Does Thailand celebrate the Lunar New Year? Find out how the SEA country catches the festivity of Chinese New Year with vibrant festivals.

Lunar New Year tourists are flocking to Thailand. The holidaymakers, many from China, are expected to boost tourism, which has been struggling to recover from the pandemic.

Lunar New Year traditions vary greatly among countries or territories covered by Radio Free Asia and its affiliate, BenarNews. Most of China’s 1.4 billion people as well as Chinese communities around the world observe the Lunar New Year, known as Chunjie, or Spring Festival.

For many, the Lunar New Year is a time to reflect on people they have lost. But it's also a time to set intentions and welcome the new energy of the future.

Thailand's consumer spending over the Lunar New Year period could rise 4.5% to a five-year high of 52 billion baht ($1.54 billion), helped by government stimulus measures and higher income, a survey showed on Friday.

Lunar New Year is based on the Chinese lunisolar calendar. It begins with the first new moon and ends with the Lantern Festival on the next full moon, 15 days later. The Chinese zodiac operates on a 12-year cycle of animals. 2025 marks the Year of the Snake.

The government expects 770,000 Chinese nationals to visit Thailand during Chinese New Year, from Jan 24 to Feb 2, an increase of 22.6% compared to the Lunar New Year period last year.

Thais flocked to Bangkok's Chinatown Monday to shop for food, decorations, and offering items on Monday ahead of Lunar New Year celebrations. The Chinese Lunar New Year, also called the Spring Festival,

People gathered to watch an underwater dragon dance performance at an aquarium in Bangkok, Thailand, on Thursday (1/16). Four divers performed surrounded by fish as a part of early annual Lunar New Year celebrations to welcome in the Year of the Snake on January 29th.

Food is also symbolic for the Vietnamese Lunar New Year. In the North, Banh Chung, a sticky rice cake with banana leaves, is typically the most popular dish. In Central Vietnam, the savory Bánh Tét cake with rice and green beans is often used to celebrate the new year. Thịt Kho Tàu – a pork and egg dish – is very popular in South Vietnam.