Tradition: Foreign visitors share their impressions about the Water Festival in Cambodia

The three-day Water Festival is celebrated in the capital Phnom Penh, attracting locals as well as foreign visitors and expatriates. Some of the latter share their impressions of the event.

Jacques, from France, who is attending the Water Festival for the first time having just arrived in Cambodia on a business trip, praises the vibrant atmosphere, colourful floats and exciting boat races.

‘It's a wonderful opportunity to discover the culture of the country,’ says Jacques, adding:

"I particularly enjoy the lights at night, with all the boats on the river, which are lit up in different colours. It gives a beautiful picture."

Christopher, another foreign tourist from England, also shares his enthusiasm. ‘It's great to see so many people out and about. The weather is nice. To see so many people having fun, walking around, eating, watching the (boat) races, it's excellent,’ he says.

This year's three-day water festival kicked off on 14 November. The festival attracts huge crowds to Phnom Penh and showcases the country's vibrant culture and traditions to locals and tourists alike.

For three days at nightfall, the banks of the Tonle Sap are transformed into a bustling fair, with food stalls and plenty of entertainment bringing locals and tourists together.

The Ministry of Tourism has set up a tourism pavilion next to the main pavilion in front of the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh. On the first day of the three-day water festival, some 1,650 international tourists watched boat races, a parade of illuminated floats and fireworks from the tourism pavilion.

AKP