Thai Holidays

Thailand Privilege BronzeWhen planning your trip to Thailand, it is important to keep track of the major national holidays celebrated throughout the country.

While businesses and government offices remain closed on public holidays, tourist attractions and shops remain open to accommodate you. However, you should be prepared to grit your teeth through traffic when traveling upcountry as these holidays bring about increased competition for travel and accommodation from Thais who use long weekends to get away from the big city. On the contrary, Bangkok tends to be a lot calmer and less crowded in these occasions.

Listed below are all of the public holidays celebrated and observed throughout Thailand. Some important holidays on the Thai calendar such as the religious Buddhist holidays are based on the lunar calendar, and therefore, will occur on different days from year to year. The dates for these holidays vary each year and may be subject to correction depending on when it falls on the lunar calendar. If a national holiday falls on a weekend, then a substitute holiday is observed the following Monday. For the example below, here are the holidays for year 2025:

National Holidays

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New Year’s Day

01 January 2025

As with other parts of the world, Thailand celebrates the beginning of the western New Year as a national holiday in Thailand. The New Year symbolizes a fresh start to a new beginning, opportunities, and instills a sense of hope. New Year holidays in Thailand typically last for four days from 30 December to 2 January, as the government often mandates the days before New Year’s Eve and after the New Year as a holiday for Thais to celebrate the special occasion.

Makha Bucha

12 February 2025 (varies according to lunar calendar)

Makha Bucha or Magha Puja in Sanskrit falls on the full moon day in the third lunar month. It is an important religious holiday celebrating the Buddha’s first sermon in to his disciples. Not only is it a time for worship, but it is also a reminder of the importance of reflection, self-discipline, and adherence to the Buddhist tenets of peace and compassion.

Temples often hold the wian thian, which is a candlelight procession where pilgrims circumambulate around the ordination hall three times on the evening of Makha Bucha. Other traditions include meditating, listening to teachings, and closely following the practice of the Five Precepts. Since this religious holiday always occurs before the four-day Songkran festival, it also provides an excellent opportunity for many people to travel in preparation for the upcoming Songkran festivities. Note, however, that the sale of alcohol is banned on this and other religious holidays.

Chakri Day

06 April 2025

Chakri Day is a significant holiday commemorating the founding of the current dynasty by its first king, Phra Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke or Rama I in 1782. For this reason, it’s also known as “King Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke the Great Day” and the “Chakri Dynasty Memorial Day.” One of King Rama I’s major decisions was to make Bangkok, referred to by its Thai name as Krung Thep or the “City of Angels”, the capital of modern day Bangkok for what was known back then as Siam.

While the holiday mainly honors King Rama I’s crowning, it also provides an opportunity for Thai people to appreciate and remember the contributions of all the Chakri Dynasty kings.

Songkran

13-15 April 2025

Songkran is the traditional Thai New Year and the biggest national public holiday generally celebrated as a water festival. Famous for its huge water fights and water blessing ceremonies, it has been celebrated for generations and is rich in culture and tradition. Water symbolizes purification and the cleansing of sins that a person may have accumulated over the previous year. By washing them away, it allows people to prepare for a fresh start for the current year.

Celebrations begin on April 13 of every year and normally last four days, but locals living in provinces outside of Bangkok usually take the entire week off. During this time, Thais who have moved to other cities or towns often return home to spend time with their families. If you’re planning to travel to Thailand during this time, it’s wise to plan ahead and avoid the crowds. Public transportation going upcountry is typically packed, whereas Bangkok is typically less busy than usual in venues devoid of the Songkran celebrations. Accommodations can be fully booked — often at prices higher than usual.

Labor Day

01 May 2015

International Labor Day is also celebrated as a national holiday in Thailand, even though there isn’t much ado about it. The Thai National Labor Day happens to coincide with May Day, which is observed in many countries around the world. While Labor Day is a public holiday, it is not a day-off for government officials, but for those working in state enterprises and private companies. Labor Day is rooted from the eight-hour day movement by labor unions, which advocated for eight hours of work per day, eight hours of recreation, and eight hours of rest. Political demonstrations are also held during Labor Day in Thailand during some occasions by labor workers who protest for fair working conditions, increased wages, as well as their rights in which they feel have been violated.

Coronation Day

05 May 2025

Coronation Day celebrates the day when the current king Rama IX was crowned in 1949. May 4 is the anniversary of the coronation of Thailand’s current monarch, King Maha Vajiralongkorn. This event marked Thailand’s first coronation ceremony in nearly 70 years, following the death of his father, King Bhumibol Adulyadej (King Rama IX). Vajiralongkorn, who had been the crown prince since 1972, ascended to the throne in 2016. However, his official coronation did not occur until May 4th, 2019.

Visakha Bucha

11 May 2025 (varies according to lunar calendar)

Visakha Bucha Day or sometimes simply referred to as the “Vesak Day” falls on the full moon day of the sixth lunar month, making it like Makha Bucha Day in that it never falls on the same date in a given calendar year. As the second major religious Buddhist holiday, many families begin the day by visiting temples to offer food and other gifts to monks. Throughout the day, people have the opportunity to attend or listen to Buddhist teachings at temples across the country. In the evening, the special Wian Thian ceremony takes place where participants walk clockwise around the main temple building three times while holding candles, incense, and flowers.

Queen Suthida’s Birthday

3 June 2025

Her Majesty the Queen Suthida’s birthday has been added onto the National Holidays list in 2019 following King Vajiralongkorn’s official coronation in 2019.

Asanha Bucha

11 July 2025 (varies according to lunar calendar)

Asanha Bucha Day is the third major Buddhist religious holiday (after Makha Bucha and Visakha Bucha) marking the time when the Buddha gave his first teachings over 2,500 years ago. The exact date of Asanha Bucha changes every year because it always falls on the full moon of the eighth lunar month, which typically occurs in July or August. Like other Buddhist holidays, on Asanha Bucha Day, locals visit temples to make merit. Per usual like other important religious holidays, the sale of alcohol is prohibited.

Buddhist Lent

11 July 2025 (varies according to lunar calendar)

Buddhist Lent or known as “Khao Phansa” in Thai marks the beginning of the three-month ‘Buddhist Lent’ period. This period is also known as the “Rains Retreat”, as it occurs during rainy season. Monks are prohibited from leaving their temple in this special time frame to prevent them from accidentally stepping on crops that farmers harvest and to avoid traveling around as they may face hardship during the rainy season due to weather conditions. It is during this time as well where monks strictly devote themselves to Buddhist teachings, abstain from certain actions, as well as teach novices.

For laypeople, it also marks a time where new life springs forth and an opportunity to engage in religious practices such as meditation, listening to sermons, and following strict Buddhist teachings.

King Vajiralongkorn’s Birthday

28 July 2025

His Majesty the King Vajiralongkorn (Rama X’s) birthday has been added onto the National Holidays list following his official coronation in 2019.

Queen Mother Sirikit’s Birthday

12 August 2025

Her Majesty the Queen Mother Sirikit’s birthday is observed as a national holiday, while also serving as the country’s Mothers’ Day.

Death Anniversary of King Bhumibol

13 October 2025

In honor of the late King Bhumibol (Rama IX)’s passing on 13 October 2016, a day has been added onto the National Holidays list to commemorate of his passing.

Chulalongkorn Memorial Day

23 October 2025

King Chulalongkorn Memorial Day is also known as “Wan Piya Maharaj” in Thailand to commemorate the death of King Chulalongkorn. The country’s fifth king of the Chakri Dynasty is also known as King Rama V. His majesty was responsible for major reforms across various sectors in Thailand, including education, military affairs, the state railway system. Two of his greatest accomplishments, however, was abolishing slavery in Thailand through the Slave Liberation Act and preventing Thailand from colonization by the Western powers. King Rama V did this by holding diplomatic talks with the French and British who have overtaken the neighboring countries in Thailand as their colonies. He is widely revered by the public as he was able to achieve all of this without resorting to violence. The king’s reign from 1868 to 1910 was a time of huge social and economic progress. His portrait, along with that of the late king Rama IX and the current King Rama X, is commonly displayed in family homes, stores, and public halls throughout the country.

King Bhumibol’s Birthday

05 December 2025

His Majesty the King Bhumibol or King Rama IX’s birthday is celebrated throughout the country and also serves as the country’s Fathers’ Day as well. Like his grandfather King Rama V who made major improvements to the country, King Bhumibol is known for devoting himself to improve the livelihoods of Thai citizens through his numerous agricultural and renewable energy projects. A notable achievement of His Majesty was the development of Khrong Kan Kaem Ling (โครงการแก้มลิง) or the monkey-cheek water retention projects that are used to help store water during periods of droughts and retain water to prevent flooding. Other significant agricultural project that His Majesty accomplished include Khrong Kan Klaeng Din (โครงการแกล้งดิน), which literally means ‘playing a trick on the soil’ involves turning highly acidic soil by repeatedly drying and flooding the land to turn it into fertile soil suitable for agricultural farming.

Constitution Day

10 December 2025

Thailand’s Constitution Day on December 10 is all about celebrating the country’s first permanent constitution back in 1932. Before that, kings ruled Thailand for over 800 years with absolute power. The new constitution brought Thailand into the modern era, making Thailand a constitutional monarchy.

New Years’ Eve

31 December 2025

The day before the Western New Year day is always marked a national holiday.

Thailand Holiday FAQ

How many Thai public holidays are there in 2025?

There are about 35 national holidays and observances in Thailand in 2025, but not all of them are public holidays. There are 21 public holidays in 2025, on which most businesses and all schools will be closed. However, only certain offices will be closed on national observances such as the Chinese New Year or Children’s Day, while the rest will operate normal working hours.

Is everything closed on holidays in Thailand?

If the holiday is only seasonal or only observed, everything in Thailand typically runs normally. On public holidays, schools are closed as well as many businesses, but the country by no means shuts down. Thailand is a country that relies on tourism and has a modern economy, so many tourist attractions remain open, as do malls, restaurants, and most other places visitors would be interested in.

What is the biggest holiday in Thailand?

Songkran is by far the biggest holiday in Thailand, and runs over the course of several days. It has the biggest festivals, the widest celebrations, and the most significance to modern Thai culture. It can be compared to Christmas in the US, with the long break, intense decorations and celebrations, and prominent position in the national identity.

Can you buy alcohol on Thai holidays?

This depends on the holiday. Typically, on Buddhist holidays, the sale of alcohol is prohibited at both stores and restaurants. However, there is no law against consuming alcohol on these days, and not all Thai holidays are Buddhist holidays. Alcohol is sold on other national holidays, but only during certain times of the day (between 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM and from 5:00 PM to midnight) just like every other day in Thailand.