Malaysia Public Holidays 2024: 6 Destinations in ASEAN for unique holiday experiences

This list has been taken from publicholidays.com.my and may be subject to change. Note that:

• If the public holiday falls on a Sunday, you will probably get the following Monday off.
• If the public holiday falls on a Saturday (where Saturday is a non-working day), it depends on your company’s policy if you get the preceding Friday or the following Monday off.
• The actual date for some 2024 public holidays will only be confirmed closer to the event. These include Hari Raya Aidilfitri, Deepavali and some state holidays.
• You may find all of these holidays listed on the Cabinet, Constitution and Government Relation Division website.

To help with the planning of your ideal holiday, we have compiled a list of long weekends in Malaysia in 2024 below.

6 ASEAN Destinations for malaysia long weekends 2024

1. Full Moon party, koh phangan, thailand (New Year’s day)

The year starts with a literal bang at midnight and 2024 blesses us with the first long weekend of the year with New Year’s Day falling on a Monday. Take Friday, 29 December 2023 off and you have 4 days for revelry in Thailand at the famous Full Moon Party on Koh Phangan Island.
While the location is popular amongst backpackers, the party has achieved a life of its own and attracts not only backpackers but casual beachgoers to the festivities. The original Full Moon Party was held at Haad Rin Beach at Koh Phangan but it has since been adopted by other islands like Koh Phi Phi, Koh Samui, and Koh Lanta.

The party costs USD6 (RM28) if you just attend the party but if you live on a property on Haad Rin Beach, entrance is free. Ring in the New Year in style on a beach in Thailand, because you know what they say, how you begin your year reflects what the rest of your year will be. Make 2024 the year you intentionally travel and make the most of the generous supply of holidays in Malaysia.

Holiday dates: 30, 31 Dec & 1 January (Sat-Mon)

2. Celebrate Tết, Hồ Chí Minh City, Vietnam (chinese new year)

Lunar New Year is not only celebrated by the Chinese but by the Vietnamese as well. Tết Nguyên Đán is a week-long public holiday in Vietnam and people who are familiar with Chinese New Year may already be familiar with the traditions and preparations needed before the celebration.

Celebrations differ throughout Vietnam and if you head to Hanoi in the north, for example, temperatures will be colder at an average of 17 degrees Celsius and will increase the further south you go. B

As Ho Chi Minh City is the most populated city in Vietnam and its economic hub, tourists will find that the city will have the most to offer in terms of celebrations.

Join the largest flower show in the city and take in the stunning views of the yellow ochna flowers in Nguyễn Huệ Street in District 1. The historic street is turned into the largest flower market during the festivities. Head to the nearby Tao Dan Park to see even more flowers. In 2023, the park opened to visitors to see over 2,500 flowers and plant products.

Take note that flights into the city will be packed as families meet up and restaurants may not be open (or close earlier). The city is also generally less crowded as people spend time indoors with their families. Take advantage of this and enjoy a quieter Ho Chi Minh City as there won’t be another time that the city will be this quiet.

Explore the city by bike or scooter and head to the biggest tourist attractions to take photos peacefully.

Holiday dates: 10 – 12 February (Sat-Mon)

3. explore kampung gelam, singapore (hari raya aidilfitri)

Within the historic district, you’ll find the former palace of the Malay sultans, Istana Kampung Gelam and grab a picture in front of the Sultan Mosque, one of Singapore‘s most impressive religious buildings. The mosque was first built in 1824 and was restored in 1932 by Denis Santry from Swan and Maclaren, Singapore’s oldest architecture firm.

The area is also where you’ll find the Ramadan bazaars that are open throughout the fasting month. Istana Kampung Gelam also doubles as a museum where you’ll find the rich history of the Malays who lived here.

Hjh Maimunah, a Bib Gourmand-listed restaurant can be found here. They specialise in nasi padang which is steamed rice served with dishes of your choice. During the night, take a walk to Haji Lane to take in the nightlife, cafés, and quaint shops that sell various trinkets you won’t find anywhere else.

You can take advantage of the efficient public transport systems in Singapore to visit more mosques as well like the Hajjah Fatimah mosque which stands out for its European-style minarets, the Al-Abrar mosque that stands as a reminder of the Chulia immigrants who once lived near there, and the Abdul Gafoor Mosque nestled in Little India.

Holiday dates: 10 – 11 April (Wed – Thu) | Take 12 April off to get a 5-day weekend from 10 – 14 April

4. Go on a street Food Adventure in Thailand (Agong’s Birthday)

We recently recommended 10 of the best street foods to try in Bangkok and what better way to check every one of those places than a quick weekend journey to Bangkok? From the famous Michelin-starred Jay Fai to the epitome of Thai comfort food at Ung Jia Huad, there’s so much to eat in Bangkok city.

We’d also recommend Mae Klong Noodle & Leng Saap which serves a literal ‘mountain’ of pork spine with soup. It’s one of Thailand’s newest viral restaurants and many have been to take a photo with their mountain of pork bones.

If you’ve not been to Bangkok since the pandemic, the city has added some feathers to its cap with the beautification of its ancient Khlong Ong Ang Walking Street in Chinatown and Benjakitti Forest Park, a new skywalk and green space that just opened in 2021, and boasts nature trails, jogging and cycling paths as well as plenty of nature spots such as a swamp, ponds and over 7,000 trees.

Meanwhile, the Khlong Ong Ang Walking Street, located 3 minutes away from the Sam Yot MRT station is only open every Friday to Sunday from 4 pm to 10 pm. The street along the canal has been built up with tourists in mind and you’ll find lots of food there as well as shopping.

The canal has also been cleaned, the canal banks paved with concrete, and the historical bridges have been renovated. You can also kayak in the canal!

Holiday dates: 1 – 3 June (Sat-Mon)

5. recharge by the beach, bali, indonesia (Awal muharram)

Bali is the honeymooner’s island of choice and with good reason. The hotels are cheap, they treat their guests extra nicely, and the place is used to welcoming tourists so big parts of the island are friendly for first-timers.

As the middle of the year is here, take some time off to head to the beach, recharge, and get yourself a healthy tan as July is a good time to visit Bali. The dry season starts in April and ends in October so the water is cool and you shouldn’t expect too much rain.

Kuta Beach is where you’ll find a lot of the action and it’s located quite only 5km from the airport. It’s Bali’s most famous stretch of beach with plenty of pubs, clubs, and restaurants for you to try. The beach faces west and you can see stunning sunsets here every day.

Alternatively, you can also head south towards Kuta South and find a place to stay along Nusa Dua Beach which boasts five-star hotels, restaurants by the beach, and even a shopping mall.

Finally, back west you can head to Jimbaran Beach which is famous for seafood at night as well as plane watching as the airport is nearby. That said, you can’t hear the noise from the planes taking off and landing from the beach. The bay is also perfect for first-time surfers as it receives gentle waves throughout the day.

Holiday dates: 5 – 8 July (Sat-Mon)

6. discover ancient civilisations, siem reap, cambodia (prophet muhammad’s birthday & malaysia day

This is the holiday that we’ve all been looking forward to, four straight days without having to take a single day’s leave. How perfect is that? In honour of this perfect alignment of public holidays, take the extended time you have to truly take in some foreign landscapes.

Siem Reap is the country’s second-largest city and home to one of the largest ancient temple complexes in the world, Angkor Wat. It was famously the setting for the first Tomb Raider movie and Wong Kar-wai’s masterpiece In the Mood for Love. 

Though the movies might make you think that the compound is small, in actuality, it is made up of more than 1,000 buildings and ruins and will take days to fully explore. We recommend heading to the most popular locations like Ta Prohm first. You’ve most likely seen the image of a stranger’s fig intertwined with ruins and this is where you’ll find it.

Head to Bayon next to see the smiling stone faces of the Buddha. Bayon temple itself has four areas to explore: the outer and inner gallery, the upper terrace with the famous “face towers”, and the central tower and sanctuary.

If you’ve got cash to spare, there are helicopter rides that let you see the temple grounds in its entirety. These tours usually include an aerial tour of Tonle Sap Lake, another visual delight where you’ll be able to see the lives of people living on the water in floating villages.

You can also view the spires of Angkor Wat rising above the greenery from Bakheng Hill. The trek is a little challenging but the view of the temple amidst the trees will transport you to another place in time.

Holiday dates: 14 – 17 September (Sat – Tue)

Malaysia will have six long weekends in 2024, offering ample opportunities for ASEAN adventures. Maximize your leave days by purchasing airplane tickets at the right time to enjoy six holidays using only six days of leave.

Why not cut out the hassle of planning your itinerary and engage professionals who can curate your very own ASEAN holiday tour? 

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