The 8 Best Places to Spend New Year's Eve in Southeast Asia

Despite Thailand’s new year actually being celebrated in April, they still pull out all the stops to party on December 31st. A great place to be in Bangkok on this date is by the Chao Phraya river, where you’ll have a great view of a firework show that’s so creative and grandiose that it could be considered a work of art. If you’d rather have a bird’s eye view, there are plenty of great rooftop bars to enjoy the displays from, or if you’d rather drink than see the fireworks then the backpacker haven of Khao San Road is also a great choice.

The most beautiful element of New Year’s Eve being celebrated in Chiang Mai is undoubtedly the release of the lanterns. Every year, thousands upon thousands of candle-lit lanterns are released around Chiang Mai in order to bring about good luck for the new year. The sight of the candles illuminating the night’s sky and drifting off towards the mountainous highlands is one that isn’t forgotten easily, and might be a welcome break from some of the usual NYE festivities. Of course, there’ll be live music and Thai dancing to keep you entertained, and plenty of drinks too.

Thailand’s most famous beach party, the Full Moon Party in Koh Phangan, is the best option for those who wish to spend their New Year’s Eve partying away in paradise. With a number of internationally-recognised DJs playing tracks to thousands of happy revellers on the beach, it blends the feel-good spirit of NYE seamlessly with the island lifestyle of Thailand, creating a night you won’t forget in a truly stunning location. Throw cheap drinks into the mix, and you’ve got yourself a party.

The best place to enjoy the New Year festivities in Kuala Lumpur is KLCC park. With scenic fountains, lakes and at the feet of the iconic Petronas Towers, it’s the perfect place for families and friends alike to enjoy the fountain and firework shows amidst of backdrop of impressive skyscrapers. If you’re after more of a party vibe, Changkat Bukit Bintang has a number of bars and pub to enjoy a drink or two in. Kuala Lumpur’s equivalent of Times Square, there’s never a dull moment here and it’s a great place to party with the locals.

For a fantastic fireworks show, make sure you head down towards Marina Bay. Here you can catch sight of the famous Marina Bay Sands hotel, Supertree Grove and Singapore Flyer Ferris wheel lit up by the dazzling display, all for free. It will be extremely busy the closer you get, so to enjoy the show without having your personal space too violated make sure to head to the Bay East Garden for a panoramic view that’s simply out of this world.

Bali has long been known amongst travellers as one of the places to go and truly let you hair down, and it certainly doesn’t disappoint on New Year’s Eve. Ku De Ta is the place to be; the roads close as a giant beach and street party forms, and party-goers dance into the night and long into the morning. Bali’s idyllic beach settings sure beats singing Auld Lang Syne in your nan’s sitting room, and this tropical paradise is certainly a better place to nurse a hangover than your sofa.

Vietnam’s New Year, or Tet, doesn’t start until February but you can still count on a big party to be found on the streets of Saigon at the end of December. District 1 is a popular location as it’s home to some great nightclubs, but for a more sophisticated way to toast to a “new year, new you”, you might want to head to one of Ho Chi Minh’s many rooftop bars. Chill Skybar has great views of the city and of any fireworks, as well as tasty drinks and talented DJs to keep you going long into the night.

Siem Reap is undoubtedly the place to be for New Year’s Eve in Cambodia. The famous Pub Street sees all the surrounding bars and alleyways merge into one big open-air nightclub, full of happy revellers dancing the night away and awaiting the countdown. With travellers and locals alike joining in the festivities, there’s no better place to be in Cambodia at this time of year.

Siem Reap is undoubtedly the place to be for New Year’s Eve in Cambodia. The famous Pub Street sees all the surrounding bars and alleyways merge into one big open air nightclub, full of happy revellers dancing the night away and awaiting the countdown. With travellers and locals alike joining in the festivities, there’s not better place to be in Cambodia at this time of year.