The U.S. Complete Wat Visoun Restoration
Preserving Luang Prabang’s Oldest Temple
A successful restoration of the historical Wat Visoun (or Wat Wisunarat) was completed last month with funding from the U.S. Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation. A total of $347,000 was spent to restore this 16th-century Laotian temple, the oldest of its kind in Luang Prabang; hotels within this UNESCO World Heritage Site including properties like Avani+ Luang Prabang Hotel are walking distance from Wat Visoun which has great cultural and religious significance.
The project involved three elements namely restoring the two main buildings and the Makmo Stupa. The completion was commemorated on 6th October 2020 by an official handing over ceremony to the people of Luang Prabang. The event was attended by U.S. Ambassador Dr. Peter Haymond who stated that the project was a symbol of friendship between Laos and the United States.