Languages

Select Language

Buddha Park Vientiane

Buddha Park Vientiane

Laos

Vientiane

Vientiane Travel Guide

Book Tour & Activities
Your tour in Vientiane.

Book your stay
Your hotel in Vientiane.

Overview

Buddha Park (Xieng Khuan) is an open-air sculpture park with giant sculptures of Buddha and Hindu deities. Located 25km southeast of Vientiane, the park was founded in 1958 by monk and sculpture artist, Bunleua Sulila. 

As he studied both Buddhism and Hinduism, you’ll find not only statues of Buddha, but also of Hindu gods, deities, demons, and animals from both beliefs. The statues are as impressive in size as they are in detail. Standouts at Buddha Park include a 40-metre reclining Buddha, Indra (a Hindu god) a 2-headed elephant, and a 4-armed deity riding a horse. 

Buddha Park, also known as Xieng Khuan (as well as other variations of the spelling), is a sculpture park located 25 km southeast from Vientiane, Laos in a meadow by the Mekong River. Although it is not a temple (Wat), the park may be referred to as Wat Xieng Khuan, since it contains numerous religious images. The name Xieng Khuan means Spirit City. The park contains over 200 Hindu and Buddhist statues. The socialist government operates Buddha Park as a tourist attraction and public park.

Highlights
The park was started in 1958 by Luang Pu (Venerable Grandfather) Bunleua Sulilat. Luang Pu Bunleua Sulilat was a priest-shaman who integrated Hinduism and Buddhism. His unique perspective was influenced by a Hindu rishi under whom he studied in Vietnam. After the revolution in 1975, anxious about the repercussions of the rule of Pathet Lao, he fled from Laos to Thailand where he built another sculpture park, Sala Keoku in Nong Khai. Both parks are located right next to the Thai-Lao border (Mekong river), only a few kilometers apart from each other, and the tallest structures of the Buddha Park can actually be seen from the Thai side of Mekong.

The statues are made of reinforced concrete and are ornate, and sometimes bizarre, in design. The statues appear to be centuries old, though they are not. There are sculptures of humans, gods, animals, and demons. There are numerous sculptures of Buddha, characters of Buddhist beliefs like Avalokiteśvara, and characters of Hindu lore, including Shiva, Vishnu, and Arjuna. These sculptures were presumably cast by unskilled workers under the supervision of Luang Pu Bunleua Sulilat. One notable sculpture resembles a giant pumpkin. It has three stories representing three levels - Hell, Earth and Heaven. Visitors can enter through an opening which is a mouth of a 3-metre-tall demon head (9.8 ft) and climb staircases from hell to heaven. Each story contains sculptures depicting the level. At the top, there is a vantage point where the entire park is visible. Another sculpture, an enormous 40-metre-long (130 ft) reclining Buddha, is also a park attraction.

One of the best spots for photography at Buddha Park is at the top of a 3-storey-tall pumpkin structure. The entrance is crafted to look like a demon’s mouth, with a stone ladder inside leading to panoramic views of the park. 

Head towards the end of the park to find a riverfront café serving light food and drinks – it’s often packed with tourists looking to relax after all the walking and climbing. To get to Buddha Park, there’s a bus (#14) departing from Talat Sao Bus Station every 40 minutes. 

How to get to Buddha Park
Buddha Park is located near Thadeua Village, just past the Thai Laos friendship bridge, about 25 kilometers South East of Vientiane on the banks of the Mekong river. There are several ways to get there. The easiest way is to book with a Vientiane travel agent.

Local bus no 14 leaves several times per hour from Khua Din bus station next to the Talat Sao market to Buddha Park. The trip takes about 45 minutes and costs 6,000 Kip one way.

Another way to get there is to rent a motorbike. Although it is a fun ride with the opportunity to stop at other places along the way, beware of potholes and dusty roads. Make sure to be back in town before dark, as often there are very few or no street lights on local roads.

Alternatively, hire a tuk tuk for the trip. The price depends on your bargaining skills and will be between 150,000 and 200,000 Kip. The driver will wait at the parking lot for the return trip to Vientiane.

Entrance fee
Entrance fee is 5,000 Kip per person, camera fee is 3,000 Kip.

Buddha Park (Xieng Khuan) in Vientiane

  • Location: Deua, Thanon Tha, Vientiane, Laos
  • Open: Daily from 8am to 5pm
  • Artist: Bunleua Sulilat
  • Subject: Gautama Buddha

See Buddha Park Vientiane on Map

Most Popular Cities

Siem Reap

Siem Reap

Cambodia
Beijing

Beijing

China
Paris

Paris

France
London

London

United Kingdom
Tokyo

Tokyo

Japan
Bangkok

Bangkok

Thailand
Seoul

Seoul

South Korea
Yangon

Yangon

Myanmar
Ottawa

Ottawa

Canada
New Delhi

New Delhi

India
Singapore

Singapore

Singapore
Kuala Lumpur

Kuala Lumpur

Malaysia
Sydney

Sydney

Australia