COPE Visitor Centre
ສູນ COPE
A public-interest exhibition on the injuries caused by unexploded ordnance (UXO) in Laos and on prosthetic rehabilitation. Admission is free, and it offers a direct view of the trauma the “Secret War” of the Vietnam War era left behind in Laos.
Laos is among the most heavily bombed countries per capita. During the “Secret War” of 1964–1973, U.S. forces dropped more than 2 million tons of bombs on Laos. Many cluster bombs failed to explode and still cause casualties in fields and villages today. COPE (Cooperative Orthotic and Prosthetic Enterprise) is a non-profit organization that provides prosthetics and rehabilitation to people who have been injured. Its visitor centre, in the grounds of the National Rehabilitation Centre, tells the story of UXO through objects, photographs, films and interactive installations: cluster bomb casings hang from the ceiling, villagers have turned bomb shells into household items, crude homemade prosthetic limbs are on display, and survivors share their stories in video testimonies. The displays are simple but deeply moving. Admission is free. You can donate or buy souvenirs to support rehabilitation programs, and there is a café inside. Getting there: it is on Khouvieng Road, about 2 km from That Luang and 3 km from the old town, roughly 10 minutes by taxi. Note: the content is heavy, so think carefully before bringing children. When hiking in rural Laos, always stick to cleared paths.
Opening hours
09:00–18:00 (holidays or adjusted hours may apply)
Nearby sights
- Wat Si Muang
- Haw Phra Kaew
- Talat Sao (Morning Market)
- Wat Si Saket
- Presidential Palace (Haw Kham)
- That Dam
- Patuxai
- Nam Phou Fountain