Indochina Enters 2025 With Enthusiasm; Feng Shui Master Predicts A Choppy Year

By Vijian Paramasivam

PHNOM PENH, Jan 1 (Bernama) -- Fireworks, neon lights and music illuminated the skylines of Indochina's capitals as revellers celebrated the end of 2024 and welcomed the New Year in a festive style.

People from Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar to Vietnam kept to the tradition of welcoming the New Year in great fervour. 

Although their traditional New Year celebrations fall later in April, many did not miss the parties wishing for a promising 2025.

There were grounds for jubilation in these countries as economies thrived and farmers enjoyed bountiful harvests and national unity prevailed. 

Vietnam set a powerful tone as it entered 2025 with all the hallmarks of a rising economic powerhouse in ASEAN, thanks to its 1986 Doi Moi modernisation policy that catapulted the state-controlled centralised economy to an industrialised nation.

Vietnam’s bustling capital Hanoi in the north and southern Ho Chi Minh City marked the New Year vibrantly, boasting their modern infrastructures – railways, seaports and airports. 

“The top priority in this new era is to successfully achieve the strategic goals, turning Vietnam into a developing nation with a modern industrial base,” the General-Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, To Lam, told Vietnam State News Agency.

In neighbouring Cambodia, a similar celebration took place as people filled the streets on New Year’s Eve afternoon to “Celebrate Cambodia”, to showcase the Kingdom’s unity, peace and stability. 

Three days ago, Cambodians honoured the 26th anniversary of the “Win-Win Policy” initiated by former prime minister Hun Sen that ended the civil war in the 1990s and brought peace and national unification. 

Dazzling fireworks and music captured Phnom Penh, Sihanoukville and Siem Reap with thousands of tourists crowding popular party spots. 

Laos' capital, Vientiane, hosted its welcoming party.  The nation continues to bask in pride after successfully hosting the 44th ASEAN Summit last October.

Myanmar did not miss out on the fun either. People gathered for the New Year countdown at the city’s landmark Yangon’s Secretariat.

“Let us all work together so that 2025 becomes a year of victory for the people, reaching the democratic goal all citizens aspire to and make this a testament to our collective efforts,” Myanmar military leader Senior-General Min Aung Hliang said in his New Year greetings, reported The Global New Light of Myanmar.  

Feng Shui Grandmaster Han (known by only one name), who has been practising the art for over 20 years, said 2025 is under the influence of the Fire Element that could be considered a “hot year”.

"2025 will be a continuation of 2024. Fire also brings light and there can be a big shift in people’s vision and consciousness. 

“We can expect a shake-up in the global economy and politics. The world will be hit by crises, and conflicts will get worse and some will not be resolved until 2026.

"We will see more political chaos, so we need strong political leaders to lead countries,” said Han, who was born in Cambodia and has Vietnamese and French ancestry. 

--  BERNAMA