Wat Xieng Thong is one of the oldest temples in Laos. It was constructed around 1560 by King Setthathirat, ruler of Laos from 1548-1571. The temple sits at the junction of the Mekong river and the Nam Khan, a smaller stream. Many legends have been told about this site. Among them is the belief that the two rivers flowing together represent the union of two nagas (guardian spirits in the form of water snakes). In popular belief, it is also the site where two hermits placed boundary stones marking off the Luang Prabang settlement. Another legend deals with Chanthapanit, a betel merchant who founded a palace here and established himself as the first king of Luang Prabang.
Until the communist takeover, the Kings of Laos were crowned here in grand ceremony. In the 1960s, the temple was completely restored using new materials installed with the help of famous craftsmen from all over Laos. The whole surface of the temple, inside and out, was decorated with numerous paintings and glass designs illustrating passages from the Ramayana. The building was abandoned during the communist regime but has now been opened to visitors.