The Water Festival, or Bon Om Tuk, is the greatest occasion in the Cambodian calendar. Celebrated to mark the end of the monsoon season and the turning of the waters in the great Tonle Sap, hundreds of thousands of Cambodians flock to the capital, Phnom Penh, to join in the festivities — boat races, fireworks and music. Street vendors fill the air with the aroma of freshly cooked food and families picnic on the riverfront.
Most tourist sites are closed over this period so there is no reason not to spend time watching this incredible event. It is extremely crowded on the waterfront so we give you the services of a guide to steer you through the day and help you find the best vantage points from which to watch the festivities.