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 festivals and prayers are marking the start of the Year of the Snake around Asia and farther afield.

Several countries mark their new year based on the Chinese lunisolar calendar involving movement of the Sun and Moon.

People in Bangkok, Thailand, gathered at the Leng Noei Yi temple, also known as the Dragon Lotus Temple, on Tuesday to celebrate the eve of the Chinese Lunar New Year. The Chinese Lunar New Year also called the Spring Festival,

Lunar New Year, or Tết Nguyên Đán (Tết), is Vietnam's most important celebration - a time to honour ancestors, cherish family, and welcome new beginnings.This year, it lasts from 28 to 31 January.

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.

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.

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.

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.