Vat Phou
The Champasak cultural landscape, including the Vat Phou Temple complex, World Heritage Site by UNESCO since 2001, is a remarkably well-preserved planned landscape more than 1,000 years old.
It was shaped to express the Hindu vision of the relationship between nature and humanity, using an axis from mountain top to river bank to lay out a geometric pattern of temples, shrines and waterworks extending over some 10 km.
Two planned cities on the banks of the Mekong River are also part of the site, as well as Phou Kao mountain.
The whole represents a development ranging from the 5th to 15th centuries, mainly associated with the Khmer Empire.
Inscriptions from to the V and VI centuries mention a sanctuary built on the mountain, during the same period as the foundation of the city. This sanctuary has disappeared and has been replaced by the religious complex we see today. This complex was built during the first part of the XI century, with some additions and reconstructions from the XII and XIII centuries.
Built along an East-West axis, it extends over 1.4 km and climbs up the slope, starting from the plain and ending about 100m above, where the main sanctuary is situated. The main sanctuary is located on a terrace at the foot of the cliff where the sacred spring flows.
Useful information: Vat Phou is located 10km from Champasak town and easily accessible from there. It’s open daily from 8am to 5pm.
Open everyday :
8:00am – 5:00pm for the site
8:00am – 4:00pm for the museum
Possibility of visiting the site outside
opening hours :
From 6:00am to 8:00am and from 4:30pm to 6:00pm, an entrance ticket can be bought at the main gate.
Admission for site and museum and Electric Car service :
Foreigner …… 50 000 LAK
Lao people…… 20 000 LAK
Entry outside normal hours
Foreigner : 55 000 LAK
Lao people : 25 000 LAK
Electric car service is included.
Free admission for monks, children under
10 years old and disabled persons.
The ticket is valid for a whole day.
