Bon Om Touk (Water Festival)

When: November (full moon); the exact date moves each year with the lunar calendar.

Where: riverside of Phnom Penh, Cambodia, at the confluence of the Tonle Sap and Mekong rivers.

Cost: Mostly free to watch from public riverbanks and parks, though VIP seating and private dining packages can be paid.

Don’t miss: Championship longboat races, the illuminated night flotilla and the waterfront fireworks over the river.

Bon Om Touk in Phnom Penh, Cambodia is the nation’s largest water festival and a centuries‑old celebration of the rivers that sustain the country. It marks the end of the rainy season and celebrates the unique seasonal reversal of the Tonle Sap flow, mixing Buddhist ritual, royal observance and popular pageantry.

The city riverfront along Sisowath Quay and nearby bridges become performance spaces: daytime regattas feature long, narrow boats manned by provincial teams, while evenings bring illuminated barges, loud drumming, music, street food stalls and family gatherings - an intense, festive atmosphere that runs along the riverbanks and adjoining parks.

In Cambodia the festival falls each November on the full moon, so the exact date varies with the lunar calendar and national holiday announcements. The celebration usually spans two to three days, with the regatta and the illuminated flotilla plus fireworks serving as the climactic events on the main day.

The nearest international airport is Phnom Penh International Airport in Phnom Penh; from there a taxi or tuk‑tuk to the riverfront (roughly 20 - 30 minutes in normal traffic) is the usual route. Many visitors also fly into Siem Reap and take a short domestic flight or a 5 - 6 hour bus to Phnom Penh; book hotels near Sisowath Quay well in advance as riverside rooms sell out.

• Arrive early to claim a riverside viewing spot along Sisowath Quay; good places fill up hours before the races.
• Book Phnom Penh accommodation several weeks ahead, and choose riverfront lodgings if you want easy access to the main events.
• Bring sun protection, a refillable water bottle and insect repellent for daytime waiting, and a light layer for cooler nights by the water.
• Keep valuables secure and be cautious on crowded riverbanks or when boarding small boats; petty theft and crushes can occur in dense crowds.
• Respect local customs around shrines and royal sites: dress modestly if you visit temporary temples or official ceremonies.
• Plan your onward travel with extra time after the fireworks - road closures and heavy traffic mean taxis and ride‑hailing can be delayed.