Vijit Chao Phraya 2026 Dinner Cruise | Dates, Drone Nights & 26 Cruises
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Vijit Chao Phraya 2026 · 5th edition
Vijit Chao Phraya 2026 Dinner Cruise — Bangkok's Biggest River Light Festival
A month of projection mapping, laser art, drone formations and fireworks along the Chao Phraya River — and the best seat in the house is a dinner cruise gliding right through the middle of it.
- Festival dates13 Nov – 13 Dec 2026 (current plan)
- Nightly6:00 PM – 10:00 PM
- Cruises from888 THB per adult
Dates are the current plan and still awaiting official confirmation from the Tourism Authority of Thailand. Rooftop and riverside-rail seats sell out first on Saturday drone nights — book early.
Updated 15 September 2026 Organised by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Free to watch from public riverside areas
Vijit Chao Phraya 2026 at a Glance
Nothing on this page is confirmed for 2026 yet. The 13 November – 13 December window is the current plan, and every schedule detail below — show times, drone nights and fireworks nights — is drawn from the previous edition and shown as a guide only. TAT typically releases the official programme just a few weeks before opening night. We update this page the moment it is announced.
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Festival dates13 Nov – 13 Dec 2026 (current plan, pending confirmation)
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Nightly hoursApprox. 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM, every night of the festival
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WhereChao Phraya River, Rama VIII Bridge to Rama III Bridge
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EntryFree from public riverside areas and promenades
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Biggest nightSaturday — the largest drone display of the week
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Dinner cruises26 ships sailing the festival stretch on the 7:00 PM round
Vijit Chao Phraya is Bangkok's annual riverside light festival. Historic landmarks along the Chao Phraya — temples, bridges, colonial-era warehouses and modern towers — are lit with large-format projection mapping and synchronised laser art, with drone formations and fireworks on the headline nights. Watching from the public riverside costs nothing. A dinner cruise is what puts you inside the show rather than beside it, because the installations are designed to be read from the water.
Photos From the Festival
Nightly Show Times
The projection and laser programme runs every single night of the festival. Drone formations and fireworks are the headline extras and appear only on selected nights. The timings below are how the previous edition ran.
| What happens | Time | Where to see it best |
|---|---|---|
| Riverside lighting switches onLandmark façades and bridges illuminate | 6:00 PM | Whole stretch, both banks |
| Dinner cruises departBoarding closes 15–20 min earlier | 7:00 PM | ICONSIAM, Asiatique, River City, Riverside Hotel |
| Projection mapping cyclesRepeating loops on each landmark | 7:30 – 9:30 PM | Rooftop deck, facing the bank |
| Drone formation showSelected nights only | approx. 8:45 PM | Memorial Bridge area, looking up |
| FireworksSelected nights only | evening peak | Open deck, unobstructed sky view |
| Programme endsCruises return to their pier | 10:00 PM | Departure pier |
Times reflect the previous edition and are indicative only. The official 2026 running order has not been published.
Take the 7:00 PM dinner round, not the sunset round. The lighting only reads properly after dark — a 5:00 PM sailing finishes before the show reaches full effect.
Fireworks & Drones: Saturday Is the Biggest Night
Saturday carries the largest display of the week. In the previous edition the festival ran a 1,000-drone show on Saturdays and a 500-drone show on Fridays over the Memorial Bridge area at around 8:45 PM. Other nights still deliver the complete projection and laser programme, but without drones.
Fireworks in 2026
Fireworks are a long-standing part of Vijit Chao Phraya and are expected to feature again in 2026. They were not staged in the previous edition, which fell within a national period of mourning, and drone formations were presented in their place. As with the drone schedule, the specific fireworks nights are confirmed only when the official programme is released.
| Night | Drone show | Projection & laser | Book ahead |
|---|---|---|---|
| SaturdayBusiest night of the week | Largest display | Yes | 4–6 weeks |
| FridaySecond-strongest night | Smaller display | Yes | 2–4 weeks |
| SundayWeekend demand, no drones | Usually none | Yes | 1–2 weeks |
| Monday – ThursdayQuietest, best seat choice | None | Yes | A few days |
Based on the previous edition. The 2026 night-by-night programme has not been announced.
What this means for booking. Saturday rooftop and open-deck seats are the first to disappear and are commonly sold out several weeks in advance. Friday is the second-strongest night. Sunday is not normally a drone night, but weekend demand still fills open-air seating faster than Monday to Thursday. If the headline show is your priority, book a Saturday rooftop seat as early as you can. If you want the festival lights without the scramble, a Tuesday–Thursday sailing gives you the same route and the same projections at the same price, with far better seat choice.
All 26 Evening Dinner Cruises & Prices
Every ship below sails the festival stretch on the 7:00 PM dinner round, listed in our recommended order. Prices are per adult. Tap a thumbnail or the tag line to enlarge.
Sawasdee Chaophraya 1,300 THB Book
Noah Cruise 1,150 THB Book
The Opulence 1,800 THB Book
Bangkok Chaophraya 1,550 THB Book
Faraya 1,200 THB Book
Riverside Carnival 1,200 THB Book
Viva Alangka 990 THB Book
Alangka Cruise 990 THB Book
The Luxury White 1,280 THB Book
Meridian Cruise 2 888 THB Book
White Orchid (ICONSIAM) 899 THB Book
Riverside Kinlen 999 THB Book
Super Galaxy Cruise 1,500 THB Book
Royal Princess 990 THB Book
The Planet Cruise 1,400 THB Book
Smile Riverside 899 THB Book
White Orchid (Asiatique) 899 THB Book
Vela Cruise 899 THB Book
Unicorn Cruise 899 THB Book
Meridian Cruise 899 THB Book
Wonderful Pearl 2,000 THB Book
CP Princess (Indian Buffet) 1,200 THB Book
Chao Phraya Princess (ICONSIAM) 1,200 THB Book
Chao Phraya Princess (Asiatique) 1,200 THB Book
Chao Phraya Cruise 1,400 THB Book
River Star Princess 1,250 THB Book
No cruises match those filters. Try clearing a filter or widening the price range.
Prices are per adult for the 7:00 PM dinner round and may be adjusted by operators during the festival period. Seat availability is confirmed live at booking.
Choosing the Best Seats
Rooftop open decks are the seats that matter for this festival. The projections run high on the buildings and the drone formations and fireworks sit well above the bridge line — both are clipped or lost from a seat under a solid ceiling. Air-conditioned lower decks view everything through glass with reflections, so treat them as a rain fallback rather than a first choice.
| Seating zone | Festival view | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Rooftop open deckTop deck, no ceiling | Full — projections, drones and fireworks | Photography, the headline show, couples |
| Covered open-air deckOpen sides, roof overhead | Good sideways, sky view partly blocked | Rainy nights, families with young children |
| Riverside rail seatingAny deck, outer edge | Best angle on the bank installations | Close-up projection viewing |
| Air-conditioned lower deckEnclosed, glass windows | Limited — reflections on the glass | Heavy rain, heat sensitivity, elderly guests |
On most ships you can move up to the open deck once dinner service starts, but a reserved rooftop seat is the only way to guarantee it on a busy night.
Tips for Vijit Chao Phraya 2026
- Book Saturdays early. Rooftop and open-deck seats on the biggest night sell out several weeks ahead. Midweek is the flexible option at exactly the same price.
- Dates may still shift. 13 Nov – 13 Dec is the current plan pending official confirmation — choose a free date-change policy if your trip sits near either edge of the window.
- Watch for the official programme in early November. Drone and fireworks nights are announced separately and late, so re-check before locking in a specific date.
- Take the 7:00 PM dinner round, not the sunset round. The lighting only reaches full effect after dark.
- Choose rooftop over air-conditioned seating. Glass reflections ruin both the photos and the aerial view.
- High water can change the route. Operators may shorten the sailing or adjust turnaround points on the night.
- Leave early for the pier. Arrive 30–45 minutes ahead — piers get congested during the festival and boarding closes on time.
- Bring a light layer and a phone tripod. Rooftop decks get breezy once the ship is moving upriver, and the aerial displays need a steady shot.
- Rain is not a cancellation. Cruises sail in light rain — The Planet Cruise, Vela Cruise and Smile Riverside have the best covered open-air decks.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Vijit Chao Phraya?
An annual riverside light festival in Bangkok organised by the Tourism Authority of Thailand. Historic landmarks along the Chao Phraya between Rama VIII and Rama III Bridge are lit with projection mapping and synchronised lasers, with drone formations and fireworks on the headline nights.
Are the 2026 dates confirmed?
Not yet. 13 November – 13 December 2026 is the current plan and the official announcement is still pending. The window has shifted in previous years, so if your trip falls near either edge, book a cruise with a free date-change policy. We update this page as soon as TAT publishes the official schedule.
Which night has the best show?
Saturday. In the previous edition it carried the largest drone display of the week — around 1,000 drones, against 500 on Fridays — staged over the Memorial Bridge area at roughly 8:45 PM. Every night of the festival includes the full projection and laser programme. The 2026 night-by-night schedule has not been announced.
Will there be fireworks in 2026?
Fireworks are a long-standing part of Vijit Chao Phraya and are expected to feature again in 2026. They were not staged in the previous edition, which fell within a national period of mourning, and drone formations were presented in their place. The specific fireworks nights are confirmed only with the official programme.
Do I have to pay to see the festival?
No. Viewing from public riverside areas and promenades is free. A dinner cruise is optional and puts you on the water directly in front of the projections, which is how the installations are designed to be seen.
How far in advance should I book?
4–6 weeks for Saturday rooftop seats, 2–4 weeks for Friday, and 1–2 weeks for Sunday. A few days is usually enough for Monday to Thursday.
How long is the cruise and what is the route?
The dinner round runs roughly two hours, departing at 7:00 PM and sailing the festival stretch between Rama VIII and Rama III Bridge before returning to the same pier. Boarding usually closes 15–20 minutes before departure.
Which seating zone should I choose?
Rooftop open deck. The projections run high on the buildings and the aerial displays sit above the bridge line, both of which are blocked or reflected on glassed-in lower decks.
What happens if the water level is high?
Operators may shorten or adjust the route. The festival stretch is normally still covered, but turnaround points can change on the night without advance notice.
What if it rains?
Cruises sail in light rain. Ships with covered open-air decks — The Planet Cruise, Vela Cruise and Smile Riverside — are the most comfortable choices in wet weather, since you stay outside without sitting under open sky.
Are there Halal or Indian options?
Yes. Faraya serves a fully halal-certified buffet. For Indian food, CP Princess runs a complete Indian buffet with strong vegetarian coverage, while Meridian Cruise and Meridian Cruise 2 include a dedicated Indian food corner alongside the international spread.
Why Book With Us
- Every evening cruise in one place. All 26 ships sailing the festival stretch, compared side by side with live prices.
- Best price guarantee. The same price as the pier, with no booking fee added at checkout.
- Seat zones confirmed before you pay. We check rooftop availability on the ship you choose, not after.
- Festival updates first. Date, drone and fireworks changes are reflected on this page as soon as TAT announces them.
- Local team, 24/7. English and Thai support before and during your trip.
What you get when you book here
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Choose your seating zoneRooftop, covered deck or air-conditioned — checked live on every ship.
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Best price guaranteeSame as the pier price, no booking fee.
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Instant e-ticketAccepted directly at the pier, no printing needed.
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24/7 local supportEnglish and Thai, before and during your trip.
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Festival updatesSchedule changes reflected here as they are announced.
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26 cruises comparedEvery evening ship on the festival stretch.
Cruise operators may adjust prices, menus and sailing times during the festival period. Final details are confirmed on your e-ticket.