Chinese New Year is not an official public holiday in Cambodia, but you would hardly know it. Many Cambodians have Chinese ancestry, and for several days red decorations cover shopfronts, lion dancers go from door to door, and family businesses close their shutters. For visitors, it is a colourful time to be in Phnom Penh, as long as you plan around the closures.
Chinese New Year is not on Cambodia’s public holiday list, so government offices stay open. Many Sino-Khmer family businesses, market stalls and some companies and schools still close for a few days. The date follows the Chinese lunar calendar and moves every year.
How Cambodia celebrates
Celebrations can run for about two weeks, from New Year’s Eve to the Lantern Festival. The Vietnamese community marks Tết at the same time.
Cleaning and decoratingHomes are cleaned before the new year to sweep out bad luck, and doors are decorated with red paper and lucky symbols.
Offerings to ancestorsFamilies set out roast pork, duck, cakes and fruit on altars to honour their ancestors.
Red envelopesChildren and elders receive money in red envelopes for good luck.
Lion and dragon dancesTroupes with drums, cymbals and gongs perform at homes, shops and public spaces to chase away bad spirits and bring good fortune.
Where to see it
Before the day
Phnom Penh markets
In the days before, Central Market (Phsar Thmei), Orussey Market and the Russian Market are packed with shoppers buying fruit, roast meats and decorations. See our markets guide.
On the day
Shopfronts and streets
Lion dances pass through the city’s older commercial streets, where many shops are family-run. Follow the sound of the drums.
Across the country
Provincial towns
Market towns with Sino-Khmer shophouse streets, such as Kampot and Battambang, also mark the new year, on a smaller scale.
Joining in respectfully
- Wish people a happy new year. A smile and a simple “Happy New Year” are always welcome.
- Watch lion dances from a little distance and keep children clear of firecrackers.
- Ask before photographing family altars or people making offerings.
- If you are invited to a home, bring fruit such as oranges, and avoid gifts in sets of four, which many associate with bad luck.
A scenario worth knowing about
You order a tailored suit at a market in Phnom Penh, due for collection the day after Chinese New Year, then arrive to find the stall shuttered for the rest of the week. Many family businesses close for several days. Ask traders directly when they will reopen, and plan fittings, repairs and market shopping either well before the holiday or a week after it.
Planning your trip
Government offices and banks work as normal, but expect some shops, restaurants and market stalls to close, especially in Phnom Penh. Hotels, tourist restaurants and attractions stay open. Chinese New Year is also a busy travel period across Asia, so flights into the region can cost more.
Frequently asked questions
When is Chinese New Year 2027 in Cambodia?
Saturday 6 February 2027, the start of the Year of the Goat. New Year’s Eve is Friday 5 February.
Is Chinese New Year a public holiday in Cambodia?
No. It is not on the official list, but many family businesses close for several days and some employers give time off.
Can visitors watch the lion dances?
Yes. Dances take place outside homes, shops and in public spaces, especially in Phnom Penh. Keep a respectful distance and watch for firecrackers.
Sources: public holiday status from the National Bank of Cambodia holiday list; customs and markets from CambodgeMag; lion dance troupes from Cambodianess; 2027 date from Wikipedia. Last checked 30 September 2026.