Republished as featured in Agoda Travel Guides
As Laos gears up to welcome back tourists in 2024, the Lao government has rolled out an entire year’s worth of festivals and reasons to visit Laos. The “Visit Laos Year 2024” campaign aims to promote the country’s natural and historical tourist attractions through the theme “A Paradise of Lao Culture, Nature and History.” The theme celebrates the country’s rich diversity by sharing its best cultural festivals with tourists, along with ways that visitors can immerse themselves into Laos culture. The festivities are planned around Laos’ seasons and the best times to visit the country’s natural attractions, like the Mekong and Nam Song Rivers, bio-diversity regions, like the Bolaven Plateau, and UNESCO World Heritage Sites, like Luang Prabang Historic District. Get an overview of Laos festivals and events taking place during Visit Laos Year 2024, and follow “laossimplybeautifullao” on Facebook for up-to-date announcements and full details of festivals and events.
Laos Festivals and Events
Laos people have long celebrated historical moments, national holidays and religious events with festivals that include dancing, singing, eating and sometimes even shooting fireworks. Some of Laos’ most well-known festivals are Bun Pi Mai (Lao New Year), Boun Bang Fai rocket festival and Boun That Luang, a religious ceremony. No matter which time of year visitors travel to Laos, they are bound to catch one of the many Laos festivals and events in a major city, especially Luang Prabang or Vientiane.
Best Time to Visit Laos Festivals and Events
Laos is blessed with year-round weather that welcomes travelers to tropical temperatures. The country experiences three seasons – cool and dry season, hot season and rainy season.
Cool and dry season lasts from about November to February, an ideal time to explore Laos mountainous regions and in-town attractions. These months are considered high tourist season for the country, so tourist attractions, especially tubing and kayaking tours, are busier than usual, and guesthouses and hotels may charge higher rates. Guests will rarely need a coat while touring cities, but northern and mountainous regions can get quite cold for brief periods, especially during December and January.
Hot season lasts from March to May and is the perfect time to go kayaking down the Mekong River and partake in Laos water and boat festivals. It’s hot in hot season, yes, but with minimal rainfall and a river to play in all day, the weather won’t hinder anyone’s fun in Laos.
Rainy season usually takes place from about June through October, and it’s normally nothing to fear. In fact, visiting Laos during rainy season gives visitors something unique to talk about when they get back home. Rain showers during rainy season typically last about an hour and occur about the same time each day. They often are a welcome break during a hot morning or a nice way to cool down after a hike. They do put a damper on hiking trails and occasionally cause flooding and rivers to flow quickly, so tourists will want to ask locals for advice while traversing natural attractions in Laos during rainy season.
STAY IN HOTELS CLOSE TO LAOS FESTIVALS AND EVENTS
Complete list of Visit Laos Year 2024 festivals and events
Visit Laos Year 2024 is kicking off, and tourists are invited to enjoy year-round Laos festivals and events that bring alive the culture and traditions of this amazing country in Southeast Asia. Focused on the theme of “A Paradise of Lao Culture, Nature and History,” the campaign promises to highlight the untouched beauty of Laos’ awe-inspiring landscapes and ancient landmarks through an entire year’s worth of festivals and events.
January
- Hmong New Year in Vientiane Province
- Rice Festival in Sayabouly Province
- Ethnic Tribe Festival in Oudomxay Province (10 – 15)
- Phabath Phonsan Festival in Bolikhamxay Province (21 – 25)
- ASEAN Tourism Forum 2024 in Vientiane (22 – 27)
- Kapok Flower Festival in Bokeo Province (26 – 29)
February
- Pra Keo Nam Yard Festival in Salavanh Province (3 – 5)
- Chinese Lunar New Year (10)
- Tai Dam New Year in Luang Namtha Province (17)
- Bolaven Coffee-Tea Festival in Champasak Province (19)
- Vat Phou Festival in Champasak Province (22 – 24)
The largest festival in Champasak Province and one of the largest festivals in Laos, Vat Phou Festival is held each year on the historic grounds of Vat Phou and includes elephant racing, traditional Lao dances and music, and religious ceremonies. - Na Dou Buddha Footprint Festival in Salavanh Province (22 – 24)
- Sikhottabong Stupa Festival in Khammouane Province (22 – 24)
Celebrated during several days annually during a full moon, this festival features local trade fairs, traditional Lao performances and religious ceremonies. - Lao Food Festival in Vientiane Capital (23 – 27)
- Caravan to Phou Ya Kha in Oudomxay Province (28 – 29)
March
- Ka Tu Festival in Sekong Province (5)
- 40 Year Anniversary of Bolikhamxay Province & Ethnic Tribe Festival in Bolikhamxay Province (6)
- “Commemorating the events of March 21, 1946” in Khammouane Province (21)
April
- Napong Chicken Grill and Lao Khao Mouang Khong in Salavanh Province (1)
- Lao New Year Festival in Luang Prabang (11 – 20)
Ring in the new year Southeast Asia style with three days of full-on celebrations that include water parades, spraying passersby with perfumes and lots of food and fun. Religious celebrations and ceremonies conclude the 10-day holiday at city temples and temporary alters placed throughout towns and cities. - City Pillar Festival & Miss Attapeu Contest in Attapeu Province (13 – 15)
- Lao New Year in Xieng Khouang Province (14 – 16)
May
- Miss Xam Neua Silk Contest, plus City Pillar and Historical Cave Celebration in Houaphanh Province (15 – 17)
July
- Buddhist Lent Festival (20)
September
- Rice Growing Festival (2)
Boun Hor Khao Padabdin is a festival in the rainy season where people honor their ancestors. They bring offerings to temples, share a special food called “khao tom” with others, and place it around their homes at dawn for the spirits. It’s also a time to pay respect to the Earth Goddess, Mae Thoranii. - Boat Racing Festival in Luang Prabang (2)
During the Khao Padabdin ceremony, individuals go to nearby temples to present offerings for their deceased relatives and participate in merit-making activities. The event also features boat races on the Nam Khan River and a trade fair in the World Heritage town of Luang Prabang. - Boun Khao Salak Ancestor Festival (17)
The festival is celebrated on the 10th full moon of the lunar calendar to honor ancestors by offering food and goods to monks, along with the names of the departed. In the evening, a candlelight procession takes place, and offerings of candles, incense, and flowers are laid by the temple hall.
October
- End of Buddhist Lent Days “Candle Light Festival” in Luang Prabang Province (17)
Experience a good luck festival where village boats are decorated and then paraded through town. Watch as they illuminate the night sky when they get launched into the Mekong River and set on fire to appease the spirits. Make a floating bouquet of flowers to set sail on the waters with locals, who send the flower beds off with their bad luck while giving thanks to water spirits. - Naga Rocket in Bolikhamxay Province (17)
Get a photograph of this once-a-year event when fire balls are launched from the water’s surface where the Nam Ngum and Mekong rivers meet. - Boun Ork Phansa (End of Buddhist Lent) (17)
During the last day of Buddhist Lent, locals take donations and offerings to temples and end the day with candlelight processions and setting colorful flower boats afloat in the river. - Luang Prabang Culture-Tourism Week in Luang Prabang Province (21)
- Boat Racing Festival in Luang Namtha Province (29 – 31)
November
- That Luang Festival in Vientiane Capital (11 – 15)
Games, dances and the best wax castles are what makes this festival so unique. It also is one of the most meaningful festivals in Laos’ capital. It begins and ends with candlelight processions, trade fairs and local concerts. - One-day trekking at Phou Hee Pee Protection Area (14)
- Buddhist Scriptures (Hor Thri Pidok) Ceremony in Salavanh Province (19 – 23)
December
- That Ing Hang Festival in Savannakhet Province (20)
Receive a blessing from a local nun at this ceremony that is performed annually in honor of Buddhism and leaders who built Pha That Ing Hang (Ing Hang Stupa) in Savannakhet Province in central Laos.
