One now out-of-the-closet secret in landlocked Laos is the abundance of "buried treasure" stashed away by Mother Nature since the beginning of time. Gold, silver, ruby, sapphire, amethyst, crystal and more are being "prospected" in countless Lao villages stretching from China to Cambodia. These photographs, courtesy of Oudone Pholsena, President, Lao Gem Factory (tel: 212469, fax: 215804) attest to the diversity and beauty Lao gem stones offer.

For the most part, villagers know where to look for gem stones. Ask for gem stones in Lao villages, and villagers will almost certainly produce handfuls of gem stones on the spot. Within families, the knowledge of gem stone sites is handed down from one generation to the next.