Chenh Vossa in Kampong Phluk: Marking the End of Buddhist Lent on the Tonlé Sap

Chenh Vossa marks the end of the rains retreat, the three months of Buddhist Lent. In Kampong Phluk, a stilted village on the Tonlé Sap, the ceremony brings families together at the pagoda. Local sources describe the 2026 edition as more subdued than previous years.

• Date: late October 2026, following the Buddhist lunar calendar. Dates change every year.
• Audience: village residents, families from neighboring communes, monks and respectful visitors.
• Location: the floating commune of Kampong Phluk, Siem Reap Province, about 16 km from the city center.
• Group size: a community gathering. The organizers do not publish an official attendance figure.
• Cost: no ticket is required for the ceremony. Donations to the pagoda are voluntary, while transport and the village visit are paid separately.

This edition was scaled back because of funding difficulties, lower contributions and low water levels. The tradition lives on, in a more intimate and very accessible format.

The detailed program has not been officially published. Below is the usual flow of an end-of-Lent ceremony in a Cambodian village. Times are approximate and vary from one pagoda to another.

This is a community event, so there is no ticketing. Preparation mostly comes down to the calendar and respecting local customs.

1. Step 1: Note the date. Chenh Vossa falls around October 2027, and the exact date is announced by the pagodas and the local press a few weeks beforehand.
2. Step 2: Follow local media such as Cambodianess, as well as Siem Reap community pages on Telegram and Facebook, for updates.
3. Step 3: Ask your hotel, guesthouse or a local tuk-tuk driver to confirm. They often know the pagoda's schedule.
4. Step 4: Book your transport the day before. Allow about 30 to 40 minutes by road from Siem Reap, followed by a boat ride depending on the water level.
5. Step 5: Arrive early in the morning. The offerings and prayers take place at the start of the day.
6. Step 6: Always ask permission before photographing monks or people at prayer.
7. Step 7: Bring a donation in small bills (riel or small US dollar notes) for the pagoda, or to buy food and drinks in the village. This directly supports the community.

• Modest clothing — shoulders and knees covered to enter the pagoda grounds.
• Small bills — riel or US$1 to $5 notes for donations, food and tips.
• Hat and sunscreen — the sun is strong on the water and along the paths.
• Drinking water — the dry-season heat is intense and places to buy drinks are scarce.
• Easy slip-off shoes — you take off your shoes before entering the pagoda building.
• Mosquito repellent — handy near the water and the flooded forest in the late afternoon.
• Waterproof phone pouch — protects your device during the boat crossing.
• A simple offering — fruit, rice or supplies for the pagoda, if you would like to take part in the ceremony.

Several religious and cultural events punctuate the year around Siem Reap. Here are the ones worth keeping an eye on.

• Pchum Ben — the festival of the ancestors, in September or October. Families make offerings at the pagodas over 15 days.
• Kathina — a ceremony in which robes are offered to the monks after the end of Lent. It takes place at many pagodas in the region.
• Bon Om Touk (Water Festival) — a celebration of the reversal of the Tonlé Sap's current, held in November, with boat races and entertainment.
• Khmer New Year (Choul Chnam Thmey) — in mid-April, with traditional games, pagoda visits and family meals.
• Visak Bochea — the festival commemorating the birth, enlightenment and death of the Buddha, with processions and ceremonies at the pagodas.