — shape daily life as many boys from the countryside enter monasteries, receiving education, food and accommodation, while morning market stalls overflow with fresh vegetables, herbs and local meat and fish.
- Unexploded ordnance constrains farming and settlement patterns as it lies beneath farmland and villages, while tourism activities such as climbing Mount Phousi support the local economy.
- Luang Prabang sits on a narrow peninsula between the Mekong and Nam Khan rivers and retains a distinct cultural atmosphere with slow pace, warm 'sabaidee' greetings, and evening chants near Wat Xieng Thong.
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Photos of Buddhist monks in Laos praying in region littered with unexploded bombs
LUANG PRABANG, Laos (AP) — The day begins in darkness, lit only by street lamps. As dawn breaks, a pale blue light reveals a quiet line of monks in orange robes moving through the streets of the Lao city of…
·Cherokee County, United States
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources14
Leaning Left8Leaning Right1Center4Last UpdatedBias Distribution61% Left
Bias Distribution
- 61% of the sources lean Left
61% Left
L 61%
C 31%
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