Khmer New Year

What is Khmer New Year?

In mid-April, when the rice harvest is in and the dry season reaches its hottest, Cambodia celebrates its new year. Choul Chnam Thmey, "entering the new year", is the most important holiday in the Cambodian calendar, a three-day public holiday when cities empty as people travel home to their families, temples fill with offerings, and villages and towns hold games, music and dancing.

Like the new year festivals of Thailand, Laos and Myanmar, it follows the traditional solar calendar and usually begins on April 13 or 14. Each day has its own name and customs. On the first day, Moha Sangkran, families clean and decorate their homes, visit temples and welcome the new year's angel. On the second, Veareak Vanabat, they give to the poor and honour their ancestors at the pagoda. On the third, Veareak Laeung Sak, Buddha statues and elders are bathed in scented water, and young people ask their parents and grandparents for blessings.

Temples build mounds of sand in the shape of stupas, decorated with flags and flowers, and people bless each other by sprinkling water and powder, which in towns and cities often turns into playful water fights. Traditional games are played in temple grounds and streets, such as bos angkunh, in which teams throw large seeds at targets, and chol chhoung, in which young men and women throw a scarf-ball to each other, sometimes with flirting as the real aim.

In Siem Reap, near the temples of Angkor, the Angkor Sangkranta event brings concerts, traditional games and celebrations to the area around the temples, drawing crowds from across the country.

What to expect

The holiday lasts three days, with temple ceremonies in the mornings and games, music and water in the afternoons.

Planning your trip

Getting there

Siem Reap's international airport has flights from Bangkok, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Ho Chi Minh City and other Asian hubs, and buses connect the city with Phnom Penh and the Thai border. In town, tuk-tuks are the easiest way to get around and to reach the temples.

Where to stay

Siem Reap has accommodation for every budget, from guesthouses to luxury resorts, and prices are reasonable. Many Cambodians travel during the holiday, so book ahead if you plan to stay in Siem Reap or visit the temples during the new year.

What it costs

The celebrations are free, and Cambodia is very affordable, with cheap food, transport and guesthouses. The Angkor Archaeological Park requires a pass, sold for one, three or seven days. Prices for tuk-tuks and rooms can rise slightly during the holiday.

Go like you know

• Try num ansom, sticky rice cakes wrapped in banana leaves, a holiday treat.
• Bring small notes for offerings at temples and for donations to the poor.
• Join a game of chol chhoung or bos angkunh if invited; it's the best way to meet people.
• Dress modestly at temples, covering shoulders and knees, and remove your shoes before entering.
• Thailand's Songkran, at the same time, is the region's most famous water festival.
• For Vietnam's great lunar new year, see Tết, in January or February.

Frequently asked questions

When is Khmer New Year?

In mid-April, usually starting on April 13 or 14 and lasting three days. In 2027 the public holidays fall on April 14, 15 and 16, Wednesday to Friday, according to the government's holiday calendar. Many people take extra days off to travel home.

Is there a water fight like Songkran?

There is water, but less than in Thailand. Traditionally, people sprinkle water and powder on each other as a blessing, and in towns and cities this can become playful splashing. In Siem Reap and Phnom Penh, expect to get wet, but it is usually gentler than Songkran's battles.

Are the Angkor temples open during the new year?

Yes. The temples remain open, and the holiday is a popular time for Cambodians to visit them, so they can be busier than usual. Go early in the morning to avoid the heat and the crowds, and buy your Angkor pass in advance or at the official ticket office.