Wat Si Muang

Wat Si Muang

This site perhaps the busiest temple in Vientiane is Wat Si Muang. The temple is near the eastern entrance to the city center, on the road leading from the Friendship Bridge, and so is heavily frequented by visitors coming to the city, seeking good luck.

For all its popularity, Wat Si Muang is rather a small temple. The sim (ordination hall) sits in a large paved yard that is often full of cars parked while the faithful pay a quick visit.

Inside, the sim is somewhat unusual in that it is divided into two rooms. Most Buddhist chapels are a single large room. The front room of the sim is rather spare, and there is usually a monk on hand to give blessings. The rear room houses the main altar, which takes up almost the entire room.

The altar is crowded with Buddha images, but pride of place at the top of the alter is taken by a rough gilded stone that is the city's original city pillar (lak muang), which actually extends deep into the ground under the altar. There is another city pillar now installed at the Tat Luang monument. Don't miss a look up at the intricately decorated copper colored ceiling.

The temple was built on the ruins of a Khmer Hindu shrine, the remains of which can be seen behind the ordination hall. The city pillar around which the sim was built may have been a stone pillar taken from this or another Khmer temple.

On a wedge of land formed the the merging of two streets in front of the temple stands a huge statue of King Sisavang Vong. The French-installed King ruled over Laos from 1904 to 1959 during World War II and, somewhat reluctantly, the country's independence after the war. The statue holds a palm leaf manuscript supposed to represent the country's first legal code. There is no plaque identifying the statue. It was "lost" shortly after the 1975 revolution that topled the old royalist government.

Other articles

Phou Khao Khouay National Park

Phou Khao Khouay National Park

The Phou Khao Khouay National Park is located some 70km from Vientiane, and is 2,000 sq km in extent. Within ...

Vang Vieng Hill Tribe Villages

Vang Vieng Hill Tribe Villages

There are several villages set around Vang Vieng Town. The most recommended are Ban Nam Yen: Yao village, 3km from ...

Wat Sisaket

Wat Sisaket

This famous site is just across the street from the Presidential Palace which is Vientiane's oldest surviving monastery, Wat Sisaket. ...

That Luang Stupa

That Luang Stupa

That Luang Stupa is a gold- covered large Buddhist Stupa in the centre of Vientiane, Laos. It is generally regarded ...

Vientiane Presidential Palace

Vientiane Presidential Palace

The classical French facade of the Presidential Palace. At the base of Lane Xang street is the Beaux Arts styled ...

Caves in Vang Vieng

Caves in Vang Vieng

Vientiane is well- known with many famous beautiful sites such as That Luang Stupa, Presiden Palace, and Phou Khao Khouay ...

Patuxai - Arc De Triomphe

Patuxai - Arc De Triomphe

Laos was once a colony of France however the Patouxai monument would give you a good clue. The Patouxai anchors ...

Nam Ngum Lake

Nam Ngum Lake

Located 90km north of Vientiane municipality is the Nam Ngum reservoir, a huge artificial lake created as part of a ...

Mekong Riverfront

Mekong Riverfront

Mekong riverfront is an interesting destination in Vientiane province, Laos. Coming here, Tourist can enjoy and discover beauty landscapes and ...

In association with
Asta  Pata  Vista  vietnamtourism  footprint  Tripadvisor