Nakhon Phanom Debuts Global-Scale Illuminated Boat Festival with Spectacular Crowds
Thailand elevates its traditional Lai Reua Fai into a “World Illuminated Boat Festival,” drawing over 100,000 visitors and showcasing luminous cultural pageantry
Hundreds of thousands of visitors streamed into Nakhon Phanom along the Mekong River as Thailand launched the World Illuminated Boat Festival 2025, transforming the local tradition into a global-scale spectacle.
On the evening of October 7, Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, also serving as Interior Minister, presided over the official opening of the Nakhon Phanom Illuminated Boat Procession and Red Cross Fair 2025—held from September 27 to October 8—marking the most ambitious iteration yet.
The highlight night coincided with the full moon night marking Wan Ok Phansa (the conclusion of Buddhist Lent).
Boats crafted by artisans from all 12 districts paraded along the Mekong in a competition, each measuring around 80 metres in length and reaching 20 to 30 metres in height.
Adorned with 20,000 to 25,000 handmade lanterns fashioned from recycled coffee cans, the vessels depicted themes of religion, monarchy, local landmarks, and national identity.
This year also features international participation, with illuminated boats from Laos, China and Vietnam joining the procession.
The festival even includes a special 70-metre boat honoring Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn’s 70th birthday.
Provincial Acting Governor Worawit Phimphanit said the festival is a strategic effort to preserve and elevate Nakhon Phanom’s famed illuminated boat tradition, further stimulating local trade, tourism, and resident income.
Hotels, restaurants, and shops reported full bookings throughout the week.
The government funding backing this elevated festival came under the administration of former Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, reflecting a broader push to reposition Nakhon Phanom from secondary city to cultural tourism hub.
Prime Minister Anutin observed that the festival symbolizes the unity and collective identity of Nakhon Phanom communities.
He emphasized its pivotal role in revitalising the local economy through “grassroots tourism” and ensuring more equitable income distribution across the community.
The expanded festival program includes nightly Mor Lam concerts, a Red Cross fair, cultural performances, drone light shows, a Royal Trophy long-boat race (October 3–6), and elaborate parades with wax castles and flame processions.
The event cements the government’s ambition—endorsed by the Ministry of Culture—to showcase Thailand’s soft power through cultural diplomacy and to help position the province among international tourism destinations for future years.
On the evening of October 7, Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, also serving as Interior Minister, presided over the official opening of the Nakhon Phanom Illuminated Boat Procession and Red Cross Fair 2025—held from September 27 to October 8—marking the most ambitious iteration yet.
The highlight night coincided with the full moon night marking Wan Ok Phansa (the conclusion of Buddhist Lent).
Boats crafted by artisans from all 12 districts paraded along the Mekong in a competition, each measuring around 80 metres in length and reaching 20 to 30 metres in height.
Adorned with 20,000 to 25,000 handmade lanterns fashioned from recycled coffee cans, the vessels depicted themes of religion, monarchy, local landmarks, and national identity.
This year also features international participation, with illuminated boats from Laos, China and Vietnam joining the procession.
The festival even includes a special 70-metre boat honoring Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn’s 70th birthday.
Provincial Acting Governor Worawit Phimphanit said the festival is a strategic effort to preserve and elevate Nakhon Phanom’s famed illuminated boat tradition, further stimulating local trade, tourism, and resident income.
Hotels, restaurants, and shops reported full bookings throughout the week.
The government funding backing this elevated festival came under the administration of former Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, reflecting a broader push to reposition Nakhon Phanom from secondary city to cultural tourism hub.
Prime Minister Anutin observed that the festival symbolizes the unity and collective identity of Nakhon Phanom communities.
He emphasized its pivotal role in revitalising the local economy through “grassroots tourism” and ensuring more equitable income distribution across the community.
The expanded festival program includes nightly Mor Lam concerts, a Red Cross fair, cultural performances, drone light shows, a Royal Trophy long-boat race (October 3–6), and elaborate parades with wax castles and flame processions.
The event cements the government’s ambition—endorsed by the Ministry of Culture—to showcase Thailand’s soft power through cultural diplomacy and to help position the province among international tourism destinations for future years.
