That Sikhottabong

That Sikhottabong stands close to the Mekong on the site associated with the old kingdom of Sikhottabong, and Lao tradition places a stupa here from a very early date. The present tower, white with gilded upper stages and around thirty metres tall, is a twentieth-century rebuilding on foundations that have been repeatedly restored since the sixteenth century. The compound is large, flat and well kept, with a hall of Buddha images beside the stupa and the river a short walk away behind it.

What you actually see

• The stupa - a white tapering tower with gilded upper stages, set on a broad terrace.
• The image hall - a hall of Buddha figures beside the base, in use through the day.
• The terrace - a wide open platform that carries the annual festival.
• The river - the Mekong immediately behind the compound, with Thailand on the far bank.

When to go

November to February is dry and comfortable. The That Sikhottabong festival, usually in February, fills the compound for several days with a market, music and pilgrims. The middle of the day on the open terrace is hot in any season.

Honest expectations

The compound has no shade to speak of, which matters more than it sounds. The current structure is a modern rebuild, so anyone expecting visible antiquity will be disappointed. Outside festival time it is quiet and a visit takes under an hour.

Nearby

Thakhek town is ten minutes north, and the loop road begins from there.