The ancient monument complex of Vat Phou lies close to the Mekong River in Champasak Province in the southwest part of the Lao PDR. The temple complex is an important example of both early and classical Khmer architecture and dates from the 7th to the 12th centuries. It draws its natural sanctity from the linga-shaped sandstone formation at the top of Phou Kao Mountain. While the 1,000 year old mountain temple is the most well-known of the archaeological sites in Champasak, it is only one component of a rich cultural landscape which, in addition to other monuments and temples and an Ancient Road to Angkor, contains the archaeological remains of two ancient urban settlements. These settlements, now identified as Shrestrapura (5th -7th century) and Lingapura (9th - 13th century), represent the earliest known and studied examples of urban planning in Southeast Asia.
 
The Vat Phou project was designed to improve understanding of the archaeology of the area, to produce a management plan and, most importantly, to improve the site management capacities of the Laotian national staff through training and through working with international experts. Work also included expanded archaeological survey and mapping work as well as production of a consolidated GIS database of known features and archaeology.

Although the Champasak cultural landscape is protected by statute, there was no mechanism for enforcing that protection nor was there the means of managing the site to preserve its values. The recently completed Champasak Heritage Management Plan however, fills that gap. The plan guides research, conservation and development at Vat Phou and in the surrounding archaeological landscape and provides strategies for doing so in the face of increasing tourism and economic development pressures. The Government of the Lao PDR officially adopted the Management Plan in September 1998.

The Plan establishes four overlapping protection zones and restricts certain activities within those zones. Consideration is given to the fact that this is a living landscape; the Champasak Heritage and Cultural Landscape Protection Zone includes actively cultivated agricultural lands and some 55 villages, with a population of approximately 27,800 people living in the area.

The Management Plan is based on the most current knowledge of the area, which has increased significantly as a result of the recent research there. Much of this research used non-invasive techniques such as aerial photo-interpretation, field surveys, geophysical prospecting, and geomorphology. One outgrowth of the project is to be the establishment of a Centre of Excellence at the Vat Phou management office. This Centre will be a field demonstration and training facility providing training in these techniques to regional site managers, greatly increasing local cultural resource management capacity.