Pattaya, Thailand-
Songkran, the Thai New Year, also known as the water festival, begins this week and for the first time in FOUR years, since 2019, water fights, parties, and concerts will be allowed.
Songkran will also bring a plethora of business closures, including government offices such as Immigration. Thai Immigration will be closed from April 13th-April 17th, reopening on April 18th. It appears they will open on April 19th, the traditional Songkran Day in Pattaya. Still, as the city is nearly impassable due to revelers enjoying “Wan Lai”, it is strongly suggested not to go on this day.
From a national level, Songkran runs from April 13th-17th this year but will extend to the 19th in Pattaya and even later further South. Pattaya’s epic finale, in which Beach Road will see closures and the whole city parties, is April 19th, called Wan Lai.
Many banks, restaurants, government offices, and other businesses will also close during the festival so we strongly advise you to check in advance before traveling to a venue.
This is due to a variety of reasons, but the biggest one being allowing staff to go home and enjoy the most important Thai holiday with their loved ones. The 19th in particular, Songkran’s big day in Pattaya, will see most “regular” businesses open. However, many bars will remain open, especially open-front ones in tourist areas for people to enjoy playing water.
If you have urgent business to get done at Thai Immigration, we strongly suggest to do so before April 13th.
Happy Thai New Year!
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