The Loi Krathong song in Thai…
My Thai teacher just loves to sing. And sometimes, right in the middle of a lesson, she will stand up and belt out a Thai song.
Often, she will drag me up too. Then, swinging her arms like a conductor, we prance around my sofa. In unison. Singing loud.
What a sight. Her, a tiny wee thing. And me, this blond western thing.
My teacher has a beautiful voice. And while my voice isn’t too shabby either, I’m glad my condo walls are thick!
For a long while, her song of choice was the Thai national anthem.
Fair enough, but I needed something different so we moved on to other songs (but not for very long).
Today is the Thai festival, Loi Krathong. And guess what? It has a song too.
Btw – if you are not sure what the festival is about, here is a brief explanation from my buddy Talen:
Originating as a Brahmanical festival adopted by Thai Buddhists during the reign of Rama IV in 1863, Loi Krathong is a ceremony that venerates the Lord Buddha by offering floating trays laden with flowers, candles and incense. Loy translates to “float” in Thai, while Kratong pertains to a tray made from banana leaves. The light from the candle honors Lord Buddha, while the act of floating symbolizes the release of anger, resentment or any tarnishing of one’s character. It is a way for a person to make amends and start afresh.
And (surprise!) in honour of the festivities I learned the much loved Loi Krathong song.
So, are you ready to sing along?
Fun Fact: Loi Krathong is locally known as the “Thai Valentine’s.” It’s a great dating opportunity! If you don’t have someone to date yet, check out Thai Friendly, the dating site where meeting someone in time for Loi Krathong, which falls on the full moon of the twelfth lunar month, is actually doable.
Quick Pronunciation Key
The transliteration below uses tone marks for Thai tones: à (low), á (high), ǎ (rising), â (falling), and no mark for mid tone. Read each line straight through at a steady pace first, then match the tones once the words feel familiar.
วันเพ็ญ เดือน สิบสอง
wan-pen deuan sìp sŏng
full-moon day · month · twelve
น้ำ ก็ นอง เต็ม ตลิ่ง
náam · gôr · nong · dtem · dtà-lĭng
water · also · overflows · full · bank
เรา ทั้ง หลาย ชาย หญิง สนุก กัน จริง วัน ลอย กระทง
rao · táng · lăai · chaai · yĭng · sà-nùk · gan · jing · wan · loi · grà-tong
we · all · many · men · women · enjoy · together · really · day · float · basket
ลอย ลอย กระทง, ลอย ลอย กระทง
loi · loi · grà-tong, loi · loi · grà-tong
float · float · basket · float · float · basket
ลอย ลอย กระทง กัน แล้ว ขอ เชิญ น้อง แก้ว ออก มา รำวง
loi · loi · grà-tong · gan · láew · kŏr · chern · nóng · gáew· òk-maa · ram-wong
float · float · basket · together · and then · ask · young · beloved · come out · dance
รำวง วัน ลอย กระทง, รำวง วัน ลอย กระทง
ram-wong · wan · loi · grà-tong , ram-wong · wan · loi · grà-tong
dance · day · float · basket · dance · day · float · basket
บุญ จะ ส่ง ให้ เรา สุข ใจ, บุญ จะ ส่ง ให้ เรา สุข ใจ
bun · jà · sòng · hâi · rao · sùk · jai, bun · jà · sòng · hâi · rao · sùk · jai
making merit · will · make · us · happy · making merit · will · make · us · happy
Then begin at the beginning again…
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Hunting down my darling
My intention was to first type out the Thai script, then translate the song into English. But, when googling to find a better fit for nóng gáew (น้อง แก้ว), I found that learningthai.com had darling.
Learningthai.com (no longer online) also has a beautifully translated version of the Loi Krathong song:
The full moon (of) the twelfth month, as water fills to the banks.
We, all men and women, really have a good time (on) loy krathong dayFloat, float the krathongs
Float, float the krathongsAfter we’ve floated our krathongs, (I) invite (you) my darling to come out and dance.
Ramwong (on) loy krathong day
Ramwong (on) loy krathong day(Making) merit will give us happiness
(Making) merit will give us happiness
The Loi Krathong song in English
The English YouTube version has slightly different lyrics to the Thai Loi Krathong song.
Edit: The video has been deleted from YouTube. Pity.
November full moon shines
Loi Krathong, Loi Krathong
And the water’s high in local river and the klong
Loi Krathong, Loi Krathong
Loi Krathong, Loi KrathongLoi Krathong is here and everybody’s full of cheer
We’re together at the klong
Each one with his krathong
As we push away we pray
We can see a better dayLoi Krathong, Loi Krathong
Loi Krathong, Loi KrathongLoi Krathong is here and everybody’s full of cheer
So you can choose to pray in English, or you can make merit in Thai. Up to you.
When Is Loi Krathong 2026?
Loi Krathong 2026 falls on Tuesday, November 24, the night of the full moon in the twelfth month of the Thai lunar calendar. In Chiang Mai, the Yi Peng lantern release usually clusters around the same full-moon window, with events across November 23-24, 2026. Check individual event listings for exact dates and times.
Loi Krathong is not an official public holiday in Thailand. Banks, government offices, and most workplaces stay open as normal. Celebrations take place in the evening at rivers, canals, and temple grounds, so you can join in after work.
The standard festival greeting is สุขสันต์วันลอยกระทง (sùk-săn wan loi grà-tong), meaning “Happy Loi Krathong.” Because the date changes each year with the lunar calendar, mark November 24, 2026 on your calendar to catch the celebrations by the water.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some frequently asked questions about Loi Krathong and its song.
What do the Loi Krathong song lyrics mean?
The song describes the full moon of the twelfth lunar month, when the water rises to the riverbanks. Everyone floats their krathong together on the river, then the singer invites their darling to come dance the ramwong, ending on the line that making merit brings happiness.
When is Loi Krathong?
Loi Krathong falls on the night of the full moon in the twelfth month of the Thai lunar calendar, exactly as the song’s opening line states. Because it follows the lunar calendar, the Gregorian date shifts each year.
What is Loi Krathong actually about?
It’s a Buddhist ceremony where people float a krathong, a small tray made of banana leaves, on a river or canal. The candlelight honors the Buddha, and floating it symbolizes letting go of anger or resentment and starting fresh.
What does “Loi Krathong” mean?
Loi (or Loy) means “float” in Thai, and krathong refers to the small banana-leaf tray set adrift on the water. Together the name literally describes floating a basket.
Why is Loi Krathong called the “Thai Valentine’s”?
It’s locally nicknamed the “Thai Valentine’s” and doubles as a popular dating occasion. That romantic thread shows up in the song, where the singer invites their nong gaew (darling) to come out and dance.
What is the ramwong mentioned in the song?
Ramwong is the traditional Thai circle dance the song refers to. After the krathongs are floated, the lyrics invite the singer’s darling to dance the ramwong together.
Is Loi Krathong the same as Yi Peng?
No. Loi Krathong is about floating a krathong on the water, while Yi Peng is the northern tradition, mainly in Chiang Mai, of releasing paper lanterns into the sky. The two are separate but often fall around the same full-moon night.
When is Loi Krathong 2026?
Loi Krathong 2026 falls on Tuesday, November 24, the night of the full moon in the twelfth month of the Thai lunar calendar.
Is Loi Krathong a public holiday in Thailand?
No. Loi Krathong is not an official public holiday in Thailand, so banks, government offices, and most businesses stay open as normal. Cultural celebrations take place in the evening.
How do you say ‘Happy Loi Krathong’ in Thai?
The standard greeting is สุขสันต์วันลอยกระทง (sùk-săn wan loi grà-tong), meaning “Happy Loi Krathong.”
Does Yi Peng in Chiang Mai happen on the same night as Loi Krathong 2026?
Both festivals usually take place around the same full-moon window. In 2026, expect Yi Peng lantern events in Chiang Mai across November 23-24, alongside Loi Krathong on November 24. Check specific event listings, as exact lantern-release times vary by organizer.
What to Read Next
- A Big List of Learn Thai Apps
- Online courses
- How to Learn Thai Language for Beginners
- How to Learn Thai Language Fast
- How to Find Thai Language Partner
- How Do We Say “International” in Thai?
- The Importance of เกรงใจ
Sources
- Loy Krathong: scheduled-date table (2026: November 24, cross-checked against a second independent source).
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