Water Festival Celebration in Thailand and Cambodia

People adorned with fresh flowers and ceremonial items ascend to the temple for early morning scripture recitations, then perform the ritual of bathing the Buddha, planting flower flags on sand stupas, and pouring onto the streets, splashing water to celebrate the New Year.

In these days of April, millions of citizens in Thailand and Cambodia eagerly await the extraordinary Water Festival during the traditional Songkran (Thailand) and Chol Chnam Thmay (Cambodia) celebrations from April 13th to 15th. Instead of traditional New Year wishes, people in these two countries will enthusiastically welcome the new year with the tradition of splashing water on each other.

Regardless of age, adults, children, and tourists, regardless of skin color, all immerse themselves in the lively water-splashing festivities in a spirit of camaraderie. The Songkran Festival also includes water-splashing activities with beautiful women. Participants wear exquisite costumes resembling peacocks and phoenixes and perform unique traditional dances. During this time, Thai people are exuberant, decorating their homes with lights, and the streets are bustling and vibrant.

Not only do tourists immerse themselves in the traditional New Year celebrations of the local people, but they also have the opportunity to explore famous landmarks such as the Royal Palace, the Jade Buddha Temple with its unique architectural styles, and the renowned Safari World natural zoo. Alternatively, they can explore coral islands by high-speed boat, enjoy beach bathing, and participate in underwater sports in Pattaya. They can also enjoy traditional music and dance performances at Alangkarn and Tiffany’s by performers who have undergone male-to-female transformations...

During this period, all of Cambodia is also celebrating the New Year – Chol Chnam Thmay, a 3-day festival (April 13th – 15th annually). The atmosphere is vibrant, with brightly lit lanterns and flowers from the temples extending to the roads leading to the Royal Palace. The capital, Phnom Penh, is adorned with brilliant floral lanterns. People and tourists flock to the streets to participate in street festival activities, water-splashing rituals, and colorful powder smearing...

Cambodia's traditional Tet is most notably distinguished by the alluring Apsara dances and traditional dishes rich in Khmer flavors, enjoyed alongside the fragrant aroma of thot not wine. Traveling to Cambodia during this season, tourists will have the opportunity to marvel at the magnificent wonder of Angkor, the ancient city of Angkor Wat with its towering spires... After the morning water festival, locals and tourists alike immerse themselves in the gentle sunset atop Bakheng Hill, indulging in the traditional Khmer music and dance performance... as night falls.

According to VnExpress

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Reference: Travel guide Mytour