The Mid-Autumn Festival (6 Oct, Vietnam) is a harvest festival held on the 15th day of the eighth month in the Vietnamese calendar. Known locally as Tết Trung Thu, it is marked with fanciful lanterns to help a legendary moon-bound figure back to Earth. Lion dances are commonly performed by traveling troupers who go from house to house to perform for a fee.
The Mid-Autumn Festival (6 Oct, Singapore & Malaysia) is about celebrating with family, lantern processions, and deliciously sweet mooncakes. Moon cakes are filled with sweet-tasting bean paste or with lotus seeds or another filling.
The Monkey God Festival (7 Oct, Hong Kong) takes place at the Monkey God Temple at Po Tat Estate in Sau Mau Ping, Kowloon. Hundreds of people turn up to present offerings to the Monkey God, a popular character in East Asian stories.
Bang Fai Phaya Nak (7 Oct, Thailand) also known as the Naga Fireballs Festival in Nong Khai, is a mystical event where glowing fireballs rise from the Mekong River around the full moon in October. The unexplained phenomenon draws crowds, creating a festival atmosphere, with Thai folklore attributing the fireballs to nagas signifying the end of Buddhist Lent.
The Takayama Autumn Festival (9-10 Oct, Japan) also known as the Hachiman Festival, is the annual festival of the Hachiman Shrine in the old town. It is included in Japan's top three most beautiful festivals and features traditional floats, and cultural heritage, and showcases the autumnal beauty of the Takayama area.
Buon Ok Pansa (10 Oct, Laos) is the 'End of Buddhist Lent Festival', marking the end of the monks' three-month fast and retreat for the rainy season. Donations and offerings are made at various temples and hundreds of ornately decorated candle-lit floats made from paper are set adrift.
Nagasaki Kunchi Festival (10-12 Oct, Japan) is a vibrant celebration in Nagasaki, Japan, blending traditional dance, music, and elaborate performances. It features a captivating dragon dance that dates back centuries where skilled performers manipulate a long body on upright poles and the festival is a designated Intangible Folk Cultural Property, as it holds significant cultural value.
Boun Lai Heua Fai (18 Oct, Laos), this is a festival to ask the nagas (water spirits) to bring good luck. Each village makes and decorates a boat which are then paraded through town and at night launched onto the river and ceremonially set on fire as offerings to the spirits.
Deepavali (20 Oct, Singapore) is a Hindu celebration of the triumph of light over darkness. Bright colours, tantalising aromas, and the light of a thousand oil lamps fill the streets of Little India during Deepavali.
Jidai Matsuri (22 Oct, Japan) is the anniversary of the founding of Kyoto. A historic pageant is ferried through the city followed by 2000 people dressed in attire representing various eras of Kyoto's history. This is a great opportunity to see traditional Japanese customs and costumes.
The Phuket Vegetarian Festival (21-29 Oct, Thailand) consists of sacred rituals that are believed to bestow good fortune upon those who observe these rites. During this time, local people of Chinese ancestry strictly observe a 10-day vegetarian or vegan diet for the purposes of spiritual cleansing and merit-making. Rituals and displays such as walking barefoot over hot coals and ascending ladders with bladed rungs are performed by entranced devotees known as "Ma Song".
Ooc-Om-Bok (Boat Race) Festival (27-28 Oct, Vietnam), the festival is held in honor of the moon deity and people pray for good luck, happiness and good weather. A traditional festival of the Khmer people living in the Mekong River Delta region, people release paper lanterns into the sky or into the rivers as a way of letting go of bad luck or sadness.
Bun Pha That Luang (31 Oct, Laos) is the largest temple fair to take place in Laos, featuring shows and carnival-type games. Temples are illuminated at night and the festival culminates on the morning of the full moon when several thousand monks receive alms at the 'dak baht' ceremony.
The Lombok MotoGP (3-5 Oct, Indonesia) is a thrilling motorcycle racing event that attracts top riders and passionate fans. The circuit is part of the Asian triple header that spans from India to Lombok and then Japan and features high-speed races that promise excitement and adrenaline.
The Singapore F1 Grand Prix (3-6 Oct, Singapore) forms part of the Formula One World Championship and has become known as one of the competition's most high-octane street racing events. It takes place on the Marina Bay Street Circuit and was the inaugural night race and the first street circuit in Asia designed for Formula One races.
The Ubud Readers & Writers Festival (22-26 Oct, Indonesia) takes place in Bali’s artistic and cultural heartland. Leading writers, artists, performers, and musicians gather from across the globe to share their knowledge and creative talents over a period of five days.
The MotoGP 2024 (24-26 Oct, Malaysia) in Kuala Lumpur promises high-octane excitement as world-class motorcycle racers converge for thrilling races on the Sepang International Circuit.
The Vietnam Jungle Marathon (Date TBA, Vietnam) held at Pu Luong Nature Reserve 140km south of Hanoi, is an exhilarating trail race through ancient jungles, limestone peaks, waterfalls, and vibrant rice paddy fields, showcasing the region's natural beauty and cultural richness.
The Sun Hung Kai Properties Hong Kong Cyclothon (Date TBA, Hong Kong) is a mix of amateur and professional cycling races and rides, through Hong Kong's unique cityscape. The event allows participants to challenge themselves or enjoy the city’s scenery at a leisurely pace, while locals and visitors alike cheer on from the sidelines and enjoy a fun-filled carnival.
