Vientiane has a beautiful culture

Vientiane has a long history involving a beautiful culture and fine traditions. All of these places will teach you about Laos’ unique culture, architecture and history.
When having a short stay in Vientiane, the capital of Laos, don’t leave without visiting some of the most famous cultural landmarks before heading off to other exciting destinations round the country.
Pha That Luang Stupa, the Patuxay Monument, Buddha Park, Sisaket and Hor Phakeo Museums, and among the most significant tourist attractions and feature some of the oldest archeology in Vientiane and the country. Many people visit these fascinating cultural sites daily.
Pha That Luang Stupa, the stupa is located in That Luang village, Xaysettha district.

Pha That Luang Stupa. (File photo Vientiane Times)

This stupa was originally built in the 3rd Century at the same time as the establishment of Meuang Vientiane. The stupa was built to house the bones belonging to Lord Buddha.
The original stupa was very small and made of stone. In the 16th Century, the great King Saysetthathirath moved the Lao capital from Luang Prabang to Vientiane in 1560. In 1566, the king led his citizens in enlarging the Pha That Luang.
Visitors can see some very old intricate architecture and carvings and can learn about the stupa’s origins. Every November, a colourful festival is staged to celebrate the stupa, which is the most revered in Laos.
People wishing to enter the stupa, either for a visit or to worship, must dress modestly in line with Lao tradition.
Patuxay Monument, it located at the northeastern end of Lane Xang Avenue. This monument is a major visitor attraction.
It is located in the city centre and is almost one kilometre from Sisaket and Hor Phakeo Museums and can be comfortably reached on foot.
Patuxay was built in 1962 and is richly embellished with Lao designs.
The huge concrete structure resembles the Arc de Triomphe in Paris.
Nowadays, the surrounding small park is used as a place of leisure by the people of Vientiane. The seventh floor of the monument provides an excellent viewpoint over the city.
Some of the floors are used for selling souvenirs such as handicrafts, wooden items, T-shirts, and other goods.
Visitors can now take a break for lunch and get ready to head for the Buddha Park. The park is about 25 km south of Vientiane city centre. Tourists can get there by motorbike, or take a bus, taxi or minibus tour.
It’s full name is the Xieng Khuan Buddha Park and it is famous for its large collection of stone Buddhist and Hindu sculptures that are a monument to one eccentric man’s quite bizarre ambition.
More than 200 statues of a religious nature can be viewed and visitors can learn about their stories.
The site was designed and built in 1958 by Luang Pou (Venerable Grandfather) Bounleua Soulilath, a yogi-priest-shaman who merged Hindu and Buddhist philosophy.
The concrete sculpture pieces at Xieng Khuan (which means Spirit City) are bizarre and include statues of Shiva, Vishnu, Aruna, Avalokiteshvara, Buddha and numerous other deities, all supposedly cast by untrained artists under Luang Pou’s direction.
The builder imagined and created dramatic symbols of heaven and hell.
Sisaket Museum and this may be the closest to your hotel.  Sisaket is the national museum and is a part of Vat Sisaket temple. This temple was built in 1818, during the reign of King Anouvong, the last ruler of the Lao Lane Xang Kingdom.
The museum houses various sizes of Buddha images. These wood, stone, and bronze images mainly date from the 16th and 19th centuries.
Various stone inscriptions explain the history of the temple, the ancient Lao kingdom, and its characteristic architecture.
Next to the museum is the Hor Trai or manuscript repository, set on a raised stone platform. Inside the small structure, which has a multi-tiered roof, is a wooden cabinet, and it is situated in a part of the monastery surrounded by gardens.
Hor Phakeo Museum is the last stop on the day tour. This building, which is currently being renovated, is strikingly beautiful and features attractive architecture created using traditional sculpting skills.
It was formerly a royal temple and was built in 1565 by command of King Saysetthathirath to house the famed Emerald Buddha.
The ancient temple also served as King Setthathirath’s personal place of worship.

By Times Reporters
(Latest Update September 6, 2022)