That Dam
ທາດດຳ
An ancient brick stupa in the heart of the old town, its surface covered in moss. Legend says a seven-headed naga guarding Vientiane lives inside, making it a mysterious landmark in the French colonial quarter.
That Dam (Black Stupa) is a brick Buddhist stupa built around the 16th century during the Lan Xang Kingdom. Its name comes from its great age and its surface, which is covered in moss and weathered to a grayish black. Local legend says a seven-headed naga (serpent deity) dwells inside and protected Vientiane's people during the Siamese invasion of 1827. Another legend says the top of the stupa was once covered in gold, which Siamese troops carried off. That Dam stands on a roundabout in the centre of the old town, surrounded by French colonial-era houses, the U.S. Embassy and several boutique cafés. It is worth a quick look on a stroll through the old town, and it takes on a special atmosphere once the lights come on in the evening. It is free to visit. View it from the outside only, as climbing is not allowed. Getting there: it is on Chanthakoummane Road, about a 5-minute walk from Wat Si Saket and about 10 minutes from the Mekong Night Market. Note: traffic around the roundabout is heavy, so take care when crossing the road.
Opening hours
All day (exterior only)
Nearby sights
- Wat Si Saket
- Talat Sao (Morning Market)
- Nam Phou Fountain
- Presidential Palace (Haw Kham)
- Haw Phra Kaew
- Mekong Riverside Night Market & Chao Anouvong Park
- Wat Ong Teu Mahawihan
- Wat Inpeng