The side front from the Wat Si Saket

The reason the temple was not destroyed was because Siamese troops were using it as a base. It had a reputation as being sacred and protected by spirits. They believed that if it was destroyed, they would lose the war, so they chose to preserve it.
After the war was over the Lao people set about rebuilding and preserving their style of architecture. In 1935 Vat Sisaket was restored to the form we know today.