Government offices in Thailand are not usually open at the weekend anyway. Tuesday 19 July is Asanha Bucha day and the following day is Wan Khao Phansa, the official start of this year’s three-month long period of abstinence for Thais.
As Monday is sandwiched between two twin-day closures, the Thai government decided to designate Monday as a bonus vacation day for government employees and civil servants. The closure of immigration offices does not apply to those at airports or land-border crossings and these will be open as usual.
Asanha Bucha does not fall on the same day every year because it follows the cycles of the moon. It marks the anniversary of the Lord Buddha’s first sermon to his disciples.
Asanha Bucha and Wan Khao Phansa are both religious holidays. Shops, bars and restaurants with licences to sell alcohol are usually prohibited from doing so on these and other important religious days on the country’s annual calendar.
Thai immigration and government offices to shut for Asanha Bucha
News in Asia
Immigration and government offices across Thailand are set to shut for five days to mark the start of the Buddhist period of Lent. Although the start of Lent, or Phansa in Thai, is not until next Wednesday, offices will be shut down from Saturday.