Wat Xieng Thong
Wat Xieng Thong (Lao: “Temple of the Golden City”) is a Buddhist temple (vat or wat) on the northern tip of the peninsula of Luang Phrabang, Laos. Built between 1559 and 1560 by King Setthathirath, Wat Xieng Thong is one of the most important of Lao monasteries and remains a significant monument to the spirit of religion, royalty and traditional art.
History
Wat Xieng Thong was built under the rule of King Setthathirath between 1559 and 1560. Setthathirath oversaw the Lan Xang (“Land of a Million Elephants”) kingdom, a geographical area that is now Laos. During his rule, Setthathirath moved the capital from Xieng Thong (which was later renamed Luang Prabang) to Vientiane, claiming dislike for the lack of flat land in Xieng Thong. But, Luang Prabang remained a royal capital until 1975, when the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (LPDR) was established.
Vat Xieng Thong was a royal temple under the patronage of the royal family (until the creation of the LPDR), created alongside Vat Keo and Vat That Luang. The vat functioned as a place for kings to be crowned, a place of worship for monks and the laity, a shrine to Buddhist relics, a celebration space of religious rites and festivals, a library for ancient scripts, and a showcasing of traditional architecture.
Highlights
Wat Xieng Thong plays a significant role in spiritual life of local people. Moreover, it is an illustration of the Luang Prabang’s history and was constructed according to Luang Prabang styles and characteristics. Visitors to Wat Xieng Thong would be impressed with its amazing structure. Here, you can have a chance to learn the traditional Luang Prabang style with an elaborate tree of life mosaic, carved walls and Buddhist deities.
Wat Xieng Thong is also popularly known as ‘Golden Tree Monastery’ with the strategic location close to the confluence of Mekong and Nam Khan River as it serves the function of a gateway to Luang Prabang. First erected in 1560 with the instruction of King Setthathirath, Wat Xieng Thong used to be a significant place for Lao kings during coronations and becomes a gathering place for annual festivals and traditional activities to take place.
A visit to Wat Xieng Thong, it will never fail your needs and expectations. As a wonderful masterpiece of Laos architectural style, the temple depicts a two-tiered roof, coupled with elaborate mosaics. Remarkably, on the rear temple wall, there is a ‘tree of life’ which involves a tale about its founding. Furthermore, visitors to this place will easily encounter the drum tower, the ordination hall and the Triptaka library. All these features have made Wat Xieng Thong stand out of the crowd to become one of the most popular destinations in Luang Prabang.
Further information
Opening hours: 8:00 to 17:00 everyday
Location: Wat Xieng Thong nestles in a serene garden on the banks of the Mekong. Travel to Xieng Thong Village and Sakkalin, you will reach the temple