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Wat Si Saket

Wat Si Saket was built in 1818 and is probably the oldest temple still standing in Vientiane. The French restored the temple in 1924 and again in 1930. We saw the remains of interior murals which badly needed restoration. There are thousands of Buddhas in this Wat, many in small niches in the walls. The Communist government makes sure that Laotian Buddhist teachings are in accord with its Marxist policies, and religion here did not seem as important as in Thailand.