Two mysterious wooden boats discovered recently in Khammuan province have brought visitors seeking to find out more about their history.
The two boats were found sunk in 7 metres of water in the Mekong River where Thakhek district meets the border with Thailand 's Nakon Phanom province.
The boats are believed to have been built during the reign of King Sikhottabong about eight centuries ago.
They have now been placed at Chomdaeng temple in Pakpeng village.
One of the boats is 9 metres long and 2 metres wide, while the second is about 20 metres long.
They were both made from khaen wood (Hoppea odorala), which is highly-rated by boat builders.
However, as the boats have been under water for such a long time, their condition is poor. Abbot Vanpheng Xayasone said the boats came to the attention of locals after the lines of fishermen became snag ged on them. Villagers helped to remove them from the water.
“We can identify the first boat from its condition and style. In the first case, the boat builders were not very skilled because the surface is not smooth, but the second boat has special carvings and a more sophisticated design.”
The abbot said the first boat appeared to be one used by a family, while the second boat could well have been used as a racing boat.
The Department of Information and Culture sent its staff to have a look, and they confirmed the second boat was used for racing.
It is in better condition and measures 60 cms from gunwale to keel, much deeper than the first boat.
A writer and expert on the Sikhottabong era, Mr Khemkham Sangpatoum, said the boat was beautiful and its design quite elaborate. It is believed it was used by fairly important people.
He suspected that the boats were sunk some time around the year 1946.
Now people from both Laos and Thailand are coming to the temple to see the boats and donate money for their restoration. The provincial tourism department believes the discovery will benefit not only the temple but local tourism in general.
it is said that a monk of Pakpeng temple has dreamed of the boat, the boat wants to stay in the temple and later the fisherman found a boat under the Mekong river, the boat was caught by the net when the fisherman was trying to catch the fishes. a boat now at Pakpeng temple, it is really old boat and built on centuries ago ( Hua Boo Han)
the boat is really (Boo Han), but it has been repaired lately like in the World war ii era, I have seen only the photos of that boat, the local places a naga head on it to attract more visitors.
