Wat Hong Thong, Chachoengsao

Wat Hong Thong is a distinctive temple situated on a platform over the sea, near the border between Samut Prakan and Chachoengsao Provinces in Thailand. It is open to visitors daily from 06:00 to 20:00, with no entrance fee.

The temple is at the end of a side road leading 2 km from Sukhumvit Road to the seafront, making it an easy stop from Bangkok to Pattaya. This coastal area of Thailand features a thick fringe of mangrove forests visible from the temple. Access to the temple is made by walking along a covered pier leading to the platform where the temple is located. The pier begins near the monks’ accommodations, which, like the temple, are situated over the water.

Wat Hong Thong comprises two main parts open to visitors. The first is a three-level pagoda known as the Phrathat Khongkha Mahachedi or Ganges Grand Pagoda. The first level contains statues of the Lord Buddha, including a copy of the revered Luang Pho Buddhist Sothon image. The second level features wax statues of the Lord Buddha, a copy of the famous Emerald Buddha, and paintings of the current and past Kings of Thailand. The top floor provides a terrace with excellent sea and coastal views and a golden stupa housing religious relics.

The second part of the temple is the smaller ordination hall, styled in Central Thai architecture and beautifully decorated both inside and out. The interior showcases wall and ceiling paintings illustrating scenes from the life of the Lord Buddha, and the main Buddha image is a downsized replica of the famous Phra Phuttha Chinnarat statue.

The temple’s location is approximately 65 km by road from Bangkok and 94.9 km by road from Pattaya City, making it a convenient spiritual detour amid your travel plans​.