Southeast Asia Festival Calendar 2027 for Tour Operators, Plus the Trends to Plan Around

Festivals are among the best reasons to travel in Southeast Asia, and among the hardest dates to plan around: many follow lunar calendars, hotels fill early and some days close attractions or entire islands. This calendar lists the main festivals for 2027 by month, so you can build them into a programme or keep a departure away from them. Dates marked "lunar" are set by religious or official calendars; we confirm the exact day when the authorities announce it.

2027 at a glance

• Thaipusam (Malaysia, Singapore): January–February, lunar.
• Tết (Lunar New Year) (Vietnam): 6 February 2027.
• Chinese New Year (Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, China): 6 February 2027.
• Ramadan (Malaysia, Indonesia): February–March, lunar (from about early February).
• Hari Raya Aidilfitri (Eid al-Fitr) (Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore): March, lunar (about early March).
• Nyepi, Bali's Day of Silence (Bali, Indonesia): usually March, set by the Balinese calendar.
• Songkran (Thailand): 13–15 April.
• Pi Mai (Lao New Year) (Laos): mid-April.
• Chaul Chnam Thmey (Khmer New Year) (Cambodia): mid-April.
• Visakha Bucha / Vesak (Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia): May–June, lunar.
• National Day (Singapore): 9 August.
• Mid-Autumn Festival (Vietnam, China, Singapore, Malaysia): September–October, lunar.
• Galungan and Kuningan (Bali, Indonesia): set by the Balinese 210-day calendar, sometimes twice a year.
• Loy Krathong and Yi Peng (Thailand): November full moon, lunar.
• Bon Om Touk (Water Festival) (Cambodia): November, lunar.
• Boun That Luang (Vientiane, Laos): November, lunar.
• Lovely December, Tana Toraja (Sulawesi, Indonesia): events throughout December.

Planning notes by festival

• Lunar New Year (6 February 2027): in Vietnam, many businesses close for several days around Tết, and domestic travel peaks. Read our Tết guide for agents.
• Nyepi: Bali shuts down for 24 hours, including the airport, so no group can arrive or leave that day. See our Nyepi guide.
• Mid-April water festivals: Songkran, Pi Mai and Khmer New Year fall in the same week, which makes a strong cross-border theme. Luang Prabang during Pi Mai books up far ahead. See our water festival guide.
• Loy Krathong and Yi Peng: Chiang Mai's lantern festival is among the most requested experiences of the year. See our Loy Krathong guide.
• Ramadan and Hari Raya: in Malaysia and parts of Indonesia, opening hours and restaurant service can change during Ramadan, and travel peaks at Hari Raya.
• Galungan and Kuningan: these follow the Balinese 210-day calendar, so they fall twice in some years. See our Galungan guide.

Trends to plan around in 2027

What we see in requests from tour operators, building on our 2026 trends guide:

• Slow travel and rail: fewer flights, longer stays, and routes such as China-Laos-Thailand. See our rail journeys guide.
• Multi-country programmes: clients want two or three countries in one trip, run by one partner. See Indochina multi-country programmes.
• Community-based tourism and secondary cities: travellers want their spending to stay local and to see places beyond the main hubs.
• Wellness: retreats such as our Koh Samui Wellness Retreat.
• New gateways: new airports in Siem Reap and Phnom Penh (Techo International) and capacity growth in the region.

Frequently asked questions

When is Songkran in 2027?

Songkran, the Thai New Year, is officially 13–15 April 2027. Some cities extend the celebrations beyond those dates.

When is Tết in 2027?

The Lunar New Year falls on 6 February 2027. In Vietnam, the holiday period lasts several days around that date.

Should a group avoid travelling during festivals?

Not necessarily. Festivals make memorable programmes, but they need early booking, and some days, such as Nyepi in Bali, close transport completely.

Build a 2027 festival programme

Tell us which festival and which countries you have in mind, and we will propose a programme around the dates. Request a proposal.