Start Planning
That Luang Festival
Laos

That Luang Festival 2023, 2024 and 2025 in Laos

In Laos, Boun That Luang, or simply “That Luang” for short, is one of the most important of national public holidays. It is a Buddhist celebration centred around the That Luang, the name of the oldest and most highly acclaimed of all Buddhist temples (stupas) in laos.

YearDateDayHoliday
202327 NovMonThat Luang Festival
20241 NovFriThat Luang Festival
20255 NovWedThat Luang Festival
202624 NovTueThat Luang Festival
Please scroll down to end of page for previous years' dates.

The That Luang Festival occurs for three consecutive days, beginning on the full moon of the twelfth month of the Buddhist Calendar. This will generally put the festival sometime in November on the Gregorian Calendar.

The That Luang stupa was originally a Hindu temple, built in the First Century A.D. By Third Century A.D. it became a Buddhist temple. It had to be rebuilt several times throughout its long history, and the modern building was built in 1566.

Inside the That Luang is believed to be certain relics of Buddha. The temple is covered in gold and sits in the middle of Vientiane, the capital city of Laos.

During That Luang Festival, Buddhist monks gather at the stupa for religious ceremonies. They make offerings, offer incense, circle the stupa thrice, and do other religious rituals meant to earn merit. There are also musical and dramatic presentations at the festival, and both people and monks participate.

Previous Years

YearDateDayHoliday
20228 NovTueThat Luang Festival
202126 NovFriThat Luang Festival
202031 OctSatThat Luang Festival
201911 NovMonThat Luang Festival
201822 NovThuThat Luang Festival
201714 NovTueThat Luang Festival