The site is located on a former island which disappeared when the Mekong River changed its course.
This is an ancient site with vestiges of the historical city of Nakhorn Souvannakhomkham which was later successively named Nakha Nakhorn or Nakhorn Xieng Lao, Nakhorn Ngeun Nyuang (Ngeun Nyang) Hiranya Nakhorn, and Nakhorn Xieng Saen (ancient). According to initial surveys, in an area of 10,000 hectares, there are 44 archaeological vestiges and brick constructions such as temples, stupas, Buddha images, water reservoirs and other constructions.
The only vestige left over from the looting by Lao and Thai bandits, which attests to the high level of artistry and craftsmanship of epoch, is a Buddha image seated in the meditation posture. made of bricks and plaster, the statue is 7.22 metres high (ushnisha not included) and 7.10 metres large. Each shoulder measures 1.10 metres. On the side, the length from the buttock to the knee is 3.60 metres. It can be considered as one of the largest Buddha images in Laos and in Southeast Asia. Judging by its size. We can say that the Buddha image is that of the palace temple. Unfortunately, only the body is left. The ushnisha has disappeared; the navel area and the throne were excavated by looters in search for treasures inside.
Souvannakhomkham is also where the tradition of Lai Heua Fai was born, hence the name "khomkham"
Are there any potentials that this place could become another World Heritage Site?
wow i know in the future their will be many secrets unravlingin laos N i also see that some of the heads of the bhuddas are gone definatly a sign of the thais looting our ancient cities
Bokeo Tourism Department plans to develop historical, natural and cultural tourist attractions in three areas, hoping to draw more visitors to the province.
“At least 100,000 tourists visit our province every year, so we hope our development plans will double this figure,” Bokeo Tourism Department Director Vanthong Kittakoun said last Thursday.
Next year the Bokeo Administration Office will receive funding from the Asian Development Bank for tourism projects. This will be administered through the Bokeo office and enable the development of three areas in Tonpheung, Huayxai and Paktha districts.
The department will focus on the hot springs in Nakham village in Tonpheung district, the Ngua and Yon rivers - to run boat trips to different ethnic villages - and possibly Phou Si Fa ( Amazing Mountain ) in Chiengtong village, Paktha district.
This will be the first time the department has received funding for tourism development from the provincial administration office since the office was established in 1995.
The department has identified more than 85 potential tourist attractions in the province requiring development, but officials have to wait for agreements and funding from government and foreign organisations.
“The most interesting tourist attraction we have is Donxao Island in Tonpheung district. This spot attracts tourists from the UK , Australia and France , but especially from Thailand . More than 80 percent of tourists who v isit the island come from Thailand ,” Mr Vanthong said.
Donxao Island tourism manager Pan Thiphavanh said the fascination of the island, located in the middle of the Mekong River , lay in the large number of kapok trees and the local people who sold handicrafts, wood carvings and textiles.
“The kapok flower festival is celebrated between the end of January and February, so lots of tourists come then,” he said.
Mr Pan said more than 65,000 tourists had visited the island in the first five months of this year, and he believed the number for the whole year would total more than 120,000.
Mr Vanthong said he thought tourism in the province would take no more than two years to develop. After that, the province would be a much better place than in the past and more foreigners would get to know about this part of Laos .
“We will offer the best hospitality to welcome visitors as well as good security to make them confident during their visit here,” he said.
the entire Buddha statue is too large & heavy to smuggle out of the country unnoticed, so parts are cut off instead. the head of the Buddha statue is the part that can be sold for the highest price to private museums & art collectors - it has the most details about origin of the statue (in what century it was made, in what area, in what style, etc), which determines how rare & valuable it might be. next to go are usually the hands.
as for digging out the chest/abdomen, it's because treasures are believed to be hidden in that part during the construction of the statue. just like how looters wreck 'that' or chedi.
“The most interesting tourist attraction we have is Donxao Island in Tonpheung district
it's a tiny island full of stalls selling the same stuff at inflated prices. tourists don't really choose this island as a destination, most have never heard of it before going to Thailand or Laos. it's just part of the standard boat ride along the Mekong from Sop Ruak (Thai side) to the 'centre' of the Golden Triangle. the boatmen are paid to make a stop at Done Xao for their human cargo (tourists) to contribute some baht to the Laos. a place to step on Lao soil without going through immigration...some tourists don't even realise that it is part of Laos if they don't recognise the Lao flag at the boat landing...
think Bokeo has other stuff much more interesting than Done Xao, like this: http://www.gibbonx.org
