THAILAND
Poi Sang long ceremony at Klang Tung temple (Mae Hong Son)
The Poi Sang Long
ceremony in Mae Hong Son is a Buddhist ceremony, but it is unlike any other
ceremony of its type in the country. Young boys aged between 7 and 14 are
ordained as novices so they can spend time studying Buddhist doctrines. It is
believed that by pursuing ordination for their parents, they gain merit. It is
believed that the tradition follows in the footsteps of Prince Rahula, the Buddha's own son, who gave up his worldly life
to follow his father's spiritual teachings. Prince Rahula
became the youngest ordained monk and the first novice in Buddhism.
Subsequently it became a tradition for young boys to be ordained so they can
undertake the study of Buddhist teachings. With deep reverence for the Buddhist
religion, the local residents in Mae Hong Son province are of the view that the
celebrations should be as grand as possible. The Poi Sang Long ceremony is
unique to Mae Hong Son province. This colourful spectacle is perhaps one of the
most delightful festivals in Mae Hong Son, attracting people from far and wide.
This year, ceremony will be held at Klang Tung temple
(Wat Klang Tung).
“Rup Sang Long"
day, the first day of the ceremony
The first day of the ceremony day begins with the boys
having their hair shaved off by parents and relatives. They are then bathed and
anointed with consecrated waters and dressed in brightly coloured costumes. By
the end of this process, the boys are now known as Sang Long or Luuk Kae, precious
gems. A colourful procession makes it way through the streets of Mae Hong Son
Municipality. In the earlier part of the day, the procession makes stops at the
city pillar and various temples en route so the 'Sang Long’ can seek
forgiveness from the abbot. By late afternoon, the boys are carried back home.
“Kham Kaek" day, the second day
On the second day, relatives, friends and guests stop by the house of the
Sang Long host family in order to congratulate the family.
“Hae Krua Lu" day, the third day
On the third day, “Hae Krua
Lu" day, the grand colourful procession is held in the morning.
Well-attended by family members and individuals of importance in Mae Hong Son’s
Shan community, the procession of the Sang Long features handmade
floats, offerings for the temple, traditional dances. The procession starts out
from Chong Kham and Chong Klang Temple in the heart
of the city before it moves along the main streets of town and out to the
temples.
“Kham Sang" day,
the fourth day
The procession once again proceeds through the town
and the Sang Long are escorted to Chong Kham and Chong Klang Temple for the formal ordination ceremony.
For further
information, please contact at 053-612982 or
Si Satchanalai ordination
procession on elephant-back
From April 7th to 8th
2012, the Si Satchanalai ordination procession on
elephant back is a colourful traditional ceremony of the Tai Puan tribal people who settled in Ban Haat
Siao village in Si Satchanalai
district. The tradition, which dates back some 150 years, features a
spectacular procession of some 20 to 30 young Buddhist novices dressed in
elaborate costumes. Each rides on the back of a beautifully-decorated elephant
as the procession makes its way to Wat Haat Siao temple for the mass ordination ceremony.
Festival of the release of turtles to Phuket
This ceremony
is included within
the Songkran festival (New Year), on April 13th.
Baby turtles are released into the sea on the beaches of Phuket. Sea turtles
have become an endangered species; it’s the only reason for which the
government, sponsor of the festival, hopes to increase their number and
increase public awareness on the importance of protecting this species.
Songkran (Buddhist New Year or water festival)
The new Buddhist year,
from April 13th till 15th, is one of the most important
holidays of Thailand because it marks the beginning of the year following the
lunar calendar. The day before Songkran, April 12th,
is one of the hottest
days of
the year in Thailand. The Thais splash the buddhas of water with veneration but also their friends, the belief wanting that the water
takes away the adversity and purifies. We attend real battles of water in streets. We also pour
some water perfumed on the hands of the seniors. Songkran
is celebrated in all the country and particularly to Chiang Mai and to Phra Praokong, a suburb of Bangkok.
Songkran Buddhist
New Year celebrations in Bangkok
Prepare to take a walkabout (or
rather showers in the crowd!) in Bangkok during the traditional celebration of Songkran, which celebrates the Buddhist New Year. One of
the main activities is to clean up everything and to drench each other with
water to cleanse itself of the past year. The festivities last for several
days and all night.
Songkran (Thai New
Year Festival) in Phra Padaeng
One hour drive from Bangkok, Phra Padaeng organizes celebrations of Songkran,
the Thai New Year, one week after those of the
capital. The Mon, descendants of one of the oldest peoples of Thailand,
organized beautiful parades in the streets, proceed to ancient Thai rituals-ramans and do traditional water fights.
Cricket Week in Phuket
From April 14th to
22nd 2012, players and cricket teams from around the world meet up
in Phuket for this great annual tournament. For players of more modest level,
there are also beach cricket or volleyball tournaments.
Krabi rock and fire
international contest
Krabi province on the west
coast of Southern Thailand is home to some of the world’s most spectacular
coastlines featuring a karst landscape with craggy limestone hills, jagged
cliffs, steep vertical sided limestone pillars and rock faces and unusual rock
formations overlooking the emerald waters of the Andaman Sea, dotted with
oddly-shaped verdant tropical islands basking in the sun. With Krabi offering some 600 rock-climbing routes, this present numerous challenges for individuals of various
levels of skills and experience. The towering cliffs of Railay
Beach and Ton Sai Beach attract rock climbers from
all over the world and have steadily gained fame as one of the premier
rock-climbing destinations. The 2012 Krabi Rock and
Fire International Contest scheduled to be held during April 16th -
17th will feature two key contest categories namely a lead climbing
marathon and speed climbing. The fire contest provides a spectacular added
attraction.
In addition to its
natural beauty, Krabi also offers an excellent
service infrastructure thereby making it a popular destination for island,
beach and adventure holidays.
Phuket Gay Pride in Phuket
Phuket Island, famous for its
nightlife, which attracts many Western tourists and where live a gay expatriate
community, benefits from its seaside heritage to organize a gay pride festive
from April 27th to 28th 2012 the feet in the warm sand .
Air
Asia celebrates inaugural flight from Bangkok to Nakhon
Phanon with new planes
Air Asia celebrated its inaugural
daily flight between Bangkok and Nakhon Phanom on February 15th 2012. Nakhon Phanom is an important
city for business and investment due to its connectivity to Laos. The third
Thai-Laos friendship bridge plays a key role in making it a well-connected city
with a promising future and high potential for economic growth. Its proximity
to Sakon Nakhon and Mukdahan also makes it a good travel hub for the northeastern region. Nakhon Phanom is an interesting destination for leisure travellers
who want to experience northeastern Thai (Isaan) culture. One of the main attractions includes
temples and religious sites such as Wat Pra That Phanom, an iconic temple and important landmark. Air Asia
will be using brand-new Airbus A320 planes with a capacity of 180 seats to service
this daily flight.
The quality of
Chiang Mai airport recognized
The Chiang Mai airport was
ranked fourth, in terms of quality of services, of the world airports welcoming
between 2 million and 5 million passengers per year, by the Airports Council
International (ACI), professional organization uniting the world airport
facilities. The ranking, dominated by the airports of Guayaquil in Ecuador,
Ottawa in Canada and Halifax in the UK, was established through passenger
surveys of more than 200 airports in fifty countries, and was revealed by the governmental news agency NNT. The president of
Airports of Thailand (AoT), Anirut
Thanomkulbutra, said that the criteria used in this
study were the cleanliness, the general atmosphere, the politeness of staff and
security measures.
MYANMAR
Shite-Thaung pagoda Festival
The Temple of Shite-Thaung is a famous temple of Mrauk
U, in Arakan state which
is located on the west coast of the country. Its name means Temple of 80,000
Buddhas. It’s
also known as the Temple of Victory. The temple
was built between 1535 and 1536
by Arakan King Min Bin to commemorate
his conquest of Bengal. It’s
located on the western slope of the
Pokhaung hill,
at the north of the royal palace, and near the temple of Andaw-thein. Like many other Burmese Buddhist temples, it has a central Stupa bell surrounded
by four smaller stupas at the corners, and numerous smaller stupas around.
From April 11th to 18th,
a festival is held at the pagoda with
boat races and demonstrations of traditional wrestling at the foot of the pagoda
Thanaka-Grinding
festival to Sittwe
The thanaka is a
yellow-white cosmetic vegetable paste commonly used in the country to
cover the face and sometimes the
arms of women and girls, and to a lesser extent men
and boys. Its use dates back over 2000 years.
It also spread in neighboring countries such as Thailand.
It’s produced from the wood of several trees growing in
abundance in central Burma
and known collectively
as "trees of thanaka". They
are not cut before 35 years. The thanaka is traditionally sold in
small logs or bundles, and now also in the form of paste or powder.
Thanaka cream
is made by grating bark, wood or roots of
the tree with some water on
a circular stone called
Kyauk Pyin. The cream is applied to the face in simple
motives, the most
common being a disc on each cheek,
sometimes bands called
thanaka bè gya,
or the shape of a sheet, the nose is often emphasized
at the same time. It’s sometimes applied from head to foot (thanaka chi zoun gaung zoun). Besides
its cosmetic function, the
thanaka gets a fresh sensation and protects against sunburn,
helps fight against acne, makes soft skin and has
an anti-fungal action. In the early part of the night,
young women grind Thanakha barks and roots to a fine
cream by by using some water on rounded stone slabs.
Young men play musical instruments and dance to support the event. Once the Thanakha is ready, all go to nearby pagodas and wash
Buddha’s images.
Thingyan Festival (Water festival)
Every year from April 12th
to 16th, during the month of Thingyan (the
first month of the year in the Myanmar calendar), the country celebrates the
festival of the water, also named the Buddhist New Year. People throw water on
each other and place flowers and palm leaves in front of their houses. The
streets are cleaned for the occasion. Water is considered as an instrument of
purification, this element allows to take away the evil spirits from one
who is sprayed, and is supposed to bring him peace, prosperity and happiness
for the coming year.
According to legend, the year begins when Thagyamin,
King of Nat (spirits), visits the Earth to bless the people, riding a winged gold
horse and carrying a jar of water, symbolizing peace and prosperity. He also
carries two books, including one covered with gold, which contains the names of
children who have been good over the past year, and the other covered with dog
skins for bad guys. Everyone sprinkles him!
The inhabitants put flowers and palm leaves on the threshold of their house. In cities,
young people sprinkle themselves with water lances, in stations,
those alongside the quay throw water on the train travellers. Long processions to the Shwedagon provide an opportunity to pour holy water on
Buddha’s images and on monks. We also honors the
elderly: the children bring flowers to grandparents. Without wishing to spoil
the festival, know that this is one of the rare popular moments during which it’s
authorized to gather. But the organization permits are usually sold by close
relation of the government who collect then an entry fee to attend the celebration, often high for the average income of a Burmese
...
Everything is closed in Burma during these few days.
Myanmar New Year
Festival
Myanmar
New Year Festival is held after the consecutive Thingyan
Water Festival. Thingyan Water Festival is enjoyed by
both young and old generations throughout the country.
On Myanmar New Year Day, which usually falls on 17th April, Myanmar's donate
offerings to Monks and elders. The youngsters wash the elder's hair, cut their
nails and do cleanings for them.
Mont Popa ceremony
Mount Popa is a volcano
in the center of the country, in the region of Mandalay. 1518 m high, it detaches from 1150 m on
the surrounding plain and can be seen, in good weather, 60 miles around. Taung
Kalat is located at the southwest of Mount Popa, an ancient volcanic pipe of 737 meters, sometimes also
called Mount Popa. A Buddhist monastery is located on
the top. Mount Popa is considered as the refuge of
the 37 Great Nats (spirits) of Myanmar. Many pilgrims
go there to worship them, especially at the time the full
moon of Nayon (May / June) and of Nadaw
(November / December). Before the "bouddhisation " of nats by King Anawrahta, thousands
of animals were sacrificed to them during the ceremonies. Today, Burmese superstitions
ban to wear black or red on Mount Popa, as to swear and to bring some meat, especially pork, at the risk of offending nats. From
April 19th to 20th 2012, the ceremony takes place on
Mount Popa where pilgrims from all the country go.
LAOS
Discoveries
of antiques at Oudomxay
By performing maintenance work in rubber
plantations, located 500 meters east of the village of Bo, Xay
District, in the province of Oudomxay, Mrs. Vay and his family discovered on March 5th ,
antiques, hidden approximately 20 centimeters under the ground. Among these
objects, which are all in silver, 13 are round cups, 24 are bracelets and 4 are cylindrical boxes, the
whole weighing a total of 3 kg. After this discovery was reported to the
concerned
state employees, the provincial
administrative authorities were sent on the spot to get back objects, which are currently kept at the Information,
Culture and Tourism Department.
Pii mai or Pimai (Buddhist New Year)
The Buddhist New
Year, the most important holiday of the country,
from April 13th to 16th 2012 gives rise
to numerous celebrations. This
is probably the most interesting time of
year to visit Laos. Although
there are officially only 3 consecutive days
off (the last day of the year
which ends, the first of the coming
year, and one day between both), the festival
lasts almost one week, from April 13th to 18th of every year (the date being fixed
as based on the
solar calendar), and extends throughout
the country. We clean the house
to take away the evil spirits. Many
activities in the country are
concentrated around the pagodas. The Song Kan day, we pray
there and we splash Buddha's statues of holy water consecrated
by the monks, we dress in
the traditional way and we
feast around the temples. We enjoy splashing of
water, as in southern China.
It’s also an opportunity for birds,
frogs and other
small creatures to be released from their cages. Finally, the
first day of the new year, in
addition to spray each other, we pronounce the vows. We can for example attend this festival in
Luang Prabang.
In 2012 begins the
year 2556.
VIETNAM
Festivals Truong Yen (Ninh Binh province)
From April 4th to 6th, organized
in the district of Hoa Lu, in Ninh Binh province, these celebrations are one of the most important events in the region. The ceremonies are in honor of Kings
Dinh Tien Hoang and
Lê Dai Hanh, who
liberated the country at the end of the Xth century. They are
accompanied by traditional wrestling
matches, Dragon and Unicorn dances, boat races and folk songs ...
Van Vi village fesival (Ha Tay
province)
Program of April 4th
to 5th : ca tru
singing, lion dances and representation of popular theater. royal
barges and canoes Races are also organized.
National Tourism Year 2012 and Hue
Festival
Entitled, "Hue, ancient capital, new experiences," the national
tourism year brings a series of cultural and artistic events organized by Thua Thien province. Program:
festivals, ceremonies, thematic nights ... The
Hue Festival, from April 7th to 15th 2012, is the
highlight of this national tourism year. 2012 festival theme: "Cultural
heritage with integration and development - visit historic cities." To the
Program: night of the Imperial Palace, Te Giao
festival (sky and earth sacrifice ceremony), Night of the East, drum and instruments
feast, Buddhist festival, the days of Vietnam's historical films, Lang Co beach
festival, village markets, gastronomy of Hue, etc.
Kites Launch to Ba
Giang (Ha Tay province)
On April 10th : Traditional
Contest such as kites
launching where cooking rice brighten
up this annual event.
“The cultural color of
Northwest” presents in Hanoi
According to an information from the Culture, Sports and Tourism Ministry, a entitled program "The cultural color of
the Northwest" will be held from April 26th to 30th in Hanoi. Intended to celebrate great feasts of the
countries as Liberation of South Vietnam and national reunification
(30/4) festivals, the World Day of Work
(fifth), Day of Dien Bien Phu’s victory
(7/5) and the
122nd anniversary of Ho Chi Minh’s President birth
(19/5/1890-19/5/2012), this program
is organized by the People's Committee
of Hanoi City in
coordination with the provinces of
the Northwest and the administrations
concerned.
"The cultural color of Northwest in Hanoi" is a set of significant cultural activities to promote and
celebrate traditional cultural values of Northwest ethnic groups and to strengthen solidarity in the ethnic groups community in Vietnam. Through exhibitions,
exchanges, cultural festivals, arts and tourism, gastronomy,
folk games ... it
will be a good opportunity to
present the cultural traits of
the region of Northwest to
Vietnamese and to foreign tourists.
Celebrations
of the fall of Saigon
To remember
the fall of Saigon, on April 30th, the South capital, renamed Ho Chi
Minh, by the North Vietnamese Army and the Communist forces of Hanoi, April 30th
1975. One tank hited with the revolutionary Star had
destroyed the entrance gate of the presidential palace in Saigon.
9 unique values of Ha Long
Bay
1. Unique
The unique toponyme recognized twice as a World
Natural Heritage is one of seven new natural wonders of the world, covers a
total area of 1,553 km ² and has 1,969
islands of various sizes, among which 989 were baptized,
Ha Long Bay contains a number of international, world exceptional values. The bay
was twice recognized by UNESCO as World Heritage Site for its universal values of landscape, and for the geology and
geomorphology (respectively in 1994 and 2000). The eternal and grand beauty of Halong
consists of three elements: rocks, water and sky. It’s a privilege of the nature
for Ha Long. No other nation in the world can claim to have a spectacular and
beautiful seascape. With these unique values, the Ha Long Bay has exceeded more
of 400 unique sites from over 200 countries and territories and has been ranked
in the list of new seven natural wonders of the world.
2. Landscape value
The Ha
Long Bay is one of 10 most beautiful bays in the world. This is a work of the
Creator, a combination between sculpture and painting, it’s the harmony between
layout and colors, between forms and space ... The islands of various sizes
drawing mysterious silhouettes on the carpet of emerald sea evoke the infinite
imagination of man.
3. Geological - geomorphological value
The most remarkable events of the geological history of Ha Long Bay
during these 500 million years past include the encroachment of the sea, the
elevation of the land bay and the severe erosion which formed coral, pure blue
and very salty water. This process of erosion by seawater has deeply engraved
on the stones, which contributes to form a unique Ha Long Bay with an extremely
picturesque landscape, beyond imagination. Currently, Ha Long Bay is the result
of this long process of geological evolution which has been influenced by so
many factors. It’s thanks to all these factors that tourists who visit Ha Long
Bay has not only the opportunity to admire one of the real
wonders of the world, but also to contemplate a precious geological museum
which was naturally preserved in the open air for 300 million years.
4. Biodiversity value
Ha Long also possesses biodiversity with typical tropical ecosystems
such as coral reefs, mangrove ecosystems. Besides, Ha Long has a very diverse
tropical forest system and many rare wild animals. The bay is also the nest of
innumerable sea grasses, fishes, shrimps ... Among the
2949 species of plants and animals conserved, 102 species were identified rare
or valuable in the world, including 13 endemic plant species that exist only in
this place.
5. Cultural - historical values
Ha Long
is one of the cradles of human existence with three brilliant successive
civilizations: Soi Nhu, Cai Beo and Ha Long. It’s also a
place closely associated with the history of Vietnam with famous sites such as
Van Don (a former commercial port), Poem Mountain (with engravings of many
poems by emperors and other famous characters from the past)
, and the Bach Dang River (the location where took two fierce naval
battles against foreign aggressors). Besides, Ha Long preserves many tangible
and intangible cultural values salient as archaeological sites Tien Ong, Me Cung, Thien Long ...
6. World Heritage with the largest number of original values
In addition to the aesthetic values of landscape and geology,
geomorphology recognized two times by UNESCO, Ha Long Bay contains two other
exceptional values (biodiversity value and
historical and cultural value) while other World Vietnam Heritage sites and
over 900 heritage sites in the world don’t have it.
7. Tourism or rest value
The Ha Long Bay still retains many traditional cultural values, a
unique natural landscape, spectacular caves, beautiful beaches ... It has the
landscape, cultural and historical factors which favor the promotion of
Vietnamese tourism. Currently, spending the night in Ha Long Bay on a junk is
considered as an original and distinctive tourism experience, which attracts
more and more domestic and foreign travelers to this destination.
8. Seafood diversity
With
ideal conditions, water rich in nutrients, calm waves, wide beaches, the Ha
Long Bay lists of abundant marine resources. It has 450 mollusks sorts, 315
fishes sorts, this is the place of residence and developing various seafood of
high value such as grouperes, mackerels, cuttlefishes,
shrimps, crabs, abalone, sea cucumbers ... Ha Long facilitates the development
of marine aquaculture, particularly species of high economic value, both
capable of protecting the environment, such as pearl oyster, shell ...
9. The largest number of international arrivals in Vietnam
With natural preferences and its titles, the Ha Long Bay attracts the
largest number of international arrivals among the seven World Heritage sites
in Vietnam (with over 6 million domestic and foreign visitors in 2011).
Discover the beauty of the Bay Ha Long is still one of the first priorities of
international tourists coming to Vietnam.
Cast off at Ly Son Island
Ly Son, one of the three islands of
the northeast eponymous island district of Quang Ngai province (Center), shelters many historical sites, caves, coral
reefs and beautiful beaches to discover. Ly Son spread over nearly 10 km² and
21,000 inhabitants. Volcanic island, Ly Son has five
mountain with docile curves. From their summit, the view embraces a vast
panorama, marked by dozens of onion fields hectares. Ly Son beach is beautiful,
but is better suited to walking than swimming. The coral reefs make the happiness for amateurs of scuba diving. The island shelters Âm Linh
Tu pagoda and Gio's tomb, which honor the soldiers who sacrificed
themselves for the country's sovereignty. Two very popular other places are Duc Pagoda located at the foot of a crater, and Hang Pagoda,
built 300 years ago in a cave. Architecture amateurs should not miss the communal village
of An Hai, Lang Chanh and
Ca Ong temples, or Tam Hoà and Thiêm Y
Ana palaces. But
the real wealth of Ly Son is his garlic. This stone is also called "the
kingdom of garlic." It’s grown in volcanic soil, rich in sand, which gives
it a very special flavor. Currently, Ly Son garlic is a specialty known and
appreciated everywhere in Vietnam. Ly Son has great tourism potentialities. If
its strengths which are cultural and historical vestiges, local hospitality and maritime
specialized are well exploited, then she could become a destination for of choice for tourists, Vietnamese but also foreigners, pleaded Nguyên Van My, director of Lua Viet tour operator, considering that the Island
District needs a global plan for tourism development. Quang Ngai district has approved
the socio- economic development project of Ly Son Island District, which
focuses on the development of services and tourism infrastructures but also fish farming, according to Vice President of provincial People's Committee, Ta Duy. This project provides for the establishment of three tourism
tours. The first concerns the pagodas and temples, the second the mountains,
streams and caves, and the last coral reefs, scuba diving and other water
sports.
CAMBODIA
Khmer New Year (Bon Chaul Chhnam)
This religious festival begins each
year on April 13th or 14th
and ended on April 16th or 15th. It marks the end of the dry season. Cambodians make offerings to the Wat
(pagoda), polish their homes, exchange gifts and new clothes, and
sprinkle each other. In the street, they play traditional games such as Boh Angkunh the Chaol Chhoung
The Leak
Kansaeng and
tug of war. This is the most important holiday of the year.
Theam Lim and Tith Veasna Exhibitions
Deux new exhibitions are
presented at the French Institute of Cambodia from February 16th 2012.
Theam Lim, under the theme "Alienation / Alteration", is looking for
a new way
of painting and of expressing himself, by using techniques with polychrome and lacquered paint. Theam Lim studied in particular the paint and the design to
the School of Fine Arts and to the Boulle School in Paris.
Graduated from the Royal
university of Fine arts, Tith Veasna
presents, through the " Krama
" exhibition, its work around this Cambodian traditional cotton piece, to
the generations of young Cambodians.
The Agenda 2012: A sampling of
celebrations not to be missed throughout Southeast Asia ...
THAILAND
Songkran (New year Thaï):
April
Royal Ploughing
Ceremony: beginning in May at Bangkok
Rocket festival: Middle of May at Yasothon (Nord-East)
Visakha Puja: May Full moon
Birthday of Her Majesty the Queen: August 12th
Ok Phansa and Thot Kathin: October
Ragattas : October at Thot Kathin, Nan, Phichit, Surat Thani, Nakhon
Phanom, Pathumthani. Loi. Krathong: November Full moon
Festival of elephants in Surin:
Third week-end of November
Week of River Kwai
Bridge: end of November- beginning of December
Birthday of His Majesty the King: December 5th
Makha Puja: February during the Full moon
CAMBODIA
New year Khmer (Bon Chaul Chhnam): April 2012
Genocide day: May 9th 2012
Sihamoni Birthday King: May 2012
Bouddha Birthday: May 2012
Norodom Sihanouk king Birthday: October 31st
Independence Day: November 9th
Têt festival (Vietnamese and Chinese): February
LAOS
Pii may or Pimay (New year
Buddhist): April 2012
Fang Mae Khong
Festival at Vientiane, Luang Prabang
and Thakhek: from October 1st to 31st 2011
National holiday (Vanh
Saad): December 2nd 2012
Têt festival (Vietnamese or Chinese New Year): February
Wat Phou at Champassak:
February
Lao Elephant Festival at Paklay
District (Sayaboury province): February
Magha Puja (Makha Bouça)
at Luang Prabang: February
MYANMAR
Thanakha Grinding Festival in Rakhine state: April
2012
Thingyan Festival (water festival): April 2012
Kason : April 2012
Nat Pwe Festival at Taungbyon and Amarāpura
(Mandalay): August 2012
Phaung-Daw U big festival at Inle Lake: September /
October 2012
Kyaukdawgyi pagoda festival at Mandalay: October 2012
Thidingyut Festival (Lights Festival): October 2012
Dance elephants Festival at Kyaukse
(Mandalay): October 2012
Hot Air Balloon Festival at Taunggyi:
November 2012
Tazaungdaing Festival: November 2012
Kyaik-Hti-Yo pagoda festival (to Golden Rock): November 2012
Pyatha (Independence Day): January 4th 2013
Mahamuni pagoda festival at Mandalay: February 2013
Tabodwe (Feast of Shan State and Union Day): February 2013
Pwe du Paya Baw-Gyo
festival at Thipaw: March 2013
Kakku (Kekku) pagoda festival around Taunggyi: March 2013
VIETNAM
Thay pagoda festival (Ha Tay province): April 2012
Van Vi village
festival (Ha Tay province): April 2012
Truong Yen festival (Ninh
Binh province): April 2012
Launch kites festival at Ba Giang
(Ha Tay province): April 2012
Saigon capture Birthday: April 2012
Bach Dang festival (Quang
Ninh province): May 2012
Bouddha Birthday: May 17th 2012
Ba Chua Xu festival
at Chau Doc: May 2012
Quang Lan festival (Bac Ninh province): July 2012
National festival: September 2nd 2012
buffalo fighting festival at Do Son: September 2012
Mid-Autumn festival (child festival): September
2012
Tran temple festival at Nam Dinh:
September 2012
Double nine festival
at Trung Cuu: October 2012
Da Sy festival around
Hanoi: February 2013
Hội festival at Lim (Bac
Ninh province): February 2013
Trang-Nguyên festival (first winner): February 2013
Quam An festival at Da
Nang: February and 2013
Chua Huong (Perfume
pagoda festival) at Huong Son: March 2013
Fisherman Festival at Hội
An: March 2013