Tales From The Ho Chi Minh Trail-War Hotels-The Constellation
The Constellation Hotel Vientiane
Location-https://goo.gl/maps/wemEzPEAmFfQd7gR7
In the capital city of every war-torn country exists a curious oddity: a War Hotel. In Beirut, it was The Commodore; In Saigon, The Caravelle. War Hotels are the one sanctuary amidst the chaos and destruction of war, where journalists, diplomats, pilots, spies, war profiteers, smugglers, soldier, and mercenary, congregate to chat, snoop, make deals, reacquaint, and otherwise shake the menace of war from their daily lives. The Constellation Hotel in Vientiane, Laos was so full of intrigue and charm, the famous novelist John Le Carre used it as a setting for his magnificent spy thriller The Honourable Schoolboy.
I have teamed with Emeritus Professor – and acclaimed Vietnam War correspondent – Dr. Martin Stuart-Fox to tell the story of The Constellation, the War Hotel of the Secret War in Laos, in a 15-minute video with original film, photos, and stories from those who stayed there and fought and covered the war.
Author Paul T Carter
Great piece of nostalgia, Martin. Takes me back to 1973-5. The best of times, the worst of times. One thing that was evident (at least to me) was that just about all the war correspondents and others at the time were left of centre. The US bombing etc was known, although at that time not the full extent of it. Generally, like many young educated Lao at the time, there was optimism the transition would be peaceful and very different to elsewhere. That was perhaps a bit naïve. But there was no guillotine, no firing squads. Reeducation seemed like a very reasonable alternative. Only later did many of those who stayed or visited the Constellation revised their views and condemned the ‘Communist take-over’ rather than the ‘Liberation’. — By the way, when I returned to Vientiane in 1980, I stayed one night at the Constellation (then firmly closed). Yang Dao got the Vietnamese with the key to quietly open up for me. The place was full of ghosts.
Thanks Robert, always good to hear more on the subject..
“In Saigon, The Caravelle. War Hotels are the one sanctuary amidst the chaos and destruction of war”
The Rex hotel in saigon was the most famous war hotel, scene of the ” 5 o’ clock follies every day, The Continental on rue Catinat was the setting for Graham Greenes book “The Quiet American “
Thanks for the reply…