Haw Phra Kaew Temple

Located on Setthathirath Road, to the southeast of Wat Si Saket, Haw Phra Kaew Temple, also known under other names such as Ho Pha Keo Temple or Wat Ho Phra Keo, is one of the oldest temples of the Laotian capital which attracts many visitors.

The temple was built in 1565 when King Setthathirath moved Laos’s capital from Luang Prabang to Vientiane. Haw Phra Kaew temple has functioned as a personal chapel for Laos Royals and to accommodate the famous Emerald Buddha statue, an important symbol of Buddhism. This is the meditating Gautama Buddha statue seated in the lotus position which made of green jade stone, clothed in gold. In 1779, it was moved to enshrine in Wat Phra Kaew temple in Thailand by the Siamese. 

After that the Thailand King, a Buddhist, remade an identical statue and returned it to Laos, to be replaced where the statue was taken. Through the war years, Wat Phra Kaew was destroyed and restored many times, now it is no longer used for Buddhist worship, it’s turned into a museum preserving precious artifacts such as Buddha statues, a gilded throne for the Emerald Buddha, inscribed Khmer stone steles, some wood sculptures or inscriptions carved in stone, …

Besides its unique history, Haw Phra Kaew temple has beautiful architecture with a stone foundation. You can see the delicate decorations carving on the walls, columns and ceiling of the temple. The stairways to the temple’s entrances carry a mythological Naga snake sculptured in stone. Furthermore, this temple is surrounded by a lush garden with colorful flowers which creates a peaceful space for visitors.

Because Haw Phra Kaew Temple is within walking distance from many attractive destinations in the city such as Wat Sisaket and Patuxai Victory Monuments, so you will find it easily in daily tours in Vientiane. In addition, you can choose a Vientiane biking tour to have a new and exciting experience when visiting this place.

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