From Martin, a regular New Mandala reader:

I’m sure many of you are familiar with this picture of Kaysone Phomvihane with Ho Chi Minh which in this year of Lao-Viet anniversaries is being used as the centrepiece portrait. However, I had never seen it in its entirety until recently. This complete image shows that the third person present in the famous 1966 happy snap was none other than Pol Pot.

Normally Pol Pot is cut out and the image focuses on Ho and Kaysone having a chuckle. Some paintings which copy the image shift the vase of flowers to a more central position between Ho and Kaysone.

Other photos have removed the cigarette from Uncle Ho’s left hand. Many times visitors to Laos have laughed and commented that this photo shown in the various museums would look great on a t-shirt with some cryptic comments about Vang Vieng.