Events & Festivals in Laos

Laos has many festivals, or Boun scattered throughout the year to commemorate various aspects of traditional Lao lifestyle and culture. Most festivals are connected with religion and follow the rice farming seasonal cycle. The timing each festivals is calculated according to the Buddhist lunar calendar which changes every year. Please check the latest information before attending these events.

April

Pi Mai Lao (Lao New Year) 11 - 20 Apr 2025

Lao New Year, known as Pi Mai Lao (or Pi Mai), is the most important celebration of the year. It is held in mid-April before the onset of the rainy season, marking the Buddhist New Year. Celebrations last for several days to commemorate the importance of water for the people through religious rituals, as well as a celebration of the strong familial ties that serve as a foundation for Lao culture and identity.

At the temple and in the household, Buddha images are ritually cleaned with sacred water. The Prabang image from the National Museum is moved outdoors to be purified in the grounds of Vat Mai. The water from the cleaning ceremonies is then poured or splashed by people on to each other to cleanse them of bad luck and their previous sins and to bring them good luck for the coming year as they wish each other 'Happy New Year' (Sok Dii Pi Mai). Many take to the streets with water guns or buckets and pans, creating an enormous neighbourhood water-fight that is impossible not to partake in.

The most elaborate of the country’s New Year festivities are held in Luang Prabang as processions throughout town, a sand-castle competition on the Mekong, a Miss New Year pageant, and a fair with folk performances and cultural shows.

The full event and activity schedule in Luang Prabang includes:

April 11 2025:

• 6:00pm - noon Traditional Market Fair at That Luang
• 7:30pm Miss Pi Mai pageant launches at That Luang

April 12 2025:

• 7:30pm Final round of Pi Mai pageant

April 13 2025:

• 7:30am Elephant procession from Wat Mai to Wat Xieng Thong

April 14 2025:

• 9:00am Buddha Statues are brought in front of the temples to be washed with lustral water
• 1:00pm Building sand stupas on Xay Moung Khoun Island on the Mekong

April 15 2025:

• 1:00pm New Years Procession from Wat That Noy to Wat Xieng Thong

April 16 2025:

• 5:30am Almsgiving and climbing of Mount Phousi for religious merit making
• 1:00pm New Years Procession from Wat Xieng Thong to Wat That Noy
• 7:00pm Naga & Paper Lantern parade descends from Mount Phousi to the National Museum

April 17 2025:

• 8:30am Phrabang Buddha Parade from the National Museum to Wat Mai
• 10:00am Provincial Leaders and Miss Pi Mai winners visit Pak Ou caves

April 18 & 19 2025:

• Phrabang Buddha resides at Wat Mai where worshippers sprinkle lustral water on it

April 20 2025:

• 9:00am the Phrabang Buddha is brought back from Wat Mai to its temple at the National Museum