Happy New Year 2025 & Happy CLMV Holidays!

Happy New Year from Happio! We’re wishing you a wonderful 2025 filled with growth and success. As the new year begins, there’s no better time to embrace new beginnings, fill your life with positivity, and make the most out of everything—whether it’s during holidays, special occasions, or everyday moments to make life memorable like never before.
That said, we’ve got so much to look forward to, especially with all the new opportunities opening up in the CLMV market (Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam). Still, to seize these opportunities and expand your target, it’s important to learn more about the local cultures, traditions, and beliefs since this type of knowledge can offer you valuable insights, and you know what would be a great place to start?–By looking at each country’s holiday dates, as simple as that! If you’re curious about how they compare to Thailand’s, you can check out our calendar here (link) for an overview. However, if you’re down to dig a little deeper into the highlights, let’s explore what makes each of these holidays different or similar to one another…..and what they reveal about each CLMV country.
Firstly, take a look at these common holidays across CLMV countries
- New Year’s Day
- All CLMV countries: 1st January
- Labour Day
- All CLMV countries: 1st May
- Songkran-like / Lunar New Year
- Cambodia: Khmer New Year (14th-16th April)
- Laos: Pi Mai (Lao New Year, 14th-16th April)
- Myanmar: Maha Thingyan (13th-16th April)
- Vietnam: Tết (25th January – 2nd February)
Khmer New Year, image from Indochina Voyages
Tết or Tết Nguyên Đán, image from redbus.vn
In conclusion: Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar celebrate their New Year festivals around the same time as Thailand’s Songkran, with shared traditions involving water (such as water fights and purification rituals). In contrast, Vietnam’s Tết is more aligned with the Chinese Lunar New Year, focusing on family reunions, ancestor worship, and home rituals for good fortune.
- Independence Day / National Day
- Cambodia: 9th November, marks its independence from French colonial
- Laos: 2nd December, marks its independence from French colonial
- Myanmar: 4th January, marks its independence from British colonial
- Vietnam: 1st-2nd September, marks its independence from French colonial
In conclusion: Each CLMV country celebrates its own Independence Day on different dates, reflecting their unique journey and struggles, yet similar historical paths.
- New Year’s Eve
- All countries: 31st December
Full Moon Holidays in Myanmar and Laos
Full Moon over Shwe Dagon pagoda, Image from Khun_K, dpreview.com
If you notice, there are many Full Moon Day holidays scattered throughout the year in Myanmar, and some in Laos, which reflects both countries’ strong connection to the Buddhist lunar calendar and deep religious traditions. Let’s see the meaning behind each of these holidays:
1. Full Moon Day of Tabaung (13th March)
- Associates with the Buddha’s teachings to his disciples, and it marks a time for spiritual renewal.
- Many Buddhists participate in religious activities such as visiting monasteries, making offerings, and donating to temples, which are believed to bring great spiritual merit.
2. Full Moon Day of Kason (11th May)
- Marks the Buddha’s birth, enlightenment under the Bodhi tree, and his first sermon after enlightenment.
- Buddhists in Myanmar celebrate by performing good deeds, meditating, and visiting temples. Some also engage in water-related rituals, such as washing Buddha statues.
- This day is part of the Vesak celebrations across Southeast Asia. As in Laos, the similar holiday called ‘Visakhabousa Day’ falls on the 11th of May.
Full Moon Day of Kason, image from kathmanduandbeyond.com
3. Full Moon Day of Waso (9th July)
- Marks the start of the Buddhist Lent (Vassa), a three-month period when monks stay in monasteries to meditate. During this time, monks do not travel.
- The occasion is celebrated with temple visits, offerings to monks, and charity, providing Buddhists with an opportunity to renew their commitment to the Buddhist way of life.
- In Laos, the similar holiday is called Boun Khao Phansa (10th July) which also marks the ‘Rain Retreat’ period for monks.
4. Full Moon Day of Thadingyut (6th-7th October)
- Marks the end of the Buddhist Lent (Vassa).
- Widely celebrated with lights, lanterns, and fireworks, symbolizing his return.
- It’s a time for family gatherings, charity deeds, and religious ceremonies, and is often seen as a time for forgiveness and renewal.
- In Laos, the similar holiday is called Boun Ok Phansa (7th October).
Full Moon Day of Thadingyut, image from passionasiatravel.com
5. Full Moon Day of Tazaungmone (4th November)
- Marks the beginning of a season of merit-making.
- Celebrated with the Tazaungmone Festival of Lights, where people light candles and lanterns, and make offerings to monks.
- It is a time for meritorious deeds, spiritual purification, and offerings for good health and fortune.
That Luang Festival (5th November) in Laos
- Honors the That Luang Stupa in Vientiane, Laos’ most sacred Buddhist monument, it is believed to house a relic of the Buddha and serves as a central pilgrimage site.
- Features candlelight processions around the stupa, symbolizing respect for the Buddha and the triumph of light over darkness, similar to the practices during Tazaungdaing in Myanmar. The date of the festival also falls around the same time on the calendar.
- Marks a time for spiritual reflection, prayers, and merit-making.
That Luang Festival, image from awaygowe.com
Bon Om Touk In Cambodia and Boun Suang Heua In Laos
While Bon Om Touk (Water Festival) in Cambodia and Boun Suang Heua (Boat Racing Festival) in Laos both involve boat races and mark the end of Buddhist Lent, they differ in cultural significance, scale, and celebration style. So, let’s take a look at their differences:
Cambodia’s Bon Om Touk or Water Festival (4th-6th November)
- It’s a much larger festival compared to Laos’ and is widely recognized as a national celebration, drawing crowds from all over the country as well as foreign tourists.
- The races are typically held on the Tonle Sap river and the Mekong river, and the racing boats are well decorated, competing in long and highly competitive races, sometimes involving up to 40-60 rowers per boat.
- Also features cultural performances and fireworks which makes the event a grand spectacle.
Bon Om Touk Festival, image from arabnews.com
Laos’ Buon Suang Heua or Boat Racing Festival (8th October)
In contrast to Cambodia’s, Laos’ festival is more localized, primarily centered around the Mekong river in Vientiane, as well as along Khan river in Luang Prabang, with a stronger emphasis on religious rituals. It tends to be less extravagant and does not include a wide array of entertainment.
Buon Suang Heua Festival, image from laosouvenir.com
Is Boat Racing Also A Tradition In Myanmar and Vietnam?
Boat racing is also a long-standing tradition in both Myanmar and Vietnam, though it is celebrated at different times and in slightly different contexts. In Myanmar, boat races take place during the Thingyan Water Festival in April, while in Vietnam, they often coincide with local festivals such as Tết or the Mid-Autumn Festival. Unlike in Cambodia and Laos, where boat racing is closely tied to religious observances, these races in Myanmar and Vietnam are more closely associated with the welcoming of the new year. Despite these differences, boat racing in the CLMV countries reflects shared cultural values across Southeast Asia, symbolizing solidarity, strength, and the changing seasons.
Vietnam’s Pride In Its Historical Holidays
Vietnam’s holidays deeply reflect the country’s respect for its history and the pivotal moments that have shaped its identity, with less emphasis on the religious aspects of its culture.
Hùng Kings’ Commemoration Day (7th April)
Honors the legendary Hùng Kings, who are believed to have founded the first Vietnamese state over 2,800 years ago, highlighting the nation’s long-standing heritage and deep cultural roots.
Hùng Kings’ Commemoration Day ceremony, image from visithcmc.vn
Reunification Day (30th April)
Marks the end of the Vietnam War and the reunification of North and South Vietnam, serving as a powerful reminder of the sacrifices made for national unity and the country’s ongoing journey toward peace and prosperity.
Reunification Day ceremony, image from gowherewhen.com
As you can see, these two most important and highly regarded holidays help shine a light on how both ancient and modern historical events continue to shape the collective memory and pride of the Vietnamese people, which is arguably one of the characteristics that sets itself apart from Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar.
In summary, knowing the distinct cultural and religious significance of the CLMV countries’ holiday traditions is a critical step towards identifying new prospects in this market. Whether you’re comparing them to Thailand’s holidays or delving deeper into each, this knowledge can help you form stronger, more meaningful connections and strategies for successful business or market expansion in the region.