Local Festivals
Lao New Year
Pi Mai Lao, the Lao New Year, is one of the most important festivals in the Lao calendar and takes place over three days between 13 or 14 to 15 or 16 April every year. Each day has its own significance in the Buddhist religion. Laotians welcome their new year with water, and for three days they celebrate New Year by splashing scented water on each other as a blessing.
Hmong New Year
Hmong New Year is celebrated over three days in early December. As is tradition, family members will cook ten different dishes for each of the three days. Young people will commonly play a traditional game called Pov Pob (Tossing a Cotton Ball) and meet a potential future wife or husband.
Boun Suang Heua - Boat Racing Festival
This festival is held during Buddhist Lent sometime in September of every year. Racing boat teams come from most of the villages in Luang Prabang to take part in the race at Nam Khan River.
Boun Lai Heua Fai
The festival of light celebrating the end of Vassa (Buddhist Lent). Monasteries and many houses are illuminated over three nights with candles and paper lanterns, usually in the shape of stars. These lights are a symbol of joy. The festival is held in October of every year, and on the last day, people will float flower boats on the Mekong River.
