ASEAN NOW News Posted October 25, 2021 Share Posted October 25, 2021 Many of us expats know roughly when the national holidays are set back home. However, when I first came to live in SE Asia, I remember being unprepared for empty streets in Bangkok when everyone went home or on holiday to the resorts. By then it was just too late to even book a decent hotel at the last minute! Songkran (file photo) Certainly I now know that it is worth going away to avoid the Songkran festivals around the region, unless you like getting soaked. It is interesting to note that whereas Vietnam lists only eight official national holidays, the Philippines have fourteen holidays, while Thailand a mouthwatering 23 days off work. Cambodia has the most public holidays in the world, celebrating twenty-nine back in 2019, and in 2021 they still have 26 holidays listed. That is followed by Sri Lanka which has twenty-six public holidays in 2019. Compare this to the UK which has one of the lowest number listings just eight national holidays. The USA with nine, while Russia with fourteen if you include their six days off for the Russian New Year. Therefore, Cambodia and Thailand must be the places to hang out. Here is a list of current national holidays which are shown online for SE Asia. Vietnam/Public holidays (2021) 8 HOLIDAYS New Year's Day Fri, Jan 1 Vietnamese New Year's Eve Thu, Feb 11, Lunar New Year Fri, Feb 12, Tết Fri, Feb 12, Hùng Kings' Festival Wed, Apr 21, Reunification Day Fri, Apr 30, Labour Day Mon, May 3, Independence Day of Vietnam Thu, Sep 2, Individual states/territories have additional holidays Philippines/Public holidays (2021) 14 HOILDAYS New Year’s Day Fri, Jan 1, Lunar New Year Fri, Feb 12, Maundy Thursday Thu, Apr 1, Good Friday Fri, Apr 2 Bataan Day Fri, Apr 9, Labour Day Sat, May 1, Eid al-Fitr Thu, May 13 Philippines Independence Day Sat, Jun 12, Eid al-Adha Tue, Jul 20, National Heroes’ Day (in Philippines) Mon, Aug 30, Bonifacio Day Tue, Nov 30, Feast of the Immaculate Conception Wed, Dec 8, Christmas Day Sat, Dec 25, Rizal Day Thu, Dec 30, Thailand/Public holidays (2021) 23 HOLIDAYS New Year's Day Fri, Jan 1, Maga Pūjā Fri, Feb 26, Chakri Memorial Day Tue, Apr 6, Songkran Apr 12 – 15, Labouré Day Mon, May 3, Coronation of King Maha Vajiralongkorn Tue, May 4, Coronation Day Wed, May 5, Royal Ploughing Ceremony Mon, May 10, Vesak Wed, May 26, H.M Queen Suthida Bajrasudhabimalalakshana's Birthday Thu, Jun 3, Asalha Puja Sat, Jul 24, Beginning of Vassa Tue, Jul 27, H.M. King Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua’s Birthday Wed, Jul 28, H.M. Queen Sirikit The Queen Mother’s Birthday Thu, Aug 12, H.M. King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great Memorial Day Wed, Oct 13, Chulalongkorn Memorial Day Fri, Oct 22, Father's Day Mon, Dec 6, H.M. King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great’s Birthday Mon, Dec 6, Constitution Day Fri, Dec 10, New Year's Eve Fri Dec31 Cambodia/Public holidays (2021) 26 Holidays New Year's Day Fri, Jan 1, Victory over Genocide Day Thu, Jan 7, International Women's Day Mon, Mar 8, Cambodian New Year Apr 14 – 16, Vesak Mon, Apr 26, Royal Ploughing Ceremony Fri, Apr 30, Labour Day Mon, May 3, King Sihamoni's Birthday Fri, May 14, National Day of Remembrance Thu, May 20, Children's Day Tue, Jun 1, Queen Mother's Birthday Fri, Jun 18, Constitution Day Fri, Sep 24, Pchum Ben Day Oct 5 – 7, Commemoration Day of King Father, Norodom Sihanouk Fri, Oct 15, Paris Peace Agreements Day Mon, Oct 25, King Norodom Sihamoni’s Coronation Day Fri, Oct 29, Independence Day Tue, Nov 9, Independence Day of Cambodia Tue, Nov 9, Bon Om Touk Nov 18 – 20, Please note that some of the holidays listed may change, but at least you can now plan ahead. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post mfd101 Posted October 26, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted October 26, 2021 Well, I'm not across the micro details but it seems to me it's more complicated than all of that. In Thailand there are official (government-designated) holidays that apply to everyone, and most things other than wayside stalls close down. But there are some that apply only to government organizations and everyone else carries on as normal, and sometimes there seem to be holidays for banks alone. And then there are religious holidays that people observe selectively ... And then there's the fact that most people work 6 days a week ... which puts a different slant on all those hols. 4 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thalueng Posted October 26, 2021 Share Posted October 26, 2021 Add to that that Thailand pre- or post- compensates holidays which fall on weekends. If for example the Buddhist Lent day falls on a Sunday like this year then Monday is off "in lieu". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
digbeth Posted October 26, 2021 Share Posted October 26, 2021 For Thailand the legal minimum holidays for business is 13 days and many business observes only that 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bbko Posted October 26, 2021 Share Posted October 26, 2021 When you're on a OA visa (retirement), everyday is a holiday ???? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AgMech Cowboy Posted October 26, 2021 Share Posted October 26, 2021 No expert, but I think you'll find Malaysia has more than Thailand. They celebrate Muslim, Christian and Hindu/Buddhists religious days plus many 'State'/Federal Government holidays, too. Also, half of Friday is a not spent 'working'. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sirineou Posted October 26, 2021 Share Posted October 26, 2021 I am beginning to develop a severe case of anti-buddhasism. Every time i try to by beer a macro it is either to early or too late or some sort of Buddha day. I am beginning to suspect my wife is making up the whole thing. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zzaa09 Posted October 26, 2021 Share Posted October 26, 2021 2 minutes ago, sirineou said: I am beginning to develop a severe case of anti-buddhasism. Every time i try to by beer a macro it is either to early or too late or some sort of Buddha day. I am beginning to suspect my wife is making up the whole thing. Wiser folks know what holiday is what and stock up accordingly. Or.....are lesser dependent on the Western-style supermarket to attain their precious goods. And many shouldn't be here at all, as they've never acquired the skill of natural acclimation or fitting in.......continuing on in their very ignorant and foreign manner. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sirineou Posted October 26, 2021 Share Posted October 26, 2021 1 minute ago, zzaa09 said: Wiser folks know what holiday is what and stock up accordingly. Or.....are lesser dependent on the Western-style supermarket to attain their precious goods. And many shouldn't be here at all, as they've never acquired the skill of natural acclimation or fitting in.......continuing on in their very ignorant and foreign manner. That would be me!!???? but it has only been 15 years, give me time. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RafPinto Posted October 26, 2021 Share Posted October 26, 2021 I'm from Zimbabwe and we have holidays whenever we feel we need one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zzaa09 Posted October 26, 2021 Share Posted October 26, 2021 18 minutes ago, sirineou said: That would be me!!???? but it has only been 15 years, give me time. More akin to six months, isn't it? ???? Some might prefer to live in a fanciful manner, pretending to be more than they really are.???? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sirineou Posted October 26, 2021 Share Posted October 26, 2021 (edited) 33 minutes ago, zzaa09 said: More akin to six months, isn't it? ???? Some might prefer to live in a fanciful manner, pretending to be more than they really are.???? If you would look at my profile you will see that I joined this forum over 14 years ago. I would say that's a hell of a long preparation for someone who just came here 6 months ago, What do you think? Personally I think you should do your homework before you start making accusations. Edited October 26, 2021 by sirineou 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saakura Posted October 26, 2021 Share Posted October 26, 2021 7 hours ago, digbeth said: For Thailand the legal minimum holidays for business is 13 days and many business observes only that Correct. I work for a large public company listed in SET-50 and in the last 2 decades, it has never been more than 14 days in a calendar year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Capella Posted November 1, 2021 Share Posted November 1, 2021 Sounds nice, but Thais only get 6 days annual leave. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
digbeth Posted November 4, 2021 Share Posted November 4, 2021 On 11/1/2021 at 11:10 AM, Capella said: Sounds nice, but Thais only get 6 days annual leave. That is in addition to the 13 'national holidays' any less and the business is breaking the law. some industry would rather pay overtimes (double) for them to come in on Holidays. In practice, the 6 days annual leave is bare minimum, longer tenured workers gets more annual leave, otherwise there won't be many takers for the job Factory workers are expected to have extended Songkran holidays and New Years and many has leave for rice harvest at the beginning of the dry season that works out to excess of the 13+6 national minimum Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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