From centuries-old cultural traditions to world-renowned international events, discover the diverse celebrations taking place across Asia throughout May.
The Cheung Chau Bun Festival (2-4 May, Hong Kong) is a week-long event including Taoist ceremonies and music, a parade, lion dances, drum beating and an exciting bun scrambling competition involving a tower of buns at Cheung Chau Island.
With its origins in pre-Buddhist rain-invoking ceremonies, the Boun Bang Fai Festival (9-11 May, Laos) is a festival that coincides with the Laos Visakha Puja celebrations. Parades, songs, dances and partying all lead to an explosive climax as huge, ornate, homemade bamboo rockets are blessed and fired into the skies to invite the rains.
A race on the island of Borneo, the Borneo International Marathon (10 May, Malaysia) is known for its wilderness and exotic culture. At this charity run, runners are treated with a scenic course overlooking the islands on the South China Sea and the sun rising behind Mount Kinabalu.
Watch the heavyweights in action at the Grand Sumo Tournament (10-24 May, Japan) in Kokugikan, Tokyo, one of Japan’s most prestigious sumo events.
The Aoi Matsuri (15 May, Japan) is one of Kyoto’s three most famous festivals (along with the Gion Matsuri and Jidai Matsuri). The festival’s main attraction is a large parade in Kyoto, in which over 500 people dressed in the aristocratic style of the Heian Period (794-1185) walk from the Imperial Palace to the Kamo Shrines.
Sanja Festival (15-17 May, Japan) is one of the three great Shinto festivals in Tokyo. It is considered one of the wildest and largest. The festival is held in honor of Hinokuma Hamanari, Hinokuma Takenari, and Hajino Nakatomo, the three men who established Sensō-ji. Sanja Matsuri is held on the third weekend in May at Asakusa Shrine. Its prominent parades revolve around three mikoshi, as well as traditional music and dancing.
During the Perfume Pagoda Festival (22 Feb – 16 May, Vietnam), thousands of pilgrims make the journey to the Perfume (Hương) Pagoda – Vietnam’s most revered Buddhist pilgrimage site. Travellers can visit Perfume Pagoda at any time of year, but the festival is a unique spectacle to witness.
The Big Buddha Festival (24 May, Hong Kong) celebrates the Buddha’s Birthday in Hong Kong. People visit temples, especially the Po Lin Monastery on Lantau Island or pay homage at the Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery at Sha Tin.
The Gióng Festival (25 May, Vietnam) is held annually on the 9th day of the 4th month of the lunar calendar in Phu Dong Village, Gia Lam District, Hanoi. The procession starts from the Mother Temple to Thuong Temple with the performance of a religious service. After reaching the temple, a feast for the troops occurs. When night falls, a Cheo play is performed (a classical Vietnamese opera).
The CommunicAsia Exhibition (27–29 May, Singapore) is one of the Asia-Pacific region’s largest ICT industry events, bringing together global technology brands to showcase emerging innovations, cutting-edge solutions, and the latest industry developments.
The Java Jazz Festival (29–31 May, Indonesia) is one of Asia’s most respected jazz festivals. Since its launch, it has welcomed many of the world’s biggest jazz artists alongside emerging talent, creating a vibrant celebration of live music across multiple stages.
The vibrant Harvest Festival (30-31 May, Malaysia) in Sabah, is a time of joyous celebration and deep cultural significance. This festival, primarily celebrated by the Kadazan-Dusun people, marks the end of the rice harvesting season and is a profound expression of gratitude for the bountiful harvest.
In an agriculture country like Vietnam, Parasite-Killing Festival (31 May, Vietnam) is a meaningful occasion. Its purpose is to prevent pestilence and disease, as well as enhance the prevention of evils and illnesses.
The Danang International Fireworks (30 May -11 Jul, Vietnam) showcase spectacular and innovative fireworks displays, filling the sky with an array of lights, sounds and colours. Local and international visitors gather to enjoy the show alongside activities such as boat parades, art installations, folk performances, and water sports
Bun Bang Fai Festival (Date TBA, Thailand) is an ancient local festival rooted in traditional beliefs that celebrate the supernatural powers thought to bring rain and ensure a successful rice harvest. Visitors can enjoy colourful rocket parades from villages across the region, live music, traditional dances, local product fairs, and thrilling rocket-launching contests.
Our destination specialists across Asia are on hand to share local knowledge, travel expertise and practical support.
