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Missile launcher |
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Known as: |
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Description: |
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The area east of Attapeu was an integral part of the Ho Chi Minh
Trail – two main branches, the Sihanouk Trail continuing south
into Cambodia and the Ho Chi Minh Trail veering east towards
Vietnam, split here – and as such was heavily bombed during the
war. One of the few visible reminders of this time is a
Russian-made surface-to-air missile (SAM), complete with Russian
and Vietnamese stencilling, that was set up in the village of
Pa-Am (aka Ban Sombun) by the North Vietnamese in 1974 to defend
against aerial attack.
It has survived the scrap hunters and,
by government order, is now on display, surrounded by a
barbed-wire fence held up, in part, by cluster-bomb casings.
Next to the missile is a small handicraft shop with textiles and
baskets woven by local Talieng women. If you drive around the
village you might get lucky and see some women weaving.
Pa-Am
is 16km past Saisettha (follow the signs for San Xai off Rte
18B) and the two villages make a great half-day trip from
Attapeu if you have your own wheels. There is no public
transport to Pa-Am.
North of Pa-Am the road quickly turns
rocky and continues on to Chaleun Xai, 38km north, then
northwest to Sekong. This route has recently been improved
somewhat, but it's still rough and recommended for dry-season
travel only. |
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Province |
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Attapeu |
Direction: |
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District |
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San Xai |
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City |
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Salavangkhang |
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Official Web: |
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Genre |
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Historic |
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Related links: |
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Best exposure |
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Afternoon |
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Rating |
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Opening time |
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Entry fee |
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Free |
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GPS : |
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14.9254, 107.04826 |
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