Kud Chin & Ted Viet (Chinese & Vietnamese New Year)

Chinese and Vietnamese Lunar New Year is celebrated with parties, fireworks and merit making at temples. Chinese and Vietnamese businesses usually close for three days.

Pi Mai Lao (Lao’s New Year)

During the week of 13-15 April the whole country celebrates. Buddha images are cleansed with sacred water and in the vats offerings of fruit and flowers are made. People take to the streets splashing water on one another and having parties everywhere. In Xieng Khouang some years boat races take place at the Supanouvong Lake. Be advised that during Pi Mai Lao most businesses and government offices are closed.

Boun Bang Fai (Rocket Festival)

Boun Bang Fai is a rainmaking and fertility festival that takes place just before the rainy season. Villagers make rockets from bamboo and homemade gunpowder and parade their colorful rockets noisily around the village before they are shot into the sky to ‘fertilize’ the clouds and bring rain which in turn feeds the rivers and fields.

Boun Khao Phansa (Buddhist Lent)

This festival, held on the full moon, marks the beginning of Buddhist lent, a three month period where monks are required to stay within their temple to pray and meditate. Lao men are traditionally ordained as monks during this time.

Boun Khao Padabdin

Special offerings are made to the deceased on the new moon of the 9th lunar month.

Boun Ok Phansa (End of Buddhist Lent)

Held on the full moon this festival celebrates the end of Buddhist lent. In the evening small banana-leaf boats called heua fai are launched at Nam Ngum and Supanouvong Lake filled with colorful incense, flowers, candles and a small amount of money to bring luck and prosperity.

Hmong New Year

Xieng Khouang’s most colorful festival attracts crowds of people from around the province as well as Hmong from overseas. The festival is celebrated During December-January, starting from the 15th day of the ascending moon to give thanks to ancestors and spirits at the end of the annual agricultural cycle. Traditionally it lasts ten days bringing people together from many villages, and it is here that young people typically find a husband or a wife. The special celebrations involve colorful displays of traditional costumes made from green, red and white silk and ornate silver jewelry. People enjoy the music of traditional Hmong instruments such as the teun-flute, Hmong khaen and leaf blowing. Other festivities include the Makkhon(cotton ball) throwing ceremony as part of a charming courting ritual, crossbow competitions and traditional games such as bull fighting and top spinning.

Khmu New Year

Is celebrated within the Khmu communities in late December following the annual rice harvest.