Wat Plai Laem

Wat Plai Laem is a modern Buddhist temple on the northeastern tip of Ko Samui in Bo Phut, Surat Thani. Built in 2004, it is set around an artificial lake and is known for its large 18-arm Guanyin statue and white seated Buddha image. The temple blends Thai and Chinese architectural styles with colorful murals and sculptures. It is an active place of worship and a popular cultural attraction near Choeng Mon and Big Buddha.

Visitors can expect a colorful temple complex built around a large lake filled with fish. The central features are an 18-arm statue of Guanyin rising from the lake and a large white seated Buddha. Ornate halls, murals, Chinese-style dragons, and smaller shrines surround the water, connected by bridges. The site is open and photogenic, with areas for walking, viewing sculptures, making offerings, and feeding fish.

Wat Plai Laem is a modern temple completed in 2004 on the northeastern coast of Ko Samui. It was built as a contemporary Buddhist complex incorporating Thai and Chinese artistic elements around an artificial lake, expanding religious facilities in the Bo Phut area.

Active Buddhist temple blending Theravada and Mahayana traditions, centered on veneration of Guanyin, the bodhisattva of compassion, and the Buddha. It serves as a place for merit-making, offerings and prayer, reflecting the Thai-Chinese heritage of the local community.