Wat Rong Suea Ten (Blue Temple)
A deep-blue and gold temple with a huge white seated Buddha, built by a student of the White Temple's artist.
Wat Rong Suea Ten, the Blue Temple, is in the northern suburbs of Chiang Rai and is free to enter. It was painted deep indigo and gold by a student of the White Temple's creator. Forty-five minutes is enough; come at dusk when the lighting is on.
Open Wat Rong Suea Ten (Blue Temple) in Google Maps19.9150, 99.8400
Free; main hall closes around 17:30
Entry fee checked against operator or park publication, October 2026. Hours can change without notice — confirm on the day.
A deep-blue and gold temple with a huge white seated Buddha, built by a student of the White Temple's artist.
The temple replaced a ruined village wat and was completed in 2016. The abbot commissioned Phutta Kabkaew, who had worked on the White Temple, to paint it in sapphire blue — a colour associated with the Medicine Buddha and with the sky. The result is less famous and far less crowded than its white sibling, and the interior is arguably more beautiful.
It is free, five minutes from central Chiang Rai, and the interior — sapphire walls, gold filigree, a glowing Buddha — is more striking than most paid attractions.
What you’ll actually see
- The white seated Buddha in the main hall, backlit against a blue-and-gold mural
- The exterior naga balustrades and the sapphire chedi behind the hall
- The mosaic ceiling inside the main hall
- The night lighting, which turns the whole building into a lantern
How to visit it well
- Combine with the White Temple in one morning — they are 20 minutes apart.
- The light inside is best around 4pm.
- Remove shoes before entering the main hall.
Mistakes worth avoiding
- Skipping it because you have 'already seen a temple' — it is 20 minutes from the White Temple
- Arriving after 6pm expecting the interior to be open; the hall closes around 5:30pm
- Wearing shorts; there is no sarong lending here
Is it worth it?
Worth 45 minutes and free. It is the best-value stop in Chiang Rai and pairs naturally with the White Temple, 25 minutes away. Go late afternoon so you catch the interior before closing and the exterior lighting after.
Common questions
Yes, entry is free. Donations are welcome and go to the temple's upkeep.
The White Temple has the better art and the bigger crowd. The Blue Temple has the better interior and no crowd. Do both, in that order.
After 3pm. The light inside the hall is best around 4:30pm and the exterior lighting comes on at dusk.
About 4km north of the city, ten minutes by car or a short Grab ride.
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Last updated: October 2026 · Prices and hours checked by Kanya Pongsak