Ho Phra Keo, Vientiane

Ho Phra Keo is one of the historic building and the oldest temple in Vientiane.

Formerly was the place to house the emerald Buddha which known to Lao people as "Phra Keo". The word "Ho" in Lao means a sacred house, therefore, when you add this prefix "Ho" to any building name that site will consider to be a sacred place.

Located next to formerly Royal Palace "Ho Kham" and a few minutes walking distance to Mekong River banks and popular hotels, Ho Phra Keo temple was built in 1565 by King Sethathirath to house the Emerald Buddha. Formerly, this was a temple site where there were monks living there.

The story of this temple is about sacred Buddha "Phra keo" (Emerald Buddha) which is no longer house in this place any more. According to history when Thai armies invaded the country they took this sacred Buddha to Bangkok, Thailand. Inside there are some others Buddha images and empty Emerald Buddha's altar.

After the new government took over in 1975, the temple was converted into a Buddhist national museum and houses nation’s finest collection of Buddhist sculpture and artifacts.

Phra Keo (Emerald Buddha)
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During an official visit to Vientiane on July 11, 2012 US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton tours the Ho Phra Keo Temple and offering lotus flowers to a Buddha statue.


Photo - AP	Photo - AP

Here are some Buddha images found inside the temple.

If you're here in Vientiane, this is the place to visit. You can find the time table to visit below:
The museum is open daily:

Open Hours

Morning: 8.00am-12.00
Afternoon: 1.00pm-4.00pm

Watch this Video - (Narrated in Lao)

Thank you for reading about Wat HO Phra Keo and hope you enjoy it. Take care !

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