Khmer Buddha of the Museum (Haw) Phra Keo ex Royal Temple (Vat) Phra Keo or Keaw, an important shrine (with Vat Sisaket) for the Lao Buddha statuary in Vientiane (Vien Chan or Town of the Moon in the past); After being part of the Khmer Empire until 13th century, the town became part of the Lang Chan kingdom (Land of million elephants) and was chosen by King Setthathirat to replace Luang Prabang as Lao Capital in 1563; The King ordered the construction of a new temple ( Vat Phra Keo) to enshrine the famous emerald Buddha that will be theft during a Thai invasion in 1826; The all town was fired and destroyed then rebuilt by the French at the beginning of 20th century; The emerald Buddha is now in Bangkok and is said to perhaps be returned to Laos.