🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026
Wat Pho Chai is a third-class royal temple on Prachak Sinlapakhom Road in Nai Mueang sub-district, Mueang Nong Khai district — right inside the town's central municipal area, so it's very easy to reach. Anyone driving through central Nong Khai will spot the temple's golden gateway standing out along the road. Most people come here for one thing only: to pay respects to Luang Pho Phra Sai. But once you're inside you'll also find a beautiful ordination hall, wall murals, and the stories that explain why people in Nong Khai feel so attached to this Buddha image.
Who is Luang Pho Phra Sai, and why the devotion?
Luang Pho Phra Sai is a Buddha image in the Maravijaya (subduing Mara) posture, seated in the half-lotus position, in Lan Xang style and cast from pure gold, with a lap roughly 2 khuep 8 inches wide (about 1 metre). Legend says three princesses of the Lan Xang kingdom (some accounts say the daughters of King Chaiyachettha) each had a Buddha cast and named it after herself: Phra Soem for the eldest, Phra Suk for the middle sister, and Phra Sai for the youngest — each image a little smaller than the last, in order of age.
What inspires the devotion isn't just the age of the image, but the miracle stories passed down over many generations, plus the fact that it has stood with Nong Khai for so long that it has become the town's spiritual anchor. Anyone with something weighing on their mind — exams, work, an upcoming trip — tends to come and ask for a blessing here first.
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The legend of the broken cart — how it earned the name Luang Pho Kwian Hak
The story every local knows begins in the reign of King Rama III, during the suppression of the revolt by Chao Anuwong of Vientiane. Phra Suk, Phra Soem and Phra Sai were brought down from the Lao side on a bamboo raft floating along the Ngum River. When they reached the Mekong, Phra Suk broke loose from the raft and sank into the water — and that spot has been known as Woen Suk ever since.
Later, in the reign of King Rama IV, an order was given to move Phra Soem and Phra Sai down to Bangkok. Phra Sai was placed on a cart to be transported, but when it reached the front of Wat Pho Chai the cart broke on its own and couldn't be pulled any further. People believed it was a sign that the Buddha did not wish to leave Nong Khai. So only Phra Soem was taken down and enshrined at Wat Pathum Wanaram in Bangkok, while Luang Pho Phra Sai has remained at Wat Pho Chai to this day — and from this story it earned the nickname Luang Pho Kwian Hak (the Buddha of the broken cart).
Good to know
The three Buddha images are siblings in the legend, and today each is in a different place: Phra Sai is in Nong Khai, Phra Soem is at Wat Pathum Wanaram in Bangkok, and Phra Suk, as the story goes, lies sunk in the Mekong River.
How to pay your respects to Luang Pho Phra Sai
- Take off your shoes before entering the ordination hall and dress modestly, since this is where one of the town's most important Buddha images is enshrined.
- Bring flowers, incense and candles — you can buy a set at the stalls in front of the temple for around 20–50 THB per set.
- Bow three times and make your wish — people commonly ask about work, study, health and safe travels.
- Apply gold leaf and make a donation as you see fit — there are donation boxes and gold-leaf points inside the hall.
- Take photos respectfully — photography is allowed, but don't turn your back on the Buddha image or behave inappropriately.
Beyond the Buddha — what else is worth seeing at the temple
The ordination hall
The building that houses Luang Pho Phra Sai — a white hall trimmed in gold, with architecture that blends Isan and Rattanakosin styles. This is where most people come to pay their respects.
Wall murals
Inside the hall, painted murals tell the life of the Buddha and the way of life along the Mekong. Many people linger here because there's so much detail.
Gateway and temple grounds
The golden entrance gateway stands out along Prachak Road, and the temple grounds are wide and shady — a nice spot for a stroll in the early morning or evening.
The Phra Sai water-blessing festival during Songkran
The temple is at its liveliest during the Songkran festival, around 13–18 April every year. The temple brings Luang Pho Phra Sai down from the ordination hall and parades it around Nong Khai along Prachak Sinlapakhom Road and Mi Chai Road — a route of more than 10 km — so people on both sides of the road can pour water over it and ask for blessings. It's a scene of devotion that draws tens of thousands of people. Normally the actual image can only be bathed once a year, during this period.
Straight talk
If you come during Songkran the atmosphere is incredible, but it's crowded and the whole town gets jammed with traffic. Allow extra time and expect to park a fair way off. If you'd rather pay your respects in peace and quiet, come on a regular day outside the festival instead.
Opening hours, getting there and parking
- Opening hours — generally open for visitors during the day, around 8:00 AM–5:00 PM daily. No entry fee; donate as you wish.
- Location — Prachak Sinlapakhom Road, Nai Mueang sub-district, Mueang Nong Khai district, right in town, not far from the Mekong riverside and Tha Sadet Market.
- Driving yourself — there's parking inside the temple and along the surrounding streets; on weekdays it's easy to find a spot.
- No car? — you can flag down a motorcycle taxi or a samlor (three-wheeler) in town. In-town fares around Nong Khai are mostly around 30–60 THB per trip.
- Best time to go — early morning, when it's cool and quiet, is ideal for paying respects and taking photos before heading on to other spots.
Where to go next after you've paid your respects
The nice thing about Wat Pho Chai is that it's right in town, so everything else is close by. Most people pay their respects to Luang Pho Phra Sai in the morning and then easily work their way around the other sights in a single day. Here's one way to plan it.
Merit-making + the riverside
Round out a full day
Plan your whole Nong Khai trip
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