The 6 BEST DESTINATIONS to celebrate New Year 2027 in Asia!
Are you considering a holiday for New Year's or simply looking for a different place to ring in the new year? Come to Asia to experience a special celebration unlike your home country. Fantastic fireworks, thrilling street parties with countdowns, friendly people, plenty of travel opportunities, not to mention warmer weather, make Asia the perfect place to spend the New Year holidays. Here are the 6 best destinations to celebrate New Year 2027 in Asia.
Written by Tieu Bao (Local Expert)
Updated on Sep 30, 2026
2 comments
Originally from Vietnam, Tieu Bao spent years in France to pursue his studies. Passionate about travel and adventure, he has discovered all the countries of Southeast Asia, including Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Bali, and Burma. Since 2020, he has spent most of his time in Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos to manage Kampá Tour's trips in these countries. Do not hesitate to ask him questions or comments so that he can answer you directly at the bottom of this article.
31 December 2026 falls on a Thursday and New Year's Day on a Friday, so many travellers will have a long weekend. The table shows where each city's main countdown took place last year, whether there were fireworks, and who each destination suits best. None of the six has announced its 2027 programme yet. Last year most programmes were published between late November and the last days of December, so that is the time to check again.
Destination
Main countdown (31 Dec 2025)
Fireworks last year
Good for
Bangkok
ICONSIAM, CentralWorld, One Bangkok, Asiatique
Yes
First-time visitors, couples, groups of friends
Phuket
Patong Countdown, Patong Beach
Yes
A New Year beach holiday
Ho Chi Minh City
Nguyen Hue walking street
Yes, at six sites
A large, free public celebration in Vietnam
Hong Kong
Chater Road, Central
No, replaced by a light show
A city break in cooler weather
Siem Reap
Siem Reap River (official programme), Pub Street, hotel gala dinners
No, not permitted last year
Combining the New Year with the Angkor temples
Singapore
Marina Bay Singapore Countdown
Yes
Families and first-time visitors to Asia
1. Bangkok, Thailand
Main countdowns last year: ICONSIAM (27–31 December 2025); CentralWorld, One Bangkok and Asiatique The Riverfront (31 December 2025); NEON Countdown at Rajamangala National Stadium (30–31 December 2025)
Fireworks: Yes, at ICONSIAM, CentralWorld, One Bangkok and Asiatique
Entry: Asiatique's countdown was free, with concert tickets by free online registration; NEON Countdown was ticketed
2027 programme: Not yet announced; last year ICONSIAM published its line-up around the start of December
Good for: First-time visitors, couples and groups of friends
Weather in late December: Dry season, typically around 32°C by day and 23°C at night, with very little rain (the December average is about 6mm)
Where to stay: Near BTS Charoen Nakhon, or on the Silom/Sathorn side of the river, for ICONSIAM; along Sukhumvit or near BTS Siam/Chit Lom for CentralWorld, One Bangkok and NEON Countdown; near Saphan Taksin for Asiatique
Getting back after midnight: Last year both BTS and MRT (Blue, Purple, Yellow and Pink lines) ran until 2am on 1 January, and a Thai Smile electric boat added a late Chao Phraya crossing until about 1am; away from a station, Grab, Bolt or a metered taxi are the fallback, with longer waits right at midnight
Bangkok's countdowns are spread along the Chao Phraya River and around the main shopping districts, so it is easier to pick one area for the evening than to move between them. One of the biggest is the Amazing Thailand Countdown at ICONSIAM, on the Thonburi bank of the river. Last year it ran for five days, from 27 to 31 December 2025, with riverside concerts by artists including Mark Tuan, Jeff Satur and Bodyslam, and a fireworks and drone show over the river on 31 December.
Amazing Thailand Countdown at ICONSIAM, a previous edition
In the city centre, the CentralWorld Countdown on 31 December 2025 featured Thai artists including PP Krit, Billkin and Joey Boy, with fireworks and drone displays for the countdown. Nearby, One Bangkok held its own countdown concert with TAEYONG and YUTA of NCT.
CentralWorld Countdown
Asiatique The Riverfront, a night market and entertainment complex on the Chao Phraya, ran a free countdown concert on 31 December 2025 with Thai bands including Zeal, Paradox and Tattoo Colour, followed by fireworks over the river at midnight. Entry was free, and concert tickets were available through free online registration.
Asiatique The Riverfront Countdown
For electronic music, the NEON Countdown moved to Rajamangala National Stadium for its 2025/2026 edition, with two nights on 30 and 31 December and DJs including Alesso, Amelie Lens, KSHMR and Hardwell. Two-day general admission tickets started at 3,500 THB in the earliest sale, and prices rose as the event approached.
How Do People Celebrate New Year's Eve in Bangkok?
Rooftop Bar Parties: Many of Bangkok's rooftop bars and restaurants hold New Year's Eve parties with set menus and views of the fireworks. Tables sell out, so book early. (Top 9 Rooftop Bars in Bangkok)
River Cruises: A dinner cruise on the Chao Phraya River avoids the densest crowds on land and passes the riverside fireworks. Unsure which cruise to choose? Check out our guide: Bangkok Dinner Cruises.
Street Parties: Khao San Road is one of Bangkok's best-known places to see in the New Year, with its bars and street crowds busy all night.
Earlier in December: If your trip starts earlier in the month, Thailand also hosts art, music and cultural events through December. See Thailand festivals in December.
2. Phuket, Thailand
Main countdown last year: Patong Countdown on Patong Beach, 29–31 December 2025
Fireworks: Yes, at midnight on 31 December
Entry: Free
2027 programme: Not yet announced
Good for: Travellers combining the New Year with a beach holiday
Weather in late December: Dry season, typically around 32°C by day and 23°C at night, with occasional light showers (the December average is about 80mm over 8 days), and a sea breeze that makes evenings on Patong Beach comfortable
Where to stay: Patong itself for direct walking access to the beach and the fireworks, though rooms are the first to sell out; Kata or Karon, a short ride south, are quieter; Kamala or Bang Tao, further north, suit travellers who prefer a calmer beach by day and a taxi in for the countdown
Getting back after midnight: Phuket has no rail or metro, and the airport Smart Bus does not run overnight (its normal hours are roughly 8:15am to 11:30pm); tuk-tuks run at any hour but are not metered, so agree the fare first, and Grab, Bolt or InDrive show a fixed price before you book
New Year's Eve in Phuket (Photo: Phuket101)
Patong Beach is the centre of New Year's Eve in Phuket. Last year the Patong Countdown ran for three nights, from 29 to 31 December 2025, with free concerts each evening and fireworks over the sea at midnight on the last night. Beach clubs in Kamala and Bang Tao hold their own countdown parties, and many resorts on the west coast organise gala dinners.
The second half of December is peak season in Phuket, and this year EDC Thailand also takes place at Rhythm Park, near Bang Tao Beach, on 18–20 December 2026, so book rooms early. Patong is the liveliest base for the night itself. Kata, just to the south, is calmer, and Nai Harn, further south again, is quieter still.
Main countdown last year: Nguyen Hue walking street, 27–31 December 2025, with the main countdown show from 7pm to midnight on 31 December
Fireworks: Yes, for 15 minutes from midnight at six sites across the city
Entry: Free
2027 programme: Not yet announced; last year the city published its first plan on 8 December and the full list of fireworks sites later in December
Good for: Travellers who want a large public celebration in Vietnam
Weather in late December: Dry season in southern Vietnam, typically around 32°C by day and 22°C at night, with low rainfall (the December average is about 50mm)
Where to stay: District 1, around Dong Khoi street or Ben Thanh Market, for a short walk to Nguyen Hue walking street; Thao Dien or District 3 are quieter alternatives, a short Grab ride from the crowds
Getting back after midnight: Last year Metro Line 1 (Ben Thanh–Suoi Tien) added overnight trips from about 12:30am to 2am on 1 January, useful if your hotel is near a station toward Thao Dien; elsewhere, Grab or a taxi is the main option, and streets around Nguyen Hue close to traffic during the show
Fireworks over Ho Chi Minh City on a previous New Year's Eve
If you're planning to celebrate New Year in Vietnam, spend the evening in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). The celebration centres on Nguyen Hue walking street, between Le Loi and Ton Duc Thang streets. Last year the countdown ran for five days, from 27 to 31 December 2025, with DJ and band performances each evening and a main countdown show from 7pm to midnight on 31 December.
At midnight, fireworks were launched at six sites for 15 minutes: high-altitude displays at the Saigon River Tunnel entrance in An Khanh ward, the new city centre in Binh Duong ward and Tam Thang Square in Vung Tau ward, and lower displays at Dam Sen Cultural Park, Saigon Marina IFC and near Rach Dia Bridge in Nha Be. The former Binh Duong and Ba Ria-Vung Tau provinces became part of Ho Chi Minh City on 1 July 2025, which is why the fireworks map now reaches the coast.
Nguyen Hue walking street on a previous New Year's Eve
New Year's Eve is only the first celebration of the season in Vietnam. Tet, the Vietnamese Lunar New Year and the country's biggest holiday, falls on Saturday 6 February 2027, and Hmong New Year celebrations take place in the northern mountains, with dates that vary between communities.
Late December is dry season in southern Vietnam
Late December falls in the dry season in southern Vietnam, so evenings in Ho Chi Minh City are usually warm and dry, a change from winter in Europe or North America.
How to Celebrate New Year's Eve in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Saigon River Cruises: A dinner cruise on the Saigon River avoids the crowds on Nguyen Hue and gives a view of the fireworks near the Saigon River Tunnel.
Street Celebrations: Nguyen Hue and the streets around Ben Thanh Market are the busiest area on the night, so arrive early.
Beach Countdown: Vung Tau, around 100 km by road from the city centre, had its own fireworks at Tam Thang Square last year.
Mekong Delta Tour: To start the year somewhere quieter, spend New Year's Day in the Mekong Delta, with its floating markets, orchards and canals.
4. Hong Kong
Main countdown last year: Chater Road pedestrian zone, Central
Fireworks: No; the Victoria Harbour fireworks were replaced by a light show on eight landmark buildings
Entry: Free
2027 programme: Not yet announced; last year the switch to a light show was announced on 17 December and the full programme on 29 December
Good for: Travellers who want a city break in cooler weather
Weather in late December: Typically cool and dry; the Hong Kong Observatory's 1991–2020 average is close to 18°C, with daytime highs around 20°C and nights closer to 16°C, and around 29mm of rain across the month
Where to stay: Central or Admiralty for a short walk to the Chater Road pedestrian zone; Tsim Sha Tsui, on the Kowloon side, gives a harbour view of the light display and easy MTR access under the harbour
Getting back after midnight: Last year most MTR lines, including the ones serving Central and Tsim Sha Tsui, ran overnight into 1 January (the Airport Express and most of the East Rail Line were the main exceptions); confirm the current year's exact hours closer to the date
Fireworks over Victoria Harbour on a previous New Year's Eve
For many years, New Year's Eve in Hong Kong was built around fireworks over Victoria Harbour, watched from the waterfront on both sides. For the countdown to 2026, the government announced on 17 December that the celebration would forgo the harbour fireworks and take an alternative format, and the Hong Kong Tourism Board moved it to the Chater Road pedestrian zone in Central. A 20-second countdown was projected onto eight landmark buildings, including the City Hall High Block, the Court of Final Appeal, the HSBC Main Building and the Bank of China Tower, followed by a three-minute light display at midnight and live music from Air Supply and local singers.
Hong Kong on a previous New Year's Eve
The harbour fireworks were not dropped for good: a 23-minute Lunar New Year display lit up Victoria Harbour on 18 February 2026. Whether fireworks will return on 31 December 2026 had not been announced when we last checked. Tsim Sha Tsui, across the harbour, is another place to spend the evening, with hotels, bars and the waterfront promenade; last year the Tourism Board's programme included a live projection of the Central show on the façade of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre.
5. Siem Reap, Cambodia
Main celebrations last year: A small official countdown programme along the Siem Reap River (30 December 2025 to 1 January 2026), hotel gala dinners and the bars of Pub Street
Fireworks: No; the provincial administration did not permit fireworks or drone flights last year
Special events last year: A New Year's Eve performance by Phare, The Cambodian Circus, at 8pm on 31 December 2025
2027 programme: Not yet announced; last year the province only confirmed its countdown plans on 30 December
Good for: Travellers who want to combine the New Year with the Angkor temples
Weather in late December: Dry season, typically around 29°C by day and 22°C at night, with very little rain (around 11mm for the whole month), though early mornings for an Angkor Wat sunrise are noticeably cooler
Where to stay: Around the Old Market and Pub Street for walking distance to the New Year's Eve nightlife; Wat Bo Road or along the river further out for a quieter stay; near Charles de Gaulle Boulevard for an early start to Angkor Wat
Getting back after midnight: There is no public transport network in Siem Reap; tuk-tuks operate late into the night given the demand, but agree the fare first, as they are not metered. Many hotels can arrange a tuk-tuk or car back, and some can arrange the early-morning trip to Angkor Wat directly. Grab also operates in Siem Reap and shows a price before booking
Siem Reap offers a different kind of New Year: an evening on Pub Street, followed by sunrise at Angkor Wat on 1 January. The Angkor temple complex, including Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom, the Bayon and Ta Prohm, is a short drive from the town centre.
On New Year's Eve, Pub Street and the lanes around the old market fill with bars, live music and street food. Last year the provincial administration allowed only small-scale countdown activities, with concerts, food fairs and art displays along the Siem Reap River from 30 December to 1 January, and did not permit fireworks or drone flights. For a quieter evening, Phare, The Cambodian Circus, held a show at 8pm on 31 December 2025, and Park Hyatt Siem Reap and Sofitel Angkor Phokeethra both hosted gala dinners with performances by Phare artists.
Pub Street in Siem Reap during the New Year countdown
How to Celebrate New Year's Eve in Siem Reap, Cambodia?
Pub Street Parties: Join the crowds on Pub Street, where bars set up DJs and live music for the countdown.
Sunrise at Angkor Wat: Start the year with sunrise at Angkor Wat. Expect crowds on 1 January and buy your Angkor Pass in advance.
Night Markets: Browse the night markets for crafts and street food. Curious about souvenirs? Discover What to Bring Back from Cambodia.
Tonle Sap Lake Tour: Start the year with a boat trip on Tonle Sap Lake to see life in the floating villages.
Main countdown last year: Marina Bay Singapore Countdown, with events through December 2025
Fireworks: Yes, 30 minutes of fireworks over Marina Bay between 11pm and midnight
2027 programme: Not yet announced; last year the full programme was announced on 27 November
Good for: Families and first-time visitors to Asia
Weather in late December: The wettest part of the year, as the Northeast Monsoon sets in; the National Environment Agency's December average is around 30.5°C by day, 24.3°C at night, and about 332mm of rain over 19 days
Where to stay: The Downtown Core, around Marina Bay Sands or Raffles Place; Bugis or Bras Basah are more affordable and still an easy MRT ride or walk to Bayfront and the Promenade
Getting back after midnight: Last year the Downtown Line, North East Line and Sengkang-Punggol LRT ran about two hours and fifteen minutes past normal closing time; roads around Marina Bay close to traffic during the event, so allow extra time
New Year's Eve fireworks in Singapore
Singapore's main celebration is the Marina Bay Singapore Countdown. For the countdown to 2026, events ran through December: Togetherland by World Christmas Market at the Bayfront Event Space (11 December to 4 January), light projections on The Fullerton Hotel and UOB Plaza 1, and free Come Together performances at the Esplanade. On New Year's Eve, a fireworks show titled ELYSIUM, set to an hour-long musical score, started at 11pm and unfolded in four segments, with 30 minutes of fireworks in total leading into the New Year.
Marina Bay Singapore Countdown, a previous edition
The waterfront around the bay, including the Merlion Park promenade, the Esplanade and Marina Bay Sands, gets very crowded on the night, so arrive several hours early for a good view. Outside the city centre, community countdown events were held at heartland sites across the island under the ONE Countdown programme.
Planning your New Year trip
Late December is peak season across Southeast Asia, and hotel and flight prices rise around Christmas and New Year. A few points to keep in mind:
Book early: riverside hotels in Bangkok, beachfront rooms in Phuket and hotels near Marina Bay often fill up well before the programmes are announced.
Plan your way back: crowds around the main sites are large, so decide in advance how you will return to your hotel after midnight.
Check the programme close to the date: most organisers publish line-ups and fireworks plans in late November or December, and plans can change, as Hong Kong and Siem Reap showed last year.
If you would like to combine the New Year with a longer trip, our local team plans private itineraries in Vietnam, Thailand and Cambodia, for example New Year's Eve in Bangkok followed by the Angkor temples, or the countdown in Ho Chi Minh City followed by a few days in the Mekong Delta. Discover our Vietnam and Thailand tours.
My boyfriend and I will be in Bangkok for new year's and would like some suggestions on where to go in the evening leading up to and for the countdown to the new year and after for drinks. I was thinking Kao San Road/ Iconsiam/ or those evening cruises but not entirely sure. Please help me, thanks!
0Reply
Kampá Tour27 Jun 2024
Hi Elliott,
For celebrating New Year's Eve in Bangkok, here are some great suggestions:
Khao San Road: Known for its lively atmosphere, Khao San Road offers street parties, live music, and a vibrant countdown experience with fellow revelers.
ICONSIAM: This upscale shopping complex along the Chao Phraya River hosts special events and often has a riverside countdown with fireworks, offering a more luxurious and scenic option.
Evening Cruises: Consider a dinner cruise along the Chao Phraya River, offering fantastic views of Bangkok's skyline and fireworks at midnight, combined with a gourmet meal and entertainment.
These options cater to different preferences—from lively street parties to elegant river cruises. Enjoy your New Year's celebration in Bangkok! If you need more details or assistance, feel free to visit Best rooftop bars in Bangkok or check out top destinations to celebrate New Year in Asia for further inspiration!
Our team
Our team
Our team
Our team
.jpg)
(1).jpg)
(1).jpeg)
(1).jpg)
.jpg)
(1).jpg)
.jpg)
(1).jpg)
.jpg)
Other
Add us as a preferred source
Hi Elliott,
For celebrating New Year's Eve in Bangkok, here are some great suggestions:
Khao San Road: Known for its lively atmosphere, Khao San Road offers street parties, live music, and a vibrant countdown experience with fellow revelers.
ICONSIAM: This upscale shopping complex along the Chao Phraya River hosts special events and often has a riverside countdown with fireworks, offering a more luxurious and scenic option.
Evening Cruises: Consider a dinner cruise along the Chao Phraya River, offering fantastic views of Bangkok's skyline and fireworks at midnight, combined with a gourmet meal and entertainment.
These options cater to different preferences—from lively street parties to elegant river cruises. Enjoy your New Year's celebration in Bangkok! If you need more details or assistance, feel free to visit Best rooftop bars in Bangkok or check out top destinations to celebrate New Year in Asia for further inspiration!