Holidays

There are a lot of holidays in Cambodia. This year there's 24 public holidays! That's 24 WORK days of... no work! Knowing exactly when the holidays occur isn't as easy as it may seem, but the best source I've found to stay up-to-date on Cambodian holidays is http://www.mfaic.gov.kh/e-visa/info_holiday.aspx

Date in 2008  Holiday Name

1  Jan. 1    Tue  International New Year's Day
2  Jan. 7    Mon  Victory Day over the

                  Genocidal Regime
   Feb. 21   Thu  Meaka Bochea Day

                  (Unofficial holiday)
   Mar. 8    Sat  International Women's Rights Day
3  Mar. 10   Mon  Women's Rights Day Holiday

                  (Observed)
   Apr. 13   Sun  Cambodian New Year
4  Apr. 14   Mon  Cambodian New Year Holiday
5  Apr. 15   Tue  Cambodian New Year Holiday
6  Apr. 16   Wed  Cambodian New Year Holiday
7  May 1     Thu  International Labour Day
8  May 13    Tue  King Norodom Sihamoni's Birthday
9  May 14    Wed  King's Birthday Holiday
10 May 15    Thu  King's Birthday Holiday
11 May 19    Mon  Visakh Bochea Day (Buddha Day)
12 May 23    Fri  Royal Ploughing Ceremony

                  (Pithi Chrat Preah Neanng Korl)
13 Jun. 18   Wed  King Mother's Birthday

                  (Norodom Monineath)
14 Sep. 24   Wed  Constitution Day
   Sep. 28   Sun  Bonn Phchum Ben (Ancestors' Day)
15 Sep. 29   Mon  Bonn Phchum Ben Holiday

                  (Observed)
16 Sep. 30   Tue  Bonn Phchum Ben Holiday
17 Oct. 1    Wed  Bonn Phchum Ben Holiday
18 Oct. 29   Wed  King's Coronation Day

                  (Norodom Sihamoni)
29 Oct. 31   Fri  King Father's Birthday

                  (Norodom Sihanouk)
   Nov. 9    Sun  Independence Day
20 Nov. 10   Mon  Independence Day Holiday

                  (Observed)
21 Nov. 11   Tue  Bonn Om Touk (Water Festival)
22 Nov. 12   Wed  Bonn Om Touk (Water Festival)
23 Nov. 13   Thu  Bonn Om Touk (Water Festival)
24 Dec. 10   Wed  International Human Rights Day

Many of these holidays are Buddhist religious festivals, which are based on the lunar calendar and the dates change from year to year... so be careful to always check for the current year's holiday dates.