Muang Hongsa Things to Do

That cute little temple is located in Ban Ving Keo near Hongsa and it is called Wat Vingkeo. The best way to visit is by motorcycle or bycicle which you can rent by some guesthouses in Hongsa and it will take you roughly half hour of moderate cycling to get there (depends on how often you'll turn into off beaten paths on your way or how often you'll stop for taking photos). It is really wonderful wat with many colorful wall paintings on the outer and inner walls; take your time to study each painting with its own story and you'll be busy for the whole afternoon (or day if you're really into details). Most of them are from local/Buddhist life. There is middle sized elephant sculpture next to wat made of black plastic bags - I believe it was made for elephant festival year prior to festival in Pak Lay. It's very nice and interesting.

You'll notice some quite large wooden houses for spirits in the temple's yard and some of them are big enough to shelter a novice. Like in other cases around Laos they were build when someone died. In the backyard you'll be able to see elongeated one and that one was specailly interesting as I never saw that kind of house for spririts before while visiting other temples around the country.
Wat Ving Keo is wonderful, magic kind of place.