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Vat Thong temple was an important place in the kingdom of Champasak, which remained an independent kingdom from the 17th century until 1946, when the last king abdicated the throne and Laos became independent and unified. Most ceremonies during the time of the kingdom began at Vat Thong, located in the center of the town of Champasak. The most important god here was Vishnu, who along with Shiva and Brahma made up the Hindu trinity. Many fragments from statues of Vishnu have been found in the area.

Within the temple grounds, under the shade of the high sugar- palm trees (Borassus flabellifer) are funeral monuments (That) and graves of the later Champasak kings. Most of them are in the form of high, whitewashed pillars topped by a lotus bud.

View of Vat Thong at sunset.