The Rocket Festival ประเพณีบุญบั้งไฟ Bun Bang Fai is a merit-making ceremony traditionally practiced by ethnic Lao people at the beginning of the wet season in various villages and municipalities in Northeastern Thailand and Laos.
The festivities typically include music and dance performances, competitive processions of floats, dancers and musicians on the second day, and culminating on the third day with the competitive firing of homemade rockets.
Local participants and sponsors take advantage of the occasion to enhance their social prestige, as is customary in traditional Buddhist folk festivals throughout Southeast Asia.
The festival in Thailand also includes special programs and specific local patterns like Bang Fai (Parade dance) and a Beautiful Bang Fai float such as Yasothon on the third weekend of May, and continues Suwannaphum District, Roi Et on the first weekend of June, Phanom Phrai District Roi Et during the full moon of the seventh month in Lunar ...
The Thailand vs. Singapore men’s international football friendly took place on November 13, 2025, at Thammasat Stadium in Pathum Thani, Thailand (just north of Bangkok).
This match served as preparation for upcoming AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualifiers, with Thailand focusing on tactical experiments and player evaluations, while Singapore aimed to test against stronger opposition ahead of a key qualifier against Hong Kong.
Attendance for the game was 10,205.
Thailand, ranked 97th in FIFA standings and coached by Masatada Ishii, entered as clear favorites after a strong year, including a 6-1 win over Chinese Taipei in October’s Asian Cup qualifier and recent friendlies like a 2-0 victory over Afghanistan in March.
Singapore, ranked around 150th and led by interim coach Gavin Lee, had bounced back from World Cup qualifiers with wins over Chinese Taipei (2-0 home, 6-1 away) but struggled defensively, conceding heavily in recent games.
Thailand secured a 3-2 victory in a competitive affair, ...
The Phimai Light and Sound Show is a captivating highlight of the annual Phimai Festival, transforming the ancient Khmer ruins of Phimai Historical Park into a living tableau of Thailand’s Khmer heritage.
Held in the heart of Phimai District, Nakhon Ratchasima Province (Isaan region), the show uses state-of-the-art projections, lasers, music, and narration to vividly recreate the history of the Khmer Empire, focusing on the era of King Jayavarman VII (1181–1220).
The park itself, centered around Prasat Hin Phimai—the largest and most intact Khmer temple in Thailand—serves as the dramatic backdrop, with lights illuminating its towering sandstone prangs (towers) and intricate lintels, evoking the grandeur of Angkor Wat’s northern outpost.
As part of the Phimai Festival 2025, the light and sound show runs nightly from November 5 to 9, 2025, starting at approximately 7:00 PM and lasting 30–45 minutes per performance. Shows typically begin after sunset (around 6:30 PM in November).
The ...
The Phimai Festival, also known as the Phimai Boat Race Festival, is an annual cultural extravaganza held in Phimai, Nakhon Ratchasima Province (Isaan region, Thailand). It celebrates the area’s Khmer heritage, centered around the 1,000-year-old Phimai Historical Park (Prasat Hin Phimai).
The 2025 edition is expected to occur during the first weekend of November, 5-9th 2025. Key highlights include long-boat races on the Chakrat River, light-and-sound shows depicting Khmer history, traditional performances, and cultural markets. The festival draws thousands of visitors, transforming the quiet town into a vibrant hub of Isaan traditions.
The night market, often styled as an “ancient market” during the festival, is one of the event’s most enchanting features. It turns the streets surrounding Phimai Historical Park into a lively, bamboo-constructed bazaar evoking ancient Khmer trading hubs, blending historical reenactment with modern street vibes.
Centered near the Clock Tower and the ...
