Buddha Park Vientiane: Sculptures with their own history
January 26, 2016
Location: Laos
Buddha Park is located 25 km southeast from Vientiane.
My Experience
In my experience in Southeast Asia I saw beautiful temples, stupas, amazing big Buddha almost every day, but after few months they started to look the same to me. I’m focusing on this place because when I went there I had a different feeling. The park was started in 1958 by Luang Pu, he was a priest-shaman who integrated Hinduism and Buddhism. Here we are, the Buddha Park in Vientiane. Here my adventure around Southeast Asia for 110 days.
Buddha Park Vientiane: View from the top
Another different sculpture. Buddha Park Vientiane
Is it a little bit scaring?!?! Buddha Park Vientiane
Walking through the park, I didn’t really get an explanation for the statues, but I definitely made some great photos. The statues are made of reinforced concrete and are ornate, and sometimes bizarre in design. They appear to be centuries old, though they are not.
There are sculptures of humans, gods, animals, demons and there are numerous sculptures of Buddha, characters of Buddhism, and characters of Hindu lore, including Shiva, Vishnu, and Arjuna.
Sculptures and sculptures everywhere. Buddha Park Vientiane
A view from the opposite side of the entrance. Buddha Park Vientiane
One notable sculpture, resembling a giant pumpkin, shows three stories representing three different levels: Hell, Earth and Heaven. Visitors can enter through an opening which is a mouth of a 3-metre-tall demon head and climb staircases from hell to heaven. Each story contains sculptures depicting the level. Another sculpture, an enormous 40-metre-long reclining Buddha, is also a park attraction.
It was awesome, it’s a nice place to have a picnic too. Otherwise is not worth staying more than an hour and a half.
Just close to the main entrance. Buddha Park Vientiane
How to get there, best time and cost
You can hire a tuk-tuk for the entire Vientiane – Buddha Park trip, but taking the #14 public bus is much cheaper. The bus leaves Talat Sao Station, adjacent to the Morning Market, to Xieng Khuan (or Buddha Park, every 15/20 minutes.
I remember that the timetable was painted on the wall near the ticket office and the price is 1$ AUD one-way. The Buddha Park entrance fee is about 1,5$ AUD. Best time to go? October to April.
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- Don’t get stuck with the thing that ruins your day, life is too short to be wasted in your crap. Smile and be positive because there are so many beautiful reasons to be happy, one of those is travelling.
Author of this post: Davide
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Was in Myanmar recently and they have so many Buddhas statues too. This just reminded me of that. Also I had first encountered the heaven and hell structure concept at Bhutan , Paro. The Dumshe lhakhang. It’s so awesome that all destinations are linked in some way!
Yeah I have been to Myanmar just 1 month before Laos, quite similar but different feeling! thanks for your comment
Oh wow, I love archaeological sites in general, so I’m sure I’d love it there too!
Never been to Southeast Asia yet (I’m travelling to Thailand at the end of April for the first time, so excited!), so these type of structures are quite unique to me. Some of those shapes are indeed a bit creepy, though! 🙂
Well Alberto, just consider to have a short trip to Laos from Thailand as well!! Nice country, lovely people and many stuff to do and see! Enjoy your journey, thanks for commenting
The statues are really impressive! This is something I would like to see so much, I definitely have a plan to go there. Thank you for the tips!
Must-see in Laos, thanks for your comment
Since I am living in Southeast Asia now, I definitely know what you mean about all of the temples and big Buddha’s starting to blend together. Loved all of your pictures of this specific one though!
Thank you so much for this comment, maybe a must-see in Vientiane and very easy to get in! 😀
Those sculptures are absolutely breathtaking!
The ancient vibe of this park is something that really speaks to me. I will definitely add this to my “must visit” destinations in 2017.
Wonderful Stephanie, just add it on your bucket list, it’s something to see around the capital of Laos! Thanks for commenting
This looks like a fun spot! I love how the pictures came out. Definitely a good IG spot! Will have to check it out if I am ever in Laos!
Great place to visit if you pass to Vientiane! Enjoy there, thanks for commenting it
Wow! The place has such an old world charm! I love those statues. I was just thinking that I recognize some statues and soon I read that it also includes lores and legends from Hinduism as well!
Yes exactly, The park was started in 1958 by Luang Pu Bunleua Sulilat that was a priest-shaman who integrated Hinduism and Buddhism. Great comment, thanks
So many sculptures. Some are huge and beautiful whereas I agree some are scary. You captured them nicely. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you so much for commenting here, I appreciate it 😀
Very interesting park, and the Buddhas are very detailed. Are these built since when? I think this place is much fun during Halloween .
The park was started in 1958 by Luang Pu Bunleua Sulilal that was a priest-shaman who integrated Hinduism and Buddhism. Interesting things overthere 😀 thanks for your comment
Wow the sculptures here look so impressive. I like the ancient and ambient atmosphere in this park. To me the sculptures actually look quite lively, especially from above. Thanks for sharing about such an interesting place 🙂
Thank you so much, a grat place to visit!! Thank you for this comment