Moscow, August 1st, 2025 – The Thai Festival Moscow 2025 opened with resounding success on August 1st at Hermitage Garden, attracting over 5,000 visitors on its first day and reinforcing the deep cultural and diplomatic bonds between Thailand and Russia.
The festival, now in its 11th year, was inaugurated with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by prominent figures, including Sergey Cheremin, Minister of the Moscow Government; Dr. Lalivan Karnchanachari, Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs of Thailand; Sasiwat Wongsinsawat, Thai Ambassador to the Russian Federation; Sudrutai Lertkasem, Director-General of Thailand’s Government Public Relations Department; Theerut Supawiboonphol, Governor of Surat Thani Province; and Decha Pruekpattanarak, Director-General of the Department of Skill Development, Ministry of Labor.
Under the theme “Thai Varieties,” the festival showcased Thailand’s rich cultural heritage through the “Playful Thainess” exhibition and a diverse array of activities. Highlights included an NBT WORLD mini-studio where visitors could try their hand as news announcers, captivating contemporary dance performances, and Thai boxing demonstrations led by renowned fighter Buakaw Banchamek, which drew a packed audience.
Cultural experiences such as DIY Thai sachet workshops, an AI-powered photo booth featuring traditional Thai costumes, Thai dessert tastings, and the “Home Sweet Home” exhibit recreating contemporary Thai atmospheres delighted attendees. The Government Public Relations Department’s booth alone welcomed over 1,500 participants.
Thai Ambassador Sasiwat Wongsinsawat hailed the festival’s opening day as an “overwhelming success,” noting that many vendors sold out their goods within hours. The event, which runs annually, continues to serve as a platform for promoting Thailand’s soft power and cultural diplomacy.
The festival’s success comes alongside a surge in Russian tourism to Thailand, with 1,034,759 Russian visitors recorded in the first half of 2025—a 12% increase compared to the same period last year.
Credit Thai Government PR.
For the original version of this article, please visit The Pattaya News.
