Lighting up the Chao Phraya

Bangkok dazzles with festivals over the course of any year, but Vijit Chao Phraya 2025 is set to become one of the city’s most amazing spectacles yet—a light art installation that turns Thailand’s most iconic river into a shimmering corridor of art, heritage, and light.

Until December 23, the Chao Phraya River transforms into a luminous and beautiful playground, showcasing 15 riverside landmarks with creative displays that honor Thai culture while embracing the creative energy of contemporary Bangkok.

This year’s theme, “The Light of Siam: Mother of the Nation,” casts a warm, unifying glow across the iconic waterway while commemorating the great royal benevolence of Her Majesty the late Queen Sirikit, The Queen Mother.

Each light art installation tells a story—of history, of gratitude, and of the inseparable bond between the river and the communities that have flourished along its banks for centuries.

More than just a festival, Vijit Chao Phraya seeks to elevate the river into a world-class cultural stage, offering visitors free nightly experiences that flow seamlessly between temples, bridges, museums, and riverside neighborhoods.

This year’s event is expected to draw almost two million visitors to the banks of the Chao Phraya, contributing to a vibrant year-end season for the Thai capital and reigniting the appeal of nighttime culture along the river. For visitors and festive-goers, it’s a wonderful chance to wander through Bangkok enveloped in light and perhaps even a wintry breeze.

The ‘River of Compassion’ installation marks the royal care for highland communities in remote areas. Photo://Tourism Authority of Thailand

A nightly journey through light

The festival’s glowing narrative begins at Rama VIII Bridge, where the concept “Royal Benevolence: The Flow to Rama VIII” interprets the grace of the river through laser choreography and light shows staged six times each evening.

From there, the illuminations drift toward the Bangkok Noi – Bangkok Dusit Canal area, where gentle reflections play out under the theme “The River of Compassion to the Mountains,” honoring royal benevolence to the highland people living in remote and rugged areas.

At Siriraj Pimuksthan Museum, the installation deepens into “The River of Time,” conveying the bond between the river and the royal benevolence that has long sustained the people on both sides of the Chao Phraya.

Further along the river, the Royal Thai Navy Assembly Hall becomes the backdrop for “Might of the Royal Thai Navy,” a spectacle of sound, light, and special effects that celebrates the strength and guardianship associated with the Navy.

A stunning drone spectacle: 500–1,000 drones illuminate the sky with luminous motifs above the iconic bridge and the Chao Phraya River. Photo://Tourism Authority of Thailand

It’s a powerful contrast to the romantic, musical mood at Nakaraphirom Park on the southern side of the Grand Palace, where the “Chao Phraya Rhapsody” turns the park into a riverside stage with a symphony of light and an air of melancholy.

At dusk, Wat Arun, Bangkok’s beloved Temple of Dawn, glows with new meaning on the theme “Dawn of Siam.” The famous temple is transformed into a breathtaking vision—radiant, serene, and reminiscent of the first light over Rattanakosin.

The festival continues with the dramatic presence of Wichai Prasit Fort, whose theme “Guardians of the Sea” pays homage to the protectors of Thailand’s waters.

Just across the river, Wat Kalayanamitr offers a quieter, more contemplative moment with its display “Lamp of Kindred Spirit,” blending multimedia work with a symbolic celebration of friendship and compassion.

Ramayana cultural dances come alive along the Chao Phraya River in celebration of Vijit Chao Phraya 2025. Photo:// Photo://Tourism Authority of Thailand

Technology meets heritage

One of the festival’s most anticipated showcases unfolds at the Phra Phuttha Yodfa Bridge (Memorial Bridge). Here, “Threads of Glory” is expressed not only through state-of-the-art lighting but also through an amazing drone performance, with either 500 or 1,000 drones painting luminous motifs above the iconic bridge and the Chao Phraya River in the evening.

These aerial choreographies—floating, shifting, shimmering—are among the event’s most photographed moments.

A short distance away, Phra Pok Klao Bridge interprets the theme “Luminary Golden Threads,” symbolizing prosperity. Meanwhile, an abandoned warehouse near Lhong 1919 becomes the canvas for “Siam Ghostly Heritage,” a haunting yet beautiful play of shadows using Light-on-Balloon techniques that resurrect echoes of the past.

‘Beacon of Ambition’ lights up Santa Cruz Church, casting a warm glow over the riverside’s rich cultural tapestry in this historic Portuguese-Thai neighborhood. Photo://Tourism Authority of Thailand

The riverside’s diverse cultural layers continue to shine through the installation at Santa Cruz Church, where “Beacon of Ambition” projects warm optimism across the historic Portuguese-Thai neighborhood.

At River City Bangkok, the theme “Thailand: Land of Smiles” captures the country’s famed hospitality, inviting passers-by to share in the joy and openness that define the nation.

The festive spirit heightens at ICONSIAM, where a towering Christmas tree gleams under “The Thai-conic Lighting Symphony.” Here, the ICONIC Water Feature—a multimedia fountain performance—dances three times nightly, creating a perfect riverside gathering point filled with families, visitors, and holiday cheer.

At Bangkok Dock, towering cranes become the ‘Crystal of Life,’ a luminous art installation celebrating sustainable tourism and the Chao Phraya’s enduring vitality. Photo://Tourism Authority of Thailand

A sparkling finale

The final installation, located at the Bangkok Dock Company’s riverside cranes, offers an unexpected yet striking conclusion. Under the theme “Crystal of Life,” the towering structures are transformed into an art installation that symbolizes sustainable tourism, hope, and the bright future of the river.

The lights shimmer against the night sky, echoing the Chao Phraya’s timeless role as the lifeblood of the city.

Vijit Chao Phraya 2025 is more than a festival—it is a love letter to Bangkok, written in light. For travelers craving wonder, cultural depth, or simply a magical evening stroll by the water, the Chao Phraya River has never shone brighter.

Festival-goers stroll beneath the mesmerizing light art installations along the Chao Phraya River. Photo://Tourism Authority of Thailand