Laab is a popular dish eaten during the Lao, Thai and Cambodian New Year. Author: Brooke Wohlrabe (KARE11) Updated: 11:01 AM CDT April 10, 2021 Lat14 Asian Eatery is serving mushroom laab in celebration of the Lao New Year. Lao New Year, or Boun Pi Mai, falls in mid-April and takes place over 3-4 days. It marks the beginning of a new solar year, as the sun enters Aries and comes close to the Vernal Equinox. The exact dates Lao New Year occurs on can vary from year-to-year. However, it always falls on 3 days between April 13th and 18th. New Year celebrations in Lao are similar to Songkran, Thai New Year. This is the most important festival of the year in Laos.