Other Thai destinations that marked the New Year yesterday with the likes of dragon dances, visits to the local Chinese temple and firecrackers were Chiang Mai, Phitsanulok, Sakon Nakhon and Phuket. Although Koh Samui does not have a huge ethnic Chinese community, tourists from China who had flocked to the island soon generated a real party atmosphere.
The northeast province of Sakon Nakhon is holding an ongoing festival entitled Chinese New Year for Three Nations which celebrates the links between Thailand, China and Vietnam. In Bangkok, the festivities in Yaowarat will continue until midnight today. Visitors can enjoy dance and other performances plus the vegetarian culinary gems that Chinese people usually stick to for the duration of the New Year Festival. The district was the focus of the nationwide celebrations yesterday as Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn attended the official launch ceremony for the Year of the Monkey in Thailand.
Due to the large influx of international tourists for this auspicious occasion, tickets for intercity buses and trains are hard to come by. To ensure you get a reserved seat we recommend making a reservation with 12GO ASIA.
Thai Chinese Lunar New Year celebrations continue today
News in Asia
In locations across Thailand, tourists and local residents marked the Chinese Lunar New Year with colourful celebrations. Ceremonies, cultural shows and celebrations to mark the onset of the Year of the Monkey will carry on today in Chinatown areas in the country such as the Yaowarat District of Bangkok.