Phuket Heroines Monument Festival

The Heroines Monument Festival occurs annually from March 13-15 at Victory Field in the Thalang district, commemorating the 1785 defence of Phuket against Burmese invaders. Two sisters, Thao Thep Krasattri and Thao Sri Soonthorn, originally known as Chan and Mook, led the island’s resistance when no formal military leadership existed. They ingeniously disguised 500 women as soldiers and used tactical deception, including fake reinforcement marches and smouldering coconut husks to simulate musket fire.