Cambodia public holidaysបុណ្យជាតិ

The full calendar

Holidays are listed in calendar order. Dates shown as a month rather than a day follow the Khmer lunar calendar and are fixed each year by royal sub-decree, usually a few months in advance.

• International New Year

  1 January1 day · fixed date

  A single quiet day. Banks and government offices close; shops, markets and tourist sites stay open.

• Victory over Genocide Day

  7 January1 day · fixed date

  Marks the end of the Khmer Rouge regime in 1979. Offices and banks close; transport runs normally.

• Meak Bocheaមាឃបូជា

  February (full moon of Meak)1 day · date moves each year

  A Buddhist observance. Pagodas fill from dawn and alcohol sales are sometimes restrained near temple grounds.

• International Women's Day

  8 March1 day · fixed date

  A public holiday in Cambodia, unlike in most of the region. Government offices and schools close.

• Khmer New Yearចូលឆ្នាំខ្មែរ

  13–16 April3 days · date moves each year

  The biggest break of the year. Phnom Penh empties as families return to the provinces — expect a week of reduced service, packed buses and closed shops. Book travel well ahead.

• International Labour Day

  1 May1 day · fixed date

  Offices and banks close. Occasional marches in Phnom Penh.

• King Sihamoni's Birthday

  14–16 May3 days · fixed date

  Three consecutive days honouring the reigning monarch. Public buildings are lit and decorated.

• Visak Bocheaវិសាខបូជា

  May (full moon of Visak)1 day · date moves each year

  Marks the Buddha's birth, enlightenment and passing. Candlelit processions at major pagodas in the evening.

• Royal Ploughing Ceremonyព្រះរាជពិធីបុណ្យច្រត់ព្រះនង្គាល

  May (day after Visak Bochea)1 day · date moves each year

  Royal oxen choose from bowls of rice, water and wine to forecast the harvest — a genuinely interesting event to attend if you are in Phnom Penh.

• Queen Mother Monineath's Birthday

  18 June1 day · fixed date

  Offices and banks close for the day.

• Constitution Day

  24 September1 day · fixed date

  Marks the 1993 constitution. A routine one-day closure.

• Pchum Benបុណ្យភ្ជុំបិណ្ឌ

  September or October (15 days of Pheaktrabot)3 days · date moves each year

  Ancestors' Day — the second-largest exodus after Khmer New Year. Three official days, but many workers take longer. Siem Reap and coastal towns get busy with domestic travellers.

• Commemoration Day of King Sihanouk

  15 October1 day · fixed date

  Honours the late King Father. Offices and banks close.

• Paris Peace Agreement Day

  23 October1 day · fixed date

  Marks the 1991 accords that ended the civil war.

• King Sihamoni's Coronation Day

  29 October1 day · fixed date

  Anniversary of the 2004 coronation.

• Water Festival (Bon Om Touk)បុណ្យអុំទូក

  November (full moon of Kadeuk)3 days · date moves each year

  Boat races on the Tonle Sap in front of the Royal Palace, with fireworks and huge riverfront crowds. The best three days of the year to be in Phnom Penh — and the hardest for finding a hotel room.

• Independence Day

  9 November1 day · fixed date

  Marks independence from France in 1953. A morning ceremony at the Independence Monument.

• International Human Rights Day

  10 December1 day · fixed date

  The final public holiday of the calendar year.

Planning notes for expats and visitors

Frequently asked questions

How many public holidays does Cambodia have?

Cambodia observes around 21 to 22 public holiday days a year across roughly 18 occasions, because Khmer New Year, Pchum Ben, the Water Festival and the King's birthday each run for three days. That still makes it one of the most holiday-rich calendars in Southeast Asia. The exact list is confirmed each year by sub-decree, so a day is occasionally added or dropped.

Which Cambodian public holidays change date each year?

Anything tied to the lunar calendar moves: Meak Bochea, Visak Bochea, the Royal Ploughing Ceremony, Pchum Ben and the Water Festival. Khmer New Year is usually 13 to 16 April but can shift by a day. Fixed-date holidays such as 7 January, 1 May, 9 November and 10 December fall on the same date every year.

What actually closes during a Cambodian public holiday?

Government offices, ministries, banks and schools close. Private businesses, restaurants, markets, tourist sites and transport generally keep running, though with thinner staffing. Khmer New Year and Pchum Ben are the exceptions — many small shops, clinics and services shut for several days as staff travel to their home provinces.

Are Angkor Wat and other temples open on public holidays?

Yes. Angkor Archaeological Park and the main temple sites stay open every day of the year, including Khmer New Year. Expect far more Cambodian visitors than usual during national breaks, especially at Angkor Wat and Phnom Kulen.

What is the best public holiday for a tourist to plan around?

The Water Festival in November is the most spectacular to attend, with boat races and fireworks on the Phnom Penh riverfront. Khmer New Year in April is the most disruptive to travel but the most culturally immersive if you have a local invitation. Both need accommodation booked weeks ahead.

Do expats working in Cambodia get all public holidays paid?

Employees covered by the Cambodian Labour Law are entitled to paid leave on official public holidays, and to a compensating day off when a holiday falls on a Sunday. Terms for foreign staff on overseas contracts depend on the employment agreement, so check the contract rather than assuming.