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Covid-19: Entry rules for Thailand

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Chinese New Year

Thai people welcome any excuse to celebrate and have sanuk, so why not have three New Year celebrations; the western New Year in January, the Chinese New Year in January/February and the Thai New Year (Songkran) in April.

red lanterns and good luck souvenirs for sale in Chiang Mai's Chinatown area
street parade for Chinese New Year in Chiang Mai

Although it’s never been an official holiday in Thailand, Chinese New Year is celebrated throughout the country and not just by those who can claim Chinese heritage. Some restaurants and businesses in certain areas (such as Bangkok’s Chinatown) may close, but elsewhere it will be business as usual. Visitors to Thailand during Chinese New Year can expect to hear plenty of firecrackers going off. You will also notice that many Thai people wear red and hand out ang pao (red money packets).

red t-shirts for sale at Waworot Market, Chiang Mai
ang pao - red money packets for Chinese New Year
Chinese New Year parades and street festivals take place in number of areas of Thailand. Some of the most colourful events take place in Ayutthaya, Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Nakhon Sawan, Phuket, Trang and Udon Thani.
lion dance for Chinese New Year
Chinese New Year firecrackers

An estimated 14% of Thailand’s 65 million population are of Chinese descent, a result of a long history of Chinese immigration into Thailand. In the fourteenth century, Chinese merchants were prominent in the state of Ayutthaya before becoming established in Bangkok. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, Chinese workers were encouraged to come to the kingdom to supplement the native workforce. More recent Thai history has seen a clampdown on immigration from China, but the Chinese influence remains strong in certain areas of Thailand. Wats and Chinese temples are busy in some areas of Thailand with people making merit and wishing for good luck in the forthcoming year.

Chinese temple near Chiang Mai night bazaar
7-Eleven outside Waworot Market in Chiang Mai decorated for Chinese New Year
street festival and food stalls

Read more about the animals of the Thai zodiac and the 12-year cycle »

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About Roy Cavanagh

Roy Cavanagh is a former stand-up comedian who now works as a freelance writer and website designer. Passionate about Thailand and Thai culture, Roy is also the editor of the online magazine, Fan Club Thailand.

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Thank you for your interest in Thaizer. My name is Roy Cavanagh and I’ve been fortunate enough to live in Thailand and travel to every region of the country over a number of years. Thaizer.com is where I share my knowledge and experience with you. Just like any destination, Thailand has its good points and its bad points and I try to offer honest and practical advice.

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