TL;DR: Bunpimay New Year, also called Bun Huot Nam or the water-splashing New Year, is the traditional New Year of the Lao people in Vietnam, held in mid-April; in Dien Bien it falls on 14 April some years and on 12 and 13 April in others. The ritual part includes offerings to the deities, wrist-thread tying, asking for water and offerings to the river and stream deities; the festive part is water splashing for good luck, with the belief that water washes away bad things and welcomes a new year of favourable rain and wind. The water-splashing custom here is a cultural practice of the Lao community, not a mandatory religious rule for everyone.
What is Bunpimay and when do the Lao in Vietnam celebrate it?
Bunpimay, also called Bun Huot Nam or the water-pouring festival, is the traditional New Year of the Lao people, held in mid-April of the solar calendar. In Vietnam, the Lao community is most concentrated in Na Sang 1 village, Nua Ngam commune, Dien Bien district (before July 2025), Dien Bien province, where the festival is held in mid-April: on 14 April in 2024[1] and on 12 and 13 April in 2025[2]. Ethnic Lao people in Buon Don, in the former Dak Lak province, also hold this festival, but the date may shift by a few days depending on the year[5].
In Lao, "Bun" means festival, and also merit; "huot" means to pour; "nam" means water. "Bun Huot Nam" is understood as the water-pouring festival or water-pouring New Year[1]. The name Bunpimay is another transcription of the same New Year, and in Vietnamese texts the three names Bunpimay, Bun Huot Nam and water-pouring New Year are often used interchangeably.
The water-pouring New Year is tied to the settlement and village founding of the Lao in Na Sang 1 village and has been preserved by the community for decades. Since 2015, local authorities and villagers have restored the festival to its original form and held it exactly at the traditional New Year time of the Lao[3].
Why is Bunpimay tied to water?
Bunpimay is tied to water because this is the seasonal transition in mainland Southeast Asia: the end of the dry season, preparing for the rainy season. Water in the festival is both a cleansing substance and a symbol of crops and life.
According to the understanding recorded in reports on the Dien Bien festival, the water-pouring New Year has at its core sending off the dry season, washing away the bad luck of the old year for the village, and praying for favourable rain and wind, thriving plants, abundant crops, a peaceful village and good health for everyone[3]. Also according to these reports, the festival is an occasion for the community to bond and preserve the cultural beauty of Dien Bien province[2][4].
In the belief of the Lao in Na Sang 1 village, the more water poured, the more luck it brings, and water will wash away bad and unlucky things[1][2]. This is the voice of belief as recounted by insiders to the press, not a scientific claim about the effect of water.
What rituals make up the ceremonial part of Bunpimay?
The ceremonial part of Bunpimay in Dien Bien consists of a sequence of rituals, led by artisans, village elders and the ritual team. The order below follows reports on the festival in Na Sang 1[2][3][4].
- Offering to spirits: opens the ceremonial part, led by artisans and village elders. This is a characteristic spiritual ritual of the Lao, giving thanks to ancestors, heaven and earth, and praying for a peaceful new year[2][4].
- Offering to the village, ancestors and grandparents: according to records from 2019, this is one of the main activities of the water-pouring New Year[3].
- Wrist-tying: each thread represents a good wish, expressing connection, solidarity and love among community members[2][4].
- Water request: a ritual symbolising reverence, praying for favourable rain and wind and the unity of the Na Sang community[2][4].
- Offering to river and stream spirits: a ritual that opens the way for the water-pouring for good luck[2][4].
- Sprinkling scented water and tying wrists for attendees: the mo, village elder, village head and respected people together with the ritual team pray, sprinkle scented water and tie wrists to wish good luck and bless a peaceful new year, with no illness, and abundant crops[3].
The traditional ritual site in Na Sang is a large plot of land right beside the Nam Nua stream, where the community and visitors gather from early morning[3].
What is in the festive part besides water pouring?
The festive part of Bunpimay is not only water pouring. According to records of the Na Sang festival, the festive part includes activities originating from working life, conquering nature, fighting natural disasters and enemies, protecting crops and protecting the peaceful life of the community[3]. Reports mention folk performances and games such as tau phac sa and tau la, along with traditional folk dances[3].
On the water-pouring New Year day in Na Sang, Lao women dance lam vong beside the rice fields[4]. The commune's art team also rehearses dance and song items to perform during the festival[1].
In Buon Don, in Dak Lak province, the Bunpimay festival is held at the Buon Don suspension bridge tourism centre, carried out by local authorities together with the ethnic Lao community. In 2026, the event lasted two days, 11 and 12 April, with the theme "Cultural exchange, tightening bonds", attracting many delegates, local people and visitors[5].
How does Bunpimay in Dien Bien differ from that in Dak Lak?
Bunpimay in Dien Bien and in Dak Lak are both the New Year of the Lao people and both centre on water, but they differ in community context, scale of organisation and degree of attachment to traditional rituals.
| Criterion | Na Sang 1 village, Nua Ngam commune, Dien Bien province | Buon Don, Dak Lak province |
|---|---|---|
| Community | Lao people long settled in Dien Bien district (before July 2025) | Ethnic Lao community |
| Venue | Land plot beside the Nam Nua stream | Buon Don suspension bridge tourism centre |
| Time | Mid-April (14 April in 2024; 12 and 13 April in 2025) | Some years held over two consecutive days, for example 11 and 12 April 2026 |
| Organiser | Village community, restored since 2015 | Local authorities together with the ethnic Lao community |
| Highlight | Rituals for the village, ancestors, wrist-tying, river and stream spirits | Cultural exchange festival, community bonding |
The table above is compiled from reports on the festivals in the two localities[1][3][4][5]. The time column for Dak Lak follows one specific edition, not a fixed annual schedule.
Why has this festival been restored and held on a larger scale?
The water-pouring New Year in Na Sang was restored to its original form in 2015, and has now become a way of life and custom for local people[3]. The scale of the festival changes from year to year and depends on major events of the province.
In 2024, Dien Bien province solemnly held the 70th anniversary of the Dien Bien Phu Victory and Dien Bien National Tourism Year 2024, so the festival scale was larger than in previous years, with people from neighbouring localities and visitors from all regions flocking to Nua Ngam in great numbers[1]. In 2025, the festival was still held in mid-April with the participation of local people and visitors[2][4].
According to the interpretation in the reports, Bunpimay is not only an occasion to wish for a new year of favourable rain and wind and abundant crops, but also an occasion to bond the community and preserve and promote the cultural beauty of Dien Bien province[2][4].
Can outsiders join the water pouring?
Reports on the Na Sang festival all record that visitors from everywhere and people from outside the village join the community in water pouring[2][3][4]. In Buon Don, the Bunpimay festival is held with the wish for cultural exchange and community bonding, attracting thousands of locals and visitors[5].
However, two layers of activity should be distinguished. The ceremonial part with offerings to spirits, wrist-tying and water requests is led by the community and the ritual team; the festive part with water pouring for good luck is open to attendees. Outsiders should follow the guidance of the organisers and of villagers, and should not perform sacred rituals on their own without being invited.
Nhat Nguyet's suggestions:
If you want to learn about Bunpimay as a cultural practice, come in mid-April and spend time on the ceremonial part before joining the festive part. The ceremonial part usually takes place from early morning, is shorter than the festive part, and is where the meaning of the festival is clearest. When joining the water pouring, use clean water, and avoid pouring on elderly people, small children and those performing rituals. These are Nhat Nguyet's suggestions, not rules of the Lao community in Na Sang or Buon Don.
