In Indonesia celebrations have taken hold since a ban on Lunar New Year, known as Imlek, was repealed in 2000.
Ethnic Chinese Indonesians make up around three percent of the 220 million people in the world's largest Muslim-populated nation.
They celebrate with prayers and festivities at homes and in temples, where the wealthy light tall candles and hand out cash and food to long lines of beggars.
Commercialism is rampant as stores and shopping malls in cities across the country are decked out in red and gold to cash-in holiday business.
Fireworks are banned, but electronic devices that light up and mimic the loud bangs are on sale and are flying off the shelves.
In tsunami-hit Banda Aceh, where Chinese merchants and traders are a mainstay of the local economy, festivities are muted just over a year after the disaster.
Only a few shops in the predominantly Chinese Peunayong business area display red Chinese lanterns.
Lily, 42, manning a car spare parts shop, said she will pray at a local temple that survived the tsunami's wrath.
"What more can you do now? There are no longer any places where we can have fun here," she said.
In Myanmar, Yangon's Chinatown is thronged with people shopping for Chinese cards and gift envelopes.
"I come here to buy envelopes and Chinese cards. I have to give pocket money to my children," said San San, a 50-year-old ethnic Chinese housewife.
Street performer Myo Naing and his Dragon Heart dance troupe will be there to ring in the New Year with a traditional lion dance.
"We believe that we will have good luck by dancing in the New Year," he said during a rehearsal. "This year is the Year of the Dog. Chinese people believe that it's the best year."
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