Thailand is predominantly Buddhist, but Christmas shows up in glittering shop windows, hotel lobbies, and Bangkok’s high-end malls.

On December 25th, you might find yourself eating pad thai on the beach while a band plays Coldplay covers under fairy lights strung between palm trees. In Bangkok, fireworks burst over the Chao Phraya River – watch them from a rooftop bar or a dinner cruise.

Our top Thai Christmas travel ideas:

👉 Wild Thailand Family Adventure

👉 Classic Thailand with a Twist

👉 Highlights of Thailand

Perfect for: Travelers wanting to relax. Options for overland travel, vibrant city nights, and beachside fire shows make it easy to unwind.

Southeast Asia layers Western holidays on top of Buddhist rituals – lunar festivals sit side by side with Santa hats.

In Vietnam, locals haul fir trees home on mopeds. In Luang Prabang, Laos, you can rise at dawn on New Year’s Day to give alms to monks in saffron robes – a quiet, meaningful way to start a new year.

Our top Southeast Asia Christmas travel ideas:

👉 Mekong Explorer Cruise

👉 Vietnam’s Landscapes

👉 Laos by Rail

Perfect for: Travelers hoping for a tropical twist on festivities – festive lantern festivals and scenic river cruises.

In Korea, Christmas is a public holiday, but it’s celebrated more like Valentine’s Day – less religion, more lights and pop culture.

Seoul dresses up for the season with massive light festivals, and palaces like Gyeongbokgung look spectacular under snow.

December is prime time for skiing, with resorts just a couple hours from Seoul. Afterward, warm up with kimchi stew or street-stall hotteok (sweet pancakes filled with cinnamon and nuts).

Celebrate the season Korean-style:

👉 Essential Korea

👉 Korea Highlights

👉 Seoul Stopover

Perfect for: Active travelers and urban explorers. Accessible ski resorts, dazzling light festivals, and spicy street food create a dynamic winter experience blending nature and city life.

Japan’s take on Christmas is quirky, charming, and completely its own. It’s seen as a date night – not a family day – with couples booking candlelit dinners and exchanging gifts. KFC, bizarrely, is the traditional meal.

During winter in Japan , the main event is New Year, or oshogatsu. This is when families gather, businesses close, and people visit shrines for hatsumode, the first prayer of the year.

With InsideJapan, our sister company, you can join a Small Group Tour through major cities or head to snowy mountain towns.

Our top Japan Christmas travel ideas:

👉 Must-See Japan Small Group Tour

👉 Golden Route

👉 Mountains & Culture Family Holiday

Perfect for: Couples, solo or thoughtful travelers looking for a fresh take on the season –snowy temples, dazzling winter illuminations, and quirky holiday traditions.

Malaysia’s approach to Christmas is multicultural and inclusive, with Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist and Christian festivals all on the national calendar. Locals often celebrate more than one.

Shopping malls like Pavilion Kuala Lumpur put up soaring trees, oversized decorations, and live performances. After the city lights, head to Langkawi or Penang for a laid-back Christmas by the water.

Our favorite Malaysia itinerary:

👉 City to the Beach

Perfect for: Families craving warm island beaches, lively shopping malls decked in holiday décor, and diverse cultural celebrations.