[1]: 264  Built between 1559 and 1560 by King Setthathirath, Wat Xieng Thong is one of the most important of Lao monasteries and remains a significant monument to the spirit of religion, royalty and traditional art.

"[2]: 167  In Lao, wat, or vat, means Buddhist temple; these buildings are central to the life of Laotian communities.

[5]: 69–73  But, Luang Prabang remained a royal capital until 1975, when the Lao People's Democratic Republic (LPDR) was established.

[1]: 248  The city is between the Mekong and Nam Khan rivers, and according to UNESCO, contains some of "the most sophisticated Buddhist temples in Southeast Asia.

Rich red and black walls are decorated completely with gold stencils of mythological scenes and geometric design.

Behind the Sim is the Sanctuary of the Reclining Buddha, a small chapel decorated with mosaics and featuring a large Buddhist statue.

[1]: 264–265 [8] Many other structures fill the compound and complement the Sim, including the Kouti, Ho Tai, and Hor Kong, the library, monk living space, and boat house, respectively.

This was because the Black Flag Haw leader, Đèo Văn Trị, had studied here as a monk in his early life and used it as his headquarters during the sacking of Luang Phrabang.