Chinatown Festivals · Yaowarat across the ฿5 ferry
Yaowarat by the season — the Vegetarian Festival (around October) and Chinese New Year (late Jan or Feb)
🚤 A ฿5 ferry, about 3 minutes, to the mouth of Yaowarat🥬 Vegetarian Festival around October (lunar, shifts yearly*)🧧 Chinese New Year, late January or February (lunar, shifts yearly*)🛏️ Sleep on the quiet side — an easy trip home even when it's packed
Twice a year Yaowarat transforms: the Vegetarian Festival around October, when yellow flags line the street and the whole road goes meat-free, and Chinese New Year in late January or February, with red lanterns, lion dances, firecrackers and streets packed shoulder to shoulder. Our hotel sits directly across the river — about three minutes on the ฿5 ferry lands you at the mouth of the street, and you sleep back on the quiet side. This is our guide to what happens at each festival, how to get there, and when to go for the fun without the worst of the crush.
Why our side is the easy base for festival season
During festival season Yaowarat gets far busier than usual, and hotels on the Chinatown side tend to be full and hectic. The advantage of the Khlong San side is that we're directly across the river — a few-minute ฿5 ferry lands you at the mouth of the street, you soak up the full festival atmosphere, and you can walk back to the pier and slip away from the crush whenever you like, home to the quiet side. Both the Vegetarian Festival and Chinese New Year follow the lunar calendar, so the dates shift every year — which is why we don't print fixed dates here. Tell us when you're coming and we'll check that year's exact dates for you, and point you to the less-packed days and the best times to be there.
The route
Pick your festival first (ask us the exact dates). Yaowarat has two big festivals a year — the Vegetarian Festival around October and Chinese New Year in late January or February. Both are lunar and shift yearly, so before you plan, message us and we'll check this year's dates for you.
Getting there: the ฿5 ferry (about 3 minutes). From the hotel, walk to the Tha Din Daeng pier at the end of the lane and take the ฿5 ferry across to Ratchawong pier, about 3 minutes. From there it's a few minutes up Ratchawong Road to the mouth of Yaowarat. In festival season, aim for early evening or a weekday to dodge the thickest crowds.
Vegetarian Festival (around October). For roughly nine days*, Yaowarat hangs yellow flags and the whole street goes meat-free — stalls serve vegetarian versions of Chinese dishes built on vegetables, tofu and soy protein, and almost every shop has something to try. Crowds swell, especially in the evening. Look for the yellow flag with red lettering as the sign a stall is serving jay (vegetarian).
Chinese New Year (late January or February). For the Lunar New Year, Yaowarat fills with red lanterns end to end, along with lion and dragon dances, firecrackers and enormous crowds; on the main days the road is often closed for walking. It's the liveliest, most colourful spell of the year. Some years there are special events or notable guests* — check the details with us before you go.
Beating the crowds. Go early evening or on a weekday, and watch your bag where it's tight, as in any big city. With small children at Chinese New Year, mind the loud firecrackers. If it ever gets too packed, just walk back to Ratchawong pier and take the ferry out.
Home to the quiet side. Walk back to Ratchawong pier and take the ferry across to Tha Din Daeng (check the last-boat time on the pier sign on your way out). If the boats have stopped, a Grab or taxi over Phra Pok Klao Bridge is about 10 minutes. Back after 6 PM is self check-in — we send the door details on LINE or WhatsApp.
Ask us the exact dates: both festivals shift each year with the lunar calendar. Message us on LINE or WhatsApp with your travel window and we'll confirm this year's dates and the less-crowded days.
Early evening or a weekday: it gets far busier during festivals, so arriving before the evening peak or skipping weekends makes for an easier walk.
Small cash: the ferry and festival stalls are mostly cash — carry ฿20/50/100 notes; some shops take PromptPay.
With kids at Chinese New Year: expect firecrackers and noise — bring ear protection for little ones and hold hands where it's crowded.
Yaowarat any night: outside festival season the street is still a great night out — see our 2-hour night food walk below.
Common questions
What are the exact festival dates?
Both follow the lunar calendar, so the dates move every year — the Vegetarian Festival falls around October and Chinese New Year in late January or February. We don't print fixed dates here because they change annually; message us and we'll check that year's exact dates for you.
Is it manageable with kids during a festival?
It is, though it's much more crowded than usual. Go early evening or on a weekday, hold small hands in the crush, and bring ear protection for the firecrackers at Chinese New Year. The upside of our side: if the kids tire, you can walk back to the pier and ferry home quickly.
Is Yaowarat vegetarian all year?
No — the whole-street vegetarian food happens only during the Vegetarian Festival, about nine days* around October. The rest of the year Yaowarat is ordinary street food with meat, seafood and desserts. The yellow flags are the sign the festival has arrived.
* The Vegetarian Festival and Chinese New Year are lunar, so the dates shift every year — this page gives only the rough month · the number of days, events, road closures and any notable guests vary year to year · ask us for the exact dates and ferry times.
Written by the House of Happiness team · Last updated
