A New Home for Phra Bang

LUANG PRABANG, Laos — From its fearsome gold naga guarding the main stairs, its incredibly lavish gold and red interior, and multi-tiered roof, the Haw Pha Bang at Luang Prabang’s Royal Palace looks ancient. But it’s not.

Luang Prabang Haw Pha Bang Royal Palace Museum Naga

From its fearsome gold naga King Cobras guarding the main stairs, its incredibly lavish gold and red interior, and multi-tiered roof, the Haw Pha Bang at Luang Prabang’s Royal Palace looks ancient and definitely royal.

It was indeed royal. It’s purpose-built to be the official home of the Phra Bang, the diminutive yet sacred gold alloy Buddha statue shrouded in legend, reverence, and rumor that serves as the palladium of the Kingdom of Laos. It also gives Luang Prabang, the royal capital, its name, with a quirk of transliteration moving from Phra Bang to Prabang.

The statue is old–although probably not nearly as old as local lore says–but its home, the lavish Haw Phra Bang on the southeastern corner of the Royal Palace compound in Luang Prabang, is new. And, it has mostly been built under Lao Communist rule. In fact, the building still isn’t quite finished, and the Phra Bang has not yet been installed on his permanent pedestal.

Stay tuned, though–it should happen in the Southeast Asian understanding of “very soon.” Even then, though, suspicions that the real statue is in fact in a vault either in Vientiane or even in Moscow will continue to dog the Phra Bang in its new home.

Luang Prabang Haw Pha Bang Royal Palace Museum Ornate Interior
Photo © David Coleman / HaveCameraWillTravel.com
Luang Prabang Haw Pha Bang Royal Palace Museum with Purple Flowers
Photo © David Coleman / HaveCameraWillTravel.com
Luang Prabang Haw Pha Bang Royal Palace Museum Naga Profile
Photo © David Coleman / HaveCameraWillTravel.com
Royal Palace Luang Prabang Laos Building
Photo © David Coleman / HaveCameraWillTravel.com
Luang Prabang Haw Pha Bang Royal Palace Museum Stairs
Photo © David Coleman / HaveCameraWillTravel.com
Luang Prabang Haw Pha Bang Royal Palace Museum Gold Pedestal
Photo © David Coleman / HaveCameraWillTravel.com
Luang Prabang Haw Pha Bang Royal Palace Museum Golden Naga
Photo © David Coleman / HaveCameraWillTravel.com
Royal Palace Luang Prabang Laos
Photo © David Coleman / HaveCameraWillTravel.com

What to Know Before You Go

The Haw Pha Bang is part of the Royal Palace complex.

Where to Next?

David Coleman / Photographer

David Coleman

I'm a freelance travel photographer based in Washington DC. Seven continents, up mountains, underwater, and a bunch of places in between. My images have appeared in numerous publications, and you can check out some of my gear reviews and tips here. More »