Savannakhet Province has added two sites to its national cultural heritage list, with authorities formally recognising That Phon Stupa and Heuan Hin in Xayphouthong district on 30 January.
Both sites received national-level status following earlier local designation, marking a new step toward stronger protection and wider promotion of the province’s historical and spiritual landmarks.
That Phon Stupa ranks among the most revered Buddhist sites in southern Laos. Local legend traces its construction to 118 BE, when builders used laterite stone to form a lotus-bud-shaped stupa believed to be around 2,500 years old.
Located in Phonthat Village, about 65 kilometres from Kaysone Phomvihane City and 12 kilometres from National Road 13 South, the stupa has long served as a spiritual center for surrounding communities. Its annual festival takes place in February, usually on the full moon of the third lunar month.
The other site, Heuan Hin, meaning “Stone House,” lies in the same district near the Mekong River, around 30 kilometres from That Phon.
The unfinished structure is believed to be one of 121 rest houses built during the reign of King Jayavarman VII between 1181 and 1218, linking major routes across the Khmer Empire.
The site shows architectural similarities to Vat Phou in Champasak and Thailand’s Phimai temple, and hosts its annual festival in March, on the full moon of the fourth lunar month.
Provincial authorities said elevating the two sites to national heritage status will support long-term conservation while helping to promote cultural tourism in Xayphouthong district and across Savannakhet Province.


