Photos of Wat Si Saket in Vientiane, Laos | Gavin Gough: Freelance Travel Photographer

Wat Si Saket, Vientiane, Laos

I think of all Vientiane’s beautiful temples, Wat Si Saket is by far my favourite. The Lonely Planet guide suggests that it is “in dire need of a face-lift” but I have to disagree. I think that some things are best left and seeing the temple spruced up would remove the essence of what makes it charming.

The main courtyard is surrounded by thick walls into which have been cut thousands of tiny niches. Each niche contains one or more Buddha statues whilst larger statues sit in rows beneath a five-tiered roof. With so many Buddha statues smiling enigmatically, it’s impossible not to start grinning too.