Inside the Laos villages where people build homes, canoes, and tools out of unexploded bombs left over from the Vietnam War

Amanda GohApr 29, 2022, 13:22 IST

A boy stands in front of a house built on bombs dropped by the U.S. Air Force planes during the Vietnam War, in the village of Ban Napia in Xiengkhouang province, Laos.Jorge Silva/REUTERS

The US dropped more than 270 million bombs on Laos during the Vietnam War.
An estimated 30% of the bombs remain unexploded and are scattered across the country.

Decades after the Vietnam War ended, there are around 80 million unexploded bombs left in Laos. Despite the danger they pose, some villagers use the bombs to build their homes.

A woman poses at the entrance of her house next to bombs dropped by the U.S. Air Force planes during the Vietnam War, in the village of Ban Napia in Xiengkhouang province, Laos. They are used to hold up the gate to her home.Jorge Silva/REUTERS

Decades after the Vietnam War ended, there are around 80 million unexploded bombs left in Laos. Despite the danger they pose, some villagers use the bombs to build their homes.

In many villages, these bombs and other war-time relics have become a staple of the landscape and of everyday life. Plane fuel tanks, for example, have found a second life as canoes.

A boy hops out of a canoe made from fuel tanks dropped by US bombers during the Vietnam War. The US heavily bombed the area during the war, leaving UXO (unexploded ordnance) that locals have incorporated into their daily lives.Jerry Redfern/LightRocket via Getty Images

In many villages, these bombs and other war-time relics have become a staple of the landscape and of everyday life. Plane fuel tanks, for example, have found a second life as canoes.

The villagers have managed to repurpose the bombs into different functions depending on their size. The casings of smaller bombs, like the one below, sometimes double as planters.

A bomb dropped by the U.S. Air Force planes during the Vietnam War is used to grow plants in the village of Ban Napia in Xieng Khouang province, Laos.Jorge Silva/REUTERS

The villagers have managed to repurpose the bombs into different functions depending on their size. The casings of smaller bombs, like the one below, sometimes double as planters.

In Ban Napia, a village in the Xiengkhouang province of Laos, some villagers sell cutlery made out of the metal from unexploded bombs.

A man makes spoons by melting the bombs dropped by the U.S. Air Force planes during the Vietnam War, in the village of Ban Napia in Xiengkhouang province, Laos.Jorge Silva/REUTERS

Cluster munitions — small submunitions encased within a larger shell — were the most common type of bombs used on Laos, Goring told Insider. They are designed to detonate on impact, but not all of them did.

A man walks past a house standing on bombs dropped by the U.S. Air Force planes during the Vietnam War, in the village of Ban Napia in Xiengkhouang province, Laos.Jorge Silva/REUTERS

Cluster munitions — small submunitions encased within a larger shell — were the most common type of bombs used on Laos, Goring told Insider. They are designed to detonate on impact, but not all of them did.

Part of the danger stems from the fact that there is no way for villagers to know whether a bomb is still active, Goring said.

A girl poses at an entrance of her house next to a bomb dropped by the U.S. Air Force planes during the Vietnam War, in the village of Ban Napia in Xiengkhouang province, Laos.Jorge Silva/REUTERS

Those who don't die from the explosions often suffer serious injuries.

A man standing under a shelter which is supported by a pillar made from the outer casing of a bomb.Courtesy of MAG

"Since clearance work began in the early 1990s, more than 1.7 million bombs have been destroyed by MAG and other organizations in Laos through mine action work," Goring said.

MAG volunteers carrying equipment required to clear bombs from the ground.Courtesy of MAG

"Since clearance work began in the early 1990s, more than 1.7 million bombs have been destroyed by MAG and other organizations in Laos through mine action work," Goring said.

MAG estimates it still needs to clear approximately 1,600 square kilometers of land in Laos.

Children play in front of several large unexploded bombs.In Pictures Ltd./Corbis via Getty Images

A 414-foot superyacht formerly owned by Paul Allen is now available to book for 7-day charters to Antarctica for $2.2 million — take a look at the vessel

Cookies on the Business Insider India website

Inside the Laos villages where people build homes, canoes, and tools out of unexploded bombs left over from the Vietnam War

Decades after the Vietnam War ended, there are around 80 million unexploded bombs left in Laos. Despite the danger they pose, some villagers use the bombs to build their homes.

In many villages, these bombs and other war-time relics have become a staple of the landscape and of everyday life. Plane fuel tanks, for example, have found a second life as canoes.

The villagers have managed to repurpose the bombs into different functions depending on their size. The casings of smaller bombs, like the one below, sometimes double as planters.

In Ban Napia, a village in the Xiengkhouang province of Laos, some villagers sell cutlery made out of the metal from unexploded bombs.

Cluster munitions — small submunitions encased within a larger shell — were the most common type of bombs used on Laos, Goring told Insider. They are designed to detonate on impact, but not all of them did.

Part of the danger stems from the fact that there is no way for villagers to know whether a bomb is still active, Goring said.

Those who don't die from the explosions often suffer serious injuries.

"Since clearance work began in the early 1990s, more than 1.7 million bombs have been destroyed by MAG and other organizations in Laos through mine action work," Goring said.

MAG estimates it still needs to clear approximately 1,600 square kilometers of land in Laos.