Viharna Sien

If you head south from Pattaya towards Sattahip district (about 30 minutes south), there are four attractions in this area. Viharna Sien, the mountain of Buddha, Wat Yan Silverlake Winery and sang Waram. All this makes for a great day trip from Pattaya.

For Viharna Sien (temple of the enlightens) itself, it’s a magnificent structure which is essentially a Chinese museum that celebrates a fusion of Thai and Chinese cultures. It’s a must for the lovers of art and history enchanting, because it is, in my opinion, one of the most beautiful museums I have ever seen in terms of size, the items on the display, the peak and the beauty of decorative Buddha Hill in the background. Because it is an extensive collection of Chinese and Thai art and historical monuments, the building is so different from other place in Pattaya. It’s mostly Chinese architecture. There are thousands of works of art on display. The upper floors also contain Buddhist shrines. On the second level you can see the mountains of the Buddha on one side and the magnificent tower of Wat Yan sang Waram on the other. To go one better on the third floor you can catch a glimpse of magnificent view of Jomtien and Pattaya from the balcony.

We got lost in the museum and we spent more than 3 hours to explore all corners of the museum. It’s been a truly rewarding experience and perhaps you may want to visit the gift shop to collect some item for your memories :) Oh last by not least, there is an entrance fee of 50 Baht. Well that is one of the money best spent ever.