Buddha Park (Wat Xieng Khouane Luang) — Attraction in Vientiane Capital

Buddha Park (Xieng Khuan), Laos

Buddha Park, also known locally as Xieng Khuan ("Spirit City"), is a surreal open‑air sculpture garden about 25 km southeast of Vientiane, on the banks of the Mekong River . It is not a temple, though often called Wat Xieng Khuan—it’s actually run by the Lao government as an art‑like tourist site .

🗿 Highlights & History

Founded in 1958 by Luang Pu Bunleua Sulilat, a mystic-priest who merged Buddhist and Hindu iconography into the park’s bizarre and imaginative sculptures .

The park features over 200 statues of Buddha figures, Hindu deities (like Indra riding a three‑headed elephant), demons, animals, multi-faced goddesses, and mythological creatures—all cast in reinforced concrete, made to look ancient .

A standout is the gigantic reclining Buddha, roughly 40 meters long, which dominates the site .

Arguably the most distinctive feature is the three-story “Pumpkin Tower”: enter through a 3-meter-high demon’s mouth, then ascend through levels representing hell, earth, and paradise, before reaching a vantage point overlooking the park .

Visiting Info

Detail Info

Opening hours Daily, typically 8:00 AM–5:00 PM (some sources say til 6 PM) Entry fee Approx. 15,000–18,000 LAK ($1–1.50 USD) for adults; a small extra fee (3–5,000 LAK) may apply when using a camera How to get there From Vientiane’s Talat Sao bus station, take Bus #14 (every 20–40 minutes); travel takes 45–60 minutes at around 6k–18k LAK per ride. Alternatively, hire a tuk‑tuk, taxi, or rent a scooter

Tips for Your Visit

Wear modest, comfortable clothing and good walking shoes—paths can be uneven .

Bring sun protection & water: it’s often hot (up to ~36 °C), with limited shade .

Best times: early morning or late afternoon offers pleasant light and fewer crowds—especially ideal between November and February, the dry season .

There’s a riverside café and snack shacks near the Mekong at the exit—it’s perfect for cooling off—with papaya salad, fried bananas, and drinks available. Facilities include restrooms and a small souvenir shop .

Why It’s Unique

Rather than a traditional religious site, Buddha Park feels more like stepping into a visual legend—where myth and imagination collide:

A bold fusion of Buddhist and Hindu motifs, some sculpted as playful hybrids or surreal figures.

You can climb inside sculptures like the Pumpkin Tower to experience different realms.

Jog through a landscape that alternates between whimsical, eerie, and strangely beautiful.

Most visitors explore the park in 1–2 hours, but staying longer gives a deeper appreciation of its odd charm.

Summary

Buddha Park is one of Vientiane’s most singular attractions—an art‑park, spiritual oddity, and roadside surrealism in one place. Its combination of eccentric concrete sculptures, a sculptor’s vision of mythic spirituality, and riverside tranquility make it a memorable half‑day trip. Whether you're drawn by art, religion, or just the unusual, it’s a place that the unexpected feels...

One of the most popular attractions in Vientiane is Wat Xieng Khouane Luang, more commonly known as the Buddha Park. Built in 1958 by the priest-shaman Luang Pu Bunleua Sulilat, it features over 200 sculptures inspired by both Buddhist and Hindu traditions.

The Buddha Park sits on the outskirts of Vientiane, close to the Mekong River. The cheapest way to get there is to take the No. 14 bus, which conveniently also stops at the Friendship Bridge, the main border crossing to Thailand. If you're planning to cross the border, you could also check out Sala Keoku, a similar park built by Luang Pu after he fled during the Laos Civil War.

While it isn’t a temple, many still consider the Buddha Park a sacred site. There’s no formal dress code enforced at the gate, but it’s still best to dress respectfully, with shoulders and knees covered, out of cultural sensitivity.

The park is an open-air sculpture garden, filled with figures from Hindu and Buddhist mythology: animals, gods, demons, saints, and Buddhas in all their forms. Towering over one side is an enormous Reclining Buddha, representing the Buddha’s entrance into Nirvana. From his repose, he seems to gaze out over the other statues, as though enjoying the view alongside the visitors.

If you're familiar with the Hindu pantheon, you’ll spot deities like Shiva, Vishnu, and others. Though even without that knowledge, the experience is magical. The park invites quiet reflection, and there's a certain serenity to wandering among the statues beneath the sky.

Toward the back of the park, you’ll find canoes used in Boun Suang Huea, the traditional Lao boat races that honour the Naga. A small restaurant also offers food and drink, though we only stopped in for water before heading back.

Though we saved it for last, my favourite part of the park is near the entrance. It’s a towering, pumpkin-shaped sculpture that you can go inside. In order to enter, you must crawl through the open mouth of a demon. Inside, the structure is divided into three levels that represent Hell, Earth, and Heaven.

Descending to the lowest level, Hell, is dark and unsettling, filled with statues of serpent-demons and dark, twisted shadows. There is little, if any, natural light here. If you don’t have a flashlight, you may wish you brought one.

Earth, the middle level, is dimly lit through small windows. It’s populated by sculptures of men at work and war, scenes that reflect the everyday life of humanity.

Ascending to Heaven brings you out onto the top of the pumpkin, where you’re rewarded with a sweeping panoramic view of the entire park. From here, even the Reclining Buddha feels small. This is the gods' perspective, and it feels fitting after the symbolic climb.

If you’re spending any time in Vientiane, Buddha Park is a must-see. It’s a fusion of spiritual devotion and surreal art that leaves a lasting impression. Whether you go for the sculptures or just for a peaceful day out, you’ll find something here...

A wonderful experience.

Entry fee was 40.000 Kip. There are clean restrooms, cold drinks, snack options and a restaurant in the gardens. It’s easy and cheap to get there by bus, take the #14 from the central bus terminal; the bus is clearly marked. It costs 18.000 Kip (one way). It takes about 45-60 min to get there and the bus is air conditioned with comfortable seats. The return bus stop is just across the street from the park’s entry gate.

This is a beautiful, peaceful place. The gardens have over 60 statues representing Buddhist and Hindu philosophy, beliefs and stories. Two of them are climbable offering great views and photo opportunities. If you’re Catholic, this is very much like the Stations of the Cross. Each statue tells important stories or honours important figures of the faith.

If you just want to walk around, take a few pictures and move on, 30min - 40min will do. If you want to learn about Buddhism and Hinduism, plan for 2 hours or more. We were there for 4 hours with 3 breaks. Definitely get the audio guide if you want to learn what the statues mean, as no information is provided in the park. It’s 20.000 Kip for a guide and well worth it. There are 66 stations on the guide so choose the ones you find most intriguing. We tried to do them all but the battery on the audio guide died after about 3.5 hours, somewhere around station 50. It would seem most people aren't quite as obsessive as we are, but the stories were so interesting!

The area around the statues has some shady spots and benches. If you’re feeling a bit heat exhausted just wander out of the statue garden to one side and there are lots of trees. Do pause for a coconut ice cream from one of the vendors. It’s not too sweet, very creamy and very coconut-y.

At the back of the park is the Ban Xiengkhouan Garden. This is a great spot for those Instagram images. There are also rest huts where you can sit on the wooden floor under the shade and an area with benches under the shade as well.

Please be mindful that this is considered a sacred site by locals, Buddhists and Hindus. Don’t be “that” tourist. You’ll see alters that are being honoured, and individual statues with offerings of flowers placed on them by the faithful. Treat the space and the statues with the same respect you’d like people to show towards the things you hold dear. While conservative dress is not enforced, if is seen as respectful to the local culture to be mindful of this: tops should cover shoulders and not expose the chest, no exposed mid-riff, and bottoms should at least reach the knees if not cover them.

This was one of the highlights of visiting Vientiane.

Highly...