In the past, Vang Vieng which is
located 156 km from the capital of Vientiane along road
No. 13 north, road section between Vientiane and Luang
Prabang, was called Muong Xong.
Vang Vieng is surrounded with a
magnificent view of mountains, trees, and flowers as
well as some interesting historical and cultural sites
with a unique tradition and culture.
History of
Vang Vieng
Nam Xong, the main river of this
district has its own legend. According to the tales of
Khounboulom Rajathirath, King Fa Ngum defeated and
governed Phai Naam the capital city of Lane Xang
Vientiane. Phra Nha Phao, king of Phai Naam was captured
on the Xong (bed) and was to be taken to Luang Prabang
for sentencing. Along the way from Pai Naam to Luang
Prabang, the troops had pass through Bane Thine Heng and
Pha Tang. When Pha Nha Phao was taken to Pha Tang, he
became ill and died.
His corpse was then sent to drift
along the Houai Sida river, as the villagers saw the
corpse, they then named the river Xong of Pha Nha Phao
or Nam Xong ever since 1356.
And even before given the name
Muong Xong, Vang Vieng was also called Bane Thine Heng
where the middle land and Khom people spent their lives
for many generations. Then as time passed, Thai Phouane,
the Xieng Khouang people settled here and most of the
people in Vang Vieng today are Xieng
Khouang.
When the black warriors and Siamese
troops invaded Lane Xang Kingdom in 1874, Thao Tengtai
or Pha Nha Isane Outaitesa Saysanaxongkham was born in
1850 in Houaphan Thangha and Thanghok. He was the fourth
child of Pha Nha Gnom family and nephew of Pha Nha
Soulintha. Thao Tengtai was advised by his father to
look for a peaceful place for his people to live.
Thao Tengtai spent 22 years
looking for a permanent place to live before
arriving in Bane Phone Nhang located in the
Thoulakhom area. They stayed there for 9 years
because Thao Tengtai had to attend an
administration training course in Luang Prabang
managed by the Siamese administration. The chief
of Thoulakhom was requested by Thao Tengtai to
look after his people within that time.
After completing the training
course, he returned to his people in Thoulakhom
and said goodbye to the chief of Thoulakhom. They
then moved upward passing through Bane Phone Nhang
and upstream through Nam Lik and Nam Xong
river.
When Thao Tengtai and his
people arrived at Bane Hine Khanmak, the present
cement factory, they spent a year building their
town. But they realized that the location of Muong
Xong was much better since it was located along
Nam Xong river. So they decided to construct their
homes and Thao Tengtai was nominated to be the
chief of the town.
From 1893 to 1899, when the
kingdom of Laos was under French administration,
Muong Xong was recognized as the town.
Pierre Moring, a
representative of the French government and his
assistant in Vientiane, officially recognized the
town in May 16, 1899 and nominated Thao Tengtai or
otherwise known as Pha Nha Isane to be the chief
of the town and changed the name of Muong Xong to
be called Vang Vieng.
Vang Vieng is on the way to
Luang Prabang from Vientiane, so the king of Lane
Xang Luang Prabang and Lane Xang Vientiane often
stopped here to relax.
Vang Vieng is now a tourist
site for travelers from Vientiane heading to
Luang Prabang along road No.13 north. When
visiting Vang Vieng one has to stop and see the
lovely nature of Pha Xang, Tham Jang, Tham None,
Phadeng, Pha Tang and much more.
Wat Done Hor is the oldest
temple among five temples located in Vang Vieng.
It was built by Pha Nha Outai in 1903. There are
8 poles made by rocks, rocks in six sections
join each pole. In this temple there is a big
Buddha image, and offering hall and a big stupa
all of which were built at the same time as the
main temple construction.
The Fable of Pha Tang
Mount
Pha Tang is alike a standing stupa that no one can
climb up to its top. It is the most attractive and strange
mountain in Vang Vieng because of its own unique shape created
by nature.
Generally speaking about Pha Tang, people prefer to say
Pha Tang Vang Vieng since it is located closely to Bane Pha
Tang and located besides Nam Xong river.
No one knows clearly about it as its history was not
mentioned in Vang Vieng history book. Many interesting fable
of Pha Tang has been only recited for fun since the old
generations
.
Old reciting that once upon a time, there was a big man
whose name was called Thao Chethai. When he drank he can drink
seven pot of alcohol. He was stronger than ordinary people and
he worked as the farmer in Nam Xong rice field.
When there was very heavy flooding, he was very angry
with the river, he found out the way to block the river, so he
carried big rocks to make embankment.
While he carried the rocks to this existing place of
Pha Tang, his shoulder pole was broken because the rocks were
too heavy and one of the rock fell down to be as Pha Tang at
the present day. And other was fallen far away that no one
know where it is till the present time.
Old saying that one of the rocks was fallen down over
him, so Thao Chethai and his dog were killed. Now we can see
the head of the dog on the top of this mount.
Anyone who travels along the road No. 13 north, will
alert their eyes to see Pha Tang mount.
Design and
development by work team of
Software Computer
Vientiane capital,
Lao P.D.R.
Call
SWCPT@YAHOO.COM
or SWCPTLAO@GMAIL.COM
.
