In my previous post, I purposefully avoided writing a tourist report on Vientiane Capital, and instead, concentrated on what I considered to be its quirks and contradictions. However, there is one attraction in Vientiane that certainly deserves attention. I’m referring to Xien Khuan, otherwise known as the Buddha Park, which you’ll find on the north bank of the Mekong River, some 20Km to the east of Vientiane.
A public bus from Vientiane’s Bus Station will drop you off directly outside of the Buddha Park, and although I can’t remember the exact cost of entrance, it was certainly less than $1. The park opens at 8am and closes at around 5pm and I believe that it’s open every day of the year.
Beyond a small notice written in English at the entrance, there’s little information to help guide you around the park, but that might actually be a benefit. It’s the kind of place where you simply let your imagination run riot and interpret the meaning of the statues as you wish.
Although the park began creating its statues in the late 1950’s, many of them date from the 1980’s and onwards. So despite the ancient looks, everything you’ll see here is really quite modern. But, given that the Secret War of the 1970’s destroyed almost every manmade structure here in Laos, that really shouldn’t be too surprising.
Despite resembling carefully chiseled sculptures, these statues are actually created using reinforced concrete, possibly using the ferro-cement process, where concrete is formed using steel and wire frames. But that fact shouldn’t in any way detract from their presence and beauty, and if Lara Croft were to be seen swinging down from the surrounding trees, I feel none of the visitors would be overly surprised. Buddha Park might be relatively new, but its feel is decidedly ancient and mystical.
As an Atheist, I find all religions confusing, but even nonbelievers like me can feel and appreciate the spirituality here at Buddha Park. Traditional Buddhist images sit alongside those of Ganesh, Shiva and Vishnu from Hinduism, and that’s something that I’ve noticed in many temples across Thailand and Laos. I’m uncertain of how those religions intertwine, but I certainly applaud the concept of cooperation over competition.
Although people do leave offerings to the spirits at various shrines around the park, Buddha Park certainly isn’t a temple. It actually reminds me, in concept if not execution, of the Sanctuary of Truth located just outside of Pattaya, in Thailand, another place that has a spiritual feel that I appreciate and enjoy.
At one end of the park is a large cauldron like structure which you enter through the open mouth of a dragon. Once inside, you climb a narrow and increasingly dark staircase upwards through three floors towards the summit. The three distinct floors represent Hell, Earth, and Heaven and as you exit into daylight at the top, a view of the entire park opens up before you.
It’s well worth the climb, but perhaps not for the claustrophobic and of course, on the top there are no guard rails to protect you. This is Lao PDR, not New York or London.
I’m really not sure what more I can say about Vientiane’s Buddha Park? But, if you find yourself in Vientiane and have three or four hours to kill, then not taking that time to visit Buddha Park would certainly be a mistake.
Thanks for reading along......
Riding and smiling as always ….. Geoff