Cambodian Festivals Calendar

New Years Day – Jan 01
National Day – Jan 07 - Celebrates the overthrow of the Khmer Rouge by the Vietnamese and Cambodian rebels.
Lunar New Year – Late Jan/Early Feb – Traditional celebration for Chinese and Vietnamese residents.
Magha Bochea - Jan/Feb Full Moon – Celebration of the Buddha’s last sermon
Friendship Day – Feb 01 – Celebration of the 1980 friendship treaty between Cambodia and Vietnam.
International Women’s Day – March 8 – Parades with floats throughout the city.
Chaul Chnam – April 13-15 – Cambodian New Year, similar to Songkran in Thailand or the celebrations of Laos and Myanmar.
Birthday of Buddha – April/May – Based on the lunar calendar this religious holiday is marked with parades and events.
International Workers Day – May 1
Genocide Day – May 9 – Day to commemorate the victim of the Khmer Rouge.
Bon Choat Preah Nengkal – Mid to Late May – Ploughing day when the sacred oxen are given foods and their choice predicts the harvest for the coming year.
Vesak Buchea – May Full Moon – Celebrating the Buddha’s enlightenment
Armed Force Day – June 19
Chol Vassa – July – Buddhist lent many young Cambodian males will enter the monkhood.
Bon Kathen – Late Sep/Early Oct – marks the end of Buddhist lent and is an important religious festival.
Bon Dak Ben – Late Sep – Spirit commemoration festival when the ancestors are remembered and respect paid.
Bon Om Tuk – Late Oct/Early Nov – Water festival celebrating the end of the wet season.
King Sihanouk’s Birthday – Oct 31 – Fireworks and celebrations mark this day at the royal palace
Independence Day – Nov 9 – Marking independence from France in 1953
National Reconstruction Day – Dec 2
International Human rights Day – Dec 10

Cambodian festivals are full of color, sights and sounds and are always a great experience.