Wat Bo is one of Siem Reap's oldest and most important active Buddhist temples, sitting at the centre of the neighbourhood that takes its name from it. The temple compound is large by local standards and almost always has resident monks visible going about their daily routines — it functions as a genuine monastery rather than a visitor attraction. The wats interior murals, painted during the 19th century, depict scenes from the Ramayana in a style that blends Khmer and Thai Buddhist painting traditions; they are among the best-preserved temple murals in the city.
The wat is best visited in the early morning when monks are chanting or during almsgiving rounds in the neighbourhood streets. Non-Buddhist visitors are welcome in the main hall if they dress modestly (shoulders and knees covered) and remove shoes at the entrance. The compound includes a school and an active community of monks and novices. Standing here, watching monks cross the courtyard with their orange robes catching the morning light, gives a clearer sense of living Cambodian Buddhism than any museum exhibit.