Performers and audience members alike withstood chilly winds on Saturday night at the annual COPE Concert to raise money for prosthetic limbs to support people injured by bombs dropped during the Indochina War (1964-1973).
Laos was the most heavily bombed country in the world per capita as over 270 million cluster munitions were dropped on the country during the war.
Unexploded ordnance (UXO) still contaminates much of Laos, with about 300 people killed or injured each year, 15 percent of whom are children. That means every six days a child is affected by UXO, according to Handicap International.
The charity concert takes place each year with the aim of raising funds for the production of artificial limbs.
This year's event attracted more than 1,000 guests, who enjoyed a variety of bands in a vibrant atmosphere.
The line-up of artists included Red Eyed Fish, Deep Heart and Honky Tongs, who helped warm the hearts of all concert-goers with energetic rock music, before Lao Bang Fai dancers took centre stage with their B-boy repertoire.
The concert ended with the popular Lao hip hop group Pull-T Club wowing attendees with performances of their hit songs such as 'Hom' and 'Suk'.
COPE (Cooperative Orthotic and Prosthetic Enterprise) also tried to raise awareness of the dangers and impact of UXO in Laos through the screening of a documentary film.
The film tells the tale of a bomb survivor and explains the services that COPE offers. It can now be viewed at the COPE Visitor Centre cinema at any time.
COPE was calling for donations to produce more legs, and as part of this fundraising activity, by midnight 22 legs had been hung up to show the amount of money raised and to symbolise how the donations will be spent.
The production and materials for one prosthetic leg for a bomb survivor costs US$75, with all proceeds from the charity event going to COPE to help people with disabilities move on.
COPE is a local not-for-profit organisation that provides services to people with disabilities to help them improve their livelihoods.
COPE provides prosthetic, orthotic and physical rehabilitation services free of charge for people who cannot afford to pay. The government partners are the Physical Medicine Rehabilitation Centre, based in Vientiane, and its five provincial rehabilitation centres.
