Enjoy the traditional New Year Bunpimay

This is not only a festival of a community, but also contributes to fostering the special solidarity and friendship between the people of Vietnam and Laos.

From early morning, a large number of Vietnamese people of Lao origin living in Buon Don district and tourists gathered at Ay No island (Buon Don suspension bridge tourist center, Krong Na commune) to attend the Cultural Festival of ethnic groups in Buon Don district and Bunpimay New Year - Laos Buddhist calendar 2568 year 2025.

People in traditional costumes, holding beautifully decorated rafts, gathered together to celebrate, wishing each other health and the best.

As a third generation Lao living in Krong Na commune, Mr. Y No Ly Kbuor feels very happy when the Bunpimay Festival is organized by the People's Committee of Buon Don district every year to help Vietnamese people of Lao origin in the area celebrate the traditional New Year of the nation. He hopes that through Bunpimay Festival, he will promote the beauty of Lao culture to tourists near and far, thereby attracting friends and tourists to Buon Don.

People participate in the Lantern Festival, releasing flower rafts to float down the river to dispel bad luck and drive away bad things from the old year.

This year, Bunpimay Festival takes place on April 12 and 13, 2025, with traditional rituals such as: New Year Celebration; Lantern Festival; Buddha Bathing Ceremony; Wrist Thread Tying Ceremony; Sand Tower Building; Parade, carrying the Spring Goddess Nang Sangkhane. In the bright sunshine, everyone calms down, listens to the New Year's health wishes, clasps hands to pray for peace in the new year. Join the Lantern Festival, bring flower-woven rafts, light candles and let them float down the river to dispel bad luck and drive away bad things in the old year. Next, perform the sacred Buddha Bathing Ceremony. In particular, people and visitors attending have their wrists tied with strings to wish for health and happiness. Then everyone present joins hands to build sand towers, symbolizing and wishing for the fruits of labor and prosperity in the new year.

Under the large trees at the Buon Don Suspension Bridge Tourist Center, the traditional New Year of the Laotian Vietnamese community becomes more bustling when people and tourists join in the graceful and beautiful Lam Vong dance to the melody of the song "Beautiful Champa Flowers". In particular, one of the indispensable activities is the water-splashing festival. To show respect, young people often splash water on the elderly to wish them good health, longevity and prosperity; friends splash water on each other to wish them all the best in the new year. The water-splashing festival takes place in an extremely joyful and bustling atmosphere, with hearty laughter to welcome a bright and lucky new year.

Locals and tourists join in the graceful Lam Vong dance.

Coming to Bunpimay - Laos and the Cultural Festival of Ethnic Groups in Buon Don district, people and tourists not only have the opportunity to learn about the rich and unique culture of the Vietnamese of Lao origin in Buon Don district, but also have the opportunity to experience elephant-friendly tourism, visit the Cultural Fair displaying food stalls, brocades, and OCOP products. In particular, they can enjoy the art performance "Buon Don - Legend of a Land", telling the legendary stories and lives of the ethnic groups in Buon Don through music , dance and light; the program "Brilliant colors - Artistic fireworks display" ...

In addition, the mobile exhibition “Hoang Sa, Truong Sa of Vietnam - Historical and legal evidence” provided information, historical evidence, legal evidence on Vietnam's sovereignty over seas and islands, as well as introduced activities to protect sovereignty and the lives of officers and soldiers of the Vietnam Navy. Thereby, contributing to raising the spirit of solidarity and sense of responsibility of each citizen in protecting the sacred sovereignty of the seas and islands of the Fatherland.

As a veteran who participated in the resistance war to help Laos, Mr. Dinh Cong Trinh, Chairman of the Vietnam - Laos Friendship Association of Krong Ana district, shared: During his time in the neighboring country, he received help from Lao people from salt grains, water, and even was taken care of when he was sick. Today, attending the festival made him feel grateful, remembering the contributions of the Lao people and wishing that the special friendship between the two countries would forever be green and sustainable. According to Mr. Trinh, out of 99 members of the Vietnam - Laos Friendship Association of Krong Ana district, nearly 80 members participated in the Bunpimay Festival this year. With rich content and organization, the festival brought joy, excitement and very good impressions to the members.

According to Vice Chairman of Buon Don District People's Committee Le Van Nuoi, Bunpimay - Lao New Year 2568 Buddhist calendar year 2025 is not only an opportunity for the Lao community to express the beauty of traditional culture, gratitude to ancestors but also an opportunity to further strengthen the special friendship between the two peoples of Vietnam and Laos. This is also an opportunity for ethnic groups to meet, exchange, learn, and exchange experiences in preserving and promoting traditional cultural values, strengthening solidarity. At the same time, introduce and promote the potential for cultural development, eco-tourism of Buon Don district; honor the cultural values of ethnic groups in the Central Highlands, thereby creating attractiveness, attracting investors to promote joint ventures, associations, cooperation in economic, social and tourism development of Buon Don district.

Laotian Vietnamese in Buon Don district currently have more than 100 households with nearly 400 people, mainly living in Krong Na commune.

Source: https://baodaklak.vn/du-lich/202504/vui-cung-tet-co-truyen-bunpimay-lao-e511306/