One thing is for sure.... in 2023 Asia comes alive with plenty of traditional events to enjoy. We have produced a comprehensive experiences calendar for the entire year! Complete with dates where avilable, we show you how rich and diversified Asia can be month by month, and that it's possible to travel in Asia all year round!
January
During this annual street parade, the Penang Pesta Chingay Parade (1 Jan, Malaysia) sees Chingay and Lion Dance troupe members display their skills in balancing stilt poles. There will be giant colourful flags, floats, and lion and dragon dance performances.
Galungan Day (4 Jan, Indonesia) is a Balinese holiday celebrating the victory of dharma over adharma. It marks the time when ancestral spirits visit the Earth. The last day of the celebration is Kuningan, when the spirits return.
Kuningan Day (14 Jan, Indonesia) is a Balinese holiday celebrating the victory of dharma over adharma. This is the last day of the celebration when ancestral spirits return home.
The Angkor Photo Festival (6-15 Jun, Cambodia) launched its first iteration in 2005 with the aim of providing an affordable and accessible educational and professional platform for the region’s emerging photographic community.
Chinese New Year (22 Jan, Thailand) is celebrated throughout Thailand and not just by those who can claim Chinese heritage. Some restaurants and businesses in certain areas (such as Bangkok’s Chinatown) may close, but elsewhere it will be business as usual. However, plenty of firecrackers will go off and many Thai people will be wearing red shirts and handing out “Ang Pao” (red money packets).
Tet (21-24 Jan, Vietnam) is Vietnam's equivalent to the Chinese New Year and is just as auspicious. The Vietnamese consider Tet to be the year's most important festival. Family members gather in their hometowns, traveling from across the country (or the world) to spend the Tet holidays in each other's company.
February
The Chiang Mai Flower Festival (3-5 Feb, Thailand) showcases beautiful flowers and decorative plants in full bloom. Suan Buak Hat Park is transformed into an open-air exhibition centre where you can find a magnificent tapestry of floral splendor that blankets the land, agricultural exhibitions, floral displays, contests, and sales.
The Lim Festival (3 Feb, Vietnam) originally celebrated Ba Mu, who led her life as a Buddhist nun at Lim pagoda. The festival is held on Ba Mu’s day of enlightenment and is famous for showcasing the locals’ unique vocal stylings through Quan Ho folk songs.
Thaipusam (Feb 5, Singapore) is a highly symbolic Hindu festival celebrated by Singapore’s Tamil community. It is an annual procession by Hindu devotees seeking blessings, fulfilling vows, and offering thanks.
During the Perfume Pagoda Festival (Feb 5, Vietnam) thousands of pilgrims make the journey to the Perfume Pagoda - Vietnam’s most revered Buddhist pilgrimage site.
River Hongbao (Feb, Date TBA, Singapore) is a lively festival that offers a special Chinese cultural experience – from giant lanterns to mouth-watering food. You will be astounded by the larger-than-life lanterns depicting figures of Chinese myth and legend, handcrafted onsite by craftsmen from China.
The spectacular Chingay Parade (Feb, Date TBA, Singapore) brings together multicultural performers from across the globe with a grand opening, dramatic performances and emphatic closing ceremony. Expect acrobat artists, giant artistic puppets, and dramatic shows.
March
Jenang Festival (1 Mar, Malaysia) is an annual event held in the city of Solo commemorating the anniversary of the city of Solo. The festival sees 15 thousand pincuk (traditional porridge) shared with visitors free of charge.
Locals traditionally wear white clothing for Melasti (18 Mar, Indonesia) which takes place 3 days before Nyepi. At the festival, Balinese Hindu people make offering to the gods by placing them in a source of water.
On the eve of Nyepi, Pengrupukan (21 Mar, Indonesia) sees a number of rituals performed in order to vanquish the negative elements and create a balance with God, Mankind, and Nature. The ritual is also meant to appease Batara Kala by Pecaruan offering. A very different day from the day of silence which follows Pengrupukan. Everyone takes to the streets, parading large puppets that have been meticulously made by hand before burning them to cleanse the spirits of evil.
The Cambodia International Film Festival (21-26 Mar, Cambodia) is an annual non-competitive festival held every year in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The main venue of the festival is The Flicks Community Movie Theater in Phnom Penh.
The Pattaya International Music Festival (Mar, Date TBA, Thailand) is Thailand's biggest Rock ‘n’ Roll event and arguably the biggest Rock ‘n’ Roll event in all of Southeast Asia.
April
Songkran Festival (13-15 Apr, Thailand) has a long tradition of throwing water with its roots in the symbolic gesture of cleansing away bad fortunes. It is the traditional New Year in the Buddhist calendar when many families join together.
Tay Phuong Pagoda Festival (25 Apr, Vietnam) allows pilgrims to make their way to the festival to enjoy the pagoda's beautiful scenery and architecture. There are also traditional games such as tug-of-war, human chess, wrestling, and puppet performances.
The Phu Giay Festival (20-29 Apr, Vietnam) takes place in Nam Dinh province and is a tribute to Lieu Hanh, one of the Vietnamese "four immortal gods", and the only one based on a real person (a princess of the 16th century who died young).
Hung King Temple Festival (29 Apr, Vietnam) is a countrywide holiday celebrating the lives of the ancient Vietnamese rulers during the Hong Bang period. See a display of Vietnamese culture and national pride with crowds of several million people making the pilgrimage to the temple during the festival.
The Siem Reap Puppet Parade (April, Date TBA, Cambodia) is an annual event for the children of Siem Reap, Cambodia. The Giant Puppet Project is a local children’s community arts project and is the largest of its kind in Siem Reap.
Hue International Festival (April, Date TBA, Vietnam) introduces people to Hue's traditional craft villages, helping preserve the strong tradition within the city. Visitors can explore the many handicrafts, photography exhibitions, and enjoy fine cuisine.
May
The Bali Spirit Festival (4-7 May, Indonesia) is a spiritually charged event that celebrates yoga, dance and music and the synergy of global cultural collaboration through the arts.
The Rocket Festival (12-15 May, Thailand), known locally as Bun Bang Fai Festival is associated with Thai traditional beliefs that rockets help promote the production of rice crops. Locals believe that the gods would hear the noise from the rockets and bless them with plentiful rain for rice cultivation. Noisy folk music and cheers can be heard for each liftoff and the rocket that reaches the greatest height is declared the winner.
Banyu Pinaruh Festival (20 May, Indonesia) is one of the key events held during Saraswati celebrations in Bali. The event is celebrated every 210 days in accordance with the Balinese Calendar.
Pagerwesi (24 May, Indonesia) celebrates Sang Yang (the creator of the universe) with grand ceremonies island-wide. Pagerwesi is celebrated every 210 days based on the Balinese lunar calendar and can be interpreted as ‘iron fence’. It is a day when man should fortify the space around himself to fend off evil spirits – the continuous battle between good and evil.
The Thanh Giong Festival (27 May, Vietnam) is held annually in several parts of Hanoi in order to commemorate Saint Giong, one of the four immortals of Vietnam.
June
The Parasite-Killing Festival (22 June, Vietnam) is a big occasion in Vietnam where the agriculture industry is of great importance. Its purpose is to prevent pestilence and disease, as well as enhance the prevention of evils and illnesses.
The Singapore Dragon Boat Festival (22 June, Singapore) is a widely celebrated event in the Lion City. Aside from watching dragon boats and their crews perform on the waves, the festival involves other things like eating plenty of delicious foods.
The Borneo Rainforest World Music Festival (23-25 June, Malaysia) is a unique music festival that brings together renowned world musicians from all continents, and indigenous musicians from the interiors of the mythical island of Borneo.
Bali Arts Festival (June, Date TBA, Indonesia) celebrates the arts and culture of Bali with daily performances, handicraft exhibitions and other cultural activities during which time the whole of Bali comes to life with offerings of dance, music, and beauty
July
Phi Ta Khon (Date TBA, Thailand), also known as the Ghost Mask Festival, celebrates the return of the Buddha-to-be, Prince Vessandorn. It is said that the people in the village celebrated so loud that it awoke the dead who then joined the celebration.
The Singapore Garden Festival (Date TBA, Singapore) creates a magical world of exciting garden designs and exquisite floral creations as Singapore goes into full bloom. Whether you are a serious gardener, hobbyist or just looking for a wonderful day out with the family, you are in for delightful treats.
The International Kite Festival (Date TBA, Indonesia) is held along Sanur Beach, Bali. Traditional giant kites (4 metres in width and almost 10 metres in length) are made and flown competitively by teams from the villages (banjar) of Denpasar. The event is a seasonal religious festival intended to send a message to the Hindu Gods to create abundant crops and harvests.
August
Galungan Day (1 Aug, Indonesia) is a Balinese holiday celebrating the victory of dharma over adharma. It marks the time when ancestral spirits visit the Earth.
The Candle Festival (2 Aug, Thailand) takes place in Ubon Ratchathani. The festival celebrates the onset of the rainy season and at the same time holds traditional significance for Buddhists. The main attraction is a parade of monks from local temples, riding decorative floats with huge handmade candles.
The Surin Candle Parade (2 Aug, Thailand) sees ornate Buddha relics carried by elephants. Visitors can also witness a variety of sacred Buddhist rituals such as chanting holy stanzas, meditation, and a holy chanting contest.
Kuningan Day (11 Aug, Indonesia) is a Balinese holiday celebrating the victory of dharma over adharma. It marks the time when ancestral spirits visit the Earth.
September
The Mid-Autumn Festival (29 Sep, Vietnam) is a harvest festival held on the 15th day of the eighth month in the Vietnamese calendar. Known locally as Tết Trung Thu, it is marked with fanciful lanterns to help a legendary moon-bound figure back to Earth. Lion dances are commonly performed by traveling troupers who go from house to house to perform for a fee.
The Mid-Autumn Festival (Sep, Date TBA, Singapore) in Singapore is about celebration with the family, lantern processions, and deliciously sweet mooncakes.
October
The Traditional Thai-Laos Boat Racing event (9 Oct, Thailand) is a religious ceremony with competitions for H.R.H. Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn's Cup. There are 5 racing categories with the action taking place in Nan province.
The Phuket Vegetarian Festival (13-22 Oct, Thailand) consists of sacred rituals that are believed to bestow good fortune upon those who observe these rites. During this time, local people of Chinese ancestry strictly observe a 10-day vegetarian or vegan diet for the purposes of spiritual cleansing and merit-making. Rituals and displays such as walking barefoot over hot coals and ascending ladders with bladed rungs are performed by entranced devotees known as "Ma Song".
The Ubud Readers & Writers Festival (Oct, Date TBA, Indonesia) takes place in Bali’s artistic and cultural heartland. Leading writers, artists, performers and musicians gather from across the globe to share their knowledge and creative talents over a period of five days.
November
Deepvali (12 Nov, Singapore) is a Hindu celebration of the triumph of light over darkness. Bright colours, tantalising aromas, and the light of a thousand oil lamps fill the streets of Little India during Deepavali.
The Pattaya International Fireworks Festival (24-25 Nov, Thailand) brings together several national teams that offer a show in order to be named the best nation. Besides impressive shows of fireworks visitors can also enjoy parades, music, traditional dances, and many exhibitions during the festival.
Yi Peng Festival (27-28 Nov, Thailand) is a traditional Lanna-style event with a flying lantern contest creating a spectacular sight to behold. The festival of lights in Northern Thailand is similar to Loy Krathong, except lights are placed into sky lanterns which float up into the air rather than floating on water.
Loi Krathong (28 Nov, Thailand) is a traditional family festival with stunning lamp parades, firework displays, performances, and busy markets. Join in the tradition of making buoyant decorations which are then floated on a river or lake.
The Boat Race Festival (Nov, Date TBA, Cambodia), or Ooc-Om-Bok as it is known locally, is a traditional festival of the Khmer people living in the Mekong River Delta region. At Khmer pagodas around the country, people release paper lanterns into the sky or into the rivers as a way of letting go of bad luck or sadness.
December
Christmas on a Great Street (Date TBA, Singapore) is a spectacular display of Christmas lights along Singapore’s famed shopping belt, Orchard Road. With no shortage of exciting events, Instagram-worthy sights, and a myriad of retail and restaurant choices, there's no better place to embrace the season of joy.
