Celebrating Thai, Lao, and Cambodian New Year: Stories from Southeast Asian Americans

A group of women and a young girl pose outdoors, all wearing traditional Lao sinh dresses in various vibrant colors including red, blue, and pink. They smile warmly as they stand arm in arm, with trees and suburban homes in the background.

Photo by: Sarina Tran-Herman

Thai, Lao, and Cambodian New Year stories of renewal, resilience, and rootedness

As spring returns, so too does one of Southeast Asia’s most beloved and spirited holidays. From April 13–16, Thai, Lao, and Cambodian communities around the world celebrate the new year through Songkran (Thai), Boun Pi Mai (Lao), and Choul Chnam Thmey (Khmer). Timed with the shift from the dry season to the rains, it’s more than a seasonal reset – it’s a time for cleansing, connection, and coming home to oneself.

Through stories of blessing ceremonies, family recipes, traditional music, digital arts, and digital storytelling, four Southeast Asian voices from Thai, Lao, and Cambodian backgrounds share what their New Year celebrations mean to them.

Lao New Year: Water, woven threads, and coming home to self

A picture of Sarina with long wavy dark hair sits comfortably in a cream-colored chair against a brick wall. She is smiling warmly and wearing a white t-shirt and beige high-waisted pants. Her left arm, resting on the chair, displays a detailed floral tattoo. She has light pink nail polish and is wearing a ring on her left hand. The setting has a relaxed, professional, and modern feel.

Photo by: Sarina Tran-Herman

Sarina Tran-Herman (she/her) is a Lao-Vietnamese American based in Columbus, Ohio. She is a clinical therapist and content creator who shares stories about her Lao heritage and upbringing.

Her Lao heritage has always been rooted in family, resilience, and ritual.

“My family spends the weekend at the temple making boun, or merit. We pour water over Buddha statues and each other to wash away bad luck and welcome the new year. Everyone wears vibrant, handwoven silks and scarves. It’s such a beautiful reminder of where we come from.”

A young woman wearing a black vest over a white hoodie ties a sacred orange baci thread around an elder woman’s wrist during a traditional Lao blessing ceremony. They are surrounded by others seated on a carpeted floor in a warmly lit room.

Photo by: Sarina Tran-Herman

One of the most sacred parts of Lao New Year for Sarina is the Baci Ceremony, a gathering of family and friends who tie white cotton strings around each other’s wrists to bless one another with luck, protection, and peace.

“The ceremony reminds us of the importance of unity and intention. It’s more than tradition; it’s about feeling whole, connected, and grounded.”

A group photo of Lao American dancers wearing coordinated outfits: women dressed in traditional sinh with bright sashes, and men in white shirts with blue patterned sashes and ties. They pose together outdoors in front of a parade float shaped like an elephant.

Photo by: Sarina Tran-Herman

Sarina, who is in an interracial marriage, says one of her most cherished memories is sharing these cultural practices with her husband’s family: “It made me feel seen and validated in a way I didn’t expect. I remember my husband learning how to pour water respectfully and tie the strings for blessings. Watching him embrace my traditions made me feel like my culture was being held, not just observed.”

A promotional poster for Sabaidee Fest 2025 featuring Sarina, who stands confidently on a wooden lookout platform overlooking a vast, lush green valley and mountains under a clear blue sky. She wears a beige crop top, black shorts, a crossbody bag, and pink socks, exuding carefree energy. Large bold pink text at the top reads "RINA." Below, the event details are listed: "2025 July 12–13, Los Angeles, Gloria Molina Grand Park." Logos for Sabaidee Fest, SBDF, and Southeast Asian Street Market appear at the bottom.

Photo by: Sarina Tran-Herman

Sarina is also active in her community’s celebrations beyond the New Year as an influencer and promoter of the Sabaidee Festival, the largest Southeast Asian Music and Cultural Festival in the United States! “Now, being part of the Sabaidee Fest community, I get to connect with other Southeast Asians across the country who are just as passionate about keeping our culture alive.”

Two young women stand smiling outdoors, dressed in traditional Lao clothing. One wears a yellow blouse with a maroon sinh, while the other wears a dark blue silk sinh with gold embroidery and a blue sash. They stand closely, radiating joy and cultural pride.

Photo by: Sarina Tran-Herman

What makes her most proud of her culture, though, is the resilience of Lao people across generations. “To carry so much history, language, art, and beauty through adversity, that’s powerful.”

Thai New Year: Art, identity, and finding joy in the diaspora

Photo by: Geeranan Chuersanga

Geeranan Chuersanga (she/her) is Thai American based in Los Angeles, California. She is an artist with a medical anthropologist background advocating for Thai and Southeast Asian stories.

A woman wearing a blue traditional Thai dress with silver embroidery sits gracefully while writing on paper. She wears a silver tiara, chandelier earrings, and a belt, with traditional textiles and musical equipment in the background.

Photo by: Geeranan Chuersanga

Geeranan, who’s nickname is “Cartoon”, grew up in Los Angeles, home to the largest Thai population outside Thailand. Her weekends were spent at Wat Thai, immersed in Thai language, arts, and traditional music.

A pageant winner in a gold and orange Thai traditional dress bows as an older woman places a crown on her head during a Thai New Year ceremony. Other women in traditional dresses look on from the background as part of the celebration.

Photo by: Geeranan Chuersanga

A large group of Thai American dancers in white shirts and gold patterned pants pose in front of a stage banner reading “Thai New Year 2010 Songkran Festival.” They are outdoors, standing under a canopy with colorful balloons decorating the area.

Photo by: Geeranan Chuersanga

A diverse group of musicians, mostly seated on the floor, rehearse with traditional Southeast Asian instruments including khim (hammered dulcimer), saw (string instruments), and wooden flutes. They are surrounded by percussion instruments, gongs, and storage cases.

Photo by: Geeranan Chuersanga

“Songkran was a time when we all came together. I played Thai music at the temple with friends; it wasn’t just performance, it was how we created community.”

A woman and her young daughter, both in red clothing, sit on a ledge outdoors eating from white bowls at a cultural event. Booths, tents, and people can be seen in the background, with a warm and nostalgic atmosphere. The photo appears to be from the late 1990s.

Photo by: Geeranan Chuersanga

Her favorite Thai New Year tradition is enjoying a warm bowl of jok (Thai rice porridge) at Siam Sunset.

A young woman in a graduation cap and gown poses smiling between two adults, likely her parents, in front of a large, ornately decorated Thai guardian statue (yaksha) at a temple. The graduate wears a blue sash that reads “UC Irvine” and “Class of 2014.” The family stands on a red brick courtyard adorned with pink, red, and purple fabric decorations and hanging paper lanterns. The temple staircase behind them is lined with floral arrangements, highlighting the celebration.

Photo by: Geeranan Chuersanga

“For my parents, it’s a taste of home. For me, it’s how I connect to them, to Thailand, and to the past,” she shares.

Although she once felt hesitant to embrace her Thai identity, Geeranan now proudly celebrates her culture through her Instagram art platform, which she launched to spotlight underrepresented Southeast Asian experiences. “Thai and Southeast Asian stories weren’t always visible in Asian American art. I wanted to create a space where we could see ourselves reflected with nuance, heart, and pride.”

A smiling young woman and an older man stand arm in arm in front of a brightly lit vendor booth at a night market. The booth, decorated with string lights and traditional Thai items, displays textiles, aprons, and embroidered pieces. A sign above reads "@KWAMSOOKXOXO." The woman wears a coral jacket and dark pants, while the man is dressed in a plaid shirt, blue vest, and red shoes. Colorful products and crafts are neatly arranged on the tables inside the booth. The setting is outdoors, with neighboring booths and parked cars visible.

Photo by: Geeranan Chuersanga

A group of seven people pose in traditional Thai clothing in front of a golden archway inside Union Station in Los Angeles. The women wear intricate white lace tops with maroon silk sampots, and the men wear white shirts with matching maroon pants. A “Youth Pride” banner is visible to the left.

Photo by: Geeranan Chuersanga

What keeps her most grounded, though, is being a part of something bigger than her. “Knowing that I’m part of a legacy. My Thai name, our language, our music they’re all part of something greater. I’m proud to carry that forward.”

Cambodian New Year: Healing through heritage and hope as a Cambodian father

Mike smiles widely while standing on a bridge, wearing a red and white scarf and plaid shirt, with two young boys hugging him playfully in a park surrounded by trees.

Photo by: Mike Keo

Mike Keo (he/him) is a Cambodian American based in Connecticut. He is a storyteller, father, and advocate.

For Mike Keo, Khmer New Year is a story of survival and a testament to joy “We’re fifty years removed from the fall of Phnom Penh. For me, the New Year is about honoring the grace and foresight of our elders who carried our culture with them.”

A cultural ceremony with Cambodian traditional dancers in gold outfits and ornate headdresses. One dancer bows respectfully to another seated on stage while being shaded by bright yellow umbrellas.

Photo by: Mike Keo

Elderly women and a Buddhist nun exchange flowers and blessings in white cups during a cultural ceremony. The woman on the left smiles warmly in a wheelchair while others in traditional clothing participate in the ritual.

Photo by: Mike Keo

At their temple, Mike’s children wear shimmering traditional clothing as they receive jasmine water blessings, just as their ancestors once did.

Children participate in a game of tug-of-war at a cultural event, pulling a colorful rope alongside adults. A young boy in a yellow shirt leads with determination as others cheer and support behind him.

Photo by: Mike Keo

“As a kid, temple made me feel different. Now, it’s where I feel most at home. My kids get to experience joy unburdened, loved, fully seen.”

Food becomes ritual as he makes salaw machoo kreung (Cambodian sour soup), and his mother prepares paklov, honoring the cravings of his grandmother’s memory.

Photo by: Mike Keo

“Even if we’re facing rising rent, anti-Asian hate, or deportation threats, our joy is resistance. Our food, our rituals, our stories remind us of where we’ve been and where we’re going.”

A young boy wearing a shiny green traditional Cambodian outfit holds a bowl of sticky rice while surrounded by people in colorful clothing at a community event.

Photo by: Mike Keo

“As a father and advocate, Mike’s hope is clear: “May our children grow up believing they belong. That their heritage is sacred. That healing is possible even across generations.”

Cambodian New Year as a mixed race and multidisciplinary creative

Jenna Lam sits in a cozy, well-lit restaurant adorned with hanging pink and white floral decor, holding up a pink cocktail in a glass with a relaxed and confident expression. She wears round glasses, a soft off-the-shoulder beige sweater, and a natural makeup look.

Photo by: Jenna Lam

Jenna Lam (she/her) is a Cambodian-Vietnamese American based in Philadelphia. She is a creative, organizer, and realtor.

A nostalgic photo of four young women, including Jenna Lam, smiling closely together inside a home, with two wearing traditional Khmer outfits and the others in casual dresses, reflecting sisterhood and celebration.

Photo by: Jenna Lam

For Jenna Lam, Khmer New Year is a time of spiritual, familial, and community renewal. It is a chance to reflect, reset, and reconnect with the roots that raised her. As the daughter of Khmer refugees, she describes her heritage as “the root system that grounds and nourishes my future.”

“My work lives at the intersection of healing, housing, and heritage. Whether I’m supporting temple life, organizing for housing justice, or weaving Cambodian folklore into my creative work, I’m always asking how I can honor the beauty and survival of where we come from.”

Her family’s New Year traditions include offering food to monks, praying to the Buddha, attending temple ceremonies, and making offerings to elders.

Jenna Lam poses with two friends in front of a Khmer New Year backdrop, wearing a modern swirl-patterned dress, smiling warmly as they celebrate the cultural gathering hosted by the Cambodian Association of Greater Philadelphia.

Photo by: Jenna Lam

“It’s joyful, colorful, and full of prayer. We celebrate survival and softness and the continuity of who we’ve been and who we’re becoming.”

One of Jenna’s favorite memories is from a recent community gala where she showed up fully in her culture, wearing a dress that blended tradition with modernity and standing proudly among Khmer artists, aunties, and changemakers.

Jenna Lam smiles next to a friend wearing an embroidered black traditional outfit, both standing in front of the Cambodian Association of Greater Philadelphia event banner during Khmer New Year celebrations.

Photo by: Jenna Lam

Jenna Lam poses in the hallway of a formal venue with a friend wearing a vibrant red one-shoulder top and black pants, both smiling and dressed up for a Khmer New Year gala or celebration.

Photo by: Jenna Lam

“I remember standing under a chandelier and feeling something shift. I wasn’t just remembering my roots, I was actively shaping them forward,” shares Jenna.

She also cherishes the water blessings of her childhood, moments of stillness and cleansing that remain with her.

“I try to live my culture out loud and inwardly, every day. My culture isn’t just something I carry, it’s something I offer.”

Jenna Lam smiles in a group selfie alongside a friend holding a baby and another friend, all radiating joy at a Khmer New Year event. Jenna wears a colorful swirl dress and holds a gift box labeled "SIAP".

Photo by: Jenna Lam

What makes her most proud? “Khmer culture is ancient, resilient, and rich in both joy and wisdom. We’ve endured so much and yet we’ve kept our warmth, our faith, and our laughter. We gather without pretense. We survive with style. And we never forget to dance.”

New Year, shared roots: Why celebrating Thai, Lao, and Cambodian New Year matters

From handwoven silks and sour soup to temple blessings and modern art, Lao, Thai, and Cambodian communities are reimagining New Year traditions through the lens of resilience, healing, and cultural pride. These stories explore how identity lives not just in the past, but in how we choose to carry it forward, together.

For Sarina, it’s about unity.

For Geeranan, it’s about representation.

For Mike and Jenna, it’s about remembrance, renewal, and the act of shaping culture forward.

Together, their stories remind us that culture isn’t just something we inherit; it’s something we tend to, adapt, and pass on.

Songkran, Boun Pi Mai, and Choul Chnam Thmey aren’t just New Year celebrations—they are love letters to resilience, family, and identity.

Glossary:

Songkran – Thai New Year

Boun Pi Mai – Lao New Year

Choul Chnam Thmey – Cambodian New Year

Baci Ceremony – Lao ritual blessing of threads for protection

Jok – Thai rice porridge

Salaw Machoo Kreung Cambodian sour soup

Dennis Tran

Dennis Tran (he/him) is a queer, disabled, late-identified autistic-ADHDer and partially blind Vietnamese American storyteller, speaker, and inclusion strategist based in Los Angeles. With a background in public health, media, digital health, and nonprofit leadership, Dennis bridges lived experience with systems change to advance neurodiversity, disability justice, mental health advocacy, and psychological safety, particularly the AANHPI community, building systems rooted in access and community care that is humane and inclusive. He has consulted on inclusive storytelling and representation in children’s media, including Blue’s Clues & You, introducing its first autistic character, and developed accessibility-focused curricula and national resource toolkits. His work has helped shape inclusive curricula, accessible digital platforms, and community-centered programs impacting thousands nationwide. A LEAP Impact Program 2024–2025 alumnus, Dennis has spoken at UCLA, UCSF, Sony Pictures, Autodesk, and the ADHD International Conference, leveraging storytelling as a tool for healing, advocacy, and belonging. His work and lived experience expertise have been featured in Jubilee Media, the Mighty, Business Insider, AsAM New, SHRM, and more.

Natasha Jung

Natasha is a multi-disciplinary creative, community builder, and public speaker. She has a background in marketing, broadcast television, live event production and education. In 2021, she was named a finalist in BC Business Magazine’s Women of the Year Awards as a finalist in the Community Builder category. She has also been recognized by Deloitte Canada, Chinese Womens’ Association of Canada and the City of Richmond as a Top 30 Under 30. In 2019, Natasha delivered a TEDx talk about navigating cultural expectations in a cup of tea and why she started Cold Tea Collective.