Businesses expanding to the region may find themselves having to manage teams that span across Southeast Asia. Being aware about the upcoming public holidays of your employees ensures that disruptions to work is minimised. Here’s a calendar of upcoming public holidays in 2024 for Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Philippines, Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos.
Malaysia has the largest number of public holidays per year, having X days alongside a variable number of other holidays that are observed depending on which state you work in. Holidays which are not celebrated by all states will be marked with an asterisk(*) along with a list of included or excluded states.
Indonesia has increased its number of long weekends through a program called ‘Joint Leaves’ (cuti bersama). If a holiday falls on a Thursday, Friday is considered a holiday too. While this is mainly given to civil servants, the Indonesian government encourages companies to give this day off as well. This program was instituted in an attempt to stimulate domestic tourism.
January
| Date(s) | Countries | Holiday |
| 1 Jan | All | New Year’s Day |
| 4 Jan | Myanmar | Independence Day |
| 7 Jan | Cambodia | Victory over Genocide Day |
| 11 Jan | Myanmar | Karen New Year |
| 14 – 15 Jan | Malaysia* | Yang-Di Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan’s Birthday (Negeri Sembilan only) |
| 20 Jan | Laos | Army Day |
| 25 Jan | Malaysia* | Thaipusam (Johor, Kedah, Kuala Lumpur, Negeri Sembilan, Penang, Perak, Putrajaya & Selangor only) |
February
Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and Vietnam celebrate Chinese New Year (albeit named different things) in February, and coincidentally around the same time. Vietnam has a full 7 days to celebrate Tet, and it makes up most of the public holidays they get to enjoy for the rest of the year. Note that Indonesia and Philippines observe 9 and 10 Feb as public holidays as opposed to 10 – 12 as enjoyed by the rest. For Johor and Kedah, it is business as usual on 12 Feb.
| Date(s) | Countries | Holiday |
| 1 Feb | Malaysia* | Federal Territory Day (Kuala Lumpur, Labuan & Putrajaya) |
| 8 Feb | Indonesia Malaysia* | Israk and Mikraj (Malaysia – Kedah, Negeri Sembilan, Penang, Perak, Putrajaya & Selangor only) |
| 9 – 10 Feb | Indonesia Philippines | Chinese New Year |
| 8 – 14 Feb | Vietnam | Tet |
| 10 – 12 Feb | Singapore Malaysia* | Chinese New Year (Malaysia – Excludes Johor and Kedah for 12 Feb) |
| 12 Feb | Myanmar | Union Day |
| 14 Feb | Indonesia | General Election Day |
| 20 Feb | Malaysia* | Independence Declaration Day (Meleka Only) |
March
While Singapore, Indonesia, Philippines, Sabah and Sarawak enjoy Good Friday, Philippines also has Thursday and Saturday as holidays for this festival too.
| Date(s) | Countries | Holiday |
| 2 Mar | Myanmar | Peasants’ Day |
| 4 Mar | Thailand Malaysia* | Marka Bucha Coronation Anniversary of Sultan of Terengganu (Terengganu only) |
| 8 Mar | Cambodia Laos | International Women’s Rights Day |
| 11 – 12 Mar | Indonesia | Bali Hindu New Year |
| 12 Mar | Malaysia* | Awal Ramadan (Johor, Kedah, Melaka only) |
| 22 Mar | Malaysia* | Sultan of Johor’s Birthday (Johor only) |
| 24 Mar | Myanmar | Full Moon Day of Tabaung |
| 27 Mar | Myanmar | Armed Forces Day |
| 28 Mar | Philippines Malaysia* | Maundy Thursday Nuzul Al-Quran Day (All states except Johor, Kedah, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Sabah, Sarawak) |
| 29 Mar | Singapore Indonesia Philippines Malaysia* | Good Friday (Malaysia – Sabah and Sarawak only) |
| 30 Mar | Philippines | Black Saturday |
Read Also: Singapore Business Owner’s Guide To Key Dates and Holidays In 2024
April
Indonesia has a long break between 8 – 15 Apr, consisting of what is collectively known as the Lebaran Holidays. 10 Apr is Hari Raya Idul Fitri. We have consolidated these dates for ease of reference.
| Date(s) | Countries | Holiday |
| 6 Apr | Thailand | Chakri Day |
| 8 – 15 Apr | Indonesia | Lebaran Holidays (Eid al-Fitir, Hari Raya Idul Fitri, Eid al-Adha) |
| 9 Apr | Philippines | Day of Valor |
| 10 Apr | Singapore Malaysia | Hari Raya Puasa |
| 10 Apr | Philippines | Eidul Fitr |
| 11 Apr | Malaysia | Hari Raya Puasa (Second Day) |
| 13 – 16 Apr | Cambodia | Khmer New Year’s Day |
| 13 – 16 Apr | Myanmar | Maha Thingyan (Water Festival) |
| 15 – 18 Apr | Laos | Lao New Year |
| 18 Apr | Vietnam | Hung Kings Commemoration Day |
| 26 Apr | Malaysia* | Sultan of Terengganu’s Birthday (Terengganu only) |
| 30 Apr | Vietnam | Reunification Day |
May
Vesak Day is celebrated on 22 May for Singapore, Malaysia, Myanmar and Cambodia (Note: it is essentially the same festival by a different name in Myanmar). Indonesia celebrates this festival on 23 – 24 May.
| Date(s) | Countries | Holiday |
| 1 May | All | Labour Day |
| 5 May | Thailand | Coronation Day |
| 9 – 10 May | Indonesia | Ascension Day of Jesus Christ |
| 14 May | Cambodia | King’s Birthday |
| 17 May | Malaysia* | King of Perlis’ Birthday (Perlis only) |
| 22 May | Singapore Malaysia Myanmar Cambodia | Vesak Day Hari Wesak Full Moon Day of Kasong Visaka Bochea Day |
| 23 – 24 May | Indonesia | Waisak Day |
| 26 May | Cambodia | Royal Ploughing Ceremony |
| 30 – 31 May | Malaysia* | Harvest Festival (Labuan and Sabah only) |
June
| Date(s) | Countries | Holiday |
| 1 – 2 Jun | Malaysia* | Gawai Dayak Day (Sarawak only) |
| 1 Jun | Indonesia Thailand | Pancasila Day Visaka Bucha |
| 3 Jun | Malaysia | King of Malaysia’s Birthday |
| 12 Jun | Philippines | Independence Day |
| 16 Jun | Malaysia* Philippines | Arafah Day (Kelantan and Terengganu only) Eidul Adha |
| 17 Jun | Singapore Malaysia | Hari Raya Haji Hari Raya Qurban |
| 18 Jun | Malaysia* | Hari Raya Qurban Second Day (Kedah, Kelantan, Perlis, Terengganu) |
| 17 – 18 Jun | Indonesia | Idul Adha |
| 18 Jun | Cambodia | Queen-Mother’s Birthday |
| 30 Jun | Malaysia* | Sultan of Kedah’s Birthday |
July
Malaysia and Indonesia observe the Islamic New Year on 7 Jul whereas it is not observed in Singapore.
| Date(s) | Countries | Holiday |
| 7 Jul | Malaysia Indonesia | Islamic New Year |
| 13 Jul | Malaysia* | President of Penang’s Birthday (Penang only) |
| 19 Jul | Myanmar | Martyr’s Day |
| 20 Jul | Myanmar | Full Moon Day of Waso |
| 22 Jul | Malaysia* Laos | Sarawak Independence Day (Sarawak only) Lao Women’s Union Day |
| 30 Jul | Malaysia* Thailand | Sultan of Pahang’s Birthday (Pahang only) Asalha Bucha |
| 31 Jul | Thailand | Buddhist Lent |
August
| Date(s) | Countries | Holiday |
| 9 Aug | Singapore | National Day |
| 11 Aug | Malaysia* | Sultan Iskandar’s Remembrance Day (Johor only) |
| 12 Aug | Thailand | Queen’s Birthday + Mothers’ Day |
| 17 Aug | Indonesia | Independence Day |
| 21 Aug | Philippines | Ninoy Aquino Day |
| 24 Aug | Malaysia* | Melaka Governor’s Birthday (Melaka only) |
| 26 Aug | Philippines | National Heroes Day |
| 31 Aug | Malaysia | Merdeka Day |
September
| Date(s) | Countries | Holiday |
| 1 Sep | Malaysia* | Merdeka Day Holiday (Kelantan & Terengganu only) |
| 2 Sep | Vietnam | National Day |
| 16 Sep | Malaysia Indonesia | Malaysia Day & Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday |
| 24 Sep | Cambodia | Constitution Day |
| 29 – 30 Sep | Malaysia* | Sultan of Kelantan’s Birthday (Kelantan only) |
Read Also: How To Calculate Leave Encashment Or Salary-In-Lieu Of Notice Period For Your Employees
October
In October, Deepavali is celebrated by Singapore and Malaysia except for Sarawak on 31 October. Coincidentally this is the same day as Halloween in 2024.
| Date(s) | Countries | Holiday |
| 1 – 3 Oct | Cambodia | Pcum Ben Day |
| 5 Oct | Malaysia* | Sabah Governor’s Birthday (Sabah only) |
| 12 Oct | Malaysia* | Sarawak Governor’s Birthday (Sarawak only) |
| 15 Oct | Cambodia | Late King-Father Mourning Day |
| 16 – 18 Oct | Myanmar | Thadingyut |
| 17 Oct | Laos | End of Buddhist Lent Day |
| 23 Oct | Thailand | Chulalongkorn’s Memorial Day |
| 29 Oct | Cambodia | Coronation Day |
| 31 Oct | Singapore Malaysia | Deepavali (Malaysia – all except Sarawak) |
November
| Date(s) | Countries | Holiday |
| 1 Nov | Malaysia* Philippines | Sultan of Perak’s Birthday (Perak only) All Saints’ Day |
| 2 Nov | Philippines | All Souls’ Day |
| 9 Nov | Cambodia | National Independence Day |
| 14 – 16 Nov | Cambodia | Water Festival |
| 14 – 15 Nov | Myanmar | Full Moon Day of Tazaungmone |
| 15 Nov | Laos | Thatluang Festival Day |
| 25 Nov | Myanmar | National Day |
| 30 Nov | Philippines | Bonafico Day |
December
While Christmas is a very significant event all over the world, it may come as a surprise that only Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and Philippines lists it as a public holiday. For the other countries in Southeast Asia, it is business as usual.
| Date(s) | Countries | Holiday |
| 2 Dec | Laos | Lao National Day |
| 5 Dec | Thailand | King’s Birthday |
| 8 Dec | Philippines | Immaculate Conception Day |
| 10 Dec | Thailand | Constitution Day |
| 11 Dec | Malaysia* | Sultan of Selangor’s Birthday |
| 24 Dec | Malaysia* Philippines | Christmas Eve (Sabah only) Christmas Holiday |
| 25 Dec | Singapore Malaysia Indonesia Philippines Myanmar | Christmas Day |
| 26 Dec | Indonesia | Christmas Day Holiday |
| 30 Dec | Philippines Myanmar | Rizal Day Kayin New Year |
| 31 Dec | Thailand Philippines Myanmar | New Year’s Eve |
Read Also: Leave Planning in 2024 for Employees’ Work-Life Harmony
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