{"schema_version":"v1","type":"trip_article","slug":"poy-sang-long","locale":"en","canonical_url":"https://www.voucherdata.asia/trips/poy-sang-long","updated_at":"2026-10-13T15:00:00+00:00","headline":"Poy Sang Long 2027: expected 31 March–5 April, Mae Hong Son's novice ordination parade","one_sentence_summary":"Poy Sang Long in Mae Hong Son is next expected on 31 March–5 April 2027. In 2026 about 30 Shan boys at Wat Chong Kham were shaved, paraded as princes and ordained on 31 March–3 April.","facts":[{"label":"Date","value":"31 March to 3 April 2026 (Wat Chong Kham, Mae Hong Son town)","source":"https://www.dailynews.co.th/news/5700744/","sourceLabel":"dailynews.co.th"},{"label":"Location","value":"Wat Chong Kham, Chong Kham subdistrict, Mueang Mae Hong Son, organised by Mae Hong Son Municipality with the temple and the Nong Chong Kham community","source":"https://www.dailynews.co.th/news/5700744/","sourceLabel":"dailynews.co.th"},{"label":"Participants","value":"Shan (Tai Yai) boys aged 7 to 14. About 30 were expected at Wat Chong Kham in 2026.","source":"https://so04.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/jidir/article/view/278811","sourceLabel":"tci-thaijo.org"},{"label":"The name","value":"Poy means a grand event, sang a novice, and long comes from alaung, meaning king","source":"https://www.tagthai.com/explore/events/p/poy-sang-long-festival","sourceLabel":"tagthai.com"},{"label":"2026 programme","value":"Head-shaving on 31 March, receiving the sang long and a procession to local spirits and elders on 1 April, the offerings procession and spirit-calling ceremony on 2 April, ordination in the temple hall on 3 April","source":"https://www.dailynews.co.th/news/5700744/","sourceLabel":"dailynews.co.th"},{"label":"Getting there","value":"Ezy Airlines' October 2026 schedule lists two daily Chiang Mai–Mae Hong Son flights of about 50 minutes. By road, Highway 1095 runs via Pai.","source":"https://www.chiangmaicitylife.com/citynews/general/ezy-airlines-announces-october-2026-flight-schedule-for-chiang-mai-mae-hong-son-and-chiang-mai-pai-routes/","sourceLabel":"chiangmaicitylife.com"}],"city_tabs":{"maehongson":{"title":"Mae Hong Son area","bullets":["The 2026 main ceremony was at Wat Chong Kham in Mae Hong Son town, run by the municipality, the temple and the Nong Chong Kham community","The offerings procession (Hae Kho Lu) on 2 April followed the town's roads","The ordination on the final day took place in Wat Chong Kham's hall"],"source":"https://www.dailynews.co.th/news/5700744/","sourceLabel":"dailynews.co.th"}},"faq":[{"q":"When is Poy Sang Long in 2027?","a":"In Mae Hong Son town it is expected on 31 March–5 April 2027. Each temple sets its own dates. In 2026 Wat Chong Kham held it from 31 March to 3 April.","sources":["https://www.tagthai.com/explore/events/p/poy-sang-long-festival","https://www.dailynews.co.th/news/5700744/"]},{"q":"Where can you see it?","a":"Mostly in Mae Hong Son province. The 2026 main ceremony was at Wat Chong Kham in town, and temples in Mueang Mae Hong Son, Khun Yuam and Pai districts hold their own between March and May, on different dates.","sources":["https://www.dailynews.co.th/news/5700744/","https://so04.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/jidir/article/view/278811"]},{"q":"How do you get to Mae Hong Son from Chiang Mai?","a":"Ezy Airlines' October 2026 schedule lists two daily flights, leaving Chiang Mai at 9.30 am and 2.40 pm and taking about 50 minutes. By road, Highway 1095 winds through the mountains via Pai.","sources":["https://www.chiangmaicitylife.com/citynews/general/ezy-airlines-announces-october-2026-flight-schedule-for-chiang-mai-mae-hong-son-and-chiang-mai-pai-routes/","https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Highway_1095_(Thailand)"]},{"q":"What happens over the four days?","a":"At Wat Chong Kham in 2026: head-shaving on 31 March. On 1 April the boys were dressed as princes and taken in procession to pay respects to local spirits and elders. On 2 April came the offerings procession and a spirit-calling ceremony, and on 3 April the boys were ordained as novices in the temple hall.","sources":["https://www.dailynews.co.th/news/5700744/"]},{"q":"Why are the boys dressed as princes?","a":"They recall Prince Siddhartha before he renounced the world. While dressed as princes the boys' feet must not touch the ground, so male relatives carry them on their shoulders, or they sometimes ride a horse.","sources":["https://www.tagthai.com/explore/events/p/poy-sang-long-festival"]},{"q":"What etiquette should you follow?","a":"Don't block or push into the procession, and ask before photographing the boys or their families. Cover shoulders and knees and take off your shoes at the temple. The ordination happens inside the temple hall, so don't follow in to film unless invited.","sources":["https://www.tagthai.com/explore/events/p/poy-sang-long-festival","https://www.dailynews.co.th/news/5700744/"]}],"sources":["https://www.dailynews.co.th/news/5700744/","https://www.tagthai.com/explore/events/p/poy-sang-long-festival","https://so04.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/jidir/article/view/278811","https://www.chiangmaicitylife.com/citynews/general/ezy-airlines-announces-october-2026-flight-schedule-for-chiang-mai-mae-hong-son-and-chiang-mai-pai-routes/","https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Highway_1095_(Thailand)","https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poy_Sang_Long"],"key_takeaways":[{"text":"Poy Sang Long is the novice ordination of Shan boys aged 7 to 14. At Wat Chong Kham in Mae Hong Son about 30 boys took part on 31 March–3 April 2026.","date":"2026-03-31","scope":"festival","source_url":"https://www.dailynews.co.th/news/5700744/","source_label":"dailynews.co.th"},{"text":"The boys dress as princes in memory of Prince Siddhartha. Their feet must not touch the ground, so male relatives carry them on their shoulders.","date":"2026-03-31","scope":"festival","source_url":"https://www.tagthai.com/explore/events/p/poy-sang-long-festival","source_label":"tagthai.com"},{"text":"Ezy Airlines' October 2026 schedule lists two daily Chiang Mai–Mae Hong Son flights of about 50 minutes. By road, Highway 1095 runs via Pai.","date":"2026-03-31","scope":"festival","source_url":"https://www.chiangmaicitylife.com/citynews/general/ezy-airlines-announces-october-2026-flight-schedule-for-chiang-mai-mae-hong-son-and-chiang-mai-pai-routes/","source_label":"chiangmaicitylife.com"}],"reading_outline":[{"id":"executive-summary","label":"Summary"},{"id":"city-routes","label":"Places and routes"},{"id":"rules","label":"Before you go"},{"id":"faq","label":"FAQ"},{"id":"sources","label":"Sources"}],"topic":{"chain":["trips","thailand-festivals","poy-sang-long"]},"status":"published","hero_image":{"src":"/hero/poy-sang-long.webp","alt":"Poy Sang Long 2027: expected 31 March–5 April, Mae Hong Son's novice ordination parade"},"editorial":{"tagline":"Shan boys dressed as princes, carried so their feet never touch the ground","paragraphs":["After the head-shaving, Shan boys are made up, crowned with flowers and dressed as princes, recalling Prince Siddhartha before he left his palace. For these days their feet must not touch the ground, so male relatives carry them on their shoulders, or they sometimes ride a horse. The name carries the same idea: long comes from alaung, meaning king, sang is a novice and poy a grand event.","At Wat Chong Kham in Mae Hong Son town, about 30 boys aged 7 to 14 were due to be ordained in 2026, in a ceremony organised by the municipality, the temple and the Nong Chong Kham community. It opened with head-shaving on the first day.","In 2026 the second day was for receiving the sang long, with a procession to pay respects to local spirits and the town's elders. The third day, Hae Kho Lu, saw families carry offerings along the town's roads, followed by a spirit-calling ceremony.","Temples in Mueang Mae Hong Son, Khun Yuam and Pai districts hold their own ordinations between March and May, each on its own dates. At Wat Chong Kham, on the last day, the boys are ordained in the temple hall, trading their princely clothes for novices' robes."]},"guide":{"lede":"Each temple sets its own dates, and this page follows Wat Chong Kham in Mae Hong Son town. Visitors mainly see the processions, while the ordination itself takes place inside the temple hall.","sections":[{"heading":"The name and its meaning","body":"Poy Sang Long is the ordination of Shan (Tai Yai) boys as novice monks. Poy means a grand event, sang a novice, and long comes from alaung, meaning king. The boys are aged 7 to 14 and are usually ordained as a group.\n\nDressing as princes recalls Prince Siddhartha before he renounced the world. While in costume their feet must not touch the ground, so male relatives carry them on their shoulders, or they sometimes ride a horse."},{"heading":"Dates: March to May, set by each temple","body":"In 2026 Wat Chong Kham in Mae Hong Son town held it from 31 March to 3 April. The 2027 edition is expected on 31 March–5 April.\n\nOrdinations usually fall in the school holidays between March and May, and each temple sets its own dates, so temples in Mueang Mae Hong Son, Khun Yuam and Pai run on different schedules. Pick your temple first, then book flights and a room."},{"heading":"Four days at Wat Chong Kham in 2026","body":"**31 March**: head-shaving for the sang long at Wat Chong Kham.\n\n**1 April**: receiving the sang long. The boys are dressed as princes and taken in procession to pay respects to local spirits and the town's elders.\n\n**2 April (Hae Kho Lu)**: families carry offerings in procession along the town's roads, and a spirit-calling ceremony is held.\n\n**3 April**: ordination in the temple hall, after which the boys are novices and the festival closes."},{"heading":"Location and getting there","body":"Wat Chong Kham is in Chong Kham subdistrict, Mueang Mae Hong Son, within walking distance of the town centre.\n\n**By air**: Ezy Airlines' October 2026 schedule lists two daily Chiang Mai–Mae Hong Son flights, leaving Chiang Mai at 9.30 am and 2.40 pm and returning from Mae Hong Son at 10.50 am and 4 pm, about 50 minutes each way. Check the March–April schedule before you travel.\n\n**By road**: Highway 1095 runs through the mountains via Pai, with a great many bends. If you get carsick, come prepared."},{"heading":"Heat and stamina","body":"March and April are the hot season in northern Thailand. The processions are outdoors, and following them means long spells standing and walking in the sun, so bring a hat and water and keep to the roadside out of the way. The ordination itself happens inside the temple, so for visitors the processions on the second and third days are the main part."},{"heading":"Customs and etiquette","body":"Each ordination is organised by the boy's own family. Don't push into the procession or block its path, and don't interrupt relatives adjusting a boy's costume. Ask with a gesture before photographing the boys or their families.\n\nAt the temple, cover shoulders and knees and take off your shoes. Women should not touch monks. The ordination takes place inside the temple hall, so don't follow in to film unless invited."}]},"kind":"festival","available_locales":["zh-TW","en","th","id"],"event_start_date":"2026-03-31","event_end_date":"2026-04-03","dates_estimated":false,"next_edition":{"start_date":"2027-03-31","end_date":"2027-04-05","estimated":true,"source":"https://www.tagthai.com/explore/events/p/poy-sang-long-festival"},"offers":[{"id":"cm-maehongson-car","title":{"zh-TW":"清邁–清萊–夜豐頌包車","en":"Private transfer Chiang Mai–Chiang Rai–Mae Hong Son","th":"รถรับส่งส่วนตัว เชียงใหม่–เชียงราย–แม่ฮ่องสอน","id":"Transfer pribadi Chiang Mai–Chiang Rai–Mae Hong Son"},"merchant":"klook","utility":"transfer","landing_url":"https://www.voucherdata.asia/go/poy-sang-long?o=cm-maehongson-car&locale=en&src=data","checked_at":"2026-10-13"},{"id":"th-esim","title":{"zh-TW":"泰國 5G eSIM（AIS）","en":"Thailand 5G eSIM (AIS)","th":"eSIM 5G ประเทศไทย (AIS)","id":"eSIM 5G Thailand (AIS)"},"merchant":"klook","utility":"esim","landing_url":"https://www.voucherdata.asia/go/poy-sang-long?o=th-esim&locale=en&src=data","checked_at":"2026-10-13"}]}