Franz ElizI had some of the best travel moments in Laos, so unsurprisingly, I still miss this humble, quiet country. Although I was smitten by the country’s scenic mountains and lovely streams, the Lao National Museum somehow didn’t blow me away.
I’m not saying the museum was awful, but it wasn’t as organised and comprehensive as many museums I’ve visited. Still, I’m glad I made the trip. And I appreciate the museum’s efforts.
Kindly take note that the Lao National Museum has permanently closed its doors, unfortunately. Regardless, I’ll share my trip to the museum back in 2016 to show you what the museum was like and share about the “secret war” that deserves more worldwide attention. So, keep reading.
About the Lao National Museum
The Lao National Museum, built in 1925, was once the home of a French governor. The mansion features colonial architecture. This museum is significant to the Lao people as it was where the country’s independence was declared.
Then, the building was used for different purposes:
- The mansion became the Lao government headquarters and the prime minister’s office.
- It was also where the King stayed during his visit from Luang Prabang.
- The building became the Laos Exhibition Hall of the Revolution on the 1st of December 1980. Then, it was transformed into the Laos Museum of Revolution.
And from the early 2000s, the building became the Lao National Museum, with 8,000 artefacts from across the country displayed.
Exploring Lao National Museum
As mentioned earlier, I wasn’t blown away by the museum. The museum wasn’t as impressive as many museums I’ve visited. It was just okay. But that doesn’t mean my trip wasn’t educational or was a waste of time.
I still enjoyed my time at the museum and spent more than 2 hours there.
Interesting Artefacts and History Lessons
The two-storey museum displayed educational information, typically about the people’s resistance against foreign invasions. It also displayed photos and artefacts related to palaeontology, archaeology, history and ethnology, dating from prehistoric times to the modern day.
Visitors could find dinosaur bones, Khmer culture, and Buddha statuary on the building’s ground floor.
Moving towards the upper floor, tourists had the opportunity to learn about Laos and the country’s involvement in multiple foreign conflicts, such as the invasions of the Siamese, the French colonial period, and the Vietnam War.
Exploring the Country’s Past
The museum focused a lot on communism. It also showed how (and why) communism was introduced in 1975; hence, the museum’s former name was the Lao Revolutionary Museum.
Like the War Remnants Museum in Vietnam, the Lao National Museum emphasized the impacts of foreign invasions on the country and its people, especially the unexploded bombs left by the American military in the countryside.
Some people disliked the museum because they found it overdone with anti-western propaganda, particularly against the U.S.
Looking at the country’s war history, one could understand why the museum’s artefacts were presented the way they were. Anyone would be upset if someone dropped about 80 million bombs – unexploded – into their country and, consequently, had them and their loved ones living in fear daily.
However, the vibe I was getting from the Lao National Museum wasn’t as strong as what I experienced at the War Remnants Museum in Ho Chi Minh. At least, that’s what I think. I suppose how the two countries’ historical information was displayed made all the difference.
Sad History and Poverty
Many visitors found the information about unexploded ordnance from the American war to be the most interesting. I felt the same way, too. But the story made me sad.
The bombs affected so many innocent lives even up to this day. Since jobs are scarce, many local women from the countryside make their living by finding and deactivating bombs. Yes, it’s a risky business. But someone has got to do it. I unequivocally think that these women are mentally strong and brave.
It’s not just about the money. These local women do it for their country. Despite their efforts, many bombs are still lingering around paddy fields, hills and local jungles and retrieving all the bombs could feel like forever. There are just too many bombs that need clearing, yet the lack of funding. Here’s a documentary on the ongoing issue:
Drugs and Dinasours in Laos
The museum also displayed drugs like cannabis and more. However, some of the information displayed caught my attention, like misspellings and questionable labels.
The museum also looked run down. It didn’t seem like the museum was maintained well. Perhaps the museum authorities need to put more effort towards maintaining the building.
Cool fact: Do you know that the museum had a complete skeleton of a dinosaur that once roamed in Laos? It died 4,000 years ago.
Was the Lao National Museum Worth the visit?
The Lao National Museum was worth the visit. The entrance fee was only USD1.20 (₭10,000). Visitors could still learn much about the country at such a low price.
The museum staff would tell visitors not to bring their cameras into the museum. But many visitors got away with their cameras. The museum staff didn’t seem to be monitoring around when I was there!
Would I go there again? Unfortunately, no, because the museum is permanently closed. But if the museum reopens someday, I’d love to check out what it has to offer.