Explore a different destination  UNESCO World Heritage Site  Wat Xiengmouane
Wat Xiengmouane Vajiramangalaram, Wat Xieng Mouane, Vat Xieng Mouane, Wat Sieng Mouan
Monastery of Melodious Sounds, Luang Prabang, Laos


  UNESCO World Heritage Sites Luang Prabang Budget Travel Guide Laos Budget Travel Guide Asia Budget Travel Guide EarthDocumentary World Budget Travel Guide Compare Hotel Room Rates from different Booking Sites



The sim of Wat Xiengmouane, Luang Prabang.


Your base for this tourist attraction is the Unesco World Heritage town of Luang Prabang, Laos. For tourist information about Luang Prabang, go to Luang Prabang Travel Guide. To prepare for a trip to Laos, read also the Laos Travel Guide. Looking for budget accommodation there? Use AsiaExplorers Budget Accommodation Guide, the no-frills website to cover your budget accommodation needs.


Wat Xiengmouane Travel Information

Wat Xiengmouane is another small Laotian monastery on Sotika Kuman Road, one of the roads the run parallel to the Mekong and Nam Khan rivers in Luang Prabang. Located next to Wat Choum Khong, it is one of the monasteries I visited in Luang Prabang.

Wat Xiengmouane founded by Phragna Sisonxay in 1865, during the reign of King Chantarath (1851-72). In the beginning, it was called Monastery of Melodious Sounds, due to the harmonious sounds of its gongs. Later on, it was given another nickname, Monastery of Joyous town.

The sim of Wat Xiengmouane has a two-tier roof, one porch and triple nave. It originally had three windows, but more were added during the restoration in 1964. Within the compound of Wat Xiengmouane are several stupas and chapels.

There is also a vocational school within the compound of Wat Xiengmouane. This school was started by Unesco and funded by a grant from the government of Norway. Its purpose is to teach the novice monks the traditional arts and crafts such as lacquer work, stencilling, painting, glass mosaic, wood carving, sculpture and other ornamental works for the Laotian temples. Some of the handiwork of the students are on display in one of the rooms.

Getting Accommodation in Luang Prabang

If you're going to Luang Prabang, you'd be glad to know that the town is quite small. You can go to most places on foot if you want to. Otherwise, you can also catch a tuk tuk to take you around. As for accommodation, they range from very simple, basic beds to boutique hotels. You can visit the Luang Prabang Hotels guide for a list of budget accommodation.



A chapel and a couple of stupas in the compound of Wat Xiengmouane.


A vocational school for novices at Wat Xiengmouane.


Some of the works of the novices.


Hotel Room Price Checker

Before booking a hotel room, make sure you are getting the lowest price for it. Different hotel booking websites offers the same room at different prices. If you stick with one site all the time, you could be paying more for the same room. Now why pay more?

The form below is a Research Engine. It doesn't take bookings. Instead it lets you find the hotel booking website that offers the room you want at the lowest price. You can see and compare what different sites are offering, and then click to choose the one with the best price. Do this, and you're guaranteed to save a whole lot of money on your room reservations!



AsiaExplorers Flight Checker

If you're flying somewhere, use our Flight Checker to compare the rates from different airlines. To use it, enter where you will be flying from, where you will be flying to, your departure date and return date. Select the number of passengers, and then click search.

Our engine will return you a list of possible flights that you can take. You can compare the fare of different airlines for your trip. Click on your selected airline, and we transfer you to the airline website.




Return to AsiaExplorers homepage

My message introducing God to all the world: THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO TIM


Bookmark and Share   Follow EarthDocumentary on Twitter


Copyright © 2003-2010 AsiaExplorers.  All rights reserved.


AsiaExplorers is researched and written by Timothy Tye. Reasonable care is taken to check and verify the accuracy of the content. AsiaExplorers disclaims responsibility for any inconvenience, mishap, injury or death resulting from following the tips and advice provided directly or indirectly by this website. All pages may be printed out for your own personal, non-commercial use. You may use the information on this website on your blog or website so long as you place a dofollow link back to the page in AsiaExplorers where it appears. Photographs not credited to a third party belong to Timothy Tye and may not be reused in any form unless you are first given permission. Write in to inquire if interested. Third party photographs are governed by their respective licenses. To contact Tim, write to the following email address: