All you need to know about Chinese New Year in Thailand 2024
Are you spending the 2024 Chinese New Year in Thailand? If so, consider yourself lucky, as Thailand prepares to be a hotspot for Chinese New Year (CNY).
Despite the fact that Chinese New Year is not officially recognized as a national holiday in Thailand, 7 million Chinese people who call the country home make it highly celebrated.
With the visa exemption agreement between Thailand and China coming into full effect on March 1st, you can expect this year’s Chinese New Year to be a diplomatic event between the two nations.
You may be asking, “what makes Chinese New Year so unique in the Land of Smiles?” This Pacific Prime Thailand article explores CNY in Thailand in 2024 and ways you can welcome the Year of the Dragon.
What is Chinese New Year Like in Thailand?
With its large Chinese population, CNY is a popular festival in Thailand. CNY is a special time of year when the streets come to life with bright red CNY decorations and dragon dancers to match.
It’s also a commercial festival with lots of shops, malls, and venues offering Chinese New Year discounts, promotions, and activities. You’ll even notice that street vendors and other small establishments even do something special for CNY in Thailand.
When is the Chinese New Year in 2024?
Since the CNY is calculated based on the lunar calendar, it tends to fall between January and February each year. It signifies the start of a new Chinese zodiac year.
2024 is set to be the Year of the Dragon, which is the fifth in the 12-year cycle of the Chinese zodiac. The date for CNY in Thailand is February 10th, 2024—falling on a Saturday.
How Does Thailand Celebrate CNY?
Chinese New Year celebrations take place over a period of two to three days. Despite not being a national holiday, CNY is widely celebrated throughout the country thanks to its large Chinese population.
Thousands of people fly in from China and other Southeast Asian countries to spend time with their families and pay respects to their ancestors. Temples and shrines throughout Thailand become especially busy during this time of the year as people gather to pray for good fortune for the year ahead.
Around midday, these areas fill up with food stalls, vendors, dragon dancers, and more.
It’s also customary for family members to pass out red envelopes containing money and trinkets. These envelopes are often referred to by their Hokkien term “ang pao” in Thailand, whereas Cantonese speakers tend to call them “lai see”.
The color red is synonymous with Chinese New Year and is reflected in everything from home and store decorations to clothing choices and accessories. Similarly, people put out offerings on the night of CNY, such as trays of oranges, and tangerines, as well as let off firecrackers to scare evil spirits away.
While the days leading up to CNY may be full of activities, the actual CNY day itself is traditionally a quiet day spent at home. A communal feast featuring lots of traditional (and lucky) food is shared between relatives to pay tribute to their ancestors.
Where to Celebrate Chinese New Year in Thailand
A quick search for the “best CNY events in Thailand” can leave you overwhelmed with options. Essentially, the top events for CNY in Thailand take place in the country’s most popular areas, including Bangkok, Phuket, and Chiang Mai.
Bangkok
Whether traveling from other parts of Southeast Asia or Thailand, many people choose to spend Chinese New Year in Bangkok. The capital city is home to the biggest celebrations for the CNY, especially in its Chinatown called Yaowarat.
Major roads are blocked off from traffic specifically for the occasion, offering four lanes for crowds to walk around, soak in the activities, and wish each other a happy new year. If a sense of community is what you’re after in CNY, Yaowarat is the place to go.
But if you’re looking for a more laid-back celebration, Charoen Krung Street is a quieter alternative. Lengnoeiyi Temple and Chao Pho Suea Shrine,located in front of Princess Mother Park,are exceptional places to visit.
Last but not least, Bangkok’s Talad Noi district will give you the same celebratory atmosphere as Yaowarat without the large crowds. This Chinese-influenced area is also home to the city’s oldest Hokkien Chinese shrine: Chow Sue Kong Shrine.
For a more extensive list of Chinese New Year events in Bangkok, see below:
- February 1–29: Chinatown Chinese New Year 2024 lanterns and decorations as well as the mesmerizing Tunnel of Golden Dragon at the Chalermphrakiat Gate, Odeon Circle
- February 9: Chinese New Year 2024 greetings at the China Cultural Centre in Bangkok
- February 10–12: A special mapping projection show at Krungsri Bank, narrating the tale of Yaowarat’s Thai-Chinese community under the theme of The Dragon King
- February 10–11: Activities paying homage to Chinese Gods at five renowned shrines, guided by esteemed Thai fortune-tellers
- February 10–11: Cultural exchange performances from China, including captivating shows from Zhejiang and Quanzhou
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is also backing celebrations in five distinct locations with significant Thai-Chinese communities:
- February 3–14: 108 Miraculous Years of Faith Pak Nam Pho Chinese New Year, Nakhon Sawan
- February 9–11: Chinese New Year 2024, Ratchaburi
- February 9–13: Hat Yai Chinese New Year, Songkhla
- February 10–12: 16 Years Miraculous Dragon Suphan Buri Chinese New Year at the Dragon Descendants Museum, Suphan Buri
- February 10–11: 21st Chiang Mai Chinatown Festival, Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai
Are you spending this CNY in what’s considered the cultural heart of Thailand? The historic city of Chiang Mai is a must-visit for those looking for a more sober CNY experience.
Warorot Market, as known as Chiang Mai’s version of Chinatown, comes to life with food vendors and souvenir stalls lining its streets. You can easily spend the whole day exploring the area and eating to your heart’s content on this special occasion.
Phuket
No list of CNY celebrations in Thailand would be complete without Phuket’s Phang Nga Road, Thalang Road, and Dibuk Road. Chinese New Year may be a Chinese festival, but tourists are always welcome to take part.To cater to the island’s clientele, Phuket hosts plenty of beach parties just before the CNY.
Whether you choose to spend CNY in one of the aforementioned places or in the comfort of your own home, we wish you a healthy and happy start to the Year of the Dragon.
Further reading: 8 spring cleaning tips to prepare your home for the Chinese New Year
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Jantra curates and reports on the results of Pacific Prime’s monthly newsletters, as well as manages Pacific Prime’s Deputy Global CEO’s LinkedIn posts. Complemented by her background in business writing, Jantra’s passion for health, insurance, and employee benefits helps her create engaging content - no matter how complex the subject is.
Growing up as a third-culture kid has given her a multicultural perspective that helps her relate to expats and their families while 8 years of working remotely have given her unique insight into hybrid work arrangements and enthusiasm for employee benefits.
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