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Water Festival 10-12 November 2019 - but Holidays from 9-13 November.

Note that Bon Om Touk, otherwise known as the Water Festival, will be held on 10,11,12 November this year, 2019. In addition, because the 10 November is a Sunday this year, the 13 November will also be a public holiday. Furthermore, the 9 November is Independence Day holiday.


Attention: banks and public administration will be closed from 9-13 November. If you have a visa to renew, it will take longer than usual during this period.

Water Festival Pardon for Prisoners

Phnom Penh, Cambodia News: On 29 October 2019, the Ministry of Justice said, "Please inform the press that following the meeting held by the National Committee for the Review of the Application for the Extension of Amnesty for Prisoners on the occasion of the 2019 Water Festival, the Ministry of Justice announces the pardon of 90 prisoners, including 58 women".

I don't see the exile in that list
isn't he planning to return around the same time?
they should just throw him in with the boats
freeing the position for someone capable

Dawn warm up on raceday

What an absolutely delightful event to miss! Just another reason to scratch lovely PP from my " must do" list.

I came here a 2 weeks after the 2017 event. I was away last year, so this is my first Water Festival in town.

I have been hearing about road closes from Riverside to Norodom, from 110 to the Hamarawi Apartments. Also that Riverside will be mobbed and with plenty of thieving going on. House break-ins soar. So too street robbery late at night. Piles of garbage that takes a week to clear. Sounds like a right laugh...

Is any of this true?

I took that photo above in 2010. ^^
I watched big chunks of the racing over three days, wandered back to my hotel about 6pm Monday afternoon, just after the event had finished, and sent off an email to a friend.
It said something like this-
"we just had 1 million people on the riverbank for three days, from all over the country, packed into a small area. I could not believe how pleasant, peaceful and good humoured it all was - only in Cambodia"
An hour later 450 were dead from a stampede.

Two years later a bunch of us barangs put a team together under the auspices of one of the Mekong Wats.
Small boat, about 26 paddlers from memory. Great fun training for a couple of months, and a few "exciting" moments - the Mekong was still flowing strong.
Unfortunately the "colour revolution" was heating up, so with all the countryside people coming to town, the event was cancelled only about two weeks out.

Yes, unfortunately it's only partially true. Discression compelled you( I assume) to overlook the inflated prices of carnal joy charged by butt ugly women or the absence of country women who fear unprovoked country males "copping a feel(luec stiab)."

The authorities are staying realistic, stay protected !
Water festival: Stay Covered

500,000 condoms distributed to citizens in Phnom Penh
(Nov 03, 2019 2:14 pm)
It is observed that every year, as long as Cambodia holds the Royal Water Festival, or the Bon Om Touk Festival, the authorities always distribute Ok condoms to a large number of people free of charge.
Some people have expressed doubts over the distribution of condoms, but in fact, the authorities are being realist because people from the provinces will come to Phnom Penh, and during that time sex will inevitably occur. That's why Phnom Penh health authorities are offering 500,000 free condoms to prevent sexually tranmitted diseases, in particular HIV or AIDS.

Ironman certainly knows a crowd-pleaser when he sees one.

Sex will inevitably occur....