In Laos; the Awk Phansaa (Awk Watsa; full moon) Festival celebrates the end of the three-month rains retreat. Monks are allowed to leave the monasteries to travel and are presented with robes; alms bowls and other requisites of the renunciative life.

On the eve of Awk Phansaa many people fashion small banana-leaf boats carrying candles; incense and other offerings; and float them in rivers; a custom known as Lai Hua Fai; similar to Loy Krathong in Thailand.

A second festival held in association with Awk Phansaa is Bun Nam (water festival). Boat races (suang heua) are commonly held in towns located on rivers; such as Vientiane; Luang Prabang and Savannakhet.