Most of the public holidays in Laos have a connection with agricultural seasons or Buddhist festivals. The dates may change from year to year, but will follow the season which is somewhat predictable.
Bun Pha Wet: January. This is a temple-centred festival, and one of the times when Lao males are ordained into the monkhood.
Magha Puja: February. This festival commemorates the speech given by Buddha to 1,250 enlightened monks. Devotees circumambulate the main shrine of wats. This celebration is most fervently observed in the wats in Vientiane and at the Khmer ruins of Wat Phu near Champasak.
Tet/Chinese New Year: January/February. Celebrated mostly by the Vietnamese and Chinese communities, this is accompanied by the deafening release of fireworks.
Boun Khoun Khao: March. Harvest festival celebrated at the local wats.
Boun Pimai: April. Lao New Year, celebrated over three days. This festival is most fervently observed in Luang Prabang. Statues of Buddha are given a ceremonial dousing of water. Water is thrown at people in the streets, similar to Songkran in Thailand.
Labour Day: 1 May.
Visakha Puja: Full moon in May. This festival commemorates the birth, enlightenment and death of Buddha.
Boun Bang Fai (Rocket Festival): May. This is a Buddhist rain-making festival, and celebrated by blasting large bamboo rockets into the sky. The festival lasts for 2 days.
Children's Day: 1 June.
Khao Phansaa (@ Khao Watsa): Full moon in June. This is the Buddhist Lent and a time of retreat and fasting for monks. This is the most usual time for male Lao to be ordained into monkhood.
Haw Khao Padap Din: Full moon in August. This is a sombre festival to pay respect to the dead.
Boun Ok Phansaa: September. This marks the end of the Buddhist Lent, when devotees bring offerings to the wats. It also marks the end of the rainy season. Boat races take place on the Mekong river.
Awk Phansaa: Full moon in October. This festival marks the end of the 3-month rain retreat. Monks are given new robes, alms bowl and other items. People float banana-leaf boats called Lai Hua Fai, with candles down the river and lakes, similar to Loy Krathong in Thailand.
Boun Nam (Water Festival): October. Held in association with Awk Phansaa, Boun Nam is a festival held in waterways, characterised by boat races in major towns such as Vientiane, Luang Prabang and Savannakhet.
Boun That Luang: November. This is celebrated most fervently in Vientiane, but also at smaller scale at stupas across Laos. As well as the religious aspect, this festival also include local fairs, processions and beauty pagents.
Hmong New Year: December.
Lao National Day: 2 December. This public holiday commemorates the 1975 abolishment of the monarchy.
About the Author: AsiaExplorers is researched and written by Timothy Tye. We take reasonable care to check and verify the accuracy of the content. However, we disclaim any responsibility for any inconvenience, mishap, injury or death resulting from following the advice provided directly or indirectly by AsiaExplorers and the comments on its pages. All the photographs in AsiaExplorers are available for publication. Please contact AsiaExplorers at the following email address for your enquiries:
