Wat Xieng Thong

Wat Xieng Thong (Lao: ວັດຊຽງທອງ; "Temple of the Golden City") is a Buddhist temple (vat or wat) on the northern tip of the peninsula of Luang Phrabang, Laos. 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 of Wat Xieng Thong
Check out the temple’s sweeping 2-tiered roof and ornate mosaics, including a beautiful ‘tree of life’ glass montage on the rear temple wall. You can also see dharma wheels depicted in gold on the ceiling.

Displayed in the Red Chapel is a rare reclining black Buddha dating back to the reign of King Setthathirat. The Buddha image was showcased in Paris in 1931 before it was returned to the temple in 1964. 

The temple grounds also house a Triptaka library (added in 1880), a drum tower (in 1961) and an ordination hall dating back to 1560. Near the eastern gate of Wat Xieng Thong, you can see a 12-metre-tall funeral carriage that contains urns for members of the royal family. 

How to get to the Wat Xieng Thong
The temple is located at the end of the Luang Prabang peninsula between Khem Khong road and Sakkaline road.

Much of the old town can be reached on foot. A tuk tuk or jumbo will cost between 10,000 and 15,000 Kip depending on distance.

Opening hours
The temple opens daily from 8 am until 5 pm.

The Wat Xieng Thong is an active temple with monks living and praying here; please dress respectfully, which means no bare shoulders, no shorts or short skirts. If needed, a traditional sarong can be rented to cover up. Please remove shoes before entering one of the temple buildings.

Entrance fee
Entrance fee is 20,000 Kip per person.

Wat Xieng Thong in Laos

• Location: Khem Khong, Luang Prabang, Laos
• Open: Daily from 6am to 6pm