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The Best Festivals and Celebrations

Songkran (Thailand): Every year from April 13 to April 15, Thais welcome the new year (according to their calendar). Because Songkran falls in the middle of the hottest season in an already hot country, how do you think people celebrate? Every Thai heads out into the streets with water guns and buckets of ice water -- plus handfuls of talcum powder, just to add to the mess -- and spends the next 3 days soaking one another -- and you. Foreigners are especially favorite targets.
Dragon Boat Races (Laos): Celebrating the end of Buddhist Lent, dragon boat races are held in every riverside town in Laos (and that's most towns, really).
That Luang Festival (Vientiane, Laos): In early November, thousands of Buddhist followers from all over the country, and even a few neighboring countries, converge on the spectacular That Luang temple in Vientiane.
Chinese New Year (Singapore): If you're in Southeast Asia around the end of January or the beginning of February, hop up to Hong Kong or down to Singapore for the festivities.
Thaipusam (Singapore & Malaysia): Around the end of January and the beginning of February, Hindus celebrate Thaipusam. Men give thanks for prayers answered by carrying kavadi, huge steel racks attached to their bodies with skewers piercing the skin.

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.