After the Laotian Civil War in 1975, he and his family were arrested by the Pathet Lao and sent to re-education camps, where they died.

He was born on 27 September 1931, at the Royal Palace Luang Prabang, Laos to King Savang Vatthana and Queen Khamphoui.

He was educated at Montpellier University and later École sciences et politiques in Paris.

He became the Crown Prince (Anga Mahkuta Raja Kumara) on 29 October 1962, and married Princess Mahneelai Panya (born 29 December 1941) on 4 August 1962.

Having read the royal rescript of abdication of his father on 2 December 1975,[1] he lived in a private residence with his family until 1977, when they were arrested and taken to northern Laos and placed in a re-education camp.