Signature event moves towards "Must-Experience in Thailand" status through celebration of faith, illuminated craftsmanship and Mekong culture
BANGKOK, Oct. 15, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is bringing the 2026 Nakhon Phanom Illuminated Boat Procession to wider international audiences as one of Thailand's distinctive Mekong traditions. Taking place from 16–27 October around Nakhon Phanom Provincial Hall and the Mekong riverfront along Sunthorn Vijit Road, the celebration culminates on 26 October, marking the end of Buddhist Lent with illuminated boats, faith, craftsmanship and community spirit.
Ms. Thapanee Kiatphaibool, TAT Governor, said, "The Nakhon Phanom Illuminated Boat Procession is a powerful expression of faith, craftsmanship and Mekong community identity. TAT is elevating this living tradition by linking heritage, creativity and participation to create meaningful experiences and greater value for local communities. The evening programme also supports TAT's Night Economy direction by encouraging longer stays and deeper exploration of Nakhon Phanom. In this way, distinctive signature events can develop into experiences visitors recognise as truly 'Must-Experience in Thailand'."
The festival combines Buddhist traditions, local craftsmanship, cultural performances, regional cuisine, community products and participatory experiences rooted in the province's riverside way of life across 12 days and nights. Daily activities include illuminated-boat displays, boat-making skill insights, cultural performances and community showcase, while boats from TAT Nakhon Phanom Office, the Nakhon Phanom Provincial Administration and Nakhon Phanom University appear on selected evenings.
The main Illuminated Boat Festival on 26 October begins at 18.00, led by a TAT Nakhon Phanom Office showcase boat followed by 12 illuminated boats representing the province's 12 districts. Competing in beauty and creativity categories for a royal trophy, each will take to the Mekong at 20-minute intervals. A non-competitive Nakhon Phanom University showcase boat then joins at 20.00, with the final district entry scheduled at 22.20.
Visitors can also see 13 ancient-style illuminated boats, 12 representing the zodiac signs and one collective boat for those who do not know their birth year. Visitors are invited to float banana-stalk boats and lamps on the Mekong from 16–26 October as part of traditional rituals associated with warding off misfortune and paying respect to the river, culminating with a ceremony at 15.00 on 26 October. The festival's spiritual foundations are also expressed through merit-making, alms-giving, ritual offerings, and dances paying homage to Phra That Phanom.
The wider programme includes longboat races from 22–25 October, markets featuring locally made products, regional cuisine and community specialities, plus a traditional communal meal, pha khao laeng, showcasing local dishes and hospitality each evening. Nightly Molam performances and appearances by leading Isan artists add to the programme, connecting the illuminated boat tradition with Nakhon Phanom's wider Mekong identity through riverside life, craftsmanship, food, music and community participation.
The Nakhon Phanom Illuminated Boat Procession forms part of TAT's direction to elevate distinctive signature events towards "Must-Experience in Thailand" status. Alongside the Ubon Ratchathani Candle Procession and Sakon Nakhon Christmas Star Parade, the initiative presents Thailand's living culture and community creativity as compelling reasons to discover destinations beyond established tourism centres.
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TAT spotlights 2026 Nakhon Phanom Illuminated Boat Procession on the Mekong
BEIJING, Oct. 15, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- From September 21 to 24, a workshop on Green Control Technology for Corn Pests and Diseases in the Lancang–Mekong River Basin was successfully held in Hanoi, Vietnam. The event was organized by the Institute of Plant Protection (IPP), Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), and co-organized by Vietnam National University of Agriculture (VNUA) and Guangxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences. Approximately 50 experts and technical personnel from universities and research institutions in China and Vietnam participated in the training.
Representatives from China and Vietnam recognized that countries in the Lancang–Mekong River Basin are geographically interconnected, share similar ecological environments and major crops, and face common challenges posed by transboundary crop diseases and insect pests. Both sides reached a consensus on accelerating the demonstration and application of China's advanced green pest and disease management technologies across the Lancang–Mekong River Basin, strengthening food security capacities among countries in the region, and developing practical, suitable solutions for the management of major corn diseases and insect pests in Vietnam. The workshop covered the overall progress of both sides' international cooperation, detection and monitoring technologies for major corn diseases and insect pests, green pest and disease management technologies and the application of related products, and potential areas for collaboration.
As part of the programme, participants visited demonstration fields showcasing green control technologies for major diseases and insect pests affecting corn and rice, where they observed field applications and exchanged technical expertise. Chinese experts conducted on-site demonstrations of pest and disease monitoring and early-warning technologies, including rapid virus detection and insect pheromone-based monitoring. They also demonstrated biological control technologies and products, such as the application of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) granules formulations and pheromone-mediated mating disruption. In addition, the experts introduced emerging crop health management technologies, including the induction of plant immune responses to enhance disease resistance, and presented integrated green crop protection solutions combining fertilizers, pesticides, and high-efficiency pesticide application equipment. Guangxi Tianyuan Biochemistry Co., Ltd., Pherobio Technology Co., Ltd., and Beijing Green Agricultural Science and Technology Group Co., Ltd. participated in the event as supporting enterprises, engaging in technical exchanges and showcasing research achievements and related products. The Chinese delegation also donated green pest management products, including insect pheromone-based products and Bt-based biopesticides, as well as pesticide application equipment, to the Vietnamese side. The Vietnamese trainees showed strong interest in these technologies and products, engaging actively in discussions and technical exchanges throughout the demonstrations.
The successful organization of the workshop represents a concrete step taken by IPP of CAAS to advance the implementation of the Asia Cooperation Fund-supported project. The event further strengthened scientific and technological collaboration between China and Vietnam in the field of plant protection and enhanced regional capacity for coordinated prevention, monitoring, and control of major corn diseases and insect pests. It is of considerable significance for safeguarding food security, biosafety, and ecological security in the Lancang–Mekong River Basin, while providing a new model for agricultural science and technology cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative. Looking ahead, both sides will continue to promote the international application of advanced plant protection technologies, enabling more countries in the Lancang–Mekong River Basin to benefit from proven, practical agricultural research achievements and technological innovations.
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CCTV+: Workshop on Green Control Technology for Corn Pests and Diseases in the Lancang-Mekong River Basin Successfully Held in Hanoi, Vietnam
