Calendar of Events 2009
Thailand / Cambodia / Myanmar
Vietnam / Laos

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Thailand 2009

JANUARY

24-26 Chinese New Year celebrated (New Year day is the 26th)

FEBRUARY

06-08 Flower Festival Chiang Mai
09 Makha Bucha Day (first sermon by Buddha to his disciples)

MARCH

20-22 Pattaya International Music Festival

APRIL

06 Chakri Day (businesses could also be closed on Apr. 7th)
13-15 Songkran Festival (Thai New Year)
18-20 Pattaya Festival

MAY

01 Labor Day
05 Coronation Day
08 Visakha Bucha Day (holiest Buddhist holiday)
08-10 Bun Bang Fai (Rocket Festival Yasothon)

JUNE

12-14 Hua Hin Jazz Festival

JULY

07 Khao Phansa Day (Buddhist Lent begins)

AUGUST

12 Queen's Birthday

SEPTEMBER

30 Naga Fireball Phenomenon, Nong Khai

OCTOBER

01-04 Naga Fireball Phenomenon, Nong Khai
04 End of Buddhist Lent Festival
18-26 Phuket Vegetarian Festival
23 Chulalongkorn Day

NOVEMBER

Exact dates TBA River Kwai Bridge Week
01-02 Loy Krathong & Candle Festival at Sukhothai Historical Park
02 Loy Krathong Festival nationwide
21-22 Surin Elephant Round-up

DECEMBER

05 King's Birthday
10 Constitution Day
11-20 Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya World Heritage Fair

Cambodia 2009

JANUARY

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

FEBRUARY

15 Meak Bochea Day (death of Buddha)

MARCH

08 International Women's Day

APRIL

14-16 Cambodian New Year

MAY

01 International Labour Day
12 Royal Ploughing Day Ceremony
13-15 King Sihamoni's Birthday

JUNE

18 Former Queen's Birthday

SEPTEMBER

18-20 Pchum Ben Day (Ancestors Day)
24 Constitution & Coronation Day

OCTOBER

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

NOVEMBER

01-03 Water Festival
09 Independence Day

DECEMBER

10 International Human Right's Day

Myanmar 2009

JANUARY

03 Ananda Temple Festival in Bagan
04 Independence Day
13-15 Naga New Year Festival in Sagaing
26-31 Kyaik Khauk Festival at Thanlyin (Syriam) in Yangon

FEBRUARY

01-09 Kyaik Khauk Festival at Thanlyin (Syriam) in Yangon continues
03-09 Hlarmane Rice Giving Festival
12 Union Day

MARCH

02 Peasants' Day
05 Pindaya Cave Festival
05 Shwedagon Pagoda Festival
05 Kat Ku Pagoda Festival (Pa-Oo National Day in Shan State)
10 Tabaung Full Moon
27 Armed Forces Day

APRIL

09 Shwemawdaw Pagoda Festival in Bago
11-21 Thingyan Festival holidays
12-17 Mt. Popa Festival
13-16 Thingyan Water Festival
17 Myanmar New Year
17 Buddhist New Year Day

MAY

01 International Workers Day
08 Kasone Full Moon, Buddha's birthday, Bodhi Tree water pouring ceremony

JUNE

22-30 Maha Myat Muni Pagoda Festival & rattan ball competition in Mandalay

JULY

01-07 July Maha Myat Muni Pagoda Festival continues
06 Waso Full Moon (beginning of Buddhist Lent)
19 Martyr's Day

SEPTEMBER

19-30 Inle Lake Festival (Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda Festival)

OCTOBER

01-06 Inle Lake Festival continues
02-03 Celebration of Lights
02-03 Elephant Dance Festival in Kyaukse, south of Mandalay
02-05 Thaung Tho Monastery celebration (gathering of Pa-Oo tribes at Inle Lake)
03 Thadingyut Full Moon (end of Buddhist Lent)
08-11 Inndein Pagoda Festival at Inle Lake
25-31 Shwezigon Pagoda Festival in Bagan
31 Astrologers annual night gathering at Shwebonepwint Pagoda in Yangon
31 Robe weaving competition at Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon
31 Robe weaving competition at Maha Muni Pagoda in Mandalay
31 Kyaikhtiyo Pagoda (Golden Rock) Festival in Kyaikhtiyo
31 Fire Balloon Festival & competition in Taunggyi
31 Lanterns & Lights Festival at Kakku Pagoda in Kakku

NOVEMBER

01 Tazaungmon Full Moon (Festival of Lights)
01 Shwezigon Pagoda Festival in Bagan continues
01 Robe weaving competitions continue
01 Kyaikhtiyo Pagoda Festival continues
01-02 Fire Balloon Festival continues
01-02 Lanterns & Lights Festival continues
05-09 Thaung Tho Pagoda Festival at Inle Lake
11 National Day
30 Mt. Popa Nat Festival

DECEMBER

01 Mt. Popa Nat Festival continues
16 Kayin's New Year (Karen New Year)

Vietnam 2009

JANUARY

25-28 Tet (Vietnam or Lunar New Year)

APRIL

04 Hung Kings Festivals
30 Saigon Liberation Day (also known as Victory Day or Independence Day)

MAY

01 Labor Day (May Day)

SEPTEMBER

02 National Day

Laos 2009

JANUARY

06 Pathet Lao Day
20 Army Day
26 Chinese New Year

FEBRUARY

09 Makhabucha Day (first sermon by Buddha to his disciples)

MARCH

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

APRIL

13-15 Boun Pi Mai (Laotian New Year)
14-16 Songkran Festival

MAY

01 Labor Day
08 Visakhabucha Day (Buddha Day)

JUNE

01 Children's Day

JULY

07 Khao Pansa (Buddhist Lent begins)

AUGUST

15 Constitution Day
20 Boun Hak Khao Padap Din
23 Uprising Day

SEPTEMBER

04 Boun Haw Khao Salak (day to pay respect to the deceased)

OCTOBER

04 Awk Phansa (end of Buddhist Lent)
12 Liberation Day (from the French) aka Independence Day

DECEMBER

02 Lao National Day
13 Kaysorn Phomvihane Day