---
okf_version: "0.2"
type: "Article"
title: "Laos – The land of temples"
description: "Justine Tyerman travelled to Laos, famous for its many beautiful Buddhist temples. Join her and begin the tour in the capital city Vientiane."
resource: "https://travelmemo.com/laos/laos-land-of-temples"
language: en
author: "Justine Tyerman"
publisher: "Travelmemo"
photo_count: 9
tags: ["Culture", "Experience", "Laos"]
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  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/culinary-tourism"
  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/museum"
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generated: { by: "human:https://travelmemo.com/author/tyermanj", at: 2026-07-04T13:45:43+00:00 }
sources:
  - id: photos
    resource: laos-land-of-temples.md#photos
    title: "Original photography by Justine Tyerman"
    author: "human:https://travelmemo.com/author/tyermanj"
    last_modified: 2017-06-21
timestamp: 2026-07-04T13:45:43+00:00
---

# Laos – The land of temples

> Laos is a predominantly Buddhist nation famed for its wealth of ornate temples, golden stupas, and saffron-robed monks, with Vientiane and Luang Prabang as the main spiritual and cultural centres.

## Getting there
Singapore Airlines flies from Auckland to Singapore daily, from Wellington four times weekly, and from Christchurch daily. SilkAir connects Singapore to Vientiane and Luang Prabang three times weekly. Lao Airlines flies from Vientiane to Xieng Khuang.

## What to see
- **Wat Sisaket, Vientiane** — Built in 1818, the oldest surviving temple in Vientiane, housing 10,136 Buddha statues dating to the 16th century and ancient murals.
- **Wat Phra Keo, Vientiane** — Former royal chapel built in 1565, now a museum of Lao and Khmer art including wood and stone carvings.
- **Wat Simuang, Vientiane** — Most venerated temple in Vientiane, considered the guardian spirit of the city, with a legendary Angkorian-era pillar in its grounds.
- **Pha That Luang, Vientiane** — The Great Stupa, Laos's most important Buddhist monument, featuring a 45m golden spire believed to contain a relic of the Buddha.
- **Wat Xieng Thong, Luang Prabang** — Luang Prabang's most revered temple, built in 1560, renowned for its glass mosaics, mosaic Tree of Life, and golden frontage.
- **Wat Visoun, Luang Prabang** — Oldest temple in Luang Prabang, dating to 1513, famous for its dome-shaped 'Watermelon Stupa' in the courtyard.
- **Wat Mai, Luang Prabang** — Temple renowned for its golden bas-relief facade.
- **Wat That, Luang Prabang** — Houses the ashes of King Sisavangvong inside its large central stupa.

## What to do
- **Alms-giving ceremony, Luang Prabang** — Every morning before sunrise, hundreds of monks walk the streets receiving sticky rice and food from alms-givers seated along the footpath.

## Good to know
About 80 percent of Lao males become monks at some point in their lives. Laos is noted as one of few places where travellers can photograph local people without paying a fee.

## Photos

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photos:
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Laos-temples-Wat-Sisaket-Vientiane-Buddhas.jpg"
    caption: "Buddhas"
    keywords: ["Buddha", "Laos", "Vientiane", "Wat Sisaket", "temples"]
    captured: 2017-06-16
    geo: {latitude: 17.963, longitude: 102.6115}
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Laos-temple-Wat-Sisaket-Vientiane-roof.jpg"
    caption: "Wat Sisaket, Vientiane -the temple has an ornate five-tiered roof decorated with golden naga finials"
    keywords: ["Laos", "Vientiane", "Wat Sisaket", "temple"]
    captured: 2017-06-16
    geo: {latitude: 17.963, longitude: 102.6115}
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Laos-temple-Buddha-graceful-hand.jpg"
    caption: "Wat Phra Keo - the graceful hands of the Buddha statues"
    keywords: ["Buddha", "Laos", "Wat Phra Keo", "temples"]
    captured: 2017-06-16
    geo: {latitude: 13.7514, longitude: 100.493}
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/reclining-buddha-Pha-That-Luang.jpg"
    caption: "The huge reclining Buddha near Pha That Luang"
    keywords: ["Buddha", "Laos", "Pha That Luang", "temples"]
    captured: 2017-06-16
    geo: {latitude: 17.9768, longitude: 102.6368}
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Laos-temple-Wat-Xieng-Thong-Buddhist-monks.jpg"
    caption: "Wat Xieng Thong - Justine with a couple of friendly Buddhist monks"
    keywords: ["Laos", "Wat Xieng Thong", "monks", "temples"]
    captured: 2017-06-20
    geo: {latitude: 19.8965, longitude: 102.1433}
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Laos-temple-Wat-Xieng-Thong-Buddhas.jpg"
    caption: "Wat Xieng Thong - rows of beautiful Buddha statues against walls decorated with mosaics"
    keywords: ["Buddha", "Laos", "Wat Xieng Thong", "temples"]
    captured: 2017-06-20
    geo: {latitude: 19.8965, longitude: 102.1433}
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Laos-temples-Wat-Xieng-Thong-mosaics.jpg"
    caption: "Wat Xieng Thong mosaics"
    keywords: ["Laos", "Wat Xieng Thong", "mosaics", "temples"]
    geo: {latitude: 19.8972, longitude: 102.1435}
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Laos-temple-Wat-Visoun-watermelon-stupa.jpg"
    caption: "Wat Visoun's 'Watermelon Stupa'"
    keywords: ["Laos", "Wat Visoun", "temples"]
    captured: 2017-06-20
    geo: {latitude: 19.8869, longitude: 102.1384}
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Laos-buddhist-monks-alms-3.jpg"
    caption: "Buddhist monks receiving alms in Luang Prabang"
    keywords: ["Laos", "Luang Prabang", "monks", "temples"]
    captured: 2017-06-21
    geo: {latitude: 19.8965, longitude: 102.1433}
```