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Vijit Chao Phraya 2024: A Look Back at Bangkok's Spectacular River Light Festival
The Vijit Chao Phraya 2024 festival transformed Bangkok's Chao Phraya River into a dazzling display of lights, drones, and fireworks from November 16 to December 15, 2024. Running nightly from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM across 14 riverside locations, this free event drew massive crowds to iconic landmarks like Wat Arun and ICONSIAM.
Looking for Vijit Chao Phraya 2025? This year's festival runs November 9 – December 23, 2025 with a new theme honoring Her Majesty Queen Sirikit. See our updated 2025 guide here.
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My Experience at Vijit 2024
I attended during the first week of the festival (mid-November) and found it surprisingly manageable—crowds were reasonable and moving between locations was easy. By the final weeks in December, the event had become packed, so timing your visit matters.
The drone show at Wat Arun and the fireworks at Memorial Bridge were the clear highlights. The light and sound installations at various temples and landmarks were nice for atmosphere, but the drone and fireworks shows were what made the trip worthwhile.
My Strategy That Worked
Catch the drone show first (7:50 PM at Wat Arun), then walk to Memorial Bridge for the fireworks at 8:45 PM. There's enough time between shows to make this work comfortably.
Best Way to See the Festival: Vijit Sightseeing Cruise
Rather than walking between scattered venues, I took the Chao Phraya Tourist Boat's Vijit Sightseeing Cruise—a special hop-on hop-off service created specifically for this event. This was the best decision I made.
The cruise lets you see all the light installations along the river from the water, which is how the displays were designed to be viewed. You get a sense of the full scale of the event that's impossible to appreciate from any single land-based spot.
The weekday cruise was less crowded than weekend options and gave plenty of flexibility to hop off at key stops.
For an elevated experience, dinner cruises offer front-row seats to the light displays with food and drinks included. Book a Chao Phraya dinner cruise on Klook.
Best Viewing Spots
For the Wat Arun Drone Show
There's a small soi directly opposite Wat Arun that offers an unobstructed view of the drone show against the illuminated temple. See exact location on Google Maps. Arrive 20-30 minutes early to secure a good spot, especially on weekends.
For the Fireworks
Two solid options here:
- Memorial Bridge puts you right under the action
- Chao Phraya Sky Park (the elevated pedestrian walkway) offers a wider panoramic view
Both worked well for photos.
2024 Event Details
2024 Show Schedule
Drone Shows at Wat Arun
The signature event ran at 7:50 PM on select dates, with bonus 9:15 PM shows on November 24, December 1, and December 8.
Light & Sound Shows at Wat Kalayanamitr
Twice nightly at 7:20 PM and 8:20 PM on weekends throughout the festival.
Fireworks at Memorial Bridge
Every weekend at 8:45 PM—the crowd favorite and a genuinely impressive display over the river.
Video Highlights
Wat Arun Drone Show
Memorial Bridge Fireworks
River Cruise Experience
Where to Stay
Riverside hotels put you within walking distance of the main Vijit Chao Phraya venues:
Luxury Options
- The Peninsula Bangkok – Classic luxury on the Thonburi side with stunning river views
- Mandarin Oriental Bangkok – Iconic riverside property, walking distance to venues
Modern Properties
- Avani+ Riverside Bangkok – Modern property with excellent river views and rooftop bar
- Millennium Hilton Bangkok – Great location near ICONSIAM
Browse all Bangkok riverside hotels on Agoda
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Vijit Chao Phraya 2024 held?
Vijit Chao Phraya 2024 ran from November 16 to December 15, 2024, nightly from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM across 14 riverside locations along Bangkok's Chao Phraya River.
Was Vijit Chao Phraya 2024 free?
Yes, admission to all Vijit Chao Phraya 2024 events was free. Light installations, drone shows, and fireworks displays were open to the public at no cost. River cruises were available for an additional fee.
What were the highlights of Vijit Chao Phraya 2024?
The main highlights were the drone show at Wat Arun (7:50 PM on select dates), fireworks at Memorial Bridge (weekends at 8:45 PM), and light and sound shows at Wat Kalayanamitr. The drone show against the illuminated Wat Arun was the signature event.
Where was the best spot to watch the drone show?
The best viewing spot for the Wat Arun drone show was a small soi directly opposite Wat Arun that offers an unobstructed view. Arriving 20-30 minutes early on weekends was essential to secure a good position.
Will there be a Vijit Chao Phraya 2025?
Yes, Vijit Chao Phraya 2025 runs November 9 – December 23, 2025 with a new theme honoring Her Majesty Queen Sirikit. The festival continues to grow each year as one of Bangkok's premier annual events.
Is the river cruise worth it?
Yes, the Vijit Sightseeing Cruise was excellent for seeing all light installations as they were designed to be viewed—from the water. It provides perspective impossible to get from any single land-based spot and lets you cover more venues comfortably.
Plan Your Bangkok Trip
Vijit Chao Phraya has become an annual highlight on Bangkok's events calendar. If you're planning to attend the 2025 edition, start planning your trip now.
Bangkok Tours & Experiences
- Chao Phraya Dinner Cruise – Perfect for festival viewing
- Wat Arun & Temple Tours – See the temples by day
- Bangkok Night Tours – Explore the city after dark
Getting Around Bangkok
- Bangkok Airport Transfers – BKK and DMK transfers
- Chao Phraya Express Boat – River transport options
Related Content
- Bangkok Destination Guide – Complete guide to Thailand's capital
- Wat Arun Temple Guide – Visit the Temple of Dawn
- Best Time to Visit Bangkok – Weather and events calendar
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This article covers the 2024 edition of Vijit Chao Phraya. For the latest information on the 2025 festival, see our updated guide.
Enjoyed this guide?
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Frequently Asked Questions
When was Vijit Chao Phraya 2024 held?
Vijit Chao Phraya 2024 ran from November 16 to December 15, 2024, nightly from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM across 14 riverside locations along Bangkok's Chao Phraya River.
Was Vijit Chao Phraya 2024 free?
Yes, admission to Vijit Chao Phraya 2024 was free. All light installations, drone shows, and fireworks displays were open to the public at no cost. River cruises were available for an additional fee.
What were the highlights of Vijit Chao Phraya 2024?
The main highlights were the drone show at Wat Arun (7:50 PM on select dates), fireworks at Memorial Bridge (weekends at 8:45 PM), and light and sound shows at Wat Kalayanamitr. The drone show against the illuminated Wat Arun was the signature event.
Where was the best spot to watch the Vijit Chao Phraya drone show?
The best viewing spot for the Wat Arun drone show was a small soi directly opposite Wat Arun that offers an unobstructed view. Arrive 20-30 minutes early on weekends to secure a good position.
Will there be a Vijit Chao Phraya 2025?
Yes, Vijit Chao Phraya 2025 runs November 9 – December 23, 2025 with a new theme honoring Her Majesty Queen Sirikit. The festival continues to grow each year as one of Bangkok's premier annual events.
Is the Vijit Chao Phraya river cruise worth it?
Yes, the Chao Phraya Tourist Boat's Vijit Sightseeing Cruise was excellent for seeing all light installations as they were designed to be viewed—from the water. It provides perspective impossible to get from land-based spots.
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