25/09/2026
Our second and final temple of the day and our trip ! Wat Phra Kaew is a historic temple in Wiang, Chiang Khong. Local tradition says Chiang Khong’s Wat Phra Kaew is more than 1,300 years old and was founded alongside nearby Wat Luang. Its original name was Wat Si Bun Yuen. The temple’s old chedi, or stupa, is said to enshrine a sacred hair relic of the Buddha. These early dates come from local religious tradition rather than firmly established archaeological dating.
The temple’s name is linked to another important story. In 1559, King Setthathirath of Lan Xang is said to have travelled through Chiang Khong while moving the Emerald Buddha from Chiang Mai towards Luang Prabang. The emerald Buddha was taken from Laos and is now in Bangkok.
The image reportedly rested at Wat Si Bun Yuen during the journey, and the temple later became known as Wat Phra Kaew. This connects the temple to the wider history of the Emerald Buddha, although the Chiang Khong temple is not where the image was found.
The green Buddha is carved from Mekong River stone. It is described as a “three-season” Buddha, reflecting the tradition of changing the Buddha’s seasonal attire. Each December, the temple holds an annual ceremony to bathe and honour its sacred chedi. Together, the old stupa, the Emerald Buddha story and the river-stone image make Wat Phra Kaew an important part of Chiang Khong’s religious heritage and its historic links with Laos.
