Yasothon Rocket Festival (Bung Fai)
Don't miss it
What we say: 
Yasothon's Rocket Festival is a spectacular event, definitely worth seeing if you are in the vicinity. Ostensibly a rain making ceremony, today, the festival is drifting away from its roots with far more media attention while slowly attracting an increasing trickle of tourists.
Held in mid May (May 13-15 2006), the festival attracts pyromaniacs and amateur rocket scientists from around Thailand who come to see whose rocket can go the highest. Generally made of a PVC pipe stuffed with a mix of nitrate and charcoal, the rockets compete in classes, with the smallest class containing just one kilo of the mixture, while the largest contain 120 kilos!
The rockets occasionally explode before during and after takeoff. This, combined with the heavy drinking that takes places throughout the festival make for a deadly combination and deaths have occurred. Although there is virtually no crowd control, you are well-advised to not stand too close to the rockets when they take off.
The rocket launchings are the main crowd puller but there is also a series of street parades and an evening live entertainment to keep everyone busy (and mostly drunk).
Visiting Yasothon during the festival is highly recommended as its unlikely you'll see anything like this in your home country.
More details
Just outside YasothonOpening Hours: May 13-15 2006
Have your say
Photo gallery
Add your photos to this via Flickr More info
Jump to a destination
- Hot spots
- Bangkok & surrounds
- Central Thailand
- Northern Thailand
- About this region
- Ban Huay Kon
- Ban Toei
- Chiang Dao
- Chiang Kham
- Chiang Khong
- Chiang Mai
- Chiang Rai
- Chiang Saen
- Chom Thong
- Doi Inthanon
- Doi Khun Tan N.P.
- Doi Phukha N.P.
- Fang
- Hang Dong
- Hot
- Kamphaeng Phet
- Khun Yuam
- Lampang
- Lamphun
- Mae Chaem
- Mae Na Chon
- Mae Hong Son
- Mae Salong
- Mae Sariang
- Mae Sot
- Mae Sai
- Nan
- Nan to Ban Huay Kon
- Pai
- Phayao
- Phitsanulok
- Phrae
- Phrao
- Phu Chee Fah
- Phu Lang Ka
- Sanpatong
- Si Satchanalai
- Soppong
- Sukhothai
- Tak
- Tha Ton
- Umphang
- Northeastern Thailand
- About this region
- Ban Chiang
- Buriram
- Chaiyaphum
- Khao Yai N.P.
- Khon Kaen
- Khong Chiam
- Muang Tam
- Mukdahan
- Mukdahan N.P.
- Nakhon Phanom
- Nakhon Ratchasima (Khorat)
- Nong Khai
- Pak Chong
- Pha Taem N.P.
- Phanom Rung
- Phibun Mangsahan
- Phimai
- Phu Sa Dok Bua N.P.
- Sri Chiang Mai
- Surin
- That Phanom
- Ubon Ratchathani
- Udon Thani
- Yasothon
- Eastern Thailand
- Southern Thailand
- About this region
- Ao Nang
- Ao Phang Nga N.M.P.
- Ban Krut
- Bang Saphan Yai
- Betong
- Cha-am
- Chumphon
- Chumphon Beaches
- Haad Nopphara Thara
- Hat Yai
- Hua Hin
- Khao Lak
- Khao Sam Roi Yot N.P.
- Khao Sok N.P.
- Khuraburi
- Krabi
- Nakhon Si Thammarat
- Nakhon Si Thammarat Beaches
- Narathiwat
- Pattani
- Phang Nga Town
- Phattalung
- Phetburi
- Prachuap Khiri Khan
- Railay Beach
- Ranong
- Satun
- Sungai Kolok
- Surat Thani
- Tak Bai
- Takua Pa
- Trang
- Yala
- Islands in Thailand
- About the islands
- Coral and Raya Islands
- Ko Adang
- Ko Bulon Lae
- Ko Chang
- Ko Chang Noi
- Ko Kham
- Ko Kho Khao
- Ko Kradan
- Ko Kut
- Ko Lanta
- Ko Lao Liang
- Ko Libong
- Ko Lipe
- Ko Maak
- Ko Muk
- Ko Mun Nork
- Ko Ngai
- Ko Pha Ngan
- Ko Phayam
- Ko Phi Phi
- Ko Phra Thong
- Ko Ra
- Ko Samet
- Ko Samui
- Ko Si Chang
- Similan islands
- Ko Sukorn
- Ko Surin
- Ko Tao
- Ko Tarutao
- Ko Wai
- Ko Yao Noi
- Ko Yao Yai
- Phuket
Newsletter signup
Sign up for Travelfish Burp!
Our weekly wrap on Southeast Asian travel.
Click here to see a recent newsletter.
Travelfish reader reviews
There have been no reviews written by Travelfish readers so far.
Why don't you start the ball rolling?