Phnom Penh Local Custom Tips by ValbyDK

The Water Festival

The Water Festival is an annual 3-day festival, and is (together with the Khmer New Year) one of the most important holidays for Cambodians and attracts millions of people from all over the country. In Khmer, the festival is called “Bonn Om Toeuk” and it celebrates the end of the rainy season, the start of the fishing season - and also a unique natural phenomenon; the flow of the Tonlé Sap River... From November to May, the river runs into the Mekong River, but the monsoon rain is forcing it to change direction and flow back into the Tonlé Sap Lake.

The highlight of the Water Festival is the boat races on the Tonlé Sap River, and more than 300 boats take part in the races. The boats are beautiful decorated and can be up to 20 meters long and contain up to 60 oarsmen. The river banks are crowded with enthusiastic spectators, food stands, fair rides and much more… Amazing scenery…