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    See the best of Northern Thailand this winter on a budget

    The Thaiger key takeaways Peak season brings higher prices, but smart planning and local know-how can help you experience Northern Thailand affordably. Chiang Mai, Pai, and Chiang Rai offer plenty of free or low-cost attractions, from temples and canyons to...

  • Thailand’s airport rail deal faces legal showdown | Thaiger

    Thailand’s airport rail deal faces legal showdown

    Thailand’s Transport Ministry has raised concerns over proposed contract changes to a major airport rail project, warning of legal risks if the deal is altered. Transport Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, who also chairs the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) Policy Committee, has called for a balanced and legally sound resolution to the dispute surrounding the 224 billion baht project linking Don Mueang,…

  • Ayutthaya businesswoman offers red drinks for lottery luck | Thaiger

    Ayutthaya businesswoman offers red drinks for lottery luck

    A crane company owner made a vow at a famous Ayutthaya hermitage after a business success, while worshippers searched for lucky numbers in holy water. Yesterday, November 15, crowds of worshippers and tourists gathered at the hermitage of Rishi Naen That Phutthakun in Pho Taeng subdistrict, Bang Sai district, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya province. The site has become a spiritual…

  • Chinese fake tour guide arrested after 1,043-day overstay | Thaiger

    Chinese fake tour guide arrested after 1,043-day overstay

    Tourist Police arrested a Chinese national in Pattaya for working illegally as a tour guide while overstaying his visa by nearly three years. Undercover Tourist Police swooped in on a Chinese tour group early on Wednesday, November 12, arresting 30 year old Jinlei (surname withheld), who was caught leading tourists with a fake tour guide licence while overstaying his visa…

  • Arsenic alert in Mekong prompts urgent government action | Thaiger

    Arsenic alert in Mekong prompts urgent government action

    The People’s Party (PP) has called on the government to address arsenic contamination in the Mekong River caused by foreign mining, urging immediate action. The spread is believed to be caused by foreign mining activities in China, Myanmar, and Laos. Chiang Mai MP and PP deputy spokesperson, Phattarapong Leelaphat, voiced concerns on Facebook, accusing the government of remaining silent despite…

  • Lottery fever spikes as lucky signs sweep Thailand | Thaiger

    Lottery fever spikes as lucky signs sweep Thailand

    As the next lottery draw nears, hopeful Thais across the country are searching for lucky numbers through signs, spirits, and superstitions. This month’s frenzy centres around a flurry of spiritual signs, superstitions, and vehicle registrations, all believed to hold the key to fortune. The draw will take place at Sanambinnam in Nonthaburi, and as the big day approaches, popular numbers…

  • Phuket gets new governor after record-short term ends | Thaiger

    Phuket gets new governor after record-short term ends

    Phuket will welcome a new governor after the sudden departure of the former officeholder, marking a swift change in provincial leadership. Nirat Pongsitthaworn, the current Director-General of the Department of Provincial Administration (DOPA), is scheduled to arrive in Phuket tomorrow, November 17, to take over as the new Governor of Phuket. His appointment was confirmed earlier this week through an…

  • Cool weather kicks in as storms brew across Thailand | Thaiger

    Cool weather kicks in as storms brew across Thailand

    A cold snap and stormy conditions are sweeping across Thailand as a weather system from China brings strong winds, rain, and cooler temperatures nationwide. A moderate high-pressure system from China is sweeping across upper Thailand and the South China Sea, bringing cool to cold mornings and strong winds to northern, northeastern, central, and eastern regions, including Bangkok. The northeast is…

  • 143 macaques rescued in Sa Kaeo border smuggling raid | Thaiger

    143 macaques rescued in Sa Kaeo border smuggling raid

    Thai officials rescued 143 macaques during two anti-smuggling operations near the Sa Kaeo border, targeting a cross-border wildlife trafficking ring. The first raid occurred around 3pm yesterday, November 14, in Ban Khao Chong Khaep, Khlong Hat district, where a joint task force uncovered 62 long-tailed macaques packed inside plastic crates hidden in a sugarcane field. No suspects were apprehended at…

  • Blazing cables and explosions jolt Pattaya neighbourhood | Thaiger

    Blazing cables and explosions jolt Pattaya neighbourhood

    A fire broke out on overhead cables in a Pattaya neighbourhood, causing explosions and panic as locals and rescue teams worked to prevent it from spreading. The fire broke out around 8pm yesterday, November 14, in the Ton Krabok area of Na Kluea, sending flames and sparks cascading from power poles positioned in front of homes. Alarmed locals quickly notified…

  • Rare great hornbill spotted in Chiang Mai after 10 years | Thaiger

    Rare great hornbill spotted in Chiang Mai after 10 years

    A great hornbill was spotted in a Chiang Mai national park, marking the first confirmed sighting in over a decade and signalling improved forest health. Chiang Mai’s Doi Pha Hom Pok National Park is celebrating a major ecological milestone after spotting a great hornbill, also known locally as nok kahang or nok gak, for the first time in over a…

  • Toddler found dead by Rayong roadside prompts police probe | Thaiger

    Toddler found dead by Rayong roadside prompts police probe

    Police in Rayong are investigating after a toddler’s body was found near a roadside restaurant, with signs of severe injuries and possible foul play. Rayong police have launched a full-scale investigation after the body of a two year old boy was discovered abandoned and unclothed near a roadside restaurant in Mueang subdistrict, Nikhom Phatthana district. Officers were alerted to the…

  • Bangkok woman’s lottery streak stuns Ratchaburi locals | Thaiger

    Bangkok woman’s lottery streak stuns Ratchaburi locals

    A Bangkok woman returned to a Ratchaburi monastery to give thanks after winning the lottery multiple times, crediting her luck to a revered local spirit. Excitement is building in Ratchaburi ahead of the national lottery draw tomorrow, November 16, as word spreads of a woman who’s racked up six consecutive wins, each time returning to perform a dance of thanks…

  • Thai ex-cop Santhana granted bail in 2021 Taiwanese kidnap case | Thaiger

    Thai ex-cop Santhana granted bail in 2021 Taiwanese kidnap case

    A former police officer was granted bail after being arrested in Bangkok for allegedly abducting a foreign businessman as part of a wider criminal case. Santhana Prayoonrat, a 66 year old former senior police officer with a controversial past, was granted bail yesterday, November 14, following his arrest in connection with the 2021 abduction of a Taiwanese businessman in Bangkok.…

  • Royal order visits Phuket to back aid for the underprivileged | Thaiger

    Royal order visits Phuket to back aid for the underprivileged

    An international chivalric order met with Phuket officials to discuss new partnerships aimed at supporting social development and local communities. A delegation from the Order of Saint Stanislas, an international NGO with roots in European chivalric tradition, visited Phuket on Thursday, November 13, to explore community development partnerships and expand support for disadvantaged residents. The high-profile visit took place at…

  • Toxic gas leak kills 2 workers in Krabi pit accident | Thaiger

    Toxic gas leak kills 2 workers in Krabi pit accident

    Three workers were exposed to toxic gas while cleaning a chemical pit at a company in Krabi, leaving two dead and one hospitalised, according to police. Two Myanmar workers died and a third was rescued after inhaling deadly gas while cleaning a chemical pit at an industrial site in Krabi’s Plai Phraya district yesterday, November 14. The incident took place…

  • Thai shops caught hiking prices under co-pay scheme | Thaiger

    Thai shops caught hiking prices under co-pay scheme

    The Thai government is cracking down on shops accused of raising prices and violating rules after joining a nationwide co-payment scheme to aid consumers. Santi Piyatat, a minister from the Prime Minister’s Office, revealed that the Office of the Consumer Protection Board (OCPB) received 66 complaints between October 29 and November 11, flagging widespread misuse. Among them, 29 involved shops…

  • Laotian man arrested after knife-point gold snatch in Bangkok | Thaiger

    Laotian man arrested after knife-point gold snatch in Bangkok

    A Laotian man was arrested in Bangkok after allegedly robbing a woman at knife-point while she was shopping at a busy market, according to local police. The 33 year old Laotian man, identified as Tabun, has been arrested for allegedly snatching a gold necklace from a Myanmar woman at knife-point in a busy Bangkok market. The incident unfolded on November…

  • Street food feud turns violent in Jomtien Beach brawl (video) | Thaiger

    Street food feud turns violent in Jomtien Beach brawl (video)

    A beachside brawl broke out in Pattaya when a group led by a street vendor confronted several men, reigniting an old dispute caught on video. A simmering street food feud exploded into violence yesterday morning, November 14, when a female vendor allegedly led a group of nearly 10 people in an assault on a group of men relaxing on Jomtien…

  • Thailand hit by chilly mornings and stormy seas this weekend | Thaiger

    Thailand hit by chilly mornings and stormy seas this weekend

    Thailand braces for cooler mornings and rough seas as a weather system sweeps the country, bringing strong winds and thundershowers across several regions. A moderate high-pressure system sweeping down from China continues to influence Thailand’s upper regions and the South China Sea. This system is delivering cool morning temperatures and strong winds, particularly across northeastern Thailand. Meanwhile, the northeast monsoon…

  • Drunk driver arrested after gun scare outside Patong Hospital | Thaiger

    Drunk driver arrested after gun scare outside Patong Hospital

    A man was arrested in Patong after allegedly using a blank gun to threaten two people while driving under the influence near a busy intersection. The incident unfolded near the Nam Sia Intersection on Phra Metta Road, when Patong Police were alerted around 10pm yesterday, November 13, to a suspicious pickup truck with obscured number plates threatening passers-by with what…

  • Bangkok climbs ‘World’s Best Cities’ list, eyes top 20 | Thaiger

    Bangkok climbs ‘World’s Best Cities’ list, eyes top 20

    A new global report has ranked Bangkok among the world’s top cities, highlighting its growing appeal for tourism, investment, and long-term urban potential. Bangkok is stepping further into the global spotlight after being ranked 22nd in the World’s Best Cities for 2026 report, a notable jump from 32nd place last year. The prestigious index, released by Resonance Consultancy during the…

  • Thai student left homeless after bank account used as mule by classmate | Thaiger

    Thai student left homeless after bank account used as mule by classmate

    A Thai university student is seeking help after his Vietnamese friend tricked him into sharing his bank account number and used it as a mule account, leading to the account being frozen. He was unable to pay his dormitory rent and has been sleeping in a common area at the university. The third-year student in Udon Thani, 22 year old…

  • Phuket police hunt motorbike taxi driver for robbing Kazakh tourist | Thaiger

    Phuket police hunt motorbike taxi driver for robbing Kazakh tourist

    An 18 year old Kazakh tourist was allegedly robbed by a motorcycle taxi driver outside a hotel in Kathu, prompting a police investigation. Kathu Police are searching for a motorcycle rider who allegedly robbed Kazakh national Sofiya Paskul outside a hotel near the Andamanda Phuket waterpark in the early hours of today. The incident occurred at 3.54am, today, November 14,…

  • Pattaya powers up for tourist surge with smart city centre | Thaiger

    Pattaya powers up for tourist surge with smart city centre

    Pattaya has launched a new city control centre and hotline to boost safety and digital services as it prepares for a surge in tourists and major year-end events. A high-tech City Command and Response (CCR) centre and dedicated hotline have been launched to manage the expected influx of tourists and athletes for Pattaya’s busy year-end events. Pattaya Mayor Poramet Ngampichet…

  • Lottery fever: Chiang Mai punters scramble for lucky numbers | Thaiger

    Lottery fever: Chiang Mai punters scramble for lucky numbers

    As the government lottery draw nears, Chiang Mai locals are rushing to buy lucky numbers from vendors, hoping to cash in on signs and superstitions. Excitement is building in Chiang Mai ahead of the November 16 lottery draw, as eager buyers flood stalls across the province in search of lucky numbers, pushing prices and demand to new highs. By 8.30am…

  • Cambodia denies fake claims of Thai flight suspension | Thaiger

    Cambodia denies fake claims of Thai flight suspension

    Cambodia’s civil aviation authority has denied social media rumours that Thailand will suspend flights, confirming no official notice has been received. Cambodian officials said there is no truth to viral claims that flights between Thailand and Cambodia will be suspended later this month. Sin ChanSerey Vutha, Secretary of State and Spokesperson for Cambodia’s Civil Aviation, issued a firm denial after…

  • 2 fake doctors arrested after runing illegal clinics in Bangkok for over 10 years | Thaiger

    2 fake doctors arrested after runing illegal clinics in Bangkok for over 10 years

    Police yesterday, November 13, arrested two fake doctors at an illegal clinic in the Min Buri district of Bangkok after it had been operating unlawfully for more than ten years. Over 6,000 patient records were found. Officers from the Metropolitan Police Division 3 arrested 50 year old Boonwiwat Boonrueanglue and 30 year old Nattawut Boonrueanglue at Keharam Clinic, also known…

  • Police find lion-dancing kids sleeping in Udon Thani temple | Thaiger

    Police find lion-dancing kids sleeping in Udon Thani temple

    Three young boys were found sleeping at a temple in Udon Thani province, Northeast Thailand, after leaving home to practise lion dancing, prompting police to urge better child supervision. Yesterday, November 13, a temple officer at Wat Photiwararam alerted the police after discovering the children, aged 10 to 12, sleeping in the crematorium area. Police Lieutenant Pongpol Phiwphong from Udon…

  • Chinese man arrested for 250 million baht fraud after 7 years on the run | Thaiger

    Chinese man arrested for 250 million baht fraud after 7 years on the run

    Police arrested a Chinese man with a Vanuatu passport at a luxury accommodation in Bangkok for 250 million baht embezzlement in his home country after he had been on the run for seven years. The arrest of the foreign suspect followed a tip-off from a resident shared with the Immigration Bureau in October. The resident reported that the foreign man,…

  • Thai woman dies in Cambodian scam hub, cremation halted | Thaiger

    Thai woman dies in Cambodian scam hub, cremation halted

    A Thai woman who died after being forced to work in a scam operation in Cambodia was found just in time before her body was cremated at a Phnom Penh temple. Progress has been made in the case of Suda, a 26 year old Thai woman who died in Poipet, Cambodia, after being forced to work for an online scam…