Laos is known as the land of festivals, which occur every month. Exploring these unique and interesting festivals, visitors can make a visit in this Million-Elephant country more complete and significant.
January: On 1st
As many other countries around the world, International New Year's Day is celebrated in Laos with an astonishing atmosphere.
January – February: Boun Pha Vet
This festival takes place for Prince Vessanthara’s birth celebration. The prince was known as the penultimate existence of Buddha. The festival is also the occasion for the jakata or birth story of Buddha is recited and for Lao men to become monk. The visit of different villages to another one creates this celebration.
February: Boun Ma Kha Bu Saar (Full Moon)
The celebration commemorates a speech of Buddha, which includes all his first monastic regulations and prediction about this death. The speech receives the attendance of 1250 enlightened monks without prior summons. They are here for chanting and presenting offering carious Vat throughout the city. The largest celebrations are implemented at the Khmer ruins of Wat Phou, Champasak.
March: Boun Khoun Khao
Mostly occurs in various villages to celebrate the harvest time. This harvest festival takes place throughout the month.
April: Boun Pi Mai
Pi Mai in Laos means “new year” and is celebration for the start of Lao people’s Lunar year. This new year festival is full of national particularity and celebrated with a brand-new ambiance: houses are clean, people in new costumes and the traditional Buddha images are washed with holy water. This festival is one of the best time for visitors to experience Laos.
May: Boun Visakha Bu Saar (Full Moon)
The festival is covered by a beautiful landscape with candlelight processions. Implemented on the day of the sixth lunar month, the celebration commemorates the birth, enlightenment and parinibbana (death) of Buddha.
May – September: Boun Bang Fai "Rocket Festival"
The festival is filled by the attendance of numerous villages throughout the country. Boun Bang Fai is the most boisterous festivals on the Lao calendar and a memorable experience for visitors. The most particularity is that the home-made rockets are fired into the cloud to ask for rain, amid great deal ò chanting and merry making.
September:
- Boun Haw Khao Salaack (Full Moon): An occasion for prayers and offerings to be made to the deads takes place at the temples around the country.
- Boun Khao Salak (Rice): This festival is for offerings to be made for dead ancestors to obtain merit. During the tenth full moon of the lunar calendar, this festival are interesting with popular ongboat-racing competitions on the Sebangfai River. This is also the occasion for visitors to enjoy the traditional Lao music and dance performance.
October:
- Boun Ok Phansa and Boat Racing Festival: The festival is the most beautiful at night when candlelight processions are held at temples and hundreds of colorful floats decorated with flowers, incense and candles are floating the Mekong River to show respect to the river spirit.
- Boun Khathin: This takes place as soon as the last day of Lent ends and lasts until the next full moon. During one month, the monks are supported to carry out their religious practice by devotes of the Buddhist faith. That’s making offering of all their 9 essential items and other useful ones.
November: That Luang Festival and Trade Fair in Vientiane Capital
Being the national symbol of Laos, That Luang Stupa attracts visitors by not only its architectural and cultural values but also its unique Festival. At night, audiences have chance to enjoy a grand fireworks in an astonishing atmosphere. During the day, an international trade fair showcases tourism in Laos in particular and countries from ASEAN in general.
