4 July 2026
President U Min Aung Hlaing, who is currently on a state visit to the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, paid homage to the Pha That Luang Pagoda in Vientiane on the morning of July 4.
Accompanied by his wife, Daw Kyu Kyu Hla, President U Min Aung Hlaing entered the Pha That Luang Pagoda through the western gate, where they offered alms, flowers, water, fruits, and candles to the Buddha. Following this, President U Min Aung Hlaing signed the guest book of the pagoda.
The Golden Pagoda of Pha That Luang is the national symbol and most sacred Buddhist temple of Laos, located in the capital city of Vientiane. It represents the sovereignty and national unity of Laos and is featured on the national emblem, banknotes, and government seals.
The pagoda stands 45 meters (147 feet) tall and tapers from its base to the top in a pyramidal shape, symbolizing the three stages of Buddhist cosmology and the ascent to nirvana. With its golden gilded panels, it is a unique example of Lao architecture. It is believed that the pagoda was originally built in the 3rd century BC to house the collarbone of the Buddha.
The structure was expanded and renovated to its current size in 1566 during the reign of King Sethasirat of the Lan Xang period. It suffered significant damage during the Indochina War of 1828, when its gold and jewels were looted. However, the pagoda was systematically rebuilt in the 1930s, following traditional Lao design principles. Today, the Phra That Luang Pagoda is a major tourist attraction in Laos, and the That Luang Festival, held every November, is known as the country’s most vibrant religious celebration.
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