Vat Phou That is very beautiful

Phou That temple is a much loved and important icon to the people of Oudomxay province and is arguably one of the most striking temples in Laos.
Phou That is situated on a hilltop above Navannoy village.  It offers great views over the lush countryside and outside the temple’s walls is a great place to relax, breathe in the clean air and perhaps take a selfie.

The big Buddha at Phou That.--Photo Vientiane Times

Phou That is easily recognisable from below because of its grand stupa which stands high over the township.
The grand stupa is named Pha That Xayamounkhoun Rattana Mingmeuang. It is the biggest in the province and is almost 500 years old. It is sacred to Buddhists and there are always people visiting it for prayer and to receive blessings.
The original stupa was destroyed in the war and has been restored several times in the last several decades. In 1975, after liberation, it was renovated and then again in 1996 provincial authorities led the people on the biggest renovation it had ever undergone.
This new renovation meant rebuilding it again, with the new one covering and rising taller than the old. While the original was 5 metres tall, the new structure now rises 18 metres above the ground and is 18 square metres at the base.
Inside the actual temple of Phou That there is a massive Buddha 15 metres tall standing in the position of giving a blessing.  It was built in 2009 and is quite awesome.
In addition to that must-sees for anyone passing through the Xay district in Oudomxay are the two temples, Phou That and Santiphab, along with the provincial museum. All those places are the town centre, so that some people can spend an hour or an afternoon visiting them comfortably.
This province is a beautiful, mountainous province situated in the northwest of Laos.  Although a long way from the luxuries of Vientiane, it offers a host of things to see and do for visitors, and it’s getting better all the time.
Santiphab is an old temple that is also situated on a hill but this time above Cheng village. It is also very beautiful and is decorated with traditional local art forms that are detailed and exquisite.
There is a large model of a Manikhot tree there. This tree is rare and is believed by Buddhists to be sacred and its fruit powerful if consumed.
Oudomxay Provincial Museum is a very short walk from Santiphab temple.
It has a historical focus on the area with information relating to the distant past right up to the present. 

The grand stupa at Vat Phou That in Oudomxay province. --Photo Vientiane Times

There are three parts to the exhibition inside.  Part I is about the history of ethnic groups in the province, their culture and lifestyles. Part II is a collection of antique artefacts and Part III is about the general history of the province and its ongoing development.
All three of these attractions are located on hills and offer stunning views over the town and countryside. The day I went there was relaxing but it was good because walking to the temples also gave me a bit of exercise.
A visit to the heart of Xay district, the administrative and commercial capital of Oudomxay province, may surprise visitors today because this area has undergone rapid development and has turned into a colourful Chinatown.
If you haven’t been there for several years, the town will be almost unrecognisable as it has changed massively over the past decade. And if you arrive at night it will be even harder to pick out any familiar places.
A lot of people, such as myself, have been to this northern province in times gone by. A few years ago I travelled from Vientiane to Luang Namtha province, which borders on China and where railway workers were building a train station. I broke the long journey by staying overnight in Oudomxay.
But on a recent visit to the provincial capital, I was surprised when the driver of my minibus said we had arrived. I looked through the window and could hardly believe this was the Xay district I had visited 10 years ago. It had changed dramatically from what I remembered and was now a bustling commercial hub with busy streets, shops, blazing streetlights, hotels and numerous other buildings.
Not so long ago, the district was transected by a single main road, with a bus station and a string of restaurants. Guesthouses and hotels were also located on this road. But now things have changed and there are many large modern buildings, big hotels and wide streets.

ByTimes Reporters
(Latest Update July 26, 2022)