Why we hold a land blessing before we build
Before a build on Koh Samui gets going, we ask for the land to be blessed in the Thai way. Here is what that means, in plain terms, and why we keep doing it.
At the start of a build on Koh Samui, we ask for the land to be blessed in the Thai way. It is a short ceremony of offerings and prayers, held on the plot before the main work begins.
We did it for Villa Pearl at Portofino Village in Lipa Noi in February 2025. We did it again in March 2025 for an extension we built for a client's gym in Lamai. We do it because it is how building starts here, and because it shows respect for the place we are building in, so we do not treat it as optional.
What a land blessing is, in plain terms
Thailand has many local customs around land and new buildings. A land blessing is one of the most common. You may hear it called a buang suang, a Thai term for a ceremony of offerings.
We are builders, not experts in Thai religion, so here is only the broad shape. Customs differ by region, by family and by whoever leads the ceremony.
- A chosen time. The date and hour are often picked to be a good moment to begin.
- Offerings. Food, flowers, incense and drinks are usually set out on the plot.
- Prayers or chanting. These may be led by monks or by someone the local community trusts.
- Asking permission. The idea most people describe is asking the land, and any spirits of the place, to accept the new building.
If you want to understand the meaning properly, ask a Thai friend, a monk or your local temple. They will explain it better than we can.
What we have recorded
Our own posts record two blessings in early 2025:
On Instagram: See this on Instagram
- Villa Pearl, Plot 3, Portofino Village, Lipa Noi (10 February 2025). This was the blessing for a 5-bedroom villa. We wrote that we had "once again honored the traditions of Thailand". By January 2026 the villa was well under way, with rooms below ground that include a massage and gym space.
- A gym and restaurant build for a client, Lamai (28 March 2025). We held this one early in the build, on the client's land. Our caption that day read "Respect and gratitude".
Portofino Village is our hillside villa development above Lipa Noi. It is not linked to any other development called Portofino. You can follow how the villas at Portofino Village have been built, plot by plot.
Why we keep doing it
The plain reason is respect. We build on land that belongs to a place with its own customs. Starting the Thai way is a small, clear sign that we know where we are.
On Instagram: See this on Instagram
There is a practical side too. A build brings together crews, suppliers and neighbours, and many of them will know the custom well. A blessing tells everyone on site that the work is being taken seriously from day one.
A good start does not replace good engineering. Drainage, retaining walls and the rainy season still decide whether a building lasts. We explain those in our guide to what building on Koh Samui really involves.
If you are building with us
On a client build, the land is yours, so we agree the blessing with you before the work starts. If you would rather arrange it with your own family or temple, we plan around that.
It sits in our build plan alongside the site visit, the written scope and the groundworks. You can read how a build runs with us, step by step, or check what to ask any builder on Koh Samui before you sign.
Planning a villa, hotel or restaurant on the island? Ask about building and tell us about your plot.