Here you'll find the 2008 dates of official public holidays, religious ceremonies and other festivals in Cambodia. Holidays falling on a Saturday or a Sunday are taken on the following Monday.
Plus some links to online picture albums of Cambodian festivals and more in-depth information on the celebrations mentioned, like the Water Festival and Khmer New Year.
Date in 2009 |
Festival |
Remarks |
January 1 |
New Year's Day | Although an official holiday, not widely celebrated in Cambodia, only by expats and tourists. |
January 7 |
Liberation Day | Mixed feelings on this day as it marks the Vietnamese invasion, which ended the Khmer Rouge regime. But a lot of Cambodians feel the Vietnamese later occupied their country. Read more... |
January 25-26-27 |
Chinese New Year, the year of the Ox. |
This is the New Year of both the Chinese and Vietnamese lunar calendar. NOT an official holiday, but widely celebrated in Cambodia. Almost all shops are closed. Read more... |
February 9 |
Makha Bochea | Marks the four auspicious occasions, which happened nine months after the Enlightenment of the Lord Buddha at Veluvana Bamboo Grove, near Rajagaha in Northern India. More on Wikipedia. |
March 8 |
International Women's Day | Celebrated with marches, gatherings and cultural events |
April 14-15-16 |
Khmer New Year |
Celebrated for 3 days after the end of the harvest to mark the turn of the year according to the Buddhist lunar calendar. Every home is decorated, shrines are filled with food and traditional games performed. Best place to watch or take part: around Wat Phnom in Phnom Penh. Read more... |
May 1 |
Labour Day | Better Factories |
May 8 |
Visakha Bochea |
Birth of Buddha |
May 12 |
Bonn Chrott Preah Nongkoal |
Royal Ploughing Ceremony. This is celebrated to alert the nation of the commencement of the rainy season and to ready farmers for the ploughing period. Cows are given a variety of crops to eat. Based on the choices of crops eaten, predictions are made for the coming year's harvest. |
May 13-14-15 |
King Sihamoni's birthday | No festivities, only evening fireworks on the river front in Phnom Penh. |
June 1 |
International Childrens' Day | Some NGO's organize special activities for children. For the rest the day goes by unnoticed. |
June 18 |
King's Mother Birthday, Norodom Monineath Sihanouk | No festivities |
September 18-19-20 |
Bonn Pchum Ben |
A colourful religious festival blessing the souls of ancestors, relatives and friends alike who have passed away. Household members attend Buddhist temples.Colourful offerings in the pagodas. Read more... |
September 24 |
Constitution Day | Constitution of Cambodia |
October 29 |
King Sihamoni Coronation Day | No festivities, only evening fireworks on the river front in Phnom Penh. |
October 31 |
King's Father Birthday, Norodom Sihanouk | No festivities, only evening fireworks on the river front in Phnom Penh. |
November 1-2-3 |
Water Festival |
Marks the reversing flow of Tonle Sap River and also ushers in the fishing season. The highlight of the event, are the boat races that are held over three days. When night falls, fireworks light the sky and a lighted flotilla of boats sail aloft for good luck. People from all walks of life gather on the bank of the Tonle Sap for several days and nights. The population of Phnom Penh doubles during this festival. Colourful, very busy. Read more... |
November 9 |
Independence Day (1953) | Celebrated with a ceremony early morning at the Independence Monument, usually with the King attending. Fireworks at night on the river front. In 2008 this will no doubt be the start of the water festival celebrations which start two days later. |
December 10 |
Human Rights Day | Human Rights Watch |
- Cambodia Travel Guide
- Cambodia Overview
- Visa Application
- Cambodia Practical
- Drinking Water/Ice
- Weather
- Money & Costs
- Dangers & Annoyances
- Cambodia Festivals
- Water Festival
- Khmer New Year
- Ancestor's Festival
- Help by Visiting
- Cycling in Cambodia
- Latest Cambodia News
- Links:
- Foreign Embassies
- Cambodian Media
- Travel Agencies
- Art & Handicraft
- Pictures of Cambodia
- Voluntary Work
- Phnom Penh
- The South
- The East
- The West
- The North / Angkor
frizz restaurant
#67, Street 240 (map)
Phnom Penh
Cambodia
Tel: 023 - 22 09 53
Tel: 012 - 52 48 01
We have introduced a new menu including more traditional Cambodian dishes, fresh salads and delicious desserts.
read more...
Download entire menu
Download delivery menu
See our extensive travel information in the
Cambodia Travel Guide
Wi-Fi installed @ frizz
Wireless internet (Wi-Fi) is now available at frizz restaurant. Surf the net or update your blog while in Phnom Penh!
read more...
frizz on Channel News Asia
CNA's tv-show 'Taste Matters' filmed at frizz restaurant and the Cambodia Cooking Class. The show featured our chef Heng preparing Fish Amok.
read more...
Rick Stein at frizz
BBC's top chef Rick Stein was here! The frizz restaurant's chef Heng will be featured on his television show.
read more...