Vat Ong Teu or Ong Teu Temple is one of the well-known Buddhist pagodas in Vientiane, the capital city of the Lao PDR. First days when it was founded in 1566, the temple named "Vat Xayaphoum". It is believed that this historic site was built on an old temple left fallow from khmer dynasty.

Later on, when King Xasetthathirath led people to renew Vientiane City, a big Buddha status was created and installed at the temple. Since then, Vat Xayaphoum had changed its name into Vat Ong Teu from which some historians proved that the new name of the temple was given accordingly to the Buddha status' weight.

In Lao language, Teu means one billion, and the status might be weight one billion kilograms?

Since its foundation, Vat Ong Teu was put on the top rank due to its size of importance. It was used as the center for Buddhist religious ceremonies and state activities all year-round. In the former time, during the monarchic regime, members of the governments as well as high-ranking officers would had come to the Vat Ong Teu for attending the so-called "Promissory Ceremony" before holding their state functions.

During the Siam invasion of Vientiane in 1828-1829, the invaders made all types of barbarous crimes against the Lao people with the aim to clear up their historic traces. Hundreds of precious heritages were plundered and brought away. Vat Ont Teu was broken into pieces.

As the gigantic Buddha status at the temple was too heavy and was not convenient to be moved, the invaders brought down three nearby big houses order to get woods for burning the sacred status after heavily destroyed it.

The Vat Ong Teu was completely put to ashes, except Pra Ong Teu or Ong Teu Status was remained. People believed the way that the status was save because of the sacredness.

The temple area also covers the Buddhist College, the highest Buddhist Monks' Education Institute. Besides the main temple, Lao styles of sculpture are also added to the attraction of this genuinely historic temple.

Today, Vat Ong Teu still plays its most important role of being the Buddhists Center for the whole believers throughout the country.