🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026
Wat Thung Setthi isn't a centuries-old temple — it's a newer one that Luang Ta Oi (locals call him Luang Ta Yam Daeng) began building around 1999, and which took shape into its finished form around 2012. The draw is the Sri Trailok Tat Maha Ratana Chedi, a white pagoda trimmed in gold and blue, set in the middle of a surrounding pond. From a distance the white pagoda seems to float on the water against the green fields, and you quickly see why this became one of Khon Kaen's favourite photo spots.
What makes this temple special
The name "Thung Setthi" — roughly "field of the wealthy" — says it plainly: people who come to make merit here are hoping for fortune, prosperity and a turn of luck, so it's a favourite for those into lucky charms and blessings. But even if that's not your thing, the architecture is worth seeing on its own. The pagoda is designed to bring three worlds together — heaven, the human world and the underworld — with the Chulamani Chedi representing the Tavatimsa heaven, a Naga Chedi for the underworld, and the Sri Trailok Tat Maha Ratana Chedi as the central one in the human world.
- White, gold and blue — a break from the usual gold-and-red temples; photos come out clean and modern-looking.
- The four-element staircases — all four staircases are decorated with motifs of four animal families, representing earth, water, wind and fire.
- Carved glass inside the pagoda — a mix of dharma stories and modern cartoon characters tucked in; hunt for them as a little dharma puzzle.
- The surrounding pond — it makes the pagoda look like it's floating on water, the reflection angle everyone loves to shoot.
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Photo angles the locals love
If you're here to get the shots, these are the angles that come out best and that locals recommend — listed in the order you can walk and shoot them one after another.
White pagoda reflected in the pond
The most classic angle. Stand on the far side of the pond and catch the white pagoda mirrored on the water's surface — when the water is still and the air is calm you'll get the full reflection.
Four-element staircase in front of the pagoda
Stand at the foot of the staircase and shoot up toward the pagoda's spire, with the stucco four-animal motifs as your foreground — it looks grand.
Pagoda against the green fields
Walk out a little toward the edge of the temple and shoot the white pagoda with the green rice fields behind it — that's the real temple-in-the-fields feel.
Inside the pagoda — the ceiling and carved glass
Head up inside the pagoda and capture the ceiling details, the murals and the carved glass — an angle most people overlook.
On what to wear
It's a temple, so dress respectfully — no spaghetti straps, no shorts above the knee. If you're here for nice photos, go for simple, light-toned outfits that contrast well with the white pagoda, and take off your shoes when entering the marked areas.
What you can pray for here
Most people come here to pray for fortune, money and work, in keeping with the temple's name. Inside there are several Buddha images to pay respects to, plus a mondop and a principal Buddha image where you can sit quietly. If you want to make merit there are spots to offer alms and contribute to the temple's construction. And if you want some quiet, come in the morning when there are still few people and a slow walk around the pond is its own kind of bliss.
Getting there and opening hours
- Location — Phra Lap subdistrict, Mueang Khon Kaen district, right on the Khon Kaen–Kalasin bypass road, about 8 km from town.
- Hours — Open daily, roughly 07:00–17:00 (sometimes later in the evening; come before mid-afternoon to have time for photos).
- Entry fee — Free, no ticket, with a large car park.
- Getting there — Drive or rent a car from town, 10–15 minutes. Without a car, a taxi or a Grab ride from town is easier than the songthaew, since it's outside the city.
Best time to go
Come early before 9am, or in the evening near golden hour — the sun isn't harsh, the pond water is still, and the crowds are thin. You'll get better photos and a more relaxed visit than coming at midday when the sun is blazing.
How to make a worthwhile half-day of it
Wat Thung Setthi takes about an hour to walk around, shoot and pay respects, so it pairs well with a cafe in the Phra Lap area along the same bypass road. Here's a chilled-out half-morning plan.
Wat Thung Setthi + a Phra Lap cafe
Sunshine Cafe
Right across from the temple, with a garden setting and a fountain pond. They have both drinks and main dishes, so you can stop in straight after the temple.
Baan Rim Na Cafe
A cafe in the Phra Lap area on the way to the temple — lots of trees and a blue pond, good for chilling and shooting field views.
The Letter (Jodmai Rak)
A cafe on the Khon Kaen–Kalasin bypass road near the temple, with a warm, romantic tone, photo corners and a menu of desserts and drinks.
Where to go after this stop
Wat Thung Setthi is close to town, so it's easy to pair with sights in the city — like Bueng Kaen Nakhon, a lake in the heart of town for an evening stroll, or Wat Nong Waeng, where the nine-tiered Phra Mahathat Kaen Nakhon lets you climb up for city views. You get both temple-hopping and chill-out spots in a single day.
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