Southeast Asian Countries with the Most Public Holidays

Southeast Asia is known for its rich cultural, religious, and historical diversity, and this is reflected in the number of public holidays observed across the region. In 2026, the number of national public holidays varies considerably from country to country.

According to the ASEAN Digital Calendar 2026 rankings, Cambodia has the most public holidays, with 23 days, followed by Thailand with 21.

Cambodia leads the region with 23 public holidays. Its calendar includes important national, religious, and royal occasions, as well as major traditional celebrations such as Khmer New Year, Pchum Ben, and the Water Festival. These celebrations highlight Cambodia's strong cultural and religious traditions.

Thailand ranks second with 21 public holidays. Many of its holidays are connected to Buddhism, the monarchy, and important national events. Songkran, the traditional Thai New Year, is particularly significant and is celebrated over several days.

The Philippines and Myanmar each have 19 public holidays, placing them jointly in third place. The Philippines observes a mixture of Christian, national, and cultural holidays, including Holy Week, Independence Day, and Christmas-related holidays. Myanmar's calendar includes several important Buddhist festivals, traditional celebrations, and national occasions.

Malaysia follows with 18 holidays, although the actual number can vary depending on the state because Malaysia has both federal and state-specific holidays. Indonesia and Vietnam each have 17 public holidays.

Indonesia's calendar reflects its religious diversity, including Islamic, Christian, Hindu, and Buddhist celebrations. Vietnam's holidays include Tet, the traditional Lunar New Year, which provides one of the country's longest holiday periods.

At the lower end of the ranking, Singapore has 11 public holidays, while Laos has 8, the fewest among the countries listed. Laos's holidays include Lao New Year, International Women's Day, and National Day.

Overall, the 2026 holiday calendar demonstrates how Southeast Asia's public holidays are shaped by religion, history, monarchy, and local traditions. For travelers, businesses, and workers, understanding these differences is useful for planning trips, work schedules, and important events throughout the year.