Vegetarian Festival in Thailand

All you vegan visitors to Thailand in October can be reasonably reassured of one thing: you’re very unlikely to go hungry.

The nine-day annual event, which runs from 15 to 23 October this year, sees people the length and breadth of Thailand avoiding all meat and animal products as a form of spiritual purification. Also on the banned list are strongly scented vegetables, like garlic, onions, chives and leeks, and foods with strong flavours (those folk with an aversion to spicy cuisine can breathe a sigh of relief).

The practice, now over a decade and a half old, was brought over to Thailand by the Chinese, who regularly performed rituals to appease their gods, and was originally a way for the Chinese in Thailand to preserve their cultural identity. Giving their bodies a break from meat-eating is also seen by the Chinese as a way of restoring the yin-and-yang balance.

So what can you expect during Thailand’s Vegetarian Festival? You can expect to see the normal meat-based fare of restaurants and vendors replaced by a dizzying array of vegan dishes (look out for the little yellow flags). You can expect music, dance and parades, particularly in Bangkok’s Chinatown, where you’ll find special activities taking place at temples, such as Leng Buai Ia Shrine and Wat Mangkon Kamalawat, and Chinese opera performances, put on between 18:00 and 19:00. And you can expect something a little more hardcore, if you head down to Phuket. There, besides veganised versions of classic Thai dishes, you’ll see festival participants performing various feats of devotion, such as walking on hot coals, climbing ladders of steel blades and piercing themselves with everything from models of warships to car shock absorbers – acts that result in surprisingly very few fatalities.

Suffice it to say, most just stick to the meat-free diet. However, for a stricter observance of the festival’s traditions, alcohol and tobacco should also be avoided. Additionally, for those wanting to get into the spirit of it all, you should dress only in white and refrain from lying, teasing, swearing and all meaningless talk. But fear not: you can return to being a fibbing, cursing, prattling tease from day ten onwards. Enjoy!

Vegetarian Festival Events in Bangkok:

Yaowarat Old Market

Given the huge choice of venues during the Vegetarian Festival in Thailand, the hardest part is often knowing where to start, but if you want to break in your taste buds without breaking the bank, chow down at Chinatown’s Yaowarat Old Market and the nearby area, which transform into a cornucopia of meat-free delights during the Vegetarian Festival, with streets lined with stall upon stall of vegan dishes and ingredients. There will also be a special parade on Saturday, 14 October (14:00–16:00), Sunday, 15 October (18:00–20:00), Friday, 20 October (14:00–20:00) and Monday, 23 October (21:00–22:00).

Where?

Yaowarat Old Market, Itsara nuphap Road, Chakkrawat, Samphanthawong, Bangkok 10100

When?

14–23 October 2023

Directions: Click to Google Maps

ICONSIAM Vegetarian Food Festival 2023

If you want a taste of the Vegetarian Festival riverside, head over to ICONSIAM. At the ICONSIAM Vegetarian Food Festival 2023, you can take your pick of over 1,000 different vegan items from 100 stores, including ready-to-serve specials and dishes created by famous chefs.

Where?

G Floor, ICONSIAM, 299 Charoen Nakhon 5 Alley, Khwaeng Khlong Ton Sai, Khet Khlong San, Bangkok 10600

When?

11–23 October 2023

Directions: Click to Google Maps

CentralwOrld Thailand J Food Festival 2023

At the CentralwOrld Thailand J Food Festival 2023, CentralwOrld will be laying on a varied spread of vegan food, desserts and drinks, including both modern cuisine and legendary menus from famous old restaurants, as well as activities in celebration of the Vegetarian Festival.

Where?

Floor 6, CentralwOrld, 999/9 Rama I Rd, Khwaeng Pathum Wan, Khet Pathum Wan, Bangkok 10330

When?

15–25 October 2023

Directions: Click to Google Maps

Amazing J Festival 2023

Sponsored by the Tourism Authority of Thailand, the Amazing J Festival 2023 is an event that features over 100 stalls, with Buddhist activities and blessings. Here, you get the chance to sample the cuisine of famous shops in the area, buy quality vegan food at Samyan Market and honour the goddess Kuan Yin.

Where?

Suanluang Square, Chulalongkorn 12, Bangkok 10330

When?

15–23 October 2023, 11:00–21:00

Directions: Click to Google Maps