The Pha That Luang or "Great Sacred Reliquary" is the most important symbol of Laos nationality. It is located in the capital Vientiane, a laid back city of 133,000 people. We found Vientiane to more like a village than a capital city with its lack of high rises, easygoing people and hardly any traffic. On the edge of this charming city lies Pha That Luang, a shimmering, golden monument to Lao sovereignty and Buddhist religion. It was originally built in 1566 when King Setthathirat moved the capital from Luang Prabang in the north to Vientiane. Pha That Luang resembles a lotus flower, rises in three levels and culminates in a golden spike representing an elongated lotus bud.
