Bunpimay Festival brings Lao culture to Thai Nguyen

These days, Bunpimay - the traditional New Year festival of the Lao people - is being celebrated. At schools across Thai Nguyen Province, many Lao students studying here have come together to join in the festive atmosphere. Not only does the celebration help ease homesickness, it also contributes to spreading the beauty of Lao culture in Vietnam.

Lao students celebrate Bunpimay Festival at the School of Culture (Ministry of Public Security).

Now in her third year away from Laos to study at the School of Culture under the Ministry of Public Security, Farsai Thammatheva, a student of Class 11C1, says Bunpimay still brings a warm and familiar feeling. Although the celebration here does not include all the cultural and spiritual rituals that last for three days back home, the activities organized by the school have helped her and more than 460 Lao students enjoy the full New Year atmosphere.

Farsai Thammatheva shared: “I feel very happy. Even though we study far from home, the school organizes Bunpimay for us and for other students and trainees here, just like at home.”

Lieutenant Colonel Do Thi Huyen Lan, Principal of the School of Culture, said: “Every April, the school develops a plan to organize Bunpimay for Lao students. The school board, leaders, commanders of units, teachers, and Vietnamese students all join in the celebration with Lao students. We create a warm and friendly atmosphere to help them ease their homesickness. At the same time, Vietnamese students can better understand Lao traditional customs, which helps strengthen friendship and solidarity between the two nations.”

Celebrating Bunpimay at the University of Education (Thai Nguyen University).

Despite celebrating far from home, nearly 1,000 Lao students in Thai Nguyen are still given the opportunity to celebrate Bunpimay in a way that preserves their cultural identity. Schools have organized many traditional activities such as the wrist-tying ceremony, water splashing for good luck, and traditional cultural performances.

Student Naynakhon Xikhamhon from the Faculty of Literature, Thai Nguyen University of Education, said: “Being far from home, I really miss my family, especially my parents in Laos. Here, teachers and friends organize the festival for us and it’s very joyful. I feel very happy.”

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mai Xuan Truong, Rector of the University of Education, Thai Nguyen University, stressed: “Organizing Bunpimay for Lao students helps international students in general, as well as Vietnamese students, learn more about the traditional culture of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic. Through Bunpimay, Lao students also introduce their culture and traditions to other international students and Vietnamese students.”

This year, Laos’ traditional Bunpimay New Year takes place from April 14 to 16, a time for people to welcome the new year with rituals, praying for peace and good fortune. In Thai Nguyen, the support from local authorities and schools, along with the care and sharing from Vietnamese friends, has helped Lao students feel less homesick, gain more motivation to study, and create beautiful memories during their time away from home. More than just a cultural celebration, Bunpimay serves as a bridge of friendship, helping each Lao student feel the warmth and hospitality of Vietnam.