Long Tieng - CIA's Secret War in Laos Headquarters | Now in Lao

[@NowinLao]

Here's a question for you... If Neenee and myself were to offer this "Middle Lao tour" trip as a tour package, how many of you would be interested in joining us? An all inclusive package. Just fly in, nothing else to worry about. With the response we both have received from the destinations on this trip so far. we are seriously considering doing this tour as soon as things open up. If enough interest is generated I will look more into this and costing and do a video shortly after we have finished this series.

[@rider660r]

I know I would,my plan is to try and visit many of the areas in Lao,Cambodia,and VN that had to do with the war history but it's going to be a few years till I can jump that pond.

[@NowinLao]

@@rider660r good to know 👍

[@superyoohoo100]

That is an excellent idea!

[@retiredinthailand24]

I’d love to travel there but as a tour operator I’d worry that some knucklehead tourist would mess it all up and get blown up by old ordinance straying off trail etc…

[@geneloscowski3070]

I would be interested. However, our tour to Laos was cancelled in Oct by the Lao Government because of Covid-19.

[@superyoohoo100]

I remember T-28’s fully armed taking off and C-123’s loading soldiers to battlefields. It was a very busy and noisy place when I was there. Imagine the airstrip is surrounded by mountains (like inside a bowl) and the echoes from all sides. The immense roars of transport aircrafts at takeoff. I was there as a child in the 1960’s then moved to different villages within the region until 1975 (when we left the country). This summer, I finally published my memoir, Beyond the Mountains, a Hmong Memoir (by Khoua Thao). I chronicled my childhood experience in Long Cheng (including the evacuation) and different villages that we lived. I also included our journey into refugee camps in Thailand and finally in the US. I remember the mountains in Long Cheng (Phu Mok or Sky Ridge), the karsts at the upper end of the runway and tried to describe in my book from memory. They still look the same. I miss my homeland very much and wish to be there once more.

[@NowinLao]

Thoj my friend, is there anywhere online I can find your memoir? I'm sure there are many who would like to read it including myself. I hope you're able to return one day soon. Take care 🙏

[@superyoohoo100]

@@NowinLao Todd, my memoir is available both in Kindle and paperback on Amazon: Type in: Beyond the Mountains Khoua Thao We have been away from the mountains for 46 years now and realize how beautiful it is. Thanks again for sharing videos your travels in Laos with us!

[@superyoohoo100]

@SKIP ROCHE 🇻🇳 thank you! Todd did a great job showing the surrounding area that I grew up. The mountains remained unchanged as I remember them. I now realized how beautiful that area really is. Wish that we didn’t have to move from there but it is what it is.

[@costasworldofmusicmemories5792]

It would nice to build a museum to tell a story that needs to be told. Todd, you are telling that story in this very important vlog of the war effort of all involved in Southeast Asia. Thank you for that. Be well my dear friend👍👍👍. Harriet and Jim. Richmond, Va.

[@NowinLao]

Always nice to hear you're along for the ride and enjoying it. Take care Harriet and Jim 💚

[@yingvang406]

This was my hometown where I lived from 1964 o 1975. Thanks for sharing. From the U.S.A

[@souksadapasouk8620]

Thank you for taking the time to film the many angles of the airstrips and displaying the map of the important locations (The King's holiday house, General Vang Pao's house and the run way). I read "Shouting at the Moon" by Roger Warner. The book chronicles the secret war. I learned about the war, the American perspectives, General Vang Pao, and his people. And now I get to see the place from your video. It is truly amazing. Laos and the Hmong are just on a footnote in U.S. History books

[@THUNDERthanG3]

Thank you for the up load. It has been so so long I have not seen my old home for many years . I was born there 1954. A lot of memory I love so much my grandma she always sit outside the house and tell me and my sisters many stories of the wild hairy ape men that live deep in the forest.

[@jennymark7403]

We westerners know the war days but finding the places that was there still is history, lucky for both of you to find this place

[@NowinLao]

Hopefully we're going to make finding these places easier soon 😉

[@yellowneck92]

Long Cheng was a like heaven for the Hmongs back in the 60s according to most older Hmong generation. You can find almost anything you want or need even if it was a headquarters in a war zone. You’d find Hmong soldiers, civilian markets, airplanes, white advisors, guns and artillery ect all in one place.

[@Canarsie92]

I just want to take a moment to thank you for this tour of Long Tieng.. I spent tow tours in Vietnam from 1968 though 1970.. I always heard rumors of the US being in Laos, But really this was never confirmed as long as I was in country. I did a lot of time on the Cambodian border and entering into the county in 1970..! For many years I really just blanked so much out in my mind after returning to the states.. Around 40 yrs old I started to take a look at what happened in Vietnam, and what effect it had on me.. It was an awakening for me and a chance to let go of the horrors of war..! This Veteran is deeply opposed to war now. You better have a real good reason. America has not yet learned it lessons. The American war machine is always looking for the next battle, and war profiteers love the military. I'm proud of my service now, realizing I did nothing I wasn't forced to do..! Proud to have served in the Ist Air Cavalry Division as a combat engineer building fire support bases for the infantry..! Thanks again for the enlightenment on Loa..! Thank Nee Nee for her videos and translations too..!

[@NowinLao]

We both appreciate the kind words, and thank you for sharing some of your story with us. So happy people like yourself are able to see this place again through our videos. Take care 🙏

[@charliely3612]

Back in the days those building service as Royal Lao Army official office of Gen Vang Pao (White Star!) My dad's office was on the second building to the right. Good video Todd --- from what I heard, behind those two building, was a cave that store stockpile of weapons.

[@Doctorul]

Yes...and and aircraft sound was so, so loud. Echo from everywhere...it was rough back then

[@KennoRob]

Towards the end of the video,the video footage looking back/down at Long Tieng was a great view...with thought..... knowing the history....mixture of beauty and sadness.....Kenno...West Aust

[@Swaggerlot]

A book written by Joshua Kurlantzick on the CIA and Laos, "A Great Place to Have a War" is worth a read.

[@bruceweber2361]

Read it. Good book.

[@portline3]

It really does make you wonder how many planes landing there didn't make it. Besides being the worlds busiset airstrip at the time I would also think one of the most dangerous.

[@richardjackson6922]

Thank you for such a great video from a bit of history from back in the day. I wish when I was there I could not visit that place, it was still closed. It is great to capture the place before it opens up to the masses? I hope they turn it to a museum one day with planes from back in the day. I so happy to see that after all those years it has been closed that nature has done an excellent job taking back the land with all the green growth.

[@mohddamiri2846]

This is nice, appreciate your sharing. I was there in Feb 2018..went up from Ban Thanok, off Highway 13 to Long Tieng, stay the night and next day down towards Phonsavan

[@geneloscowski3070]

For the person who claims there were not any large planes that landed at Long Tieng, this video shows, C-123s, C-120s, and even a C-133 aircraft on the parking apron of Long Tieng. We also had AC-47s and AC-119 (gunships) at Long Tieng on TDY bases.

[@bugerlee1185]

Todd, an idea to turn it into a tourist spot?? It's more like a memorial site for both sides!! All the many lives lost. The erie quiet, but many who would have visit, has passed on. Only those that have no memory are left. I can see why they've left it alone.

[@geneloscowski3070]

The building displayed at 5:18 of your video was the medical dispensary. The building at the southwest corner was Vang Pao's jail. The building on the east side of the middle of the old runway was the USAF Security building.

[@suvang5373]

Thanks for sharing my head quater L/ S 20 A it was a busy air runway sun rises to sun set during the secret war .

[@nokiboy5672]

Thanks for sharing and bringing the new generation back to history of how Laos was really the victims of the war...I see so many documentaries if the villages people loosing limbs and loves ones...

[@stephenteo6636]

Hi chance upon yr vlog. Thought it was great , presented with sincerity and no bullshit.. stuck watching yr videos !

[@NowinLao]

Cheers mate 👍

[@stephenteo6636]

live in singapore . Been to thailand Vietnam , Indonesia . Mostly touristy places, after watching yr videos I am really tempted go to Laos ..

[@wbcoyote1724]

I remember walking around this place a few times in 1973 and 74 at what was called "Lima Site 20 Alternate" as a back seater in a O-1 Bird Dog Forward Air Control plane to refuel and pick up maps, intelligence reports, and "refreshments". we dropped in pointed at the Karst and left the same way turning to the right to miss it. My Pilot always offered me a plastic bag in case I needed to make a deposit...LOL,

[@leejones3219]

My Wife’s town of Korat is now a Royal Thai Air Base and was a major base during Vietnam. USN-RET. Thanks, you are a gutsy bugger. LOL.

[@kaox44]

It's beautiful then....and it's beautiful now. LAOS needs to redevelop this beautiful valley into a tourist area....

[@allanrab]

man, the rainy season really did a number on that road out of town. Really glad it wasn't in that state when a group of us rode through there a couple novembers ago. And, yeah, the airstrip. That's the main reason we went there at all!

[@NowinLao]

November's a really good time of year to travel Laos. Still green from the rains, and rivers still flowing well, but most of all, roads much easier to traverse 👍

[@jennymark7403]

Your finding a great treasure of history

[@jackmarch2914]

Excellent videos always. Be safe and keep up the info.

[@Bad_Karma1968]

I remember this We had to ask permission to go as our group had a several veterans in it and they wanted to see certain places again It has changed a bit More people Visited when I was there last The chick Hans were looking for shade Fantastic vlog Todd

[@NowinLao]

Cheers mate 👍

[@tornsaephanh5088]

I left Lao at young age so I have no clues what is really happening.Thank you for the videos and information 👍

[@danwilliams1363]

Was working there two years. Long white buildings were where the air drops were put together and Parachutes added.Driving to SamThong would take most of the day.You need to find where the bear cage is.

[@khmerroadsculpture4025]

Thank you for the contact with Chris. Will be able to return home after the New Year. Been isolated demo family for two teras in Thailand.

[@wallyade5121]

Thank you for another great video and topic. Hope the place doesn't get to spoilt by improving the road.

[@carolrampling862]

Such an interesting video Todd Ty for that. The difference between the beauty of the place and it's history of war. Great work 👏

[@billsimpson2392]

A significant place in the history of modern day Laos hey Todd! Thanks for sharing.

[@kirkbrode]

Another excellent and informative video. Thank you!

[@douglasrussell5098]

Both directions! Larger birds one way. But the smaller ones both! As to touristy? Really dont believe there are a lot of people that knew about that place or nowadays even care about it! Especially since seems most people today just dont seem to care about history! Which to me is a shame! Thanks for the tour! Enjoyed it immensely! Looking forward to more vids! Both ya stay safe!

[@00ninja00]

I completely agree with you. The generation that care and would want to see this place will soon be all gone, sad. The current and future generation wouldn’t care to see this place as there’s really nothing there to see that’s any more special than any other place in Laos. Besides it’s history, there wouldn’t be anything of interest to future tourists. I believe my generation, 90s kids, would be the last to want to see this place due to its historical importance, and I’m not even talking about westerners (who’d care even less to see this one place), I’m talking about my people who once lived in this area and had family involved in the war, even our kids wouldn’t care to see this place. Sad but true.

[@souksadapasouk8620]

Vietnam or Secret War is hardly mentioned in Elementary to High School. In college, it is elaborated on a little more but still not enough to educate students on the significance of it or why Americans were there. If I say, I am from Laos or I am Lao, most people would say "where is that"? It is very sad.

[@scotinth9685]

That's amazing place. I heard a lot about the place. I believe my dad was there too. that's a lot history about that place. Thank you for the video and I learned a lot from you. Thanks again I very enjoy the video. have a great trip.

[@lesleyculley9682]

Thanks Todd love the footage of film you put in about the airstrip.

[@KL-wg1xg]

Being born and grew up in Laos, cannot help but feel sad and gut-wrenching knowing so many people had and still being affected by the war, according to USA, never existed.

[@antruok4950]

Thanks T for the videos on Long Cheng - certainly being there would be unique feeling - all the best and stay safe 🍺👍😎👌🙏

[@jlwthree]

Hi Todd and Neenee, this was a great video and brought back a lot of memories. Jim

[@jorgenrh7598]

Yes. As I have been reading a lot about the secret war this air strip is definitely a must see place for me.

[@SableTasogare]

As a Laotian American that wishes to learn about Laos' history, this is very important and painful to learn about. How am I supposed to feel when all I know is being American and when I learn about Laos I learn about this. Even in America, Laotians my parents or grandmother's age never return a greeting no matter if it's in English or Lao.

[@killeyx]

TODD THANK YOU! Finally you are in Hmong country. This is why I loved your show

[@NowinLao]

Thank you 🙏

[@vanmalaphongsavan1331]

So please and Great to see my office building Once a gain, the long light blue was my station office building back 1967-1970. AS well as the operations buildings were the next on the left side. Thank you Tod and Neenee for my fresh memory and opening public eyes past to generation. Tourist might be good ideas and let me know if our teams can be arranged to come and visited. most of us are over 78-80 dependable on our healthy in focus.🤧🤧🤧🤧🛫🛫🛬🛬💟

[@ovue4004]

I'm hmong America. I always watch your channel. I miss long cheng.

[@gregjohnson582]

Great video , fascinating to see history Cher’s Greg

[@Jim.Thunda]

Tod. Your onto something there, l wonder if a bloke could lease the entire strip, I'm a pilot and l was wondering about airstrips over there, you also mentioned an airstrip at a Hmong vill.

[@dazdragon445]

Very beautiful valley..... Leave the Corvette at home..... That " road" leaving town very dodgy. I was thinking the same thing just before you said it.... Good thing you guys had dry weather. Like always, thanks for sharing brother

[@leebruce2148]

Thanks for history I was only five .

[@retiredinthailand24]

Néenee out there walking around in carpet bombed terrain…..tread lightly….for Pete’s sake stay on the paths….lol😲

[@leethao7378]

The reason they don't want to rebuild Long Cheng because they have destroyed every buildings and the hospital, ammunition wearhouse, rice wearhouse, airplanes repaired wearhouse, and so many more buildings are destroyed, it's so sad.

[@mommam4758]

มีคนติดตามดูคุณ มากพอสมควร ฉันเป็นคนไทย อยู่ติดชายแดนลาวทางปากเซ แขวงจัมปาสัก ยังไมเคยไปที่ล่องแจ้ง ตอนที่เกิดสงครามในลาว ล่องแจ้งคือสมรภูมิรบ หากสถานะการณ์โควิดผ่านพ้นไปฉันก็จะไปเที่ยวใน สปป.ลาว ปกติฉันไปทุกปี ขอให้มีความสุขนะ คุณท๊อดด์ คลิปวิดิโอของคุณน่าสนใจนะทำได้ดีมากขอบคุณที่แบ่งปัน.

[@danwilliams1363]

Where your vehicle is stopped by the Karst on the right and before turning right up the ramp parking places is where I was walking when a rocket exploded just above me on the karst. Never ran so fast in my life.

[@ogunanaca2666]

Very good

[@johnfitzpatrick5627]

Another great Video Todd.

[@bounthavygoytphoneyavong3204]

Thank you for tour's si...

[@nickhubbard3671]

Great experience! Great video!

[@thechaoboy3754]

Now in Lao, Todd Neenee and you spent weeks in Long Tieng. It must be fun and historical. I want to be there too.

[@NowinLao]

Ah.. the magic of television 📺 2 nights actually 😉

[@sifumiaotzu1132]

Thank you for this video, I really appreciated it

[@ftkinsella]

It looked like unless you had a 4X4 then the best way in and out would be a plane. Maybe that young lad walking down the runway was a ghost and he was surprised you could see him. Hahahahaha Thanks for taking us along on your adventures today. This was a very special place back in the day and it doesn’t seem to have changed much. Cheers!!!

[@tiashiraz8430]

Another interesting video Todd. That road and scenery reminds me of a time about 20 years ago when I was in a Toyota truck travelling the road from Phonsavan to Phou Koun. It was a brand new road at that time and there was a 13km section that hadn’t been completed yet. It was rainy season and the ‘road’ had about 1 metre of just liquid mud on the surface, massive ruts made by construction vehicles and was littered with abandoned vehicles that had got stuck there. On one side of the road was rock face but the other side was just a sheer drop off. Travelling that section remains to this day one of the scariest experiences of my life. Repeated ‘aqua planing’ over the mud towards the drop off and then slamming into hidden ruts/rocks over and over again. It scared me spitless. Our Lao (female) driver was an absolute star to get us through safely, but the truck took a hell of a beating!

[@NowinLao]

Haha interesting choice of words there Tia... Very polite way to say shitless 😝👍

[@tiashiraz8430]

@@NowinLao I do occasionally try to be ladylike. Only occasionally mind you............😆

[@lt2784]

A history part of the hmong. Long Cheng is always in our heart

[@wp70]

couple of good books to read are ravens and shooting at the moon. lots of long tieng stories in them. also visit to the mali hotel in phonsavan and try to speak to the owner about long tieng. sure hes one of guys who got it opened to public

[@lemongrass568]

im telling ya its all about the Lao Alpine trees. there not common in Laos so its always a nice sight.

[@darrennicol2442]

Read "The Ravens" or "Air America" by Christopher Robbins, tells all about the operations from there.

[@ejwrigley]

Awesome 🇦🇺🍺🙏

[@wendyclancy5019]

Fellow Aussie here Todd. Just wondering where you're from in Oz. Thank you for some great videos. Great inspiration for a trip I'm planning once borders are open. Looking forward to many more.

[@souksadapasouk8620]

Lol, from the previous video, I remembered Todd said he is from Newcastle.

[@pepelemoko01]

i know another Aussi who knows about it . Mel Gibson.

[@NowinLao]

Sousada is right Wendy... Newcastle 👍

[@Historian1942]

Good video ! Greetings.

[@grantparfitt1565]

Love your channel.Love Laos🙏🍺🤪

[@ogunanaca2666]

Thanks

[@AllSpace]

this is a great destination, hopefully it wont be over exposed or commercialized

[@meksavanhmanivong2493]

👍👍hi Todd & Neene 👍👍

[@jackstarr4726]

Hi, great vid. Did you need special permission to be able to visit Long Tieng?

[@NowinLao]

No, but if you're planning to stay and have a look around it's best to go to the cultural and information center upon arrival and let them know you're in town. They can organize for you to look through Vang Pao's home and the Kings holiday residence among other things also. Without their permission you won't be able to 😉

[@jackstarr4726]

@@NowinLao Cheers, mate 🍻

[@jackstarr4726]

@@NowinLao So, if I enter Laos on just a tourist visa I would be allowed to go up to Long Tieng with no other documents needed?

[@NowinLao]

@@jackstarr4726 I've heard of no extra documents being required. They just like to know who is in town, that's all. 👌

[@jackstarr4726]

@@NowinLao Good to hear. I've been enjoying your vids & it's been a wish for a long time to get up there. All the best..! Have a happy Lao pee mai..!! ;)

[@theodorebolan6724]

Seem to have an erosion problem. Does look odd, pine trees in Laos.

[@gordo191]

Korea, loas Vietnam, Irak , Afghanistan, Iran , Cambodia, why ? what has it achieved ? F'--K War , a great video mate ,

[@BrianMax]

What's the situation with landmines in Laos? Is that the reason you need a guide to go hiking?

[@darevcaptdrme]

See my book, "CIA Super Pilot Spills the Beans, Flying Helicopters in Laos for the Air America." Yes, the airplanes landed up hill and took off down hill. The karsts at the west end of the runway precluded any other way. Captain Bill Collier

[@danwilliams1363]

The buildings were the rigging sheds where airdrops were put together.

[@NowinLao]

Thanks for that info Dan 👌

[@pepelemoko01]

The white concrete buildings have holes for the airconditioners in the walls.

[@danwilliams1363]

Buildings for Shep Johnson’s rigging sheds

[@jurgentreue1200]

It doesn't matter where you are in Laos, you can always buy quality fresh fruit and vegies.

[@NowinLao]

Certainly no shortage of it here Jurgen 👌

[@geneloscowski3070]

The runway at Long Tieng (70s era) was 5,000 feet long.

[@Macjohn1419]

Really awesome video, especially with the old photos of how it looked in the day. I grew up watching the Viet Nam war on the news every night. Also watching the protesters against the war over here in the states. It would be nice to visit and see these places. I believe a lot of these secret wars were funded by drug and weapons money which is most likely the reason we have a massive drug problem here. We can thank the likes of the CIA allowing these activities to fund their clandestine wars which, in retrospect, didn’t quite do what they hoped to achieve. Thanks for sharing, Todd, and stay safe.

[@NowinLao]

Thanks John 🙏

[@mtnmandeluxe5429]

Howdy Todd,,,this entire trip has been excellent. As a reader and history buff,,I really appreciated the work you and Neenee expended to produce this series. I wonder what the reason is for the difference in the perception of this being historically interesting. Probably the fact that they had the hell bombed out of them. Even though it is a shitty piece of our history, it's still interesting. Just thinking about the hell inflicted on million by the bombing and by the drugs. It just blows me away how kind Lao people are,,I mean that shit was only 2 generations ago. I thank you for this. I wanted to apologize $or the upset my comments on the railroad on Neenee's channel. I got a couple guys all pissy,, that have bought into the big red propaganda machine. You'd think at my age,,I'd learn to keep my mouth shut occasionally. I dont give a half a shit what the 2 pissy guys thought of me,,but I DO care a great deal about you and Neenee and I hope I wasn't misunderstood. And I hope I didn't offend Neenee! I drove Dad 650 mile on Friday and Saturday,,we saw a shit ton of beautiful autumn leaves,,and a few wild animals,,no bears or wolves though. Thanks again for this trip,,,be safe,,Ttyl,,,Marlon

[@NowinLao]

Haha no need to apologize Marlon, any video with China in the title is a magnet for all kinds of hate and propaganda. You must be slipping if you only upset 2 😝 When videos attract the kind f people I just stay quiet and let them argue.. comments are like cash promoting the video. 💲💲👍 They certainly didn't miss the opportunity with this one mate. All good brother 👌 Hope the ol bys doing well mate, take care 🙏

[@สุทัศน์วุฒิยา-อ9ฒ]

น่าจะพัฒนาให้เป็นสนามบินที่ได้มาตราฐานเพื่อเป็นประโยชน์แก่ชาวลาวและนักท่องเที่ยวครับ

[@paolohanh1740]

I leaved Long tieng on May 15. 1975 when I was only 11 years old

[@rider660r]

I'm not 100% whether they landed in both directions normally,but they may have,especially on emergency landings. I do know most of the jungle strips that the Air America pilots used were real short,sometimes to short,but they had them hacked out of the jungle on slopes and calculate for wind direction then would come in for a landing facing up slope then take off going down hill to help with speed and lift and even then many of those had a huge pucker factor. If I remember right,I read in one of the many Vietnam era books I have that a Sandy (Douglas A1 Skyraider) hit and crashed on the back side of one of those peaks to the north.Might be able to still find some of the wreckage of it.

[@rider660r]

Ohhh after taking a quick look on the web that may have been a C-130 (Tail # 3118 (56-0510) ) that crashed into one of those little peaks not A-1.

[@NowinLao]

Mega pucker factor dude! 😙

[@bruceweber2361]

Would love to see that area, and would hate it at the same time, knowing how much destruction was done to that lovely green country. Such a bad thing, that war.

[@hartleytown1]

check out the book the Ravens and you will have all the info on Alternate

[@donaldthomas7753]

Filthy CIA and Americans who cluster bombed this area, should all be tried for war crimes. I'm American, but what the US did is despicable.

[@untetheredquest7417]

What is name of the song at the end of the video (22:26)?

[@scotbownes5627]

👍100%

[@jupplut6159]

The only tourist that want to come here are the ex Vietnam GI, to bring back the memories of the old glory.

[@generalnguyenngocloan1700]

It would not take much to resurface the runways and get that old airport running again. I think the Lao gov’t is keeping this airstrip for future military use. I don’t think they even want a private air carrier to come in and utilize it. They have a presence there to keep the Hmong in line.

[@chrisperkins7331]

That is nonsense. The Hmong people live as all the varies ethnicities do in peace with the government. If what you say is true there would be armed soldiers all over the place. The only Hmong being watched are the ones that are still causing trouble like the ones that that shot up a bus full of Chinese workers (in 2016), 6 of whom were wounded outside Kasi. Time to move on general the war is over.

[@generalnguyenngocloan1700]

@@chrisperkins7331 I know the Hmong have fought on different sides in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia in their civil wars. I know the war is over. Since you, and Todd, came to a nonsensical conclusion, without dialogue, about me, I guess it is time to move on.

[@chrisperkins7331]

@@generalnguyenngocloan1700 I am happy to dialogue with you about how things are in Laos at this time in history from your experience. I challenged your belief that the Lao military's are some how subjugating some Hmong people who only wish to get on with their lives. If you have evidence of how Hmong people a being treated unfairly I would like to hear about.

[@generalnguyenngocloan1700]

@@chrisperkins7331 We all want them to get on with their lives. As far as why there still is military presence at the airfield after so many years, and why you and Todd think what I’m saying is nonsense, then the “evidence” lies in the answers you, Todd, and I would get from the hill tribe people who live there. It would be informative if Todd did videos asking the locals that question, but there are limitations to what can be said, not only for this channel, but more importantly for Todd’s life in Lao. His lifestyle and the videos he shares supersedes what can/should be talked about on his platform. In countries all over the world the purpose of police or military presence is to keep people in line, not just solely for preventing crimes, so it doesn’t mean the world, including the Long Tien Hmong, are being treated unfairly.

[@chrisperkins7331]

@@generalnguyenngocloan1700 I agree that in any country one cant always say exactly what you think, and it is outside the purpose of this vlog. I take your point on why there. is a military base at Long Tieng. However military bases are everywhere in every country, and from my observation of the US and Lao as a comparison, it is the US that is far more militarized than Lao is. For the record I have lived in Lao for the last 14 years, and do not believe the Government is repressive of it's people. Private enterprise is alive and well here, as the government monopolizes very little..

[@MrTrolleyguy]

Hard to believe that this was an instant CIA city of 30 to 40 thousand people.

[@chiccenhawkc]

💯🔥💙👍

[@Ablis1]

Did you eat some food?? Let alone know “ethnicity?”.

[@Ablis1]

I mean….different stuff

[@TheHmongcgi]

You can feel the aura there, harsh communist Pathet Lao hand. Beautiful place.

[@TheHmongcgi]

fearing White man, KIDS AFRAID TO TAKE GIFT FROM AN ANGLO.

[@yhon6620]

ສະບາຍດີ 🙏🇱🇦

[@NowinLao]

Sabaidee 👋