Temples of Laos: Wat Si Saket in Vientiane

Sitting opposite the Presidential Palace on the corner of Avenue Lang Xang and Setthathirat Road is Vientiane’s oldest standing temple – Wat Si Saket. Although the nearby Haw Phra Keo is known as the oldest temple in the city by dating back to the 16th century, it has been destroyed several times.

The entrance to Wat Si Saket

Built in 1818 by the last King of the Lan Xang Kingdom, Wat Si Saket has never been destroyed, even during the sacking of the city when the Siamese army invaded in 1827. The temple was built in the Thai style architecture, rather than Lao, which is perhaps what saved it. The Siamese used it as their headquarters when they destroyed the rest of the city, therefore making Wat Si Saket the oldest standing temple in Vientiane.

The Viharn (main shrine) inside Wat Si Saket – no photos are allowed inside, but it is covered in some very old Buddhist artwork.

The temple has many beautiful features from its shady gardens and verandas to its five tier roofed Viharn, but the most known feature of Wat Si Saket is its cloister walls which contain literally thousands of Buddha images and statues, dating from as early as the 16th century. Apparently there are around 6800 Buddha images all up, and it is quite a sight to see. They range from large sitting Buddhas which line the walls to tiny figures that sit in the little alcoves behind them.

The courtyard inside the cloister walls, with the viharn (left) in the centre

Buddhas of all sizes line the walls of Wat Si Saket

A large Buddha stands in front of a wall containing thousands of smaller ones

Tiny alcoves in the walls contain more tiny Buddha figures made from wood, stone and bronze

A “Hang Hod” – A wooden carved trough carved in the form of a Naga, used for water blessings

More old Buddhist relics at Wat Si Saket

Buddhas line every wall of Wat Si Saket

This is one temple that I could wander around for hours.