Some people assume that Thailand has only recently taken to celebrating the New Year on January 1 with the rest of the world. It isn't true. Thai people have been celebrating the New Year with fireworks and countdowns since 1940.

While they also celebrate Songkran (สงกรานต์), a traditional Thai New Year water festival, every April 13 (about the same time that the sun moves into Aries), the January 1 New Year has generated a host of traditions that are unique too.

In the lead-up to December 31, many Thais exchange gifts, cards, and enjoy the long weekend made possible by the holiday. In places like Thailand, many people visit the Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai provinces (where the weather is cooler). In places like North America, many have taken to visiting Las Vegas.

"In Thailand, many people also visit Buddhist temples, host family gatherings, or simply get away," says Alan Wong, general manager of Kung Fu Plaza. "But you can see some Western traditions being adopted too as well as new traditions being added. Most of the newer traditions are being added because Thai people want to feel as connected to them as they are Songkran and the Chinese New Year."

According to Wong, some might be surprised to discover January 1 is the most ancient date that Thai people used to celebrate the New Year. In fact, Buddhist doctrine in Thailand held that the first day of the New Year was always on the first waning moon of the first month until 1889. Then, the country changed to adopt the Brahman doctrine (Hindu), which placed New Year's Day on the first waxing moon of the fifth month (April).

How Las Vegas began attracting Thai people for the New Year.

According to Wong, Las Vegas is becoming a favored destination for Thai people, especially over holidays like New Year's eve. Part of the reason is because Thai people are instinctively interested in how people around the world celebrate the holidays. Part of it is because New Year's Day is believed to be especially 'prosperous and joyful.'

"Most gambling in Thailand is illegal, except a state run lottery and horse racing," said Wong. "While some Thai people do gamble in countries like Cambodia and Laos or in underground gambling establishments, you have to be very careful there. So, more and more Thai people are joining other Asians on excursions to Las Vegas where they feel safer and there is much more to do."

Like many Asian visitors, Las Vegas has become a gateway to some of the United States' best known national treasures, like Hoover Dan and the Grand Canyon. The abundance of shops, shows, and nightlife is not as varied as in Bangkok but is still very interesting and memorable. It's also not uncommon for Thai people visiting Los Angeles to stay a few days in Las Vegas too.

"I think some people are very confused by Thai people because it has always been a progressive culture, and they tend to live for the moment, being more playful and lighthearted than most people realize," Wong said. "It is important for them to strive for 'sanuk,' which is the Thai world for fun. They want to have fun."

New Year's eve is also the only night of the year that Kung Fu Plaza in Las Vegas closes early. Wong says it is not only so his employees can have fun on the Las Vegas Strip, but also because Las Vegas closes the roads, making it impossible for hotel guests to visit or for Kung Fu servers to deliver to hotels.

"We will be open until 9 p.m. on New Year's eve, but will open again for  regular hours, from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on New Year's Day," says Wong. "If you would like to try some Thai favorites on New Year's eve, try our pad Thai or green curry chicken."

Kung Fu Plaza will be open on New Year's eve with a full menu until 9 p.m. It is the oldest and most authentic Thai and Chinese restaurant in Las Vegas. It was opened in 1973 by Wong's parents.

There have been more than a few times in the past year when we have been asked to make some special dishes. Most of the time, these requests come from Asian patrons. They know any authentic Thai and Chinese restaurant can make certain dishes, whether or not those dishes are on the menu.

The ability to cook on request is the difference between restaurants with chefs who can cook Thai food and those with chefs who can fake their way through a few Thai recipes (or worse, warm something precooked). It is not the same thing. We are very fortunate to have a master chef from Thailand who was willing to spend years learning my family's ancient recipes.

Of course, there are times that even we have to decline a request and recommend a different dish. Sometimes it is because we do not have the right ingredients on hand, and substitutions will not do. Other times, the dish requires special attention.

Mee krob is an amazing Thai dish that is nearly impossible to make. We sometimes do it anyway.

Anyone who loves Thai food, especially people who were blessed to have a Thai mom (or dad) who loves to cook, knows that mee krob (a.k.a. mi krob or Thai crisp fried noodles) is a tasty dish with very interesting and addicting textures and flavors. It is one of my favorites. Mee krob is delicious.

However, it is not easy to make. Yes, it looks easy, especially in Thailand where some street vendors cook nothing but mee krob. These cooks are able to make it look easy because they wake up very early in the morning to begin a dish that requires significant preparation.

There really is so much to do. Depending on the recipe, the rice noodles have to be fried until they puff to the perfect golden brown (sometimes at a lower temperature than any of our woks). If tofu is included, it has to be deep fried to a perfect golden brown too. And mee krob is one dish that requires a sauce reduction to make it stand out.

This extra work isn't the real challenge that keeps mee krob off the menu in most restaurants. The real reason is that it has to be served and eaten immediately, before the noodles begin to soften under the sauce. It happens in about ten minutes.

When specialty dishes receive special treatment at Kung Fu Plaza.

Some people already know that the Wong recipe for mee krob is one of the most flavorful, even if we do not include it on the menu. We might if it were extremely popular. But as it stands today, mee krob is served under special circumstances.

Ideally, this means a large party calls us at least one day in advance and remembers to request mee krob when they place their reservations. Because of the noodles softening, mee krob is not really recommended for catered affairs (unless cooking onsite) or takeout (because the noodles will be too soft).

I do know that some restaurants put it on their menus anyway. If they do, it is a good indication that they are using pre-blended sauces or other tricks that do not represent authentic Thai cooking. When you visit Kung Fu Plaza, I know you will taste the difference.

Kung Fu Plaza, which is the oldest and most authentic Thai restaurant in Las Vegas, originally opened in 1973. It is open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. and offers more than 800 dishes on its menu and a few "off menu" dishes for our very special guests. Ask about our catering or large group reservations any time. And more importantly, happy holidays!

There are two places in the world that people don't always associate with Christmas. And both of them make Alan Wong, general manager of Kung Fu Plaza, smile. He knows plenty about both places: Thailand and Las Vegas.

"Some of the most beautiful Christmas displays in the world can be found in Bangkok and Las Vegas," says Wong. "I think what surprises most people about Thailand celebrating Christmas is that more than 90 percent of the population is Buddhist."

Thai people, Wong says, have embraced some of the most beautiful decorative elements like Christmas trees (from Germany) as well as the long-standing celebrations that are tied to winter solstice. The celebration of joy, compassion, and peace is also cherished in Thailand. And Buddhism is also fairly relaxed in embracing other traditions.

All across Bangkok, in fact, Christmas has become a must. Many companies, businesses, and hotels even compete with each other to have the tallest, most beautiful, or sparkliest Christmas trees. Some stores even started putting decorations before Westerners (some as early as October). Others will join in later, transforming the entire city into a winter wonderland even if the temperatures will be close to 90 degrees.

"The first time my father visited Bangkok after Thailand had embraced Christmas, he was stunned," laughs Wong. "He called to say we would never believe it. It looked just like America, except with more twinkling lights."

Christmas In Las Vegas. Make Dinner Reservations Early.

Wong says people feel the same way about Las Vegas the first time they visit in December. While Las Vegas largely ignored holidays 50 years ago (in comparison to other cities), the more luxurious resorts and influx of shopping has created an environment where the displays are more and more lavish every year.

"While everyone added a few displays, I think Bellagio and the Fashion Show Mall really raised the bar a few years ago," Wong said. "The Bellagio especially, because from the first year of its opening, it always transformed its botanical garden into a winterscape. Nowadays, even the Fremont Street Experience is known for erecting a tree that nearly touches its outdoor canopy. And even the new City Center is really a sight to behold."

Wong says the additions have become increasingly dramatic. People can ice skate on the Las Vegas Strip at The Venetian, take a ride on Santa's Train, and tour the lighted garden at Ethel M (admittedly one of the oldest traditions). There are dozens of other activities and events.

"Christmas is no longer viewed as the slow week before New Year's Eve, which is the busiest day of the year for Las Vegas," says Wong. "Instead, Christmas has become very busy too."

He added that Christmas Eve and Christmas Day are two of the most difficult days of the year to make restaurant reservations in Las Vegas. Many restaurants have shortened hours, special menus, and select service times. Kung Fu Plaza, which is the oldest and most authentic Thai and Chinese restaurant in Las Vegas, will be open with a full menu and have regular hours during the holidays to help visitors. The Thai holiday favorite is always duck, Wong said.

Kung Fu Plaza will be open 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. every day, including Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day. The only exception is that the restaurant closes early on New Year's Eve (at 9 p.m.) because of road closures in the area to accommodate pedestrian traffic on the Las Vegas Strip. During open hours of operation, Kung Fu Plaza will also deliver anywhere on the Las Vegas Strip.

Roxy Summers a.k.a. Roxy Cottontail will always be the kind of girl that books are written about. Originally making her mark in New York, she has catapulted herself to the top of the music industry as a promoter, producer and DJ.

She is well known for her collaborations, creating songs with Armand Van Helden, Drop the Lime, Party Squad and the legendary Larry Tee. She had an international club hit last year with Larry Tee and Afrojack, "Bounce Little Kitty." And, Roxy Cottontail likes chili mint chicken.

"One of the best parts of growing up in a city like Las Vegas is that it is still a small town in many ways," says Alan Wong, general manager of Kung Fu Plaza in Las Vegas. "Las Vegas has been my family's home for so long, and many celebrities enjoy making it their home too."

Kung Fu Plaza, which is close enough to the Las Vegas Strip to be convenient but just far enough away to avoid too much attention, has always been considered a hideout of sorts for celebrities since it relocated from The Plaza in downtown Las Vegas. On any given night, television celebrities and top performers sneak in and sit down. Sometimes nobody notices. Sometimes a few people do. But other than quietly greeting their guests, the Wong family simply provides them service with a smile.

In Las Vegas, Cottontail is the hottest DJ in the city, making her unique blend of punk, dance, electro, house, hip-hop, reggae, and rock come together in the party town of the nation. Her home away from home is the Palms, where she is the resident female DJ at Ghost Bar every Wednesday night. But  Ghost Bar isn't the only place you will find her. She plays everywhere.

Her roots are deep in the town too, often juggling her time between Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and New York. She recently launched her lifestyle enhancement and marketing agency Hey Girl Hey and independent music label Bunnyjawn.

"Everywhere in Las Vegas, Roxy Cottontail is hot," smiles Wong. "The only thing hotter is our chili mint chicken, but only upon request. Seriously, we love Roxy Cottontail. Everyone was excited that she was here and she is a class act. She was even nice enough to leave a note behind, saying that she loved us and the chicken. We can't wait to see her again. Thai people love Roxy too."

Wong said the secret to chili mint chicken is using imported Thai chili. Second, Kung Fu Plaza's blend of chili, garlic, basil, and mint is an authentic family recipe. If the ingredients are not cooked properly in the right order at the right temperature, the flavors will bond and the dish will be ruined. It takes an incredibly balanced hand to cook authentic Thai, he said.

Founded in 1973, Kung Fu Plaza is the oldest and most authentic Las Vegas Thai and Chinese restaurant in Las Vegas. It is open daily from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. It is the most recent of all Las Vegas restaurants to become 100% Angus Beef Certified, and the only Asian restaurant to receive this certification.