When planning your holiday in Thailand you should be aware of the major national holidays, celebrated throughout Thailand. Although businesses and government offices are closed on public holidays, tourist destinations and shops in Thailand almost never close. The main impact on the Thai public holidays is the increased competition for travel and accommodation from Thais who use the long weekends to get away from the big city.

It is also worth noting, Thai people love to party many of their celebrations go on for two or three days after the official date. Songkran (Thai New Year), different districts of a city will hold the main event on different days turning the three days of celebrations into six or seven days.

The list below shows all of the public holidays as well as some of the more important nationwide celebrations that are not national holidays. Some of the public holidays and celebrations in Thailand are based on the lunar calendar. Therefore they will occur on different days from year to year.

1st January 2008 New Years Day.

The beginning of the western new year is a national holiday in Thailand its one of three (New Year) holidays that is celebrated every year in Thailand.

8th February 2008* Chinese New Year.

The beginning of the Chinese lunar year is celebrated in the Chinatowns of every city throughout Thailand. Some businesses close for the day, but it's not a National Holiday.

17th February 2008 Magha Bucha Day.

Celebrates the Buddha's first sermon in to his disciples National Holiday

6th April 2008 Chakri Day.

Commemorates the founding of the current dynasty, Rama I. National Holiday

13th - 15th April 2008 Songkran (Thai New Year)

Songkran is the traditional Thai New Year, generally celebrated as a water festival. National Holiday

1st May 2008 Labour Day.

International Labour Day is celebrated as a National Holiday.

5th May 2008 Coronation Day.

Celebrates the day in 1949 when the current king was crowned National Holiday.

23rd May 2008* Visakha Bucha

The holiest Buddhist holiday celebrates the birth, enlightenment and entry into nirvana of the Buddha. National Holiday

1st July 2008 mid Year Bank Holiday

National Holiday

22nd July 2008* Khao Phansa Day (Buddhist Lent)

This day marks the beginning of the Buddhist lent period, a time when monks are supposed to retreat to their temples while new life springs forth. National Holiday

12th August 2008 HM The Queens Birthday

Her Majesty the Queens birthday is a national holiday, also serving as the country's Mothers Day as well.

23rd October 2008 Chulalongkorn Day.

Celebrates the birthday of one of Thailand's most revered kings

13th November 2008 Loy Kratong.

Not a national holiday, but an evening when Thais pay respect to the goddess of the waters, by floating candlelit offerings on all the waterways throughout the kingdom of Thailand.

5th December 2008 HM the Kings Birthday

His Majesty the Kings birthday is celebrated throughout Thailand and also serves as the nations Fathers Day.

10th December 2008 Constitution Day.

The date in 1932 when the country was granted its first constitution

31st December 2008 New Years Eve.

The day before the western New Year day is always a National Holiday.

Festivals Thailand