The first evidence believed to be associated with the Buddha image of Phra Chao Thong Thip ( Phra Chao Lan Tue ) was discovered in the year 1936. This object was a bronze flame or Ketmala and was found in the middle of Mekong River almost directly in front of the police station of Chiang Sean by a fisherman was able to locate a large but submerged Buddha image. The Ketmala was kept in various temple until it came to its final resting- place at the Chiang Sean National Museum. The large Buddha image its believed to be associated with is still to be discovered.
In the year 1945 there was fisherman who found to there big pillars submerged about 4 meters deep in the Mekong River near the very end of Phaholyothin road. During the year 1946 to 47, another fisherman had the casting net snared by underwater object, When this fisherman tried to retrieve his net, he discovered that the object that snared his net was a large Buddha image.
Between 1949 and 1950, a Laotian that live in Chiang Sean had a dream about a Buddha image that was swept away by the river. He tried to look for this image but the water too deep and too cold.
People tried to look for this Buddha image again in the year 1966, The construction – company Italian – Thai was going to build an airport at Luang Prabang in Laos and the best route to bring their heavy equipment to excavate the area where they suspected the Buddha image to be located. However, they only found a few artifact and antiques. Further searches were thereafter abandoned.
It has been seventy year since people started looking for this lost Buddha image. The story has been told and retold so many time that it now is a kind of legend.