Luang Pho Phra Chao Ong Tue

Wat Si Chomphu Ong Tue in Ban Nam Moong, Tha Bo district — about 15-20 km from Nong Khai city — houses Luang Pho Phra Chao Ong Tue, a large bronze Buddha image roughly 4 metres tall with a shoulder width of 3.29 metres. Temple records place the casting in 2105 BE (1562 CE), commissioned under the patronage of King Chaiyachettha (Setthathirat) of the Lan Xang kingdom, whose court then ruled both sides of the Mekong. Entry is free, daily 08:30–16:30.

The image itself is the reason to come, more than any building around it: a seated bronze Buddha whose craftsmanship blends Lan Na (northern Thai) and Lan Xang (Lao) styles, reflecting the cross-border artistic exchange of that era. Locals say the name “Ong Tue” — roughly “the great/immense lord” — refers to the statue’s unusual size for a 16th-century casting. The temple complex around it is modest: a modern wihan, a scattering of other Buddha images, and the quiet village setting of Ban Nam Moong rather than a sprawling monastic campus.

Devotees visit year-round to make merit and pay respects, but the calendar peak is the temple’s own festival, held from the 11th waning day through the 1st waning day of the fourth lunar month (roughly February–March) — a candlelit procession circles the shrine, drawing worshippers from across Nong Khai and neighbouring provinces. Outside festival dates, the temple is quiet: a handful of local devotees, the occasional visiting family, monks going about ordinary temple business.

Insider Tip: Skip the midday heat and come in the early morning instead — the wihan doors open with the temple day and the light through the windows is better for seeing the bronze detailing on the image.

Watch out: this is a working village temple, not a tourist site with English signage. Dress with covered shoulders and knees, and don’t expect explanatory placards in English — a Thai-speaking driver or guide helps if you want the full history.

Getting there requires your own transport or a hired car/songthaew from Nong Khai city, since Tha Bo district has no direct public transit to the temple itself. Bring a small donation if you’d like to make merit, and allow 30–45 minutes for a respectful visit.

Pair a visit with Wat Pho Chai back in Nong Khai city, home of the province’s other famous Buddha image, or continue to Sala Kaeo Ku, the surreal concrete sculpture park on the Mekong. Both sit under the Nong Khai hub.