Kayiwa · · 2 min read
I’ve filmed Songkran in Bangkok every year since my first one in 2023. Every year I go out thinking I’ll stay mostly dry. I never do.
Songkran is the Thai New Year, officially 13 to 15 April. It has a quiet, traditional side and a very loud, very wet side, and in Bangkok you get both.
The quiet side
It starts at home and at the temple. Water is poured gently over Buddha images and over the hands of older relatives, as a blessing and a fresh start for the year. If you see that happening, it’s not the moment to reach for your water gun.
The wet side
Then there’s the street. Silom Road and Khao San Road are the famous ones, and there are big organised events around Central World and Siam. Water guns, buckets, hoses, and thousands of strangers who are all on the same side and also all against you.
Once you’re on the street, you’re fair game. Everyone is. That’s the deal, and it’s a lot more fun once you accept it.
The music
The big events come with stages. In 2023 I filmed THE7’s set at the Central World Songkran Music Festival, and it’s still one of the more-watched things on my channel.
What to bring
- A waterproof phone pouch. Not optional
- Clothes you don’t mind getting soaked, and sandals
- Very little else. Leave anything valuable at your hotel
- A water gun, if you’d rather join in than just be the target
And be decent about it. Go easy on older people, small children and anyone clearly not playing, and don’t aim at monks. Everyone else signed up.
The practical bit
- When: 13 to 15 April. Celebrations often start earlier and run longer
- Where in Bangkok: Silom Road, Khao San Road, and around Central World and Siam
- More videos: Songkran 2026 and the one where we got soaked
Planning the rest of the trip? Start with the Thailand guide.