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Phuket celebrates 200 years of vegetarian festival – Vietjet delights tourists!
Find out everything about the 200-year-old vegetarian festival in Phuket: tradition, celebrations and gastronomic highlights from June 21st to 29th. October 2025.
Phuket celebrates 200 years of vegetarian festival – Vietjet delights tourists!
It's currently busy in Phuket because the annual event is taking place from October 21st to 29th, 2025 Vegetarian Festival (Jin Je) instead. Vietjet Thailand is committed to making this event a true highlight for the region. More than 600,000 visitors are expected to enliven the island's streets and temples as they celebrate the tradition of vegetarian eating. The estimated economic impact is over 22 billion baht, a real boost to the local economy.
The festival's roots date back over 200 years and celebrations begin with a Goteang pole-raising ceremony on October 20 at Jui Tui Temple, one of the largest in Phuket Town. Deputy Prime Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn presided over the ceremony and kicked off the festival with a solemn appeal to the nine gods. In addition, over 30 temples take part in the celebrations, underscoring the importance for the Thai-Chinese community, which attaches great importance to this tradition.
The festival dedicated to vegetarianism
Visitors can look forward to numerous vegetarian delicacies on offer at the festival. Special activities are regularly organized, including a vegan street market that has been running since October 16th. The market will provide culinary delights until October 29, while Vietjet Thailand will launch social media campaigns to further promote the event.
On October 24, 2025, a large parade celebrating the 200th anniversary of vegetarianism will take place in Phuket, which promises spontaneous enthusiasm. The participants dress in white robes to show the purity of their abstinence from meat and alcohol. This tradition is seen by believers as a way to show their respect for the nine emperor gods.
Cultural heritage and spiritual practices
The Phuket Vegetarian Festival is more than just a culinary event. The celebrations alongside are an expression of deep spiritual practices. Some participants go through intense rituals that include body piercings and even fire walking. These extreme acts are intended to serve as a medium to connect with the gods, illustrating the importance of the ceremonies and their deep roots in culture.
This colorful mix of religion, tradition and enjoyment makes the festival a unique experience that attracts not only the local population but also international guests. There are some restrictions in the days leading up to the festival, such as the closure of many restaurants that switch to vegetarian diets, but the range of food stalls is huge and offers everything from tofu to various noodle dishes.
Phuket is transformed with yellow flags, symbolizing meat abstinence and bringing believers a strong connection to tradition. The Phuket Vegetarian Festival, celebrated annually in the 9th lunar month of the Chinese calendar, not only attracts the faithful but is also an indispensable part of the region's cultural identity.
The preparations are intensive. Temples are lovingly decorated and the streets are decorated to celebrate the arrival of the Nine Emperor Gods. For all those who wish to attend the festival, there is not only a chance to win valuable souvenirs, vouchers and even airline tickets within Thailand, but also the opportunity to become part of a deep-rooted tradition characterized by respect and ethics.