And the joke among the crowd was that the congested Yarralumla roads around the Thai Embassy resembled a Bangkok streetscape as cars vied for valuable parking spaces.

The gridlock was inspired by the Thai Embassy's annual food and culture festival.

Thailand's ambassador, Maris Sangiampongsa, said the embassy considered shifting the popular event to a different location to cope with the large crowds. But the overwhelming feedback was to leave it in the embassy grounds.

Canberrans voted with their feet, lifting the crowd figures beyond last year's record of 15,000.

But Mr Sangiampongsa said the success came with a cost, as the clean-up would take weeks.

There was a mouth-watering array of food stalls, and the large crowds were entertained by numerous Thai cultural performances, from Muay Thai demonstrations to traditional dances.

Mr Sangiampongsa said this year's event was extra special because of Canberra's centenary and 40 performers had come from Bangkok to honour the occasion.

"Bangkok will play the role of big brother because Bangkok is now 230 years old," he said. "So I told them, 'You have to come this time and bring more performers to show Australia that a big brother has come to help promote 100 years of Canberra'.

"That's why this time there are many special performers."

Mr Sangiampongsa said the festival first started to showcase and celebrate Thailand's contribution to multicultural Australia. But on a larger level, he said it helped create and strengthen links between Australia and Thailand.

"Right now the relationship between Australia and Thailand is in very good health,'' he said. ''We have a lot of co-operation and knowledge to share.

"But we cannot transfer the good knowledge, good co-operation and good relationship without the private sector."

He said establishing strong links between the countries' private sectors would filter into the grassroots of society.

"Today we can see a lot of Australian and Thai people enjoying themselves together.

"If we go in that direction we will have a sustainable relationship between the two countries.''