Since its creation in 1996, COPE has worked in close partnership with Lao government rehabilitation centres to provide nation-wide physical rehabilitation services. Through COPE thousands of people with mobility-related disabilities, including UXO survivors, have received prosthetic and orthotic services free of charge.
The COPE (Cooperative Orthotic and Prosthetic Enterprise) visitor centre, which is in the grounds of a hospital specialising in support for people with disabilities. COPE was originally set-up to deal with the devasting impact of un-exploded bombs left over from the Vietnam War.
There were around 580,000 bombing missions flown over Lao PDR between 1964 and 1973, dropping around 270 million sub-munitions (bombies) from cluster bombs, equivalent to 2 million tons in weight. 10 to 30 percent of these cluster bombs failed to explode, leaving about 80 million unexploded bombs on the ground.
It has been estimated that around 50,000 people have been injured or killed in Laos as a result of UXO incidents since 1964. Roughly 30,000 of these incidents occurred during the time of the Second Indochina War/Vietnam War (up until 1973). The other 20,000 occurred in the post-conflict era (since 1973). It is estimated that more than 40% of victims in the post-conflict era are children.
The COPE visitor centre does a great job detailing the dreadful impact of unexploded bombs on Laos, but the best bit for me were the stories of how they have helped provide prosthetic limbs to those who have lost limbs, not only through UXOs but also in vehicle accidents and medical conditions, to regain some normality to their lives. Many of these people come from rural communities and have no money, so without the help of COPE they we never have been able to afford these prosthetics.
They also have a collection of short documentaries about survivor stories and the work to clear the UXO from the fields of Laos. These are shown on request in a small theatre. We watched on the work to clear the ‘bombies’ and educate children in rural Laos
Planning your visit to COPE
Getting to Vientiane
Plane
Vientiane, the capital city of Laos, has an international airport – Wattay International Airport – with direct flights from several countries.
Coming from Singapore, there’s Scoot that flies into VTE three times a week – Tue, Thu, Sat – in the afternoon. The journey takes 3 hours.
There are also direct international flights from Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, China, and Korea.
Bus
There are three bus stations in Vientiane with buses travelling on different routes.
The Central Bus Station covers both long and short-distance buses within the city, the Thai border, and the Southern and Northern Bus Stations.
The Northern Bus Station covers Northern Laos, including journeys into China.
The Southern Bus Station covers Southern Laos, including journeys into Vietnam.
Boat
One of the nicest and most popular ways to get to Luang Prabang is to cross the border at Chiang Khong in Thailand to Huay Xai and take a boat up or down the Mekong through spectacular and scenic countryside. If you take the slow boat, it will take 2 days. See our blog post on taking the slow boat.
Train
The 414km-long Boten-Vientiane railway was completed and put into operation in December 2021. There’re 5 scheduled trains available on each way, including 4 speed trains (CXX) and 1 ordinary train (KXX). Speed trains run at 160km/hour and ordinary train at 120km/hour. The speed trains reduce the ride journey between Vientiane and Luang Prabang from 10 hours to 2 hours. Another important station is Vang Vieng in between. It’s now very convenient to travel among Vientiane, Vang Vieng, Luang Prabang and Boten.
The train always sells out so you need to get your tickets in advance. When we travelled it was quite an ordeal to get tickets, but that may have changed, so check with your hotel.
Also, worth noting is that the train station is quite a way out of town (12km). So, you will need transport (and time) to get there!
The best time to visit Vientiane
The best time to visit Vientiane
Vientiane offers the most favorable weather conditions and temperatures to visitors in the late autumn transitioning into the winter. Specifically starting from November to February. This period is characterized by cool temperature ranges from 28.1°C (82.6°F) to 30.8°C (87.4°F). This time frame also offers the least rainfall, ranging from 3mm (0.12″) to 78mm (3.07″), with the number of rainfall days not surpassing nine days, making it an ideal time for outdoor activities and sightseeing.
The worst time to visit Vientiane
The period from May to October could be challenging for visitors not accustomed to high humidity and heavy rainfall. During these months, the temperatures hover between 31.3°C (88.3°F) to 34.3°C (93.7°F). The period also marks the start of the monsoon season, and the city experiences its maximum rainfall from 246mm (9.69″) in May to 335mm (13.19″) in August, which is coupled with up to 21 rainfall days per month. This humid, wet weather might not be preferable for outdoor explorations and may restrict the travelling experience.
Where to stay in Vientiane
1. Luxury – La Seine Hotel
Featuring a restaurant, bar and views of city, La Seine Hotel is located in Vientiane, a 16-minute walk from Laos National Museum. This 5-star hotel offers luggage storage space. The property has a 24-hour front desk, airport transportation, room service and free WiFi throughout the property.
At the hotel the rooms are equipped with air conditioning, a seating area, a flat-screen TV with satellite channels, a safety deposit box and a private bathroom with a bidet, free toiletries and a hairdryer. Every room includes an electric tea pot, while certain rooms also offer a terrace and others also have river views. At La Seine Hotel each room comes with bed linen and towels.
2. Mid-Range – Chanthapanya Hotel
With free WiFi, Chanthapanya Hotel offers comfy accommodations with a sauna and an outdoor pool. Guests can enjoy the on-site restaurant. Free private parking is available on site.
Certain units include a seating area for guests’ comfort. A flat-screen TV with cable channels is provided.
A 24-hour front desk is available at the property.
Vientiane is 1969 feet from Chanthapanya Hotel, while Nong Khai is 11 mi away. Wattay International Airport is 2.5 mi from the property.
3. Budget – Barn Laos Hostel
Barn Laos Hostel in Vientiane provides adults only accommodations with a garden, a shared lounge and a terrace. The property is around 2.8 miles from Thatluang Stupa, 3.7 miles from Lao-ITEC Exhibition Centre and 12 miles from Thai-Laos Friendship Bridge. The property provides evening entertainment and a shared kitchen.
The rooms in the hostel are equipped with an electric tea pot. Featuring a shared bathroom with a shower and a hairdryer, rooms at Barn Laos Hostel also provide guests with free WiFi, while certain rooms will provide you with a balcony. All guest rooms feature bed linen.
The area is popular for cycling, and bike rental is available at the accommodation.