Wat Xieng Thong in Luang Prabang province, has won awards of merit from a list 12 destinations announced under the 2015 UNESCO Asia-Pacific Heritage Award scheme.
According to UNESCO Bangkok the 12 projects in five countries — India, China, Laos, Australia and Thailand — have been recognised in this year’s Heritage Awards.
A panel of international conservation experts met in June to review 36 entries from across the Asia-Pacific region.

Picture: @Hotracer Photography

The conservation of the exceptionally ornate Xieng Thong Temple has safeguarded the jewel of Luang Prabang architecture and the historic kingdom’s most significant landmark.
Undertaken within the framework of technical standards set by the Luang Prabang Department of World Heritage, the project is to be commended for its systematic conservation planning and execution.
The involvement of trained monk artisans in producing the traditional decorative works represents a noteworthy revival of an age-old practice of sustaining Buddhist temples.
The major initiative has arrested the temple complex’s slow physical decay and reversed previous inappropriate conservation efforts, improving the condition of both the ritual buildings and the monks’ quarters.
By combining grassroots efforts with donor support, the project epitomises the spirit of World Heritage in promoting international cooperation for protecting the world’s most iconic heritage places.