Wat Mai Suwannaphumaham

Wat Mai Suwannaphumaham

Wat Mai Suwannaphumaham
4
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This early 19th-century temple was deemed to beautiful to destroy by the Chinese Haw.
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  • LolaGo1
    Washington DC, District of Columbia6,630 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    First attraction I visited in Luang Prabang
    Located accross from my Guest House in the Old Quarter, it was the first attraction I visited after checking in. The side entrance is only few feets away from my Guest House. In addition to the beautiful temple, there are several more buildings inside. Took several pictures here and bid good bye tomthe young monks I saw around here.
    Visited April 2024
    Travelled solo
    Written 16 April 2024
  • dianedinky
    Dunfermline, United Kingdom1,346 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Stunning
    My first morning in Laos and what a first impression! Luang Prabang was not what I had imagined and is just so scenic and full of interesting places to see, including the Wat Mai complex. My tour group was able to get inside all the buildings. Photography was restricted in one but no problems in going in and walking round. Naturally, being such a stunning area, it does get very crowded but you just have to be either patient or do the buildings in a different order depending on how busy they are. Absolutely a must do when in Luang Prabang.
    Visited February 2024
    Travelled solo
    Written 3 May 2024
  • annminky
    United States3,937 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Stunning Temple
    My 3rd day in LP, and this temple is stunning. They expect you to dress moderately. My dress was probably 1 inch above my knee, but I was aloud to tour this place. You do have to take your footwear off when entering the temple. Nice place to visit while in LP.
    Visited May 2024
    Travelled solo
    Written 11 May 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.


4.0
4.0 of 5 bubbles331 reviews
Excellent
115
Very good
171
Average
43
Poor
2
Terrible
0

These reviews have been automatically translated from their original language.
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Cartertravels15
Alton, UK194 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2019
Glad we saw this temple as many other people were just going into the Royal palace.Maybe they didn't have time .The golden bass relief is so intricate.This temple is the largest one in Luang Prabang.It has a five tiered roof and a roofed veranda which is unusual.Beautifully decorated which meant it was spared being destroyed by the Haw gangs who thought it too wonderful to destroy.Wellworth seeing
Written 26 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

19Eric57
Uccle, Belgium2,400 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2024 • Friends
If this name seems unpronounceable to you, know that the Laotians call it "Wat Mai" or in French, the "new monastery". It is a Buddhist temple from the 18th century and the largest temple in Luang Prabang. It is located near the night market and not very far from the royal palace. This temple has stunning golden exterior decorations…. If there is one temple not to be missed, it’s this one…
Google
Written 13 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

dianedinky
Dunfermline, UK1,346 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2024 • Solo
My first morning in Laos and what a first impression!
Luang Prabang was not what I had imagined and is just so scenic and full of interesting places to see, including the Wat Mai complex.
My tour group was able to get inside all the buildings. Photography was restricted in one but no problems in going in and walking round.
Naturally, being such a stunning area, it does get very crowded but you just have to be either patient or do the buildings in a different order depending on how busy they are.
Absolutely a must do when in Luang Prabang.
Written 3 May 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

LolaGo1
Washington DC, DC6,630 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2024 • Solo
Located accross from my Guest House in the Old Quarter, it was the first attraction I visited after checking in. The side entrance is only few feets away from my Guest House. In addition to the beautiful temple, there are several more buildings inside.

Took several pictures here and bid good bye tomthe young monks I saw around here.
Written 16 April 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

annminky
United States3,937 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2024 • Solo
My 3rd day in LP, and this temple is stunning. They expect you to dress moderately. My dress was probably 1 inch above my knee, but I was aloud to tour this place. You do have to take your footwear off when entering the temple. Nice place to visit while in LP.
Written 11 May 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

TravelusMaximus
Calgary, Canada691 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2015 • Solo
Just as the night market is winding up on Luang Prabang's Main Street, you may suddenly notice a haunting sound drifting thru the starlit air. The rhythmic sound draws you into the grounds of Wat Mai. Then, through a doorway into the main temple, you see 16 monks seated in a geometric pattern, facing the many golden Buddhas, reciting their evening chants. As long as you abide by the many rules laid out in perfect English on a prominent sign (no flash, no talking, just sit quietly at the very back & do not disturb the monks), you are most welcome to observe and take NON-flash photos. Mesmerizing, magical, mysterious.
Written 25 January 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Orator11
Singapore, Singapore7,552 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2019 • Couples
Nice temple, and within easy walk of most hotels. The morning market starts behind, while the night tourist market runs across the front, 10000 kip for an entry ticket, but lots of things to see and take photos of within a small compound. After the visit, you can head to the Royal Museum next door, of Mount Phousi across the road.

Do also check out the small library across.
Written 17 July 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

TravelerTrecker
Houston830 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2017 • Family
It is one of the few temples to have survived in its original form. The roofs are quite nice and low. The exterior is opulent; it is covered with red, black, and gold stencil. The columns are nice. Other temples are more impressive (i.e. Wat Xieng Thong).

They now charge foreigners to visit it at day time. At night, they do not charge and you can see a nice ceremony at 600 pm. It is at a side of the night market road.

When we visited during day time, we were not charged. I am not sure if it was because we entered from the back of the temple.
A Laotian friend is upset because of these charges. He said that shrines, churches and mosques should not charge visitors unless they become a museum. I think he is right by principle.

The visit is short.
Written 14 January 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Raelene H
Melbourne, Australia1,499 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2017 • Couples
Centrally located near the Royal Palace museum and the night market, this is very easy to find and a great place to visit. We visited towards the end of the day - a little cooler and the light is better for photos. Apart from the impressive wat and great interior we were invited to stay and sit just outside the doors to the main temple when evening prayers commenced and the ladies taking the entrance fee were packing up to go home. Made the experience even more memorable.
Written 28 February 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

breweruk
Brookmans Park, UK3,074 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2013 • Couples
This is a great place if you want to see everyday life of the monks going on as you wander around. Everything is laid back and welcoming. And nothing seems out of bounds. Try to fit this in with Wat Tham Phu Si and Wat Xieng Thong in one day before heading to the main street for a drink.
Written 26 April 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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Wat Mai Suwannaphumaham, Luang Prabang

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