1. Decorated Taxi
Unlike last year, when I was able to eat exclusively vegetarian for the entire festival, this year I simply had too many things going on to commit to the 9 day challenge.
However, I was able to get out a few times in Bangkok’s Chinatown to take some photos, two videos that you may have already seen, and to eat some vegetarian Thai food.
Here are 20 of my favorite photos from Thailand’s Vegetarian Festival 2012. Most of them are from exploring the temple near on the banks of the river.
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2. Steamed Snacks
3. Monk on the Street
4. Chinese Temple in Chinatown, Bangkok
5. Inside Chinese Temple
6. Vegetarian Restaurant in Chinatown
7. Dishing Up Bean Curd
8. Vegetarian Meal
9. Giant Torches
10. Lighting Candles
11. Temple Workers
12. Crew Member
13. Lighting Incense
14. Candles and Lady
15. Setting Up Torches
16. Cleaning Out the Incense
17. Fried Dumpling Stall
18. Fried Dumpling
19. Pounding Peanut Candy
20. Stir Fried Tofu
The annual Thailand vegetarian festival is most famous in Phuket where you can see rituals of self-flagellation, but in Bangkok there are still some interesting (and less violent) festivities and food to eat.
If you missed the vegetarian festival videos watch them here!
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Cabenuva
2 years ago
Thanks so much for this information. I have to let you know I concur on several of the points you make here and others may require some further review, but I can see your viewpoint.
High Rated Gabru
2 years ago
I am glad you take pride in what you write. This makes you stand way out from many other writers that push poorly written content.
The Nomadic Vegan
3 years ago
I’ve been to Thailand several times but never managed to catch this festival. I really hope to experience it one day, although I’ve heard it can be quite intense with all the cheek piercing stuff.
PROF I C GUPTA
9 years ago
THAI VEG FESTIVAL DIFFERENT AND HAS TASTE UNLIKE INDIAN VEG DISHES MANY OF WHICH WHICH ARE OILY HOT AND DEEP FRIED
Nash
10 years ago
I missed last years vegetarian festival by a week, unfortunately I wont be visiting Thailand again this year. I will have to do the festival in 2014.
Your photo’s are amazing, the food jumps out at you.
Mark Wiens
10 years ago
Thank you so much Nash, hope you can be there for the festival in 2014!
Malone
10 years ago
Good photos, but terrible English for the captions.
Mark Wiens
10 years ago
Thank you Malone
Katie
11 years ago
I wish I was able to make it there.
Mark Wiens
11 years ago
Hey Katie, I hope you can make it for future vegetarian festivals!
solo female travel
11 years ago
Thank you so much for sharing this photos such a great work. Fried Dumpling and Tofu look really good..love spices.This Thailand’s Vegetarian Festival in Bangkok is so cool..
Mark Wiens
11 years ago
Hey, thank you so much for checking this out, and glad you enjoyed it. The food is the highlight for me!
Peter Lee
11 years ago
It’s interesting to see so many veg Thai dishes. I was thinking that it hard to find a vegetarian food in Thailand but you busted my myth. After reading your post, I am looking forward to visit this festival next time and want to enjoy all these dishes.
Mark Wiens
11 years ago
Hey Peter, well is during the festival when there’s lot and lots of vegetarian food, but during non-festival times, there are still some vegetarian restaurants.
Stephanie – The Travel Chica
11 years ago
A 9-day food festival? I love it!
Mark Wiens
11 years ago
9 day food festivals are excellent!
Max Neumegen
11 years ago
Thanks mark.
If you like to see what happened Tuesday night at the Chinese shrine for the festival closing, of the burning of all the offerings and the live Chinese theatre, photos are on my Facebook. No videos yet. The next morning ceremony of the calling of heaven to earth was just as crowded.
Next year you may have to stay at the “river view guest house ” to so you can be there for the ending this time.
The best part, was actually exploring the 200 year old houses around the area and videoing with the locals what life is like there.
Max Neumegen.
Mark Wiens
11 years ago
Hey Max, thanks for sharing, I’ll go check out your photos on Facebook. I agree, that entire old area of town is fascinating!
Noel
11 years ago
Amazing photos! I didn’t know about this festival, and it looks interesting. The beancurb and fried dumpling look delicious!! yum…
Mark Wiens
11 years ago
Thanks Noel! The beancurd was one of my favorite dishes this year at the festival!
Koren @ City Gal
11 years ago
OMG this looks SO good. I miss Thailand so much!! I love New York, but I can’t eat hot dogs and pretzels all day. Nothing compares to Thai street food!
Mark Wiens
11 years ago
Awesome, thank you Koren! It’s a really interesting festival, and vendors do a great job of creating flavorful vegetarian snacks and dishes!
Arti
11 years ago
This looks just fantastic!! I would have a gala time sampling all the vegetarian dishes 🙂
Thanks for sharing this yummy post Mark 🙂
Mark Wiens
11 years ago
No problem Arti, thanks for checking it out!
Angela
11 years ago
Wow that’s great, I would love to try vegetarian Thai dishes. Thai cuisine is so tasty and since sometimes it’s not exactly easy to find vegetarian options in Asia, except India obviously, this festival is not to be missed.
Mark Wiens
11 years ago
Thanks Angela, you’re right, it’s a great festival especially for vegetarians!