Xieng Khuan Buddha Park

Located on the banks of the Mekong River, about 25km from the Lao capital Vientiane, Xieng Khuan Buddha Park is a destination unlike any other. There, amidst a clear blue sky and rustling palm trees, hundreds of strange, half-mythical, half-spiritual statues seem to emerge from a surreal dream.

The Buddha statue garden as seen from above.

A giant reclining Buddha statue.

The garden was built in 1958 by Luang Pu Bunleua Sulilat, an eccentric monk and sculptor. Trained by an Indian ascetic in a cave in Thailand, he embodied both Buddhist and Hindu traditions, creating a unique space where each statue is an intersection of doctrine and imagination.

The path leading up to the tower is the devil's mouth.

A tourist rests to regain their strength after climbing to the top of the tower.

Sculpture Garden - seen from... the devil's eye.

The garden boasts over 200 cement statues, ranging from a colossal 40-meter-long reclining Buddha and an elephant-headed Ganesha, to half-human, half-animal creatures, and other somber and metaphysical figures. A bizarre highlight is a giant, gaping-mouthed demon head – inside which visitors can climb to the top of a sphere symbolizing the three realms: hell, earth, and heaven. From above, the entire garden unfolds like an ancient mythical world forgotten by time.

The setting has a very eerie, almost supernatural feel to it.

Unlike the usual solemnity of religious structures, Buddha Park evokes both admiration and awe in visitors. Each sculpture is like a slice of life – full of suffering, hope, superstition, and faith. The arrangement of the statues follows no clear order, nor is it confined to any particular pattern. This is also the mark of its creator – a dreamer walking on the boundary between reality and fantasy.

The statues follow no particular pattern, reflecting Buddhist and Hindu influences. They all evoke a strange, somewhat eerie feeling in the viewer.

As a national cultural heritage site and one of the top 5 most popular tourist attractions, Buddha Park is a must-see destination when visiting Vientiane. Visitors can hire a tuk-tuk, motorbike taxi, or take bus number 14 from the city center (departing from the station near Talat Sao Market, fare is around 8,000 kip - less than 1 USD). The journey takes approximately 45 minutes.

The park is open from 8 am to 5 pm daily. Admission is 15,000 kip (approximately 20,000-25,000 VND), with an additional 5,000 kip if visitors wish to bring a camera.

There are also souvenir shops, drinks, and some local snacks here.

Not too crowded, with a quiet atmosphere and unique scenery, this place is ideal for artistic or fantastical photoshoots.

A cluster of multifaceted Buddha statues.

The ideal time to visit is early morning or late afternoon, when the sun isn't too harsh and the light creates mystical shadows on each moss-covered stone statue. The dry season (from November to March) offers the most pleasant weather, making it convenient for travel and outdoor photography.

Today, the statues are weathered by time, adding to the ancient and mystical atmosphere of the entire sculpture garden. For those seeking something new on their journey exploring Southeast Asia – not just to admire but to contemplate – the Xieng Khuan Buddha Sculpture Garden is an unmissable choice.

(According to Women's Magazine)

Source: http://baovinhphuc.com.vn/Multimedia/Images/Id/126627/Vuon-tuong-Phat-Xieng-Khuan