VAT
XIENG THONG
TEMPLE STYLE: LUANG PRABANG STYLE II
YEAR FOUNDED: 1560
BUILT BY: KING SETTHATHIRATH
Vat Xieng Thong, or “Golden City Monastery,” is the religious emblem of Luang Prabang and one of the highest symbols of Buddhism in Laos. It is characteristic of the style of Luang Prabang with its two-tiered roof. This site is known for being the crowning place of the Lao kings and an important gathering place for important annual festivities.
Vat Xieng Thong in
1889
INTERESTING STORIES
A legend tells that two hermits decided to create the sanctuary next to a sizeable flaming tree where the rivers met. The original temple was constructed to commemorate the memory of Chanthaphanith (legendary first king of Luang Prabang). Inside the sim, drawings in gold on black stencils tell the story of Chanthaphanith and Jataka as well as the history of Buddhist cosmology.
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