All About Major Holidays In Laos You Probably Do Not Know

With a rich and long-standing culture, Laos has many unique and special celebrations for visitors to learn and explore. The country of Million Elephants is known as the land of festivals when they take place in all months of the year. The majority of these holidays in Laos are related to agriculture or are based on the Buddhist faith, representing traditional aspects of the Lao people. Below is some information about major holidays in Laos that you probably do not know. 

List of public holidays in Laos

The public holidays in Laos are especially important, Lao people will take advantage of any opportunity to come together for food, drink, and good times during these celebrations. Tourists visiting Laos can immerse themselves in the festive atmosphere, enjoy traditional music and dances, as well as participate in famous Lao activities.

Here is a list of public holidays in Laos:

• New Year's Day - 1 January
• Armed Forces Day - 20 January
• International Women's Day 8 March
• Lao New Year 14–16 April
• Labour Day 1 May
• Visakhabousa Day 4 May
• Children's Day 1 June
• Boun Khao Phansa 3 July 
• Lao Women's Union Day  July 20
• Boat Racing Festival 9 October 
• Boun Ok Phansa 28 October 
• That Luang Festival 27 November 
• National Day Holiday 2 December 

Pi Mai Lao

Lao New Year, or Pi Mai Lao, is one of the most important holidays in Laos. Lao New Year usually lasts for three days in the middle of April, with every day dedicated to different activities. During these days, Lao people clean their houses, prepare perfume and flowers, and wear new clothes

The coming of the New Year is seen as a chance to let go of the past and embrace a bright new future. Pi Mai is traditionally centered around washing and blessing rituals and pouring water and flowers onto Buddha statues in temples. And people splash water on each other during the celebrations to bring good luck into the new year. Additionally, the Lao people believe the way to make merit at this important time is to set animals free. Tortoises, fish, crabs, birds, eels, and some other small animals are the most commonly freed animals.

Foreign tourists in any part of Laos on these days can take part in the celebrations. Travelers can enjoy traditional music and dances, including the molam and lamvong.

Local Lao people celebrate Pi Mai, Lao New Year

Boun Bang Fai

Boun Bang Fai, also known as the "Rocket Festival", is a boisterous festival on the Lao calendar. Boun Bang Fai is celebrated on different weekends in different villages across the country, but often in late May. Celebrations dated back to pre-Buddhist times, villagers launch homemade rockets into the clouds. This is a ceremony believed to bring rain so that rice planting can begin.

The vehement merrymaking of the festival takes the form of large village-scale gatherings that give everyone a chance to let off steam before the hectic rice-planting season. Tourists to Laos at this time should rent a motorbike, drive into the countryside and join the fun with music and dance performances, and competitive processions of floats.

People watching a rocket going into the sky at the Rocket festival in Laos

Boun That Luang

That Luang normally lasts 3 days and takes place every November during the full moon at That Luang Stupa, which is regarded as the most important national monument in the country. That Luang Festival is one of the biggest public holidays in Laos. This event attracts Lao people và travelers from all over the world to join. 

During the festival period, monks will gather to accept alms and floral votives from the people. The festival includes processions, parties of folk music and dances, and a trade show taking place in the area. The spectacular fireworks display at night is also an indispensable part of the festival. Visitors will also get the opportunity to see Phasat Phueng, or wax castles, in the religious ceremony and the procession around That Luang.

People at a ceremony at the Pha That Luang Festival in the city of Vientiane in Laos

Boun Xuang Huea

The boat racing festival called Boun Suang Heua or Boun Xuang Heua is celebrated every year after the end of three months of fasting and retreat of the monks. This is also one of the major holidays in Laos, which takes place sometime in October, near the end of the rainy season.

During this time, followers gather at temples across the country. In the evening, candle processions are held at these temples, and countless beautiful boats are decorated with flowers, incense, and candles, even food and money are sent adrift down the Mekong River to pay respect to the river spirit. A well-attended and thrilling boat race competition is celebrated the following day in Vientiane, Savannakhet, and Champasack Province province bringing very attractive racing to the eyes of Lao tourists.

Boat Racing Festival in Luangprabang, Laos

International holidays in Laos

Below is the list of global holidays observed as non-working public holidays in Laos:

• Easter Monday
• International Workers' Day/ Labour Day
• International Women's Day/ Women's Day
• Western New Year/ New Year

Additionally, other western holidays have also been incorporated into the Lao festival calendar, such as Valentine's Day and Christmas.

Some useful information tourists should note when visiting on holidays in Laos

When traveling to Laos, international visitors are required to process a valid Laos visa. Visas are a mandatory permit for all travelers, except citizens of countries on the exempt country list for Laos visas. You can check the visa requirements for Laos 

On public holidays in Laos, most Lao government offices, companies, and banks are closed, so make sure all your visa needs or travel arrangements are not urgent, especially during the Pi Mai Lao (Lao New Year) holiday in April.

Travelers can easily obtain a visa for Laos by using our convenient online eVisa service. We, Laos Immigration Services, truly recommends travelers apply for a Laos eVisa as soon as possible before the flight. Travelers can now apply for a Laos eVisa in just a few short minutes without leaving the comfort of their homes by completing the e-Visa application form. Additionally, in order to minimize needless delays in processing and approval, travelers are urged to double-check all of the information provided before submitting the application form.

Travel Insurance to Laos for travelers: When visiting abroad, we strongly suggest you add Travel Insurance to your plan. This Insurance not only protects your benefits in case of unexpected risks, including trip cancellation or interruption, accident, sickness, or loss of baggage but also increases the chance of visa approval.