January 1 st
International New Year's Day

January or Febuary
Tet Festival
This is the New Year of both the Chinese and Vietnamese lunar calendar.

March 8 th
Women's Day

April 14-16
Cambodian New Year is celebrated for 3 days after the end of the harvest to mark the turn of the year according to the Khmer lunar calendar. Every home is decorated, shrines are filled with food and beverages given as offerings to God. People attend Buddhist temples where traditional games are also performed.

May 29 th
Visa Bochea Day ( Birthday of Buddha)

May 25 th
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. A field at the Royal Palace, Phnom Penh is a good spot to watch or join in on the festivities. Ploughing activities are held and cows are given a variety of crops to eat. Based on the choices of crops eaten by the cows, predictions are made for the coming year's harvest.

June 1 st
Children's Day

June 18 th
Sihanouk's birthday

September 23 rd to the 25 th
Spirit Commemoration Day

October
Pchun Ben Day (Soul Day)is a religious festival blessing the souls of ancestors, relatives and friends alike who have passed away.
Household members attend Buddhist temples.

October 30 th to November 1 st
Birthday of His Majesty King Norodom Sihanouk . A giant firework display is held close to the riverbanks in front of the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh.

October or November
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. Some say the celebration is also a thanksgiving to the Mekong River for providing the country with fertile land. People from all walks of life gather on the bank of the Mekong River for several days and nights.

November 1 st
Independence Day

December
International Half marathon Held at the world renowned Angkor Wat this event attracts competitors from around the world. With thousands of spectators and the wonder of Angkor Wat, it is a spectacular setting for this popular event.

December 25 th
Christmas Day