Xieng Khuan Buddha Park: located about 20kms from Vientiane and reachable by public bus, the Xieng Khuan Buddha Park is home to hundreds of Buddha icons, among which is one of the biggest reclining Buddha statues in the world which was constructed in 1958 by Luang Pa Bunleua Sulilat. Talat Sao (Morning Market): the city’s focal shopping destination sells all manner of produce from foodstuffs to handicrafts and jewellery. It’s a veritable Aladdin’s cave and a great place to pick up souvenirs, cheap clothing and edible items. Roadside vendors and restaurants give you the chance to relax and grab a drink or a bite to eat after a lengthy shopping spree. Wat Haw Pha Kaew: is located opposite Wat Si Saket and is the former royal temple of King Setthathirath. The temple was once home to the famous Emerald Buddha which is now housed in Bangkok’s Grand Palace following its removal by the Siamese in 1779. In 1828, the Siamese returned and destroyed the temple, so what actually stands on the site today is a faithful reconstruction that was erected in 1942. No longer in use as a place of worship, the building now serves as a small museum, housing a variety of Buddha icons. Pha That Luang: is a national symbol, the city’s most famous landmark and the country’s most important religious monument. That Luang, located 3kms north of the city centre, is actually an ornately gilded stupa which dates back to 1566 when it was constructed by King Setthathirath; it later received a restoration in 1935. Wat Si Muang: is located near the eastern entrance to Vientiane and is the busiest temple in the city on account of the large numbers of locals who come here to make flower offerings to its oldest Buddha icon in the hope of making merit and bringing good fortune to their lives and the lives of their families. The temple’s sim is unusual in that it is in fact split into two separate rooms. | 
