Protests, broken windows and dignitaries forced to flee by helicopter -- Thailand's last stint as host of Southeast Asia's biggest summit was devoured by political chaos.

But as the chairmanship of Asean passed on Thursday from Singapore to Thailand, Bangkok is hoping unrest will not spoil its year in the spotlight.

The annual Asean summit has become a major stop on the diplomatic circuit, even drawing leaders from the US, China, Japan and Russia.

According to Asean Charter, the chairmanship rotates annually, based on the alphabetical order of the English names of member countries.

Thailand's chairmanship means Asean will be hosted by a military dictatorship the same year it plans to hold elections.

The kingdom is notorious for its fractious, disruptive and sometimes violent street politics.

Thailand's generals will be desperate to avoid a repeat of 2009 when protesters from the pro-democracy "red shirts" smashed their way into the summit venue in Pattaya demanding elections.

Pandemonium ensued, with a number of leaders having to be rescued from a hotel roof by Thai army helicopters while others fled by boat.

"It was chaotic," one Southeast Asian diplomat who attended that cancelled summit told AFP.

Busadee Santipitaks, a spokeswoman at Thailand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said the country was ready to host world leaders regardless of the elections.

"We expect to host more than 170 meetings at various levels next year in Thailand," she told AFP, adding "tentative dates" for the key summits were under discussion.

A second Southeast Asian diplomat said the Thai government is unlikely to let a repeat of the 2009 debacle occur.

"I don't think they will allow another such incident to mar their chairmanship," the diplomat told AFP.