January
New Year's Day: the people of Laos celebrate the Gregorian calendar New Year’s day with as much verve as the rest of the world.

Boun Pha Wet: this nationwide festival sees temples throughout Laos celebrate the reincarnation of Buddha (Jataka) as the Laos prince, Vestsantara. Towns, villages and cities all observe this important time as lots of men join the monkhood.

February
Vietnamese Tet and Chinese New Year: a fun time for Laotian Chinese and Vietnamese communities in towns and cities throughout the country. Boisterous dragon parades and fireworks accompany this double New Year celebration.

Magha Puja: another of Laos’s important religious festivals commemorates the speech that the Buddha made to 1,250 monks, with lots of chanting and candle lighting at temples countrywide.

Wat Phu Festival: this event is particularly interesting for tourists visiting Champasak during the full moon of the third lunar month. The ruins of Wat Phu are the scene of traditional Laotian dance and music, while buffalo and cock fighting can also be observed. In addition, a popular fair has items from the Southeast Asian region.

March
Boun Khoun Khao: every village throughout Laos celebrates this traditional harvest festival, which sees respect given to the spirits of the land.

Boun Pha Vet: also celebrates the harvest according to the lunar calendar and goes for three days and three nights. Locals make offerings and have their fortunes told.

April
Boun Pi Mai (Laos New Year): a three-day holiday marking the Laos New Year according to the lunar calendar. Rituals and festivities can be observed, including the dousing of Buddha statues with water although locals mainly come out to have a water fight like what occurs during Thailand’s Songkran festival.

May
Rocket Festival: if you are here in the boiling hot month of May, do not be alarmed by bamboo rockets fired up in the sky across the country as it is an old ritual believed to coax the rains. Cultural performances, music and dancing also accompany the event.

Visa Bochea Day: the Buddha’s birthday which everybody comes out for to make merit by visiting temples and monks.

July
Buddhist Lent: this intriguing festival sees monks head for their temples for three long months of meditation.

August
Luang Prabang Boat Race Festival: a fun time to be in Luang Prabang sees dragon boat racing on the Mekong River along with partying and traditional music.

September
Festival of the Dead (Boun Khao Salak): sees locals pay respect to departed friends and relatives at temples all over the country. Rituals and offerings happen all day long.

October
Ok Phansa Boat Race Festival: takes place on the Mekong River at Vientiane to mark the end of Buddhist Lent with colorful boats, lots of racing and chanting plus eating and drinking. The festival goes on for 10 days.

November
Hmong New Year: those interested in the hill tribes of Southeast Asia will enjoy Hmong New Year, which sees the largest community of Hmong in northern Laos enjoying themselves. Hmong villages across the region have traditional performances and lots of fun.

December
Laos National Day: the national flag adorns buildings across the country on December 2nd, along with communist flags and is a day where the whole nation gets into the festive spirit.

That Luang Festival: this is the biggest festival in Vientiane and Laos, with meditation and chanting at the temple’s stupa. There is also a huge market in town, with live music, eating and drinking followed by an impressive fireworks display.