File photo for reference only

 

Cambodia’s Culture and Fine Arts Minister, Phoeurng Sackona, has criticised the construction of a temple in Thailand's Buri Ram province, alleging it replicates the historic Angkor Wat, a key part of Cambodia's cultural heritage.

 

During the 40th Technical Session of the ICC-Angkor in Siem Reap, Sackona accused the Siha Nakhon Temple, located in the Phu Man Fah Temple compound, of infringing on Cambodia’s cultural identity. She contended this act violates Thailand’s obligations under the 1972 UNESCO World Heritage Convention.

 

This stance contradicts a 2023 declaration from Cambodia’s Ministry of Culture, which stated the Thai temple was not a replica of Angkor Wat. This conclusion was backed by a site inspection by Cambodian experts that found no imitations of the iconic structure.

 

The dispute arises amidst heightened tensions between Thailand and Cambodia, following a fatal incident in a disputed area of Thailand’s Ubon Ratchathani province on May 28.

 

The Buri Ram temple has been contentious since Cambodian netizens began asserting its similarity to Angkor Wat, urging their authorities to investigate.

 

The issue highlights ongoing cultural sensitivities between the neighbouring nations, underscoring the importance of dialogue in resolving heritage-related disputes.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from Thai PBS 2025-06-23

 

 

It must be the Chinese influence making them do it - Copy 101 ......................LOL

Nope, not the same!

2 hours ago, Geoffggi said:

It must be the Chinese influence making them do it - Copy 101 ......................LOL

Any Chinese influence it will collapse soon.

Given the 2023 OK, Cambodia's position on this aspect seems particularly weak.

Maybe it's a copy of Phnom Rung?

Come off it Cambodia it looks nothing like any of your temples which, I should point out, are copies of Indian temples many of which are dedicated to the god Shiva.

I don't know what those frilly roof things are called, but apart from those, it looks like a prison to me and nothing like what I would expect a temple to look like!

Yeah it's a temple, but it really is not that similar to Angkor Wat.  Just some geezer looking to grab a headline and have his 5 milliseconds of fame.

Good enough for tourists to take ig photos but ,definitely for those in the know, not a copy of the infamous Angkor wat. But then for those Cambodians that claimed otherwise, well you can’t cure stupid. 
 

1 hour ago, Watawattana said:

Yeah it's a temple, but it really is not that similar to Angkor Wat.  Just some geezer looking to grab a headline and have his 5 milliseconds of fame.

Yes, difficult to copy Angkor Wat and its history . . .

 

Or just Phanom Rung-inspired – the temple in Buri Ram Province – and don't forget that Siam Reap once was part of Thailand. In fact, the present Cambodians should be very happy that they still have the original Angkor Wat, after Rama IV gave up moving the temple complex and had to settle with a miniature-copy in Wat Phra Kaew next to the royal palace...

20 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

alleging it replicates the historic Angkor Wat,

 

Nothing like Angkor Wat and its surrounds (a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the World's largest religious structure. Ref. Google

 

Yes, Angkor Wat is the largest religious monument in the world. It's a temple complex in Cambodia, covering an area of 162.6 hectares (1,626,000 square meters, or 402 acres). It is renowned for its Khmer architecture and intricate design. 

 

Is this hideous Thai version constructed with LEGO bricks? - looks like it.

 

Recent photo taken by me of West Entrance across the moat, surrounding woodland and lawns. I was on a visit using my annual FREE pass.

 

19 hours ago, khunPer said:

and don't forget that Siam Reap once was part of Thailand

Only for 5 minutes, thanks to cooperating with the Japs during WW2.

 

The part that the Cambodians remember is that the southern half of Isaan was once part of the Khmer empire, long before the world had heard of the Thais.

Ridiculous. Replication is the biggest form of flattery anyway. No to mention aren't a lot of people in that region heavily linked with Khmer people?