Thatluang Festival - a unique cultural and tourist destination of Laos

According to a VNA reporter in Laos, on the afternoon of November 4 in the capital Vientiane, within the framework of the 2025 Thatluang Traditional Festival taking place from November 1-5, thousands of people flocked to the area in front of Thatluang yard to participate in the Phasatphueng Procession, a typical Buddhist religious ritual of the Lao people.

In the spiritual and cultural life of the Lao people, the Phasatphueng Procession is a long-standing traditional cultural beauty associated with the Thatluang Festival.

Upon arriving at the temple, the procession participants will carry or hug Phasatphueng around the temple three times before stopping at the back hall to make offerings.

Not only does it have a profound spiritual meaning, the Thatluang Festival is also an opportunity for Laos to promote the image of the country, its people and its culture to international friends. This year, the event attracted a large number of domestic people and tourists from many countries to attend and worship.

Standing and observing from afar, taking the first photos of her trip to Laos, Ms. Corra - a tourist from the US - shared that there were many things she needed to learn about Laos, about the people, costumes and customs of Laos. This was her first time coming to this country, everything was new and exciting, there were many things to discover .

People practice rituals and listen to the teachings of monks. (Photo: Xuan Tu/VNA)

Sharing the same feeling, Ms. Marian - a tourist from Australia - said this was her first time coming to Laos and felt the festival in this country was wonderful.

Sister Marian was very impressed when she saw people in traditional costumes participating in the procession in a solemn yet bustling atmosphere, which made her feel extremely excited.

When groups enter the Thatluang temple grounds, offerings are presented for monks to receive or placed solemnly at the foot of the Thatluang stupa for prayer.

Then, Buddhists listen to the teachings of monks, advising people to be good, keep their minds pure, live peacefully and cultivate a life of "good life, good religion".

Joining the long queue of people waiting to perform religious rituals, Ms. Thongsy Sophapmixay - a resident of the capital Vientiane - shared that she felt very happy to attend the Thatluang Festival. This is not only a big festival of the capital Vientiane, but also a great festival of all Lao people of all ethnic groups.

She added that Thatluang Pagoda was built in ancient times and is a sacred symbol associated with Buddhism and the ancestor worship of the Lao people of all ethnic groups. As a Buddhist, she attends every year and has never been absent.

According to Ms. Thongsy, on this occasion, Lao people from North to South, as well as Lao expatriates abroad, all return to attend the festival.

In addition, there are many international tourists coming to worship, including visitors from Vietnam, Thailand and many other countries in the region. Ms. Thongsy believes that this is a unique cultural feature that needs to be preserved and passed on to future generations.

Speaking to a VNA reporter in Laos, Ms. Viengphone Keokhounsy - Director of the Department of Culture and Tourism of Vientiane capital - said the main purpose of organizing the annual Thatluang Festival is to strengthen the great unity of the Lao people, especially the people of Vientiane capital, under the leadership of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party and the Lao Government.

Through the festival, people also show their filial piety and gratitude to their ancestors who have contributed to building the country since ancient times.

Not only that, besides its spiritual significance, the Thatluang Festival is also an opportunity to promote the good cultural and religious values of the Lao people - values that have been formed for a long time, becoming the pride and cultural quintessence of the nation.

This event aims to contribute to promoting tourism activities, attracting domestic and international tourists to visit and worship, thereby promoting the image of friendly and hospitable Laos.

Through cultural, artistic and tourism activities organized alongside religious ceremonies, Laos is gradually affirming its unique cultural-spiritual tourism potential, aiming to turn tourism into a spearhead economic sector, actively contributing to the country's socio-economic development./.

(TTXVN/Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/le-hoi-thatluang-diem-hen-van-hoa-va-du-lich-dac-sac-cua-lao-post1074945.vnp