BANGKOK, Thailand – The “Vijit Chao Phraya 2025” festival concluded in Bangkok Tuesday night (Dec 23) with a closing ceremony attended by senior government officials, diplomats, and tourism leaders, ending a 45-night event that turned both banks of the Chao Phraya River into a major year-end destination.
Organized by the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, led by Minister Atthakorn Sirilathayakorn, and implemented by the Tourism Authority of Thailand, the festival ran from Nov. 9 to Dec. 23 and attracted more than 1.7 million visitors. Authorities projected total economic circulation exceeding 5.5 billion baht, as the event boosted nighttime tourism and supported businesses throughout the riverside areas.
Held under the theme “Light of Siam, Mother of the Land,” the festival honored Her Majesty Queen Sirikit The Queen Mother through large-scale light installations and advanced visual technology. Each evening from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., audiences experienced illumination shows, projection mapping, laser displays, drone formations, and fireworks, turning the river corridor into a continuous open-air gallery.
The displays were presented at 15 major sites along the Chao Phraya, including Rama VIII Bridge, the Siriraj Hospital riverfront, the Royal Thai Navy Council Building, Wat Arun, Memorial Bridge, ICONSIAM, River City Bangkok, and several historic river landmarks.
Tourism officials confirmed plans for “Vijit Chao Phraya 2026,” scheduled from Nov. 12 to Dec. 12 next year, with expanded programming expected to attract more domestic and international visitors and extend stays across Bangkok’s riverfront areas. (NNT)
