Wat Sa Prasan Suk (Wat Ban Na Mueang)

Wat Sa Prasan Suk and Wat Ban Na Mueang are the same temple — one founded in 1930 at Ban Na Mueang village in Ubon Ratchathani, known locally by the village name and formally registered under the other. It belongs to the Thammayut order and sits about 5 km north of the city centre, near Ubon Ratchathani Airport, in the Rai Noi subdistrict.

The draw is the ubosot (ordination hall), built as a full-scale replica of the Suphannahong royal barge and set on a pond so it appears to float. A five-headed naga is carved at the prow, and the hull is lined with gilded relief panels depicting scenes from Buddhist teaching. It’s an unusual departure from the plain rectangular halls found at most Isan village temples — worth the detour on its own. A second boat-shaped structure, the Naga Dharma vihara, sits in the same water and houses further Buddha images.

Away from the water, the grounds hold a bell tower faced in mosaic ceramic tile and a small museum dedicated to Luang Pu Boonmee, a former abbot whose relics and personal effects are displayed inside. Both are modest compared to the boat halls but round out a visit that otherwise takes 20–30 minutes. The temple was founded by Phra Sasanadilok (Sen Chitaseno), then head of the Ubon Ratchathani monthon sangha, and remains an active place of worship — expect to see local devotees making merit with lotus offerings rather than tour groups.

Insider Tip: Come by mid-morning. The reflection of the boat-shaped ubosot on the still pond water is sharpest before any wind picks up, and the temple is quiet enough on weekdays that you can walk the pond’s edge without crowding anyone’s prayers.

Watch out: This is a working monastery, not a museum — cover shoulders and knees, remove shoes before entering any hall, and keep noise down near the ordination hall if a service is in progress.

Getting there is straightforward by car or taxi from central Ubon Ratchathani — figure 10–15 minutes given the short distance. Pair it with Wat Nong Pa Phong, the forest temple founded by the revered meditation master Ajahn Chah, or Wat Burapharam in the city centre if you’re spending a day on Ubon’s temples.