Many centuries ago, two sorcerers, Russi Tong and Russi Tava, were travelling along the Mekong when they chanced upon a magnificent stretch of land at the junction of the Mekong and Nam Khan rivers. The whole area was covered with countless flowers of an extraordinary red colour, giving the land the appearance of a flaming paradise.
Enchanted by this sight, the two sorcerers conjured up the fifteen local water spirits, that a new city might be born. Fifteen huge Naga gushed out from the rivers and appeared to the sorcerers in the guise of dignitaries. Russi Tong and Russi Tava designated where they wished the new town's major structures to be. Sites were chosen for the future king's palace and numerous temples. Having established the outer limits of their creation they named it Sieng Dong, Sieng Tong, "The City of the River Dong, the Flaming City'. The surrounding lands they called Lan Sang.
Chapter 1
- History of Luang Pabang
- The Myth
- History
Chapter 2
- Religion
- Teravada Buddhism and Phii
- Nirvana
- The temple
- Architecture
- The LaoBuddha
- Luang Pabang's main temples
Chapter 3
- Festi als
- The Mai
- Pii Mai and the Lao Calendar
- The election of Nang Sang Khan
- The last day of the year
- In between two years: the Meu Nao
- The first day of the New Year
- Bassi
- The processions of the Pa Bang
Chapter 4
- Unco ering Luang Pabang