Celebrating the new year - in Thailand or Laos!?

Hello dears,
As with any conflict I refer here to consult with you...
On 13th-15th of April new year celebrations take place in Thailand (Songkran holiday) and Laos (Boun Pi Mai holiday). I heard it's crazy water festival! Especially in Chiang Mai and Luang Prabang.
But now I'm confused.. where is better to celebrate? My dilemma is that in order to be in Thailand on time for the festival I need to leave laos soon than I planned (just 3 weeks for Laos). On the other hand I read that the celebrations in Laos a quite subdued.
Should note that I go to Thailand just to catch a flight from BKK, not to travel.

Further to my question... The transportation and accom gotta be full and exepensive at this time I guess. There is any way to work around this problem?

I will be happy to hear your experience and tips.
Thanks a lot!

It depends where you go in Laos - in Vientiane, Vang Vieng and Luang Prabang there is a very festive atmosphere, lots of drinking and dancing in the streets, and of course water throwing. Less urban parts of Laos still celebrate Pimai in a more traditional manner, visiting the temple and peoples houses, and gently shaking water over your head with a twig of leaves from a silver bowl as a blessing - rather than the ten litre bucket in your face.

If you want the full party experience though, perhaps you would enjoy Thailand more. I have been in Hua Hin and Bangkok during songran, and it was much busier and crazier than Vientiane. It depends what you want.

Worth noting that in Chiang Mai Songkran is more than just April 13-15. The craziness can start a couple days earlier and this year the weekend falls on 11-12th so I'd already expect some wet water wars. If you do come here maybe make it a couple days earlier and plan to ride it out through the 16th. Arriving on the 13th can be troublesome, getting soaked on arrival while trying to find accommodation, although if you arrive early morning or after sunset it's usually safe ;-)

Fisrt of all thanks for the response!!
Obviously in Thailand the party is crazier. This is the reason I'm not sure... The meaning is that I have to shorten my trip in Laos, and I don't know if it's worth it, besides the move to Thailand before the holiday sounds as a big mess.
I really look for a big party though, Do you think I can be satisfied with celebrating in Luang Prabang or Van Vien? It can also meet my expectations? Or not even close to the party in Thailand?

Thank you ;)

Thank you captain! You made me think about it again. Getting to the festival sounds crazier than the festival itself, and it means even less days in Laos. :/

Pimai in LP is great - and LP is a nice place to visit anyway.
There will be plenty of partying there over Pimai, without the Bangkok traffic. The heat wont be as stifling in LP either (compared to BKK).
Vang Vieng over pimai is also very popular with Lao people traveling up from Vientiane for the holiday. I went there for Pimai in 2007 and all of the peaceful spots near town - the blue lagoon, the caves - were taken over with blaring distorted karaoke. Kind of a polar opposite to the backpackers with blaring techno further up the river.
I would go wih LP if I was you.

I’ve been to both. For a first timer, Chiang Mai is a great choice as it is a huge public water fights and many farangs are taking part of celebration. Traditionally, it is pouring of water, now throwing and splashing is the game in town.

Luang Prabang’s Pi Mai is small scale but quaint. LP also have gold Buddha procession that is very unique of its own during New Year. If you are in Laos at the moment, I would book a place and enjoy the Pi Mai in LP.

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