Calendar of Events 2008
Thailand / Cambodia / Myanmar
Vietnam / Laos

Thailand 2008

FEBRUARY

01-03 Flower Festival Chiang Mai
08 Chinese New Year
21 Makha Bucha Day (first sermon by Buddha to his disciples)

MARCH

21-23 Pattaya International Music Festival

APRIL

06 Chakri Day (businesses could be closed on Apr. 7th)
13-15 Songkran Festival (Thai New Year)

MAY

01 Labour Day
05 Coronation Day
11-13 Bun Bang Fai (Rocket Festival Yasothon)
19 Visakha Bucha Day (holiest Buddhist holiday)

JUNE

06-08 Hua Hin Jazz Festival

JULY

01 Mid-year bank holiday
01-19 Candle Festival in Ubon Ratchathani
18 Khao Phansa Day (Buddhist Lent begins)

AUGUST

12 Queen's Birthday

SEPTEMBER

28-31 Phuket Vegetarian Festival

OCTOBER

01-07 Phuket Vegetarian Festival continues
11-15 End of Buddhist Lent Festival & Naga Fireball Phenomenon, Nong Khai
23 Chulalongkorn Day

NOVEMBER

07-12 Loy Krathong Festival at Sukhothai Historical Park
11-13 Chiang Mai Yipeng Festival
12 Loy Krathong Festival nationwide
15-16 Surin Elephant Round-up
24-30 River Kwai Bridge Week

DECEMBER

01-05 River Kwai Bridge Week continues
05 King's Birthday
10 Constitution Day
13-19 Phra Nakhon Si Ayuthaya World Heritage Fair

Cambodia 2008

JANUARY

07 Victory over Genocide Regime's Day (also known as Liberation Day)

FEBRUARY

21 Meak Bochea Day (death of Buddha)

MARCH

08 International Women's Day

APRIL

13-15 Cambodian (Khmer) New Year

MAY

01 International Labour Day
19 Visakha Buja Day (birth of Buddha)
23 Royal Ploughing Day ceremony

JUNE

18 Former queen's birthday

SEPTEMBER

24 Constitution & Coronation Day
28-30 Pchum Ben Day

OCTOBER

29 King Norodom Sihamoni's Coronation
31 Former King Norodom Sihanouk's birthday

NOVEMBER

09 Independence Day
11-13 Water Festival

DECEMBER

10 International Human Right's Day

Myanmar 2008

JANUARY

04 Independence Day
08 Kayin's New Year (Karen New Year)

FEBRUARY

12 Union Day

MARCH

02 Peasants' Day
21 Tabaung Full Moon
27 Armed Forces Day

APRIL

13-16 Thingyan Water Festival
11-20 Myanmar New Year festivities

MAY

01 Labour Day
19 Kasone Full Moon

JULY

19 Martyr's Day
17 Waso Full Moon (beginning of Buddhist Lent)

OCTOBER

14 Thadingyut Full Moon (end of Buddhist Lent)

NOVEMBER

12 Tazaung Full Moon (Festival of Lights)
11 National Day

DECEMBER

27 Kayin's New Year (Karen New Year)

Vietnam 2008

FEBRUARY

06-11 Chinese or Lunar New Year (Tet) - businesses closed February 6th-9th

APRIL

30 Saigon Liberation Day (also known as Victory Day or Independence Day)

MAY

01 Labour Day (May Day)

SEPTEMBER

02 National Day

Laos 2008

JANUARY

06 Pathet Lao Day
20 Army Day

FEBRUARY

07 Chinese New Year
15-17 Elephant Festival in Paklay
21 Sikhottabong Festival in Khammouane province
21 Wat Phou Festival in Champasack province

MARCH

08 International Women's Day
22 People's Party Day

APRIL

13-15 Boun Pi Mai (Laotian New Year)

MAY

01 Labour Day
mid-May Boun Bang Fai (Rocket Festival) begins - dates vary around Laos
20 Vesak (Buddha Day)

JUNE

01 Children's Day

JULY

17 Boun Khao Pansa (Buddhist Lent begins)
17 Boun Asalahaboucha

AUGUST

13 Lao Issara (Day of the Free Laos)

SEPTEMBER

14 Boun Khao Salak

OCTOBER

12 Liberation Day (from the French)
14 Boun Khao Pansa (Buddhist Lent ends)
14 Boat Racing Festival

NOVEMBER

24 That Luang Festival & Trade Fair in Vientiane

DECEMBER

02 National Day
mid-December until January Hmong New Year