Vijit Chao Phraya opens as TAT targets over 1.4m visitors and a minimum of 8.6bn baht in spending
Vijit Chao Phraya offers free light displays in Bangkok until December 13, aiming to extend visitors’ stays and support riverside businesses.
- The "Vijit Chao Phraya" festival has opened in Bangkok, featuring light, sound, and multimedia displays at 19 locations along the river to promote night-time tourism.
- Organized by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), the event is expected to attract over 1.4 million visitors during its month-long run.
- TAT projects the festival will generate a minimum of 8.6 billion baht in spending by encouraging longer stays and connecting tourists with riverside businesses.
Vijit Chao Phraya 2026 opened in Bangkok on Friday (November 13, 2026), bringing light, sound and multimedia displays to 19 locations along the Chao Phraya River as Thailand promotes night-time tourism during the year-end travel season.
The free festival runs until December 13, covering both banks of the river between Rama VIII Bridge and Rama III Bridge. Organised by the Ministry of Tourism and Sports through the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), the event returns for its fifth edition under the theme “The Light of Imagination”.
Tourism and Sports Minister Surasak Phancharoenworakul joined cabinet ministers, ambassadors and TAT Governor Thapanee Kiatphaibool on a river cruise to view the opening displays. TAT executives, representatives of government agencies and businesses, and other partners also attended.
Festival targets longer stays and riverside spending
TAT expects the festival to attract more than 1.4 million visitors and generate a minimum of 8.6 billion baht in spending over its month-long run.
Surasak described the event as a way to give visitors more reasons to explore Bangkok after dark and stay longer. The programme connects evening attractions with cruises, hotels, restaurants and other businesses, with the aim of spreading tourism income along the river.
Surasak highlighted the Chao Phraya’s importance to Thailand’s history and cultural heritage. Presenting those assets through light and multimedia displays would broaden visitors’ choices while showcasing Bangkok’s creativity and cultural identity to international audiences at the start of the year-end tourism season, he said.
Thapanee identified Vijit Chao Phraya as one of the major events supporting TAT’s 2027 marketing action plan, “The Year of Transformation”. The strategy uses festivals to add value to tourism by presenting Thailand’s culture, history and riverside ways of life through contemporary technology.
Thapanee said the programme was intended to offer meaningful experiences to Thai and international visitors, extend tourism activity into the evening and create business opportunities for riverside communities. The approach supports TAT’s emphasis on value over visitor volume and its ambition to make Thailand Asia’s leading destination for high-value, meaningful travel.
Historic landmarks host light and multimedia art
Vijit Chao Phraya’s displays use light, sound, projection mapping, installation art and contemporary sculptures to interpret the history, architecture and identity of individual sites. The programme spans museums, universities, temples, churches, historic buildings, bridges and modern riverside landmarks.
Participating venues include the Bank of Thailand Museum and Learning Centre; Rama VIII Bridge; the clock tower area of Siriraj Bimuksthan Museum at Siriraj Hospital; Thammasat University’s Tha Prachan campus; the Royal Thai Naval Institute office building and the connecting bridge to the Royal Thai Navy Auditorium; and Nagaraphirom Park.
The programme also covers Wat Arun Ratchawararam, Wichai Prasit Fort, Wat Kalayanamit Woramahawihan, Memorial Bridge, also known as Phra Phuttha Yodfa Bridge, and Phra Pok Klao Bridge. A vacant building near soi Lhong 1919 on Chiang Mai Road in Khlong San district is another display venue.
Other locations include ICONSIAM; The Langham, Custom House, Bangkok; Asiatique Charoen Nakhon Pier; the First Presbyterian Church of Bangkok in Samre; Krungthep Bridge; and Rama III Bridge. An illuminated barge also forms part of the programme.
Drone shows and fireworks run on selected dates
Vijit Chao Phraya’s highlights include formations of more than 800 drones at Wat Arun, laser displays accompanied by light and sound at Rama VIII Bridge, Thai cultural performances at Wat Kalayanamit, and fireworks at locations along the river.
The festival is open free of charge from 6pm to 10pm daily until December 13. Individual showtimes vary by location, while drone displays, fireworks and special cultural performances take place on selected dates.
