The Khmer New Year, or Choul Chnam Thmey, is Cambodia’s most significant holiday, celebrated from April 14 to 16 each year. It marks the end of the harvest season and the beginning of a new year according to the traditional Buddhist lunisolar calendar2.

The celebration lasts three days, each with its own traditions:

1. Moha Sangkran – The first day, when families clean their homes, visit temples, and make offerings.
2. Vanabot – The second day, dedicated to charity and honoring ancestors.
3. Leung Sakk – The third day, when people wash Buddha statues and elders with perfumed water as a sign of respect and renewal.

During this time, Cambodia comes alive with festivals, traditional games, and water fights, similar to Thailand’s Songkran. If you’re planning to experience it, Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, and Battambang are great places to join the celebrations