Hophakaew museum (or Ho Phra Keo museum), a former royal temple of King Setthathirat, is located in the center of the capital city Vientiane. Being built for the first time in 1565 as a Buddhist temple, it housed the sacred Emerald Buddha which is now held in the Wat Phra Kaew in Bangkok (
Thailand). It is the reason why Laos people call this construction “the temple of the Emerald Buddha”.
After the destruction of the Siamese, the site was rebuilt in 1942 and it was officially changed to a museum in the 1970s. Nowadays, it acts as a museum of religious art preserving numerous precious artifacts and some of the most magnificent examples of national Buddhist art, including the Buddhas dating since the 6th century. After exploring the Hophakaew museum, you can pay a visit to a gift shop to buy souvenirs for your family and friends.
There are lots of domestic flights connecting Vientiane with other regions in Laos such as Luang Prabang,
Huay Xai, Oudomxay, Xieng Khouang…Hophakaew museum is situated just a couple of minutes walking from the Mekong and also very near Wat Si Saket. Other nearby attractions that can be combined in a day trip in Vientiane include
That Luang stupa, Patuxay monument, Wat Ong Tue, Wat Inpeng, Wat Haisok, and the Buddha Park.
Climate, the best time to visit
Vientiane has a tropical climate with 2 main distinct seasons: dry and wet. The averages temperature ranges from 24°C to 37°C. The peak time to visit the Hophakaew museum is months lasting from November to February when the weather is cool and the humidity is pleasant.
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