Lui Im Yee Vegetarian Hall

Rating: 3.8/5 (5 votes)

Open Days: Open Daily

Opening Hours: 06:00 – 18:00

 

Lui Im Yee Vegetarian Hall is a sacred place located at the foot of Khao Sam Roi Yot in Rai Kao Subdistrict, Sam Roi Yot District, Prachuap Khiri Khan Province. This site is regarded as one of the spiritual centers of the Thai-Chinese community in the Sam Roi Yot area, as well as a destination for devotees from nearby provinces who come to worship the deities and pray for blessings and good fortune. This vegetarian hall is not only significant in terms of religious belief, but it also reflects the history of Chinese settlement in Thailand and the close bond between Chinese culture and the local community in Prachuap Khiri Khan Province.

 

Lui Im Yee Vegetarian Hall stands amid the beautiful landscape of Khao Sam Roi Yot, a large limestone mountain that is one of the most distinctive natural landmarks in Sam Roi Yot District. This mountain is part of the terrain near Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park, the first marine national park in Thailand. The area surrounding the vegetarian hall is therefore filled with a calm natural atmosphere, encircled by mountains, woodland, and beautiful scenery, allowing visitors to feel both peace and devotion at the same time.

 

The history of Lui Im Yee Vegetarian Hall is connected to the story of a Chinese man named Tao Kae Keng, who fled war in mainland China during the late Qing Dynasty and came to Thailand during the reign of King Chulalongkorn, Rama V. After arriving in Thailand, Tao Kae Keng settled in Samut Prakan and lived his life with diligence and deep faith in sacred things.

 

One day, Tao Kae Keng went to pay respects at Hok Hian Siang Tung Vegetarian Hall in Talat Noi, Bangkok. While resting after worship, he dreamed that a deity appeared to him. The deity told him that there was a sacred place in southern Thailand and wished for him to travel there to establish a Buddhist sanctuary. However, the time was not yet right. The deity instructed him to wait until the jackfruit tree at his home bloomed first.

 

Not long afterward, the jackfruit tree at Tao Kae Keng’s home bloomed just as it had in the dream. He believed that this was the sign that the right time had arrived. Tao Kae Keng then invited several friends who shared the same faith to travel south by train, without any fixed destination, because he believed that if the place from his dream truly existed, he would recognize it when he saw it.

 

When the train reached the area that is now Sam Roi Yot District, Tao Kae Keng saw a striking and majestic limestone mountain. He felt strangely familiar with the sight and cried out, “Found it, I found it.” He and his friends then decided to get off the train at Sam Roi Yot Station and asked local villagers until they learned that the mountain before them was called “Khao Sam Roi Yot.”

 

From Sam Roi Yot Railway Station to the foot of the mountain was a distance of about 6 kilometers. Tao Kae Keng and his group therefore had to continue on foot along natural trails. At some points of the journey, they even had to swim across a canal to reach the opposite side. When they finally arrived at the foot of Khao Sam Roi Yot, they camped near a large sela tree. The next day, they explored the surrounding area in search of a suitable site for constructing the Buddhist sanctuary they had been shown in the dream.

 

After surveying the area and becoming certain that this was the sacred place revealed in his vision, Tao Kae Keng returned home to gather funds from devotees for the construction of the vegetarian hall. In the end, he was able to raise about 6,000 baht, which was a considerable sum in those days. In 1918, construction of Lui Im Yee Vegetarian Hall began at the foot of Khao Sam Roi Yot.

 

In the early stage of construction, the vegetarian hall was built from materials found in nature around the mountain. The main structure used timber from the hillside, the roof was thatched with grass, and woven bamboo was used as part of the walls. The floor was made of compacted laterite soil for strength. Later, as the number of devotees increased, the original structure was gradually developed and replaced with a permanent building.

 

Inside Lui Im Yee Vegetarian Hall is an image of “Phor Pu Sam Roi Yot,” a deity greatly respected by local villagers. Phor Pu Sam Roi Yot is regarded as a deity of virtue, goodness, and honesty. Those who come to worship often pray for success, prosperity, and peace in life.

 

One of the most important traditions associated with Lui Im Yee Vegetarian Hall is the annual worship festival for Phor Pu Sam Roi Yot, which is held every year in mid-March. During the festival, there are ceremonies to honor the deities, offerings are presented, and local villagers gather together to show respect to the sacred beings they revere. This tradition not only reflects the devotion of the community, but also serves as a cultural event that helps preserve the beliefs of the Thai-Chinese people in the Sam Roi Yot area.

 

Besides its religious and cultural importance, Lui Im Yee Vegetarian Hall is also an attractive destination for visitors who wish to experience the natural beauty of Khao Sam Roi Yot. Travelers can walk around the hall and admire the impressive limestone mountains rising around it, which are among the most distinctive natural features of this area.

 

Getting There Lui Im Yee Vegetarian Hall can be reached by taking Phet Kasem Road from either Hua Hin town or Prachuap Khiri Khan town toward Sam Roi Yot District. Once you enter Rai Kao Subdistrict, there is a road leading to the foot of Khao Sam Roi Yot, where the vegetarian hall is located. Visitors can drive to an area near the hall and conveniently walk around the surrounding grounds.

 

 

A: It is located at the foot of Khao Sam Roi Yot in Rai Kao Subdistrict, Sam Roi Yot District, Prachuap Khiri Khan Province.

 

A: Construction of Lui Im Yee Vegetarian Hall began in 1918 with funds collected from devotees.

 

A: Phor Pu Sam Roi Yot is a deity highly respected by local villagers and believed to be a guardian of virtue, goodness, and honesty.

 

A: Yes. The annual worship festival for Phor Pu Sam Roi Yot is held every year in mid-March.

 

A: Yes. It is suitable for those who wish to worship sacred beings while also experiencing the natural beauty of Khao Sam Roi Yot.