Wat Si Saket

Wat Si Saket is perhaps the oldest surviving Buddhist temple in Vientiane after the Siamese army sacked the city in 1827. It was built by King Anouvong c1818 in a traditional Thai style and named after a sister temple, Wat Saket, in Bangkok. It is believed that the use of Siamese architecture in the construction of the temple is what kept it safe during the sacking of Vientiane because the invading armies used it as both lodgings for the troops and as a temporary head quarters. The older buildings are undergoing restoration at the moment and the temple is open as a museum. Entry fee is a modest donation to the restoration effort. Photography inside the old buildings is generally frowned upon