Water splashing activities are bustling on the streets of the ancient capital of Luang Prabang
Children are fascinated with water guns.
Among the destinations for water festival, Luang Prabang - the ancient capital of the land of a million elephants - is one of the most popular stops for tourists. Traditionally, Bunpimay takes place for 3 days from the last day of the old year on April 13, the first day of the new year on April 14 and the second day on April 15. However, activities such as carrying Buddha statues, bathing Buddha, and parades are usually held on April 16 and 17, so the New Year Water Festival lasts longer with many extremely interesting and attractive activities.
Ring the New Year
Luang Prabang is a peaceful and romantic ancient capital on the poetic Mekong River. The simple wooden houses interspersed with splendid pagodas give the ancient capital a magical charm. During the Water Festival, alms-giving activities - one of the most unique and famous cultural features in Luang Prabang - still take place normally in the morning with the image of hundreds of monks lining up on the street, alms bowls in hand, walking along the street to receive offerings from the people.
Bathing the statue
Tie a finger around your neck for safety
On the last day of the old year, the scene of cleaning, repairing, decorating houses, pagodas by local people and orange-robed monks makes the image of Luang Prabang extremely lively, bringing many emotions to the hearts of tourists. On the first day of the new year, April 14, ceremonial activities will be held at temples in the area, then in the afternoon, many people will cross the river to Ban Xieng Man to pray for blessings, good luck and have fun through activities such as building sand castles, dancing, drinking beer, and splashing water.
Procession and bathing of statue
Street parade
New Year's Eve offerings
Tourists join in Bunpimay Festival
During the Tet holidays, water is everywhere. Lao people believe that splashing water is to wash away the troubles of the old year and bring good luck for the new year. Thousands of people gather and flock to the ancient capital of Luang Prabang, forming groups, traveling together in a pickup truck, or tuk-tuk, or walking, circling the streets, dancing, playing around, smearing powder and food coloring on themselves and splashing water on each other as a way to wish for good things to come in the new year.
Sand castle with lucky pennants for the new year
Street performance
Indigenous children enthusiastically splash water on tourists
Monks clean and decorate the temple to welcome the new year.
More information:
+ Time to attend the Water Festival in Luang Prabang: from April 13-17 every year.
+Travel: From Vietnam, if you have more time and want to save money, you can go to Luang Prabang by road, take a bus through Cau Treo border gate, go to Vientiane and then continue to the ancient capital of Luang Prabang. Or go through Vinh - Nam Can border gate - Xieng Khouang to Luang Prabang, the estimated cost is 1 million VND.
+ Travel by plane directly to Luang Prabang with a round trip ticket price of about 300 USD, the airport is about 4km from the ancient capital, very convenient to travel.
Article: Black - Photo by B.Pearl
Smear food coloring on each other's faces for good luck
Peaceful, teacher and student talk at the beginning of the year
Soot is also used in festivals.
Everyone was soaked.
