If New Year is your excuse to travel, explore, and fill your camera roll with atmospheric streets, glowing lanterns, and neon-lit chaos, these six spots across Kuala Lumpur and Saigon deserve a place on your list. Each offers a mix of culture, textures, color, and storytelling, the kind that makes your photos feel alive.
1. Kwai Chai Hong
In the heart of Kuala Lumpur’s Chinatown, this restored alley feels like a living storyboard. Murals inspired by the 1960s Chinese community bring the walls to life, from musicians with vintage instruments to street vendors frozen in time. The lantern-lined walkway, warm lighting, and rustic shophouse facades make every corner an effortless photo moment, especially during festive seasons when decorations get brighter and bolder.
Location: Lorong Panggung, Chinatown, Kuala Lumpur
How to Reach - The easiest way is by taking the MRT/ LRT to Pasar Seni Station, which is a 5–7 minute walk from the alley. From the station, follow the signs toward Chinatown and walk past Petaling Street until you reach Lorong Panggung. Taxis and Grab rides also drop you right at the entrance.
2. Thean Hou Temple
This temple stands high above the city and is one of the most photogenic places in Kuala Lumpur. Its sweeping red pillars, ornate dragons, and layered roofs look especially magical around New Year when lanterns glow softly against the skyline. Whether you're shooting wide city views or close-up details of the architecture, the temple gives your photos a festive, peaceful aesthetic.
Location: 65 Persiaran Endah, Off Jalan Syed Putra, Kuala Lumpur
How to Reach - There’s no direct train station next to the temple, but the nearest is KL Sentral. From there, you can take a short Grab ride (5–10 minutes). Some travelers prefer walking from Brickfields, but the uphill path is long, so a cab is the easiest and quickest option.
3. Petaling Street
Petaling Street is a classic KL backdrop, colorful, and busy. The narrow lanes are framed by old shophouses, signboards stacked above each other, and bustling market stalls. Early mornings here give you empty streets and soft lighting; evenings give you neon, crowds, and energy. Either way, it's a perfect canvas for capturing the lively heart of Chinatown.
Location: Jalan Petaling, Chinatown, Kuala Lumpur
How to Reach - Simply take the LRT/MRT to Pasar Seni, and it’s just a 2–3 minute walk. The area is pedestrian-friendly, so wandering around is easy. Grab taxis also drop you at the main gate if you're carrying luggage or avoiding crowds.
4. Quan Âm Pagoda
Located in Saigon’s Chợ Lớn area, this pagoda is a dream for atmospheric photography. Incense coils spiral from the ceiling, sunlight filters through the smoke, and centuries-old altars glow in warm tones. It’s one of those places where you can take a hundred photos and each one looks different because the light shifts throughout the day. For a spiritual, cinematic vibe in your New Year shots, this is the spot.
Location: 12 Lão Tử Street, District 5 (Chợ Lớn), Ho Chi Minh City
How to Reach - The easiest way to get here is by Grab bike or Grab car from District 1, which takes around 10–15 minutes. Several buses also pass through Chợ Lớn, but most travelers prefer the convenience of a motorbike ride because the streets are narrow and traffic is unpredictable
5. Bùi Viện Street
If you want pure energy in your New Year photos, Bùi Viện is unbeatable. As soon as the sun sets, the street erupts into a riot of neon lights, music, street food smoke, and people from every corner of the world. It’s chaotic, colorful, and irresistible for night photography. Portraits lit by neon signs, long-exposure crowd shots, or snapshots of street performers everything here feels like a celebration.
Location: Bùi Viện, Phạm Ngũ Lão Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
How to Reach - If you're staying anywhere in District 1, you can walk to Bùi Viện easily. Otherwise, Grab bike or car rides bring you straight to the start of the street. Since the street becomes pedestrian-only on weekends, drop-off happens at either end of the walking zone.
These six spots, from KL’s nostalgic alleys to Saigon’s electric nightlife, offer the perfect mix of culture and visual drama for your New Year content. Whether you love serene temples, old-world markets, or chaotic street scenes, you’ll find something here that captures the spirit of new beginnings.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: When do the New Year decorations typically go up in these cities?
A: Decorations for the Gregorian New Year (Dec 31) often appear in early December. However, in areas like Chinatown, the most elaborate decorations are for the Lunar New Year (which falls in late Jan or Feb), and these often stay up for several weeks.
Q2: Are these locations free to enter?
A: Yes, all the street and neighborhood locations listed (Kwai Chai Hong, Petaling Street, Bùi Viện) are free. Thean Hou Temple and Quan Âm Pagoda are also free to enter, but donations are appreciated.
Q3: Is it safe to carry expensive camera equipment in these areas?
A: While generally safe, these are busy urban areas. Be mindful of your surroundings, especially in crowded nightspots like Bùi Viện. Keep your camera on a strap and store bags securely.
Q4: What is the best way to get around these cities?
A: In Kuala Lumpur, the MRT/LRT train system is excellent for covering long distances. For shorter trips and in Ho Chi Minh City, the Grab app (for cars and motorbike taxis) is the most efficient and popular choice.
