Admin

There are typically 16 public holidays in Thailand (Songkran counts as 3) though it is not uncommon for the government to declare new ones or extend existing ones adding more days. If a holiday falls on a weekend, the following workday is observed.

Although there are many observances and religious holidays the standard Thai holidays (official bank holidays) are as follows

Date	Thai Holiday	Thai Name	Description
Jan 1	New Years Day	วันขึ้นปีใหม่ (Wan Khuen Pi Mai)	Start of the new calendar year.
Full moon, 3rd Thai lunar month (February)	Magha Puja	วันมาฆบูชา (Wan Makha Bucha)	Celbrates the Buddha's teaching of Ovada Patimokkha
April 6	Chakri Memorial Day	วันจักรี (Wan Chakkri)	Celebrates the establishment of the Chakri Dynasty and the founding of Bangkok
April 13 - 15	Songkran	วันสงกรานต์ (Wan Songkran)	This is the traditional Thai new year and has evolved to become a large celebration where people soak each other with water.
May 5	Coronation Day	วันฉัตรมงคล (Wan Chattra Mongkhon)	Commemorates the coronation of King Bhumibol Adulyadej in 1950
May (date announced each year)	Royal Ploughing Ceremony Day	วันพืชมงคล (Wan Phuetcha Mongkhon)	Celebrates the country's farmers
Full moon, 6th Thai lunar month (May)	Vesak	วันวิสาขบูชา (Wan Wisakha Bucha)	Celebrates the birth, enlightenment, and death of the Buddha
Full moon, 8th Thai lunar month (July)	Asalha Puja	วันอาสาฬหบูชา (Wan Asanha Bucha)	Commemorates the Buddha's first discourse, the Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta
First waning moon, 8th Thai lunar month (July)	Vassa	วันเข้าพรรษา (Wan Khao Phansa)	The beginning of Vassa (Buddhist Lent)
August 12	HM Queen Sirikit's Birthday	วันเฉลิมพระชนมพรรษาสมเด็จพระนางเจ้าฯ พระบรมราชินีนาถ (Wan Chaloem Phra Chonmaphansa Somdet Phranang Chao Phra Boromma Rachininat)	Birthday of HM Queen Sirikit and is also observed as Mother's Day
October 23	Chulalongkorn Day	วันปิยมหาราช (Wan Piya Maharat)	Observance for the passing of King Chulalongkorn
December 5	HM King Bhumibol's Birthday	วันเฉลิมพระชนมพรรษาพระบาทสมเด็จพระเจ้าอยู่หัว (Wan Chaloem Phra Chonmaphansa Phrabat Somdet Phra Chao Yuhua)	Birthday of HM King Bhumibol's and also observed as Father's Day
December 10	Constitution Day	วันรัฐธรรมนูญ ( Wan Rattha Thammanun)	Commemorates the fist Thai constitution (1932)
December 31	New Years Eve	วันสิ้นปี (Wan Sin Pi)	Last day of the calendar year

Thai Public Holidays 2011

1 Jan - Sat, New Year's Day
3 Jan - Mon, New Year's Day. (Substitution)
3-5 Feb - Thu - Sat, Chinese New Year - Celebrated but not a national holiday.
18 Feb - Fri, Makha Bucha
6 Apr - Wed, Chakri Day
13-15 Apr - Wed - Fri, Songkran
1 May - Sun, Labor Day
2 May - Mon, Labor Day (Substition)
5 May - Thur, Coronation Day
17 May - Tue, Visakha Bucha
1 Jul - Fri, Banking Holiday
15 July - Fri, Asanha Bucha
16 July - Sat, Wan Khao Phansa Beginning of Buddhist Lent
12 Aug - Fri, HM Queen Sirikit's Birthday / Mother's Day
12 Oct - Wed, Wan Awk Phansa End of Buddhist Lent
13 Oct - Thur, Tak Bat Thewo
23 Oct - Sun, Chulalongkorn Day
24 Oct - Mon, Chulalongkorn Day (Substitution)
10 Nov - Thur, Loy Kratong Celebrated but not a national holiday
5 Dec - Mon, H.M. The King's Birthday / Father's Day
10 Dec - Sat, Constitution Day
12 Dec - Mon, Constitution Day (Substitution)
31 Dec - Sat, New Years Eve
2 Jan (2012) - Mon, New Years Day (Substitution)