Where to celebrate Loy Krathong 2023 in Bangkok

Thailand has so, so many beautiful and unique customs and celebrations. One that you may or may not have heard of is Loy Krathong. Trust us, it’s one that you will be so thankful to know about. to put it simply: it’s just really, really beautiful. This has been one of our favorite Thai traditions since moving ofer here almost eight years ago. In this guide, we’re going to explain a little bit more about Loy Krathong and where you should celebrate Loy Krathong in Bangkok.

What is Loy Krathong?

Loy Krathong is a festival where you quite literally thank the goddess of water, Phra Mae Khongkha. To do this, you need a krathong. (FYI, 'krathong' translates to 'small vessel', and 'loy' means ‘float.’) A krathong is traditionally made of a chopped banana tree trunk and decorated with beautiful flowers. Nowadays you can even opt for more environmentally friendly versions made of bread or ice cream cones.. so even the fish get to enjoy the celebrations! It’s up to you what size or type of krathong you get - and some of them are absolutely massive! We have a little challenge every year to get the most exciting one we can find. Once you’ve secured your krathong, you need to get to a body of water and prepare to float. On top of your krathong you’ll have three incense sticks to represent pureness and compassion, and a candle, which represents knowledge and wisdom. You're meant to add a piece of hair or a nail clipping, so it’s not unusual to see people at the waters edge with a pair of nail clippers in hand. Finally, add a coin as an offering to the river spirits. Once everything is on top of the krathong, you light the candles and incense, set it in the water, and let it go.

Oh, and if there are two of you, you’re meant to share the krathong between you. It’s a genuinely beautiful and touching experience that really stays with you for a long time.

Where to celebrate in Bangkok?

So now you know more about Loy Krathong, let's find out where to celebrate in Bangkok!l It’s a big city and there are lots of options, and today we’re going to stick with some of the tried and true favorites. And this Loy Krathong is apparently going to be the biggest since pre 2020, so whether it’s your first time celebrating, or seventh, in our case, you’re bound to be in for a treat.

Chao Praya Dinner cruise

To take in the Loy Krathong celebrations in a truly stunning way, you could always opt to do a Chao Praya Dinner cruise. Just imagine that, floating down the river surrounded by lanterns - it sounds pretty great. Then to top it all off, you're eating delicious food. Another plus to this option, this year they're planning on lighting up the main bridges on the Chao Praya river as part of the celebrations. You really can't get a better view than this!

Lumphini park

Lumphini, Pathum Wan, Bangkok 10330

This is always one of the biggest spots to celebrate Loy Krathong in Bangkok. It's pretty easy to see why - they truly go all out. There are fairy lights hanging from trees illuminating the park and making an already magical place feel even more special. It's an easy spot to acquire a krathong, with vendors gathered on the roads surrounding the parks, and you've got a massive selection to choose from too. At past celebrations, Lumphini provided far more than somewhere to just float your krathong. When we visited a few years ago, in 2019, I think, there was a ferris wheel, street food galore, and that thumping bass music that you hear at most big events here.

Asiatique The Riverfront

2194 Charoen Krung Road, Wat Phraya Krai, Bang Kho Laem, Bangkok 10120

Asiatique is already an impressive place, with that enormous ferris wheel that dominates the Chao Praya river. So just imagine what it's like at Loy Krathong. It's one of the most popular places to celebrate the festival, which makes complete sense, given it's proximity to Bangkok's main river. So just be aware: this place gets pretty crowded. Past celebrations have included performances, stations where you can make your own krathong, as well as ramps to slide them down into the water, kind of like a water slide.

ICONSIAM

299 Charoen Nakhon 5 Alley, Khlong Ton Sai, Khlong San, Bangkok 10600

ICONSIAM never does anything on a small scale, so this year's Loy Krathong celebrations are bound to be impressive. You're right on the riverside, so you're in the perfect place to float your krathong. Much like Asiatique, in the past, they've used ramps to lower your krathong down into the water. Some of this years additional entertainment at ICONSIAM includes drum performances and a beauty queen parade, which is something that is often associated with Loy Krathong.

Benjakitti park

Ratchadaphisek Rd, Khlong Toei, Bangkok 10110

Loy Krathong is one of Bangkok's most central parks; being located right next to the Asok BTS (skytrain) and MRT (underground train) stops. And the reason it's so good for Loy Krathong? It has an absolutely ENORMOUS lake right in the middle of it. This place all lit up with krathongs is quite the spectacular sight. And just like the other big Loy Krathong celebrations, you can purchase your krathong right outside the park from one of the many vendors.

And just in case you're wondering, here are a few other questions you might have about Loy Krathong:

How much does a Krathong cost?

Prices vary, but we've seen them as cheap as 20 baht, going all the way up to 500 baht. Touristy areas are definitely a bit more expensive, as you'd expect, and there are usually lots of different styles to choose from.

Where can I buy a krathong?

Just keep an eye out for street vendors. All of the places listed in this article will have krathong vendors nearby. They usually park outside the main gates of the parks. You'll also probably spot a crowd first, so just follow them to find your krathong!

Who cleans up afterwards?

This is one of the big downsides of Loy Krathong - the mess it makes. The rivers get too full of krathong, and some of them are made using small nails, which isn't great for the nature. Although it can be an issue, Thailand has addressed it in recent years, and they do big clean ups to ensure things work as well as they can.