Vieng Xai

Met an older Dutch couple in Sam Neua and met them again in Vieng Xai and ended up going on a push bike ride around the Pathet Lao caves with them and an English speaking guide. The caves were where the govt in waiting were holed up, the caves are pretty impressive all done out with gas proof bunkers, kitchens, bedrooms and meeting halls, most of the important people had a cave complex to live in. After the bombing stopped each got there own pad built out the front of the caves. Our guide was pretty good, was studying English at uni in Sam Neua, so did this job to better his English. The next day jumped on a truck passing on the highway from Sam Neua to the border to Vietnam.

Brief History of Pathet Lao from Wikipedia

Was a communist, nationalist political movement and organization in Laos, formed in the mid 20th century. The group was ultimately successful in achieving paramount power in Laos, following a civil war or insurgent revolution lasting from the 1950s to 1975. The group was always closely associated with Vietnamese communists. During the civil war, it was effectively organized, equipped and even led by the army of North Vietnam.

The Pathet Lao can be considered the Laotian equivalent of the Viet Minh and Viet Cong of Vietnam. The term eventually became the generic name for Laotian communists. The political movement associated with the Pathet Lao was called first the Lao People's Party (1955-1972) and later was known as the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (1972-present). After the Pathet Lao seized power, they were effectively the government rather than an insurgency and the term ceased to be used. Unlike the Khmer Rouge, they were effectively an extension of Vietnamese Communist movement.

Key figures of the Pathet Lao include Prince Souphanouvong, Kaysone Phomvihane, Phoumi Vongvichit, Nouhak Phoumsavanh and Khamtay Siphandone.