Loy Kratong Festival - Where to watch or join in

We are going to be in Bangkok for Loy Kratong this year. We have experienced the festival elsewhere in Thailand but not in Bangkok.. Where would be a good place to watch the fun? We are staying in Sukhumvit 4.

Loy Kratong Festival - Where to watch or join in

Best place would be anywhere at the riverside, a pier or hotel restaurant (book well ahead), or river walkway. Best seen at dusk and just after.

Loy Kratong Festival - Where to watch or join in

One nice place to experience Loy Krathong is in Santichai Prakarn Park, between Phra Athit and the river, next to the Phra Sumen fort in Banglamphu. The entire park becomes a fairground, with live music and entertainment, food and drink stands (of course - this is Thailand) and thousands of people. You can buy your own krathongs from vendors along the street or on nearby Soi Chana Songkhram. People of all classes and ages (foreigners too!) line up at the riverbank to have their krathongs floated in the water with the help of volunteers with long poles. The thousands of krathongs floating in the river with their candles twinkling makes a pretty sight. And the cute young people making wishes with their krathongs in hand are a great photo op.

Everybody%26#39;s in a friendly mood, lots of families with children. In addition to the krathongs, people light up sky lanterns and set them off and I think there are some fireworks too.

I suggest you get to that part of town early - traffic begins to build up in the afternoon, and by evening all the roads anywhere near the river are super-congested. I%26#39;d start no later than 16:00. From Soi 4, cross Sukhumvit and walk up Soi 3 to the Saen Saep canal and take a boat for 12 baht. In 20 minutes, you%26#39;re at the end of the line and you come up on Ratchadamnoen Avenue, a 10-15 minute walk from the river. Have an early dinner at one of the nice little restaurants on Phra Athit, and head for the park around sundown (18:30). Don%26#39;t eat too heavy a meal, because you%26#39;ll be tempted by all the food specialities on offer.

Thanks for the suggestions. Very much looking forward to our return to BKK.

Hi,

What day is this parade or lantern festival?

This year its 2 November - takes place on first full moon of November each year.