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Laos has one of Southeast Asia's most compact public-holiday calendars — 9 official public holiday dates in 2026, built from six recognised national holidays, with Lao New Year (Pi Mai) alone spanning three days. They are made up of 3 international observances, 1 traditional festival and 2 national days. Below is the official list with dates, the day of the week, and the type of each holiday.
| Date | Day | Holiday | Holiday Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Jan | Thursday | New Year's Day | International |
| 8 Mar | Sunday | International Women's Day (for female employees) | International |
| 9 Mar | Monday | Women's Day compensatory day off | Observed |
| 14 Apr | Tuesday | Lao New Year / Pi Mai (Day 1) | Traditional |
| 15 Apr | Wednesday | Lao New Year / Pi Mai (Day 2) | Traditional |
| 16 Apr | Thursday | Lao New Year / Pi Mai (Day 3) | Traditional |
| 1 May | Friday | International Labour Day | International |
| 20 Jul | Monday | Lao Women's Union Day (for female employees) | National |
| 2 Dec | Wednesday | Lao National Day | National |
Official Source:
ASEAN–Japan Centre — Public Holidays in Lao PDR: https://www.asean.or.jp/en/learn-about-asean-japan/public-holidays-laopdr/ (Legal basis: Lao Labour Law (No. 43/NA), administered by the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare.)
Every region, and country, operates differently when it comes to Public Holidays. When we talk about Lao New Year (Pi Mai) in Laos, it feels like a grand celebration - people are on leave and enjoying their personal time. All this is bound to bring changes in attendance, increased leave requests, and varied working arrangements which impacts payroll accuracy and leave processes for both employers and employees.
While all of these issues can impact adversely, if enterprises are well-prepared and rely on technology instead of human intervention; it will help in aligning pay cycles, overtime, and statutory requirements without disruption. This not just eases processes for the employer but aids employees while providing clarity on leave entitlements, pay calculations, and timely compensation during a high-expectation period.
Let HONO handle holidays, leave, and payroll in one place, across regions and languages.
9 official public holiday dates in 2026, from six recognised national holidays — Lao New Year (Pi Mai) spans three days.
Major Buddhist festivals such as Visakha Bousa, Boun Khao Phansa, Boun Ok Phansa and That Luang are widely observed but are not statutory national public holidays, so business closures vary by employer.
Lao New Year (Pi Mai) is fixed at 14–16 April, but Buddhist festival dates follow the lunisolar calendar and shift each year.
