Songkran 2024 - My Experience

I celebrated the Thai New Year in Chiang Mai this year. It was a pleasant experience. In this article, I want to share with you what I did during the five days of Songkran here in Chiang Mai.

Why Chiang Mai?

You may wonder why I celebrated Songkran in Chiang Mai this year. Last year, I lived in Bangkok and celebrated there. But in December 2023, I moved to Chiang Mai due to a job offer I received. So, it was a good opportunity to experience Songkran here this year. I had heard it is a little different here in the North compared to Bangkok and wanted to see it for myself.

What’s Different in Chiang Mai?

In Bangkok, Songkran lasted exactly three days last year, which are also the official dates of the festival where it is public holidays. During my time at the Thai language school, I learned that Songkran’s duration varies depending on the region. In Chiang Mai, the festival lasts for five days, meaning two more days of water fights. Furthermore, the internet claims that Chiang Mai experiences the wettest Songkran in Thailand. I can somewhat confirm that, but more on that later.

Day 1 - April 12

April 12, a Friday, was the day before the official start of Songkran. However, in Chiang Mai, the water fights had already started in some parts of the city, particularly in the Nimman area where I live. I still needed to work that day, and the company I work for organized a small Songkran party at the office. I celebrated for a few hours with my colleagues before heading home in the evening. My parents also visited me during Songkran, so I wanted to spend some time with them as well. On the first evening, I managed to escape most of the water fights and stayed mostly dry. The only time I got soaked was on my way back home from work. You should know that people in Chiang Mai get a bit crazy during Songkran. I was driving on the highway on my scooter when some kids by the side of the road threw water at me as I passed them at about 50 kph. Honestly, a good piece of advice: avoid riding a scooter during Songkran in Chiang Mai. It can be very dangerous.

Day 2 - April 13

April 13 was the official start of Songkran, and I can tell you, this was when the madness began. My parents were staying in a hotel in the old town, the most popular spot for Songkran, surrounded by a moat where people can refill their water guns. Due to the high number of people celebrating there, it becomes nearly impossible to enter or leave the old town from the afternoon to the late evening. So, I decided it would be best to leave the old city early in the morning. Until early afternoon, my parents, my wife, and I did some shopping and ate in the Nimman area. After that, we made a short stop at my apartment to change and then headed to the water fights. We walked through Nimman and participated in the water fights until evening. It was a lot of fun, with many people on the streets and everyone in a good mood. Some people even filled huge ice blocks into their water barrels and threw buckets full of ice-cold water. I got soaked from head to toe, but it was a great experience. Only my mother was a little overwhelmed; she underestimated the water fights and didn’t have the right clothes with her, but she still had fun. In the evening, we managed to organize a taxi for my parents back to their hotel.

Day 3 - April 14

On the third day, we wanted to continue the water fights but not before the late afternoon. So, we decided to go to Central Festival, a shopping mall, and buy some new glasses for my parents. Glasses here are very cheap compared to Germany, so my parents wanted to take advantage of that. After a few hours of shopping and delicious food, we went back to my apartment to change and continue the Songkran celebration. We stayed in the Nimman area again because it was most convenient for us. We had a lot of fun and got soaked again. This time, my mother was better prepared and had the right clothes with her. We stayed until late in the evening and then went back home.

Day 4 - April 15

On the fourth day, we decided that we had had enough of the water fights. We just went shopping and ate at some malls again. It was a nice and relaxing day. We also went to one of our favorite cafes in Chiang Mai - Fern Forest Cafe. They offer a variety of delicious food and drinks. My favorite dish there is the grilled cheese sandwich. Although it is a little expensive, it is worth it. In the evening, my wife and I played a couple of rounds of Mario Kart on the Nintendo Switch.

Day 5 - April 16

On the last day of Songkran, we decided to go to Doi Suthep, a mountain near Chiang Mai with a beautiful temple on top, where you have a great view over the city. We went there by scooter. The ride was very nice, and the view from the top was amazing. My wife and I participated in a small ceremony at the temple and prayed for good luck and health for the new year. After that, we went to eat at a restaurant. For me, it was a nice last day of Songkran where I could connect a little more with the Thai culture and original traditions of Songkran. In the evening, we went back home and watched a movie.

My Conclusion

Overall, I can say that I had a great time during Songkran in Chiang Mai. It was different from last year in Bangkok but still a lot of fun. For me personally, three days of water fights are enough. It is very fun, but I also like to have some days to dig deeper into the Thai culture and traditions. I am looking forward to next year’s Songkran and am curious where I will celebrate it. If you want to celebrate next year’s Songkran in Chiang Mai, make sure you have no problem getting soaked with ice-cold water. Stay away from the moat if you are sensitive to dirty water. The water is cleaner in other areas like Nimman or Suthep. Also, try to avoid the red taxis (songthaews) or scooters if you don’t want to get wet. But most importantly, have fun and enjoy the festival!