While the Stupa wasn't that great, the view from the Stupa was fantastic. It was a perfect place to watch the sun go down. The Stupa is a replacement for another that "the Americans bombed during the war." While this simple explanation is what most people think, the truth is a bit more complex. Lao Royalist forces bombed Pathet Lao positions on a ridge above the Stupa. The concussions were such as to cause the Stupa to collapse. And yes, the bombs were likely American-supplied. Still not great, but it wasn't like some American was targeting the Stupa.