Pha That Luang Stupa or known as Great Stupa is the most important Buddhist monument in Laos which attracts much more explorers. It was inlaid by gold and is believed to preserve a breast bone of Buddha. Pha That Luang Stupa was built in Laos traditional style on the remain of an old temple in 1566 by King Setthathirath after he made Vientiane the new capital of Lan Xang Kingdom. Nowadays, it has become the national symbol; you can easily find this image of Great Stupa printed in money seal and in national emblem of Laos. Pha That Luang Stupa has one main 45-meter high building and four temples around main buiding on each side but only two remain until today.

The legend said that: in 3rd century BC, after studying in India, 5 monks come back to Laos with the bone of Buddha. The monks asked the Lord for a place to keep the bone, then the Lord built a stupa and named it That Luang. In 1827, most of Vientiane city especially Pha That Luang was heavilly damaged by the Siamese invasion, but in 1930, the French rebuilt it to the original design. And now, Pha That Luang has been submitted to the Tentative List of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. If you are going to visit Pha That Luang, you should go early in the morning for better wandering.