Thailand is one of the most popular places to see in the New Year. Thailand offers a diverse choice of locations and events, from the full moon parties to family-orientated events and more intimate celebrations for the romantic at heart.
Central World Countdown in Bangkok is by far the biggest and well organized event in Thailand, attended by hundreds of thousands each year. The event is popular with locals, expats and tourists. The area around the mall is closed to traffic and is taken over by party goers into the early hours. There are ample bars, live music and street vendors, combining to make a real carnival atmosphere. The crowning glory is the magnificent firework display.
The Bali Hai Pier in Pattaya is 100 kilometers to the south and a couple of hours drive from Bangkok. Pattaya is famous for its diverse and interesting entertainment venues. Celebrations go on all night into the early hours along Beach Road but The Bali Hai Pier is the place to be.Customers staying along Pattaya beachfront hotels such as the Holiday Inn Pattaya and join in the New Year’s festivities and more.Free concerts and events throughout the evening keep you entertained until the spectacular firework display lights up the Pattaya skyline at midnight.
Pattaya Beach Road is the epicenter of the diverse nightlife and entertainment on offer in Pattaya. The road runs parallel to the beach in the city center, where you will find great hotels, restaurants, nightclubs and bars. Aside from those the road is aligned with street vendors and entertainers ensuring that the New Year celebrations will be spectacular.
Asiatique the Riverfront opened in 2012 and has already established itself as a main attraction in Bangkok and also one of best places to celebrate New Year. Asiatique boasts some excellent restaurants as well as many bars and restaurant chains. It also has many souvenir and boutique shops and of course the infamous Ferris wheel. As well as having a great party atmosphere it is an idea place for families.
Chiang Mai, in the north of Thailand, is a very popular tourist resort with a relaxed and casual atmosphere and quaint old town. The countdown celebrations are centered on the old town with the ThaPhae Gate being the focal point. Despite being a much smaller city than Bangkok there is still a real party atmosphere with the highlight being the release of thousands of Chinese paper lanterns, which make spectacular sight as they illuminate the night sky.
The Chao Phraya River snakes its way through Bangkok and boasts many of the capital’s top hotels, which alight its banks offering fine dining and roof top bars. If you aren’t on a budget these are great places to celebrate, looking down on the city and along the busy river. If your budget doesn’t extend to a five star luxury, try one of the many restaurants or even one of the river cruises, all offering a great party atmosphere and a chance to see the spectacular firework displays all the top hotels provide.
Koh Phangan is party central all year with its monthly full moon parties. The Haad Rin Beach is where the party starts and goes on until dawn for the 30,000 crowd partying the night away. There are 12 sound systems set up along the beach with top DJs, guaranteeing a night to remember. These parties are lightly regulated and are the place to be for the hedonistic.
Patongon Phuket becomes party town on New Year’s Eve. The area along the beach and adjoining streets is the place to be. There are bars, street vendors and live entertainment everywhere you go, making for a carnival atmosphere enjoyed by the whole town. Fireworks seem to be going off all night and Chinese paper lanterns drift across the sky in a constant wave as you party the night away.
Khao San Road in Bangkok is a lively area of Bangkok, popular with backpackers and the younger crowd. On New Year’s Eve, the many nightclubs, bars and restaurants get even busier and the atmosphere is electric. If you enjoy crowds and bar-hopping, this is the place to be. Due to the high volume of venues the competition for patronage is fierce, and even on New Year, you can still get great deals on food and drink.
Wherever you intend to celebrate New Year in Thailand remember to book your accommodation and travel arrangements well ahead of the countdown. Despite Thailand seeming to have an excess of hotels to suit every budget, they are all full to capacity for the countdown, as tourists and Thais alike make party plans. Be assured you are guaranteed to have a new year to remember in a friendly and electric atmosphere at you chosen location in the land of smiles.