New Year, Southeast Asian Style
Thai / Laos / Cambodia | 13-16 Apr 2026

Thailand, Laos and Cambodia celebrate the New Year with festivals rooted in renewal, gratitude, and community. Songkran arrives in Thailand on April 13-15 as people make merit at temples, anoint Buddha images, and seek blessings from the elderly – before launching an exuberant nationwide water-splashing celebration.

In Laos, the celebration runs from April 14 to 16, with similar rituals, temple visits and lively water battles. Cambodia celebrates the New Year, or Chaul Chnam Thmey, from April 14 to 16, marking the end of the harvest and arrival of the rainy season through traditional games, folk dances and temple rituals. Spanning three neighbouring countries, the festival unites ancient heritage with contemporary cultural pride, turning April into a shared season of hope and renewal.

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