This royal temple is the most important and sacred in Nong Khai. While its exterior architecture may not be the most captivating, the interior of the Wihaan is well worth a visit. The walls are adorned with beautiful paintings. The temple's golden seated Buddha, Luang Phra Sai Po, is believed to be one of three statues commissioned by the daughters of the Laotian King Lan Xiang. They were brought to Nong Khai from Vientiane in Laos in 1778, during the reign of King Rama I. However, one of the statues sank during the journey down the Mekong River. The third statue is now housed in Wat Phatum Wanaram in Bangkok. The statue's head is made of gold, its body of bronze, and it is embellished with rubies. The temple's murals depict the story of Luang Phra Sai Po's transport and also portray many other stories and traditional Buddhist beliefs. So, if you come here, don't miss the interior of Wat Po Khai.

Free admission. Open from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM.

The temple is located in the city, near Highway 212, and is easily accessible on foot or by bicycle from the riverbank or the Nong Khai bus station.

Wat Pho Chai is a temple, and when visiting a temple in Thailand there are some rules to follow: appropriate clothing (knees and shoulders should be covered), take off your shoes when entering the building, be quiet, do not hug or kiss, do not point your feet at the Buddha statue, do not smoke.

How to get there

How do you get to Wat Pho Chai? The temple is located in the city, near Highway 212, and is easily accessible on foot or by bicycle from the riverbank or the Nong Khai bus station.