VI
EN
Many travel companies report that tours to Thailand to see the Songkran festival, taking place from April 12-16, are almost sold out. The price for a 5-day, 4-night tour to Bangkok and Pattaya, departing from Hanoi, is approximately 8.5-10 million VND, while departing from Ho Chi Minh City starts at 8.7 million VND. This is 10% higher than last year and 35% higher than usual – depending on the company's policy.
Agoda's survey shows that Vietnamese tourists are among the top 9 foreign markets most interested in Bangkok during Songkran, while the top 5 include South Korea, China, Singapore, Malaysia, and Taiwan. Searches for accommodation in Bangkok by Vietnamese tourists during Songkran were also 17% higher than the same period last year.
UNESCO has designated Thailand's Songkran festival as an Intangible Cultural Heritage.
According to Thai belief, giving is receiving. Sprinkling water on someone is a way of wishing them good luck, in order to receive good luck in return.
Songkran marks the Thai New Year, a time to celebrate family values, show respect for elders, and observe traditional rituals at temples throughout the country. During this time, people often splash water on each other for good luck. The festival takes place nationwide, but the atmosphere is particularly vibrant in Bangkok, which once held the Guinness World Record for the "Largest Water Gunfight" (nearly 3,500 people simultaneously firing water guns at each other for 10 minutes) in 2011.
The Cultural Promotion Department of the Thai Ministry of Culture has selected Anntonia Porsild, first runner-up at the Miss Universe 2023 pageant, to play Mahodhara Devi, the Songkran goddess of 2024. The Ministry of Culture has also commissioned the production of Songkran songs in Thai, English, Chinese, and French to widely promote the festival.
For five days, Sanam Luang will be the main venue for the Maha Songkran World Water Festival 2024. It will host performances of traditional theatrical arts such as Khon and Nora dance drama, as well as contemporary music festivals. Water splashing, Muay Thai demonstrations, drone shows, and visits to food and local product fairs are expected to attract a large number of visitors.
