![]() Most of the highlights of the festival take place on this day. On this day, the elderly will incite young people not to sleep and be active taking a nap or staying still will result in bad luck for the coming year. The second day is the "no day", since it belongs neither to the old nor to the new year. Once the tasks are complete, elders give a brief speech to their families, and young people pour water on their heads to receive their blessings for the coming year. People will clean their houses and villages, prepare the water and flowers for the celebrations on the following days, wash Buddha statues and images, and paint temples. This is a day of renewal, which is symbolized by pouring water. Its purpose is to keep the good spirits inside the body and to generate good luck for the coming year. The third day is when the Baci ceremony is held. In big cities like Luang Prabang and Vientiane, there are parades, beauty contests, and concerts. The second day is a "no day" between the old and the new year. The first day marks the last day of the old year, when people prepare everything they need for the celebrations over the following days. Pi Mai is celebrated in Laos for three days. If you are not willing to join, you can choose to be driven around in a private car. There are reports that local people may drag travelers into the celebration, whether they like it or not. Water fights are quite common in major cities. Leave your cards back in the hotel and don't carry large amounts of cash or valuables with you. Prepare waterproof bags to protect your mobile phone and room keys. ![]() Keep an eye on your personal valuables, especially in crowded areas. It is, therefore, suggested that you book accommodation and make transportation arrangements well in advance. As a result, hotels and guesthouses are fully booked around this time. Many tourists also gather in the major cities to take part in the celebrations. The Lao New Year sees many people traveling back home from other cities to Laos. Lao New Year Festival Tips Plan Your Trip in Advance Travelers are also invited to join in the festivities. Pouring water on someone is a way to wish them a happy new year in Laos. Water fights are conducted on the streets with water pistols, buckets, and bottles. The celebration there usually includes a beauty contest, a sand stupa building contest, art shows, sports competitions, and traditional music performances on the banks of Mekong River. Vientiane sees similar celebrations to those held in Luang Prabang. Many more processions and traditional performances are held in the evening. There are seven contestants, each one representing one of the daughters of King Kabinlaphom. At the end of the parade, the statue is placed at Wat May, where it is kept for three days.Īnother highlight of the celebration is the beauty contest, called Nang Sangkhane. You will see two red-faced mythical creatures leading the parade - Pou Gneu and Gna Gneu (meaning grandpa and grandma ancestors in Lao) - followed by hundreds of monks. This Buddha statue is considered the religious symbol of Laos, and represents the right to rule the country. There are parades, beauty contests, concerts, and much more.įor religious people, the most important celebration is the procession where the Prabang Buddha is carried through the streets on a golden palanquin. New Year celebrations in Luang Prabang last for almost a week. Where to Celebrate Lao New Year? Luang Prabang I highly recommend Asian Highlights to help plan these extraordinary trips! This already has been a trip of a lifetime and we still have so much more to see all thanks to Cathy!! More The scenery was breathtaking, the ship was so beautiful and clean with such fresh, good food! And I can’t sing enough praise for the staff who took care of us- especially Anna and Belle! They went above and beyond to make sure we enjoyed every aspect from eating meals with Anna to every other detail with Belle! Halong Bay and the cruise on Paradise Elegance went way above anything I expected. He was so funny making lots of jokes and always made sure we were having fun while learning about everything! He checked on us frequently even when we were no longer with him since we then went on a cruise in Halong Bay! ![]() Our first stop so far was in Hanoi where our guide Trong was just so awesome! He shared about his culture and family life which showing us sites through a city tour.
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