Bun Bang Fai 2025: Thailand's Rocket Festival in Isan (Dates, Towns & Guide)
At the end of May and beginning of June, just before the rainy season, it’s time for the Rocket Festival - Bun Bang Fai. This traditional festival is held in the Isan region. All the information you need to take part in this spectacular and unique festival.
What is Bun Bang Fai, the Rocket Festival of Isan?
La Fête des fusées is a French translation of Bun Bang Fai. Bun Bang Fai comes from Laos and literally means ‘rice rocket’. Bun means ceremony or festival, Bang means rocket, and Fai means fire or flame.
The festival consists of a competition in handmade rockets, which are made from bamboo and papier-mâché. Participants spend months designing and building their rockets, which can measure up to six metres in length and weigh more than 100 kilograms.
On the day of the competition, the rockets are launched in the hope of reaching maximum altitude and winning the prize. The festival is also accompanied by music, dance and traditional food, making it a complete cultural experience.
Rocket Festival, a shared tradition
In Thailand, the rocket festival is associated with religious and spiritual beliefs, as rockets are seen as a way of asking the gods for rain for future crops. The Land of Smiles is not the only region in the world where this practice is found. In China, the Yunnan Rain Festival is an annual festival during which people light firecrackers and fireworks to call for rain.
In some parts of India, farmers use rockets to summon rain. The most famous of these rituals is the Rath Yatra, a Hindu festival held in the state of Odisha, where rockets are launched to invoke rain.
In Australia, the Aborigines build huge fires to call down rain, a practice they have been doing for thousands of years. In a way, they attract the rain spirits, and the smoke is then associated with cloud vapour.
In Mexico, during La Danza de la Lluvia, people dance and sing to call for rain. Firecrackers and rockets are also used in these ceremonies.
When are the rocket festivals held?
Bun Bang Fai is an ancient Thai tradition dating back several centuries. There are no precise dates. Only old wall paintings bear witness to the practice. The exact origins of the festival are unclear, but it is thought to have roots in the religious and spiritual beliefs of the Thai people, particularly animist rituals.
The festival takes place every year at the end of the dry season, which generally corresponds to the months of May and June. However, the festival takes place in several towns and not all have the same dates.
Over the years, Bun Bang Fai has become increasingly popular in Thailand, attracting visitors from all over the country and even abroad.
Bun Bang Fai 2025, the rocket festival, takes place this year from Friday 16 May to Sunday 18 May.
Main Towns Celebrating Bun Bang Fai in Thailand (2025)
Bun Bang Fai is celebrated in several towns and villages in north-east Thailand, also known as the Isan region. Here are some of the main towns where the rocket festival is held:
Yasothon:
Yasothon is one of the most popular places for the rocket festival in Thailand. The town organises a big festival with rocket competitions, traditional dances, concerts and street shows.
Nong Khai:
Nong Khai: Situated on the banks of the Mekong, just opposite Vientiane, the capital of Laos, this town is famous for its annual Rocket Festival, which takes place in May. Shows and entertainment, food stalls and more, enliven the town for two days.
Mukdahan:
Mukdahan also borders Laos. It also holds a major rocket festival in May, which attracts visitors from all over Thailand and abroad.
Kalasin:
Kalasin celebrates the Rocket Festival with rocket competitions, traditional processions, dance and music performances and fireworks. Kalasin is located 50 km from Khon Kaen.
King And:
King And: The rocket festival is also celebrated in this town with rocket competitions, ox races, traditional dances and processions.
All these towns celebrate the end of the hot season and the start of the rainy season. All these towns have their own calendar. The dates vary from 14 May to 25 May. So it’s a good idea to find out in advance.
5 Reasons to Attend Bun Bang Fai 2025 in Thailand
Bun Bang Fai offers an opportunity to discover an ancient tradition that helps us to better understand certain cultural aspects or to raise awareness of cultural factors that may seem insignificant from the outside. Bun Bang Fai underlines the importance of the seasons and reminds us that culture is also agrarian culture, that of the land.
Bun Bang Fai is a local event, a celebration attended by a small community, a far cry from the big festivals held all over Thailand. It’s more convivial and, above all, it’s a festival on a human scale.
It’s also a chance to see homemade rockets. It’s simple, but it’s a whole art and techniques that have been passed down from generation to generation, where everyone plays to their honour, but in good humour.
It’s also about seeing a town in full celebration, a town where the streets are alive with music, dance and food stalls - in short, a festive and friendly atmosphere.
How to Get to Bun Bang Fai Festival in Isan (Transport Tips)
All the festivals are held in the Isan region. It’s fairly easy to get there. However, it is more difficult to get to the small towns celebrating Bun Bang Fai.
How to get to Isan
By plane
The Isan region is vast and several towns have airports. The most convenient is undoubtedly Khon Kaen airport, which has several flights a day to Bangkok.
By bus
All the major towns in Isan have a bus station. Buses run to the capital several times a day.
By train
The rail network is limited in Thailand, especially in this part of the country. However, there is a train between Nong Khai and Bangkok. There are also night buses. This is undoubtedly the most practical, economical and fun way to go directly to the Nong Khai Rocket Festival.
By car:
This is the most practical way to go directly to the festival towns. It is advisable to book accommodation in advance, as parking spaces may be limited.
To get to the Rocket Festival cities
| Cities | Plane | Train | Bus | Car | Booking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yasothon | - | Change to Roi Et | Ok | Ok | here |
| Nong Khai | - | Ok | Ok | Ok | here |
| Mukdahan | - | - | Ok | Ok | here |
| Kalasin | - | Change to Nong Khai | Ok | Ok | here |
| Roi Et | Ok | - | Ok | Ok | here |
Bun Bang Fai and accidents
Bun Bang Fai is a wonderful festival, but launching rockets is no picnic. Safety measures are becoming stricter every year. The authorities have established rules and standards for the manufacture and launch of rockets, as well as for crowd management during the event.
There have been accidents at Thailand’s rocket festival over the years, some more serious than others.
For example, in 2019 at Yasothon, a rocket exploded on the ground, injuring four people. The festival organisers immediately cancelled the remaining launches for safety reasons.
In 2018, in Mukdahan, a rocket exploded in the crowd, killing one man and injuring four others. In 2013, in Sisaket, a rocket exploded during the launch, injuring 27 people, four of them seriously.
Tips for the Rocket Festival
The three big tips to really enjoy Bun Bang Fai:
Search for dates:
The dates of the Rocket Festival vary from city to city and are often determined by the lunar calendar. Find out about the dates and locations of the Rocket Festival in advance so that you can plan your trip.
Book your accommodation in advance:
Hotels can be booked up quickly in the run-up to the Rocket Festival.
Taste the local cuisine:
The Rocket Festival is an opportunity to sample the local cuisine. Warning eating Isan means eating spicy food! It’s strong… very strong!
Frequently Asked Questions about Bun Bang Fai
When is Bun Bang Fai 2025?
The main celebrations in Yasothon will be held from May 16 to May 18, 2025.
Where is the Bun Bang Fai Festival held?
Mainly in northeastern Thailand (Isan), especially in Yasothon, Nong Khai, Mukdahan, Kalasin, and King And.
How can I get to the festival?
You can take buses, minivans or domestic flights to the main cities, then local transport to the towns.
