Wat Kaeo

Wat Kaeo is an ancient Buddhist temple ruin located in Wiang Subdistrict, Chaiya District, Surat Thani Province, southern Thailand. Part of the Srivijaya-period archaeological group centered on Chaiya, it is noted for its weathered brick chedi and foundation remains dating to around the 8th-9th century. The site illustrates early Mahayana Buddhist architecture in the region and is visited as a quiet historical and religious landmark near Wat Phra Borommathat Chaiya.

Visitors can expect a small, quiet archaeological site with the remains of an ancient brick chedi and foundation structures set in an open, grassy temple compound in Wiang. The ruins show Srivijaya-style brickwork and later restorations, surrounded by trees and village houses. There is no large active worship hall; the site is primarily for viewing the historic ruins, taking photographs, and understanding Chaiya's role as an early Buddhist center. Information boards may be limited.

Wat Kaeo is one of the ancient temples in the Chaiya area associated with the Srivijaya Empire, dating to approximately the 8th-9th century. Built of brick in early Mahayana Buddhist style, it forms part of a cluster of archaeological sites that demonstrate Chaiya's importance as a major Buddhist center on the Malay Peninsula. The remains include a central chedi and associated foundations, reflecting Indian-influenced architecture adapted locally.

The temple represents the early Buddhist heritage of southern Thailand and the cultural influence of Srivijaya in the Chaiya region. It is valued as an archaeological and religious landmark illustrating the spread of Mahayana Buddhism before the later Theravada period, and is visited for cultural education alongside nearby Wat Phra Borommathat Chaiya.