Lunar New Year is celebrated by ethnic Chinese and Vietnamese in late January or early February. The Khmer New Year celebrations bring the country to a standstill for three days in mid-April - a fair amount of water and talcum powder gets thrown around at this time, so it's a lively but noncontemplative time to visit. Chat Preah Nengkal, the Royal Ploughing Festival, takes place near the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh in early May. The Khmer calendar's most important festival is Bon Om Tuk, celebrating the end of the wet season in early November - it's the best time to visit Phnom Penh or Siem Reap. Banks, ministries and embassies are closed during all public holidays and festivals.
Public Holidays:
January 1 - New Year's Day
March 8 - Women's Day
April 13 - Khmer New Year
May 1 - Labour Day
June 1 - International Children's Day
September 24 - Constitution Day
October 23 - Paris Peace Agreement
October 30 - King's Birthda
November 9 - Independence Day
December 10 - UN Human Rights Day
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