Five years ago I’ve visited for the first time Bangkok, Thailand and since then I returned every year to taste and experience more of Southeast Asia.
I have to admit I love this side of the world and I appreciate not only the food, their people, the landscape, beaches, and the wild parties, but their traditions and culture as well.
Based on the cultural events I’ve attended so far and the impressions I’ve made during my trips, I made the 10 best cultural festivals in Southeast Asia.
Also read: Best Travel Guides and Books for Southeast Asia Destinations
Vesak Festival – Indonesia
This festival has a movable date that depends on the Buddhist calendar, on the first full moon of the Visakha lunar month.
Known in some places as Buddha Day, it’s widely celebrated in countries with a high Buddhist population, such as Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Singapore, and Cambodia, so the events and traditions might vary slightly.
Visiting Buddhist temples is a big part of this cultural festival, devotees focus on meditation, chanting, and storytelling.
People usually decorate their homes with lanterns, and one of the best traditions is held in Borobudur, Indonesia, where thousands of floating lanterns are sent towards the sky as offerings.
See also: Southeast Asia Packing List
Sinulog Festival – Philippines
Another great Southeast Asian festival is Sinulog Festival, which takes place every year in January.
Even though this festival refers to a dance made in celebration of Jesus, it became much more than that, turning into a carnival.
It’s celebrated once a year, on the third Sunday of January with parades, all sorts of costumes, dancing, and music. The first parade took place in 1980, and with its rise in popularity, it started hosting other events, such as concerts, street parties, and paint fights.
It’s one of the most colorful and vibrant Southeast Asian celebrations, that attracts between 1 and 2 million visitors every year.
See also: When is the Best Time to Visit the Philippines
Thaipusam Festival – Malaysia
Another festival in January (on the full month of Thamil month) is a very shocking one, but part of the Hindu culture.
It’s dedicated to Murugan, the God of War. Even though it’s celebrated in India as well, Kuala Lumpur is the best place to observe it in Southeast Asia and be prepared for a shock.
The devotees often engage in body mutilation as part of the “kavadi attam” dance. They pierce parts of their body and some even pull heavy loads attached by hooks in the flash of their backs.
It’s indeed one of the unique festivals in the region and worth checking out if you have a strong stomach.
See also: When is the Best Time to Visit Malaysia
Lunar New Year Festival – Singapore
This is a famous cultural festival in Southeast Asia and the best place to observe the Chinese New Year outside China is definitely Singapore. Every year in January or February.
The whole country comes alive and lights up for 3 days during the celebrations. Singapore is known to be one of the most technologically advanced countries in Southeast Asia, so expect extremely elaborate light shows and decorations.
Among the activities that take place here during the festival, you can enjoy dance competitions, dragon parades, street bazaars, fireworks, street parties, and concerts.
See also: When is the Best Time to Visit Singapore
Hue Festival – Vietnam
Vietnam is incredibly rich when it comes to culture and history, and that’s what the Hue Festival is all about.
If you want to learn more about this magnificent country, you must know this is a popular cultural event that takes place every two years in April, May, or June. It aims to strengthen relations between the Vietnamese cultures and other international cultures.
Among the many activities, you can be part of impressive firework shows, poetry workshops, art expositions, street art, performances, concerts, plays, and a week dedicated to Vietnam’s historical cinematography.
What I love about this festival is that is only a few kilometers away from the beach and you can always go for a day trip or even stay overnight in one of the beach resorts from there.
See also: When is the Best Time to Visit Vietnam
Nyepi Festival – Indonesia
Marking the start of the New Year in Bali, Nyepi is the most silent festival you can attend. If you happen to be visiting Bali around the time the festival takes place (and it’s different every year), don’t be shocked to discover that every business shuts down, including the airports.
Tourists are not allowed to leave their hotel, the streets become empty, and everything gets plunged into darkness at night. Some hotels make an exception and allow tourists to use the facilities.
However, the celebrations that proceed this day are a must-see. These include the purification ritual on the beach and the lively parades to banish evil spirits with the help of statues from Hindu mythology.
Panagbenga Festival – Philippines – 1st February every year
The Panagbenga Festival or the Festival of Flowers is not just one of the colorful festivals in the Philippines, but will also enchant (those without allergies) with the smells.
It’s held every February to mark the beginning of the bloom season with parades and floats made of flowers. The two parades are the highlight of the festival, and they’re held at the end of the month.
The festival always ends with massive firework displays, but until then visitors can enjoy workshops, great food, contests, horse rides, and bazaars with everything you can think of.
See also: Discover the Best Places to Visit in the Philippines
SIFA Festival – Singapore
Singapore International Festival of the Arts, or SIFA, is the peak of everything related to arts and culture and turns Singapore into a massive stage, receiving hundreds of artists from many fields.
If you thought most human imagination has already been visualized, SIFA will show you our creativity is limitless.
Tourists flock to take part in it and there is something for everyone: cinematography, fine arts, performing arts, music, digital art, etc. If this sparked your interest make sure you head over to Singapore between May and June.
See also: Where to Stay in Singapore: Best Hotels and Hostels
The Hungry Ghost Festival
The Hungry Ghost Festival, aka Ghost Festival, is an international festival in Southeast Asia, which takes place in countries like Indonesia, Malaysia, Taiwan, Japan, Vietnam, Thailand, and others.
Singapore celebrates it for the whole month, which is also known as the “ghost month”. It’s said hungry ghosts can cross the border between life and death and come back to earth in search of food.
Practicing Buddhists and Taoists make offerings to these tormented souls, so they can return to the land of death. Aside from these, the festival holds various events such as performances, traditional concerts, and culinary events.
Phuket Vegetarian Festival
Phuket Vegetarian Festival, aka Nine Emperor Gods Festival, is a Taoist festival that is celebrated all over Southeast Asia on the 9th month of the Chinese calendar, but in Phuket, it’s taken to the next level.
It’s not exactly an event for the faint of heart, and not a gathering of vegans either.
The devotees prepare their bodies for a somewhat sacrificial ritual for the gods. They eat only vegetarian food and follow specific routines that culminate with extreme piercings and walking on hot coals.
They walk in procession to the temples in a state of trance, making it one of the most shocking but astonishing festivals in the world.
See also: Southeast Asia 2 Weeks Travel Itinerary
Long Story Short,
Best Southeast Asia Cultural Festivals
- Vesak Festival – Indonesia
- Sinulog Festival – Philippines
- Thaipusam Festival – Malaysia
- Lunar New Year Festival – Singapore
- Hue Festival – Vietnam
- Nyepi Festival – Indonesia
- Panagbenga Festival – Philippines
- SIFA Festival – Singapore
- The Hungry Ghost Festival – Singapore
- Phuket Vegetarian Festival – Thailand
