Puntid Tantivangphaisal

Originally from Hong Kong, Puntid moved to Bangkok in 2020 to pursue further studies in translation. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Comparative Literature from the University of Hong Kong. Puntid spent 8 years living in Manchester, UK. Before joining The Thaiger, Puntid has been a freelance translator for 2 years. In her free time, she enjoys swimming and listening to music, as well as writing short fiction and poetry.
  • Northern Thailand NewsThailand deluge: Nan province hit by worst flood in 40 years | Thaiger

    Thailand deluge: Nan province hit by worst flood in 40 years

    A province in northern Thailand has been left reeling from catastrophic floods, but in the darkest hours, help came from unexpected places. Volunteers braved rising waters to save lives, leaving one woman grateful for the anonymous heroes who rescued her. On July 23, Diane Francheska Ruiz, a Filipina English teacher in Nan province, noticed something was off. While she couldn’t…

  • Thailand NewsChiang Rai MP booted over budget scandal | Thaiger

    Chiang Rai MP booted over budget scandal

    In a major political shake-up, the first deputy House speaker and MP for Chiang Rai, was disqualified by the Constitutional Court. Found guilty of misusing public funds to influence budget decisions for personal gain, Pichet Chuamuangphan is now barred from holding office for 10 years and faces a by-election. Yesterday, August 1, the Constitutional Court delivered a bombshell ruling, disqualifying…

  • Pattaya NewsSouth Korean tourist assaulted in Pattaya robbery gone wrong | Thaiger

    South Korean tourist assaulted in Pattaya robbery gone wrong

    A brutal assault on a South Korean tourist outside a Pattaya nightclub has left police probing whether it was a botched robbery or something darker. At 4.06am yesteday, August 1, Police Lieutenant Colonel Alis Phuangwai, Deputy Chief of Pattaya City Police Station, received an urgent call about a violent incident in a parking lot near an entertainment venue on Soi…

  • Thailand Weather UpdatesThunderstorms set to batter Thailand’s southern coast | Thaiger

    Thunderstorms set to batter Thailand’s southern coast

    The Thailand Meteorological Department (TMD) reported that thunderstorms are expected in 28 provinces, with 30% of the areas likely to experience rain. Residents in the southern region are advised to exercise caution as sea waves may rise above 2 metres. Upper Thailand will see limited rainfall due to a weak southwesterly monsoon over the Andaman Sea, Thailand, and the Gulf…

  • Phuket NewsVietnam eyes Phuket for tourism and trade boost | Thaiger

    Vietnam eyes Phuket for tourism and trade boost

    In a high-profile diplomatic visit yesterday, Phuket Governor Sophon Suwannarat welcomed Vietnamese Ambassador to Thailand Pham Viet Hung to Phuket Provincial Hall for a courtesy meeting aimed at strengthening tourism ties, economic collaboration, and potential sister-city agreements. Held yesterday, July 31 at 2.30pm in the Governor’s Reception Room, the gathering was a show of mutual interest in deepening cultural and…

  • Pattaya NewsPattaya gridlock sparks calls for urgent rail fix | Thaiger

    Pattaya gridlock sparks calls for urgent rail fix

    Pattaya’s roads are choking—and so are its residents. As traffic jams grow worse by the day, frustrated locals and weary tourists are demanding immediate action to overhaul the city’s outdated transport system. At the centre of the debate is Pattaya’s long-delayed Monorail Green Line project, a tram-style light rail network aimed at solving the city’s chronic congestion. Yesterday, July 31,…

  • Bangkok NewsBangkok rush hour relief as SRT trials new train route | Thaiger

    Bangkok rush hour relief as SRT trials new train route

    Bangkok’s long-suffering commuters are finally getting a break—at least during rush hour. The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) has launched a pilot extension of suburban train routes in a bid to ease congestion and improve public transport during peak hours. Starting today, August 1, suburban train numbers 355 and 356 will operate on an extended route from Bangkok’s Hua Lamphong…

  • Business NewsBank of Thailand may cut rates amid US tariff concerns | Thaiger

    Bank of Thailand may cut rates amid US tariff concerns

    The Bank of Thailand (BoT) may reduce interest rates multiple times by the end of this year to bolster the economy if US tariffs on Thai goods prove uncompetitive compared to regional counterparts. Head of research for the banking and financial sector at Kasikorn Research Centre, Kanjana Chockpisansin, indicated that the think tank anticipates at least one additional rate cut…

  • Thailand NewsGraveyard curse on Hun Sen sparks Thai lottery frenzy (video) | Thaiger

    Graveyard curse on Hun Sen sparks Thai lottery frenzy (video)

    A Thai social media influencer sparked controversy after leading a graveyard curse ceremony in Chon Buri—complete with pizza, fried chicken, and fiery accusations against top Cambodian officials. Yesterday, July 31 at 8pm, 32 year old influencer Lapatsarada Rakangthong, and lottery tipster Phirada Tanachotinda, also known as Mae Nam Nueng, conducted the bizarre ritual at the Trikunnatham Foundation cemetery in Nong…

  • Phuket NewsTruck slams into cars in Phuket underpass horror | Thaiger

    Truck slams into cars in Phuket underpass horror

    Terrified drivers in Phuket watched chaos unfold in seconds after a semi-trailer truck ploughed into multiple vehicles inside the Darasamut Underpass this morning, leaving three people injured, including a young girl. The collision, which occurred at 10.44am today, August 1, near Central Festival Phuket, sparked immediate panic as rescue teams scrambled to the scene. Police and emergency responders from the…

  • Pattaya NewsFurious Pattaya locals slam 4-year roadworks nightmare | Thaiger

    Furious Pattaya locals slam 4-year roadworks nightmare

    Pattaya residents are fuming as a drainage and road construction project drags into its fourth year with no end in sight—leaving behind a trail of muddy roads, stray dogs, blocked access, and mounting frustration. Locals living near Thepprasit Soi 7 and 9, extending to Jomtien Second Road, say they’ve had enough. What was promised as essential infrastructure improvement has become,…

  • Bangkok NewsBangkok–Cambodia border train back on track after clashes | Thaiger

    Bangkok–Cambodia border train back on track after clashes

    Thailand’s rail link to the Cambodian border is back in action after being temporarily derailed by escalating tensions. The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) announced on Wednesday, July 30, that full services from Bangkok to the Ban Khlong Luek border checkpoint in Sa Kaeo province have officially resumed. This marks the reopening of the final section of the eastern line…

  • Thailand NewsIce cream raid: Cambodian sellers busted in Udon Thani | Thaiger

    Ice cream raid: Cambodian sellers busted in Udon Thani

    An illegal ice cream empire run by Cambodian migrants melted away yesterday after a dramatic raid in Udon Thani uncovered a secret stash of freezers and sidecar motorcycles. The suspects, who were hoping for a sweet escape from poverty, now face deportation. The raid took place at 1.40pm yesterday, July 31, in the Don Udom community, after District Chief Chawit…

  • Thailand NewsAng Thong locals seek lottery luck from ancient Buddha statue | Thaiger

    Ang Thong locals seek lottery luck from ancient Buddha statue

    Forget scratch cards and lucky coins—Ang Thong residents have discovered a far more sacred way to seek fortune. The town is gripped by lottery fever as hundreds flock to Wat Thong Luean to seek blessings from Luang Por Daeng, an ancient Buddha statue believed to be over 700 years old and famed for granting miraculous good luck. The revered sandstone…

  • Pattaya NewsPattaya dazzles tourists with flashy new Walking Street sign | Thaiger

    Pattaya dazzles tourists with flashy new Walking Street sign

    Pattaya’s famed nightlife hotspot, Walking Street, is set to shine even brighter, thanks to a brand-new, eye-popping 3D LED sign currently under construction at the street’s entrance. The vivid, high-tech signage, part of the city’s ongoing beautification efforts, promises to become the ultimate selfie spot for tourists flocking to the notorious party district. Even though work on the towering structure…

  • Thailand NewsCambodia conflict sparks tourism collapse in Thai border provinces | Thaiger

    Cambodia conflict sparks tourism collapse in Thai border provinces

    Thailand’s tourism hotspots are in crisis as growing border tensions with Cambodia drive tourists away in droves, leaving hotels empty and holiday islands deserted. Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Governor Thapanee Kiatphaiboon confirmed the devastating impact of ongoing hostilities, which have steadily escalated since early May. Travellers, fearing for their safety, have cancelled thousands of bookings, delivering a crippling blow…

  • Phuket NewsCement truck flips in dramatic crash near Phuket café | Thaiger

    Cement truck flips in dramatic crash near Phuket café

    Lunchtime diners at a trendy Kathu café were left shaken yesterday when a cement mixer truck overturned, smashing through an elevated walkway before landing upside down just metres away. The terrifying crash occurred at approximately 12.30pm yesterday, July 31, near the Coffee In Farm café on Route 3030, a busy road connecting Koh Kaew and Kathu. Eyewitnesses described hearing a…

  • Business NewsTrump slashes Thai tariffs to 19% – but is there a catch? | Thaiger

    Trump slashes Thai tariffs to 19% – but is there a catch?

    US President Donald Trump has stunned Thailand and the wider ASEAN region by announcing a sharp cut in import tariffs on Thai goods, slashing rates from 36% to 19%. The decision, made public yesterday, July 31, via the former US president’s Truth Social platform, came just hours before an executive order was signed, locking the deal in from today, August…

  • Thailand Weather UpdatesThailand braces as heavy rain persists in several regions | Thaiger

    Thailand braces as heavy rain persists in several regions

    The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) forecasts a reduction in rainfall for today, although heavy rain is still expected in some regions. Residents in the upper northeastern areas are advised to remain cautious due to potential heavy rainfall and accumulation. This weather pattern is influenced by a low-pressure area over northern Vietnam, coupled with a weakened southwest monsoon over the Andaman…

  • Thailand NewsDead sea turtle found on Phang Nga beach sparks pollution fears | Thaiger

    Dead sea turtle found on Phang Nga beach sparks pollution fears

    The Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR) has launched an investigation after a decaying sea turtle carcass was discovered washed up on the sands in front of The Sands Khao Lak by Katathani Resort in Phang Nga’s Takua Pa district. The grim find was first reported to the Phang Nga Provincial Marine Office yesterday, July 30. Officials from the…

  • Pattaya NewsAustrians eye Pattaya paradise as mayor rolls out red carpet | Thaiger

    Austrians eye Pattaya paradise as mayor rolls out red carpet

    Pattaya may be famous for sun, sea, and nightlife—but now it’s setting its sights on schnitzel-loving tourists from Austria. Pattaya Mayor Poramet Ngampichet recently welcomed Austrian Ambassador Wilhelm Maximilian Donko to City Hall in a high-level diplomatic meeting aimed at boosting long-term Austrian tourism to the city. The talks focused on expanding cooperation in tourism and cultural exchange, with both…

  • Thailand NewsThailand snubs Hun Manet’s plea to release troops | Thaiger

    Thailand snubs Hun Manet’s plea to release troops

    Thailand has flatly refused to send home 18 captured Cambodian soldiers, defying a direct appeal from Cambodia’s prime minister. The Royal Thai Army (RTA) has rejected Hun Manet’s public request to immediately repatriate Cambodian troops detained after a deadly border clash, insisting all 18 soldiers must face legal proceedings first. “All detainees are being treated in line with international standards,”…

  • Phuket News600-million-baht Phuket projects face scrutiny | Thaiger

    600-million-baht Phuket projects face scrutiny

    Six high-stakes government projects worth over 600 million baht are under the microscope—but progress remains a mystery. The Phuket Provincial Governance Committee has launched a round of field inspections aimed at ensuring transparency, accountability, and public benefit from major infrastructure and development projects slated for 2025. Led by Ruenwadee Suwanmongkol, Chief Inspector General of the Prime Minister’s Office for Inspection…

  • Business NewsIndian weddings could fuel Thai FDI boom | Thaiger

    Indian weddings could fuel Thai FDI boom

    Thailand could soon be cashing in on Indian love stories—with luxury weddings fuelling a fresh wave of foreign investment. HSBC highlighted Indian wedding tourism as a key opportunity to boost foreign direct investment (FDI) into Thailand, pointing to stronger economic links and rising investor confidence between the two countries. During a recent visit to HSBC Thailand, HSBC India CEO Hitendra…

  • Thailand NewsJungle ordeal ends in rescue for 19 Thai rangers (video) | Thaiger

    Jungle ordeal ends in rescue for 19 Thai rangers (video)

    The Royal Thai Army (RTA) has confirmed the successful rescue of 19 army rangers stranded for nearly six days in dense jungle during the recent Thai-Cambodian border conflict. The soldiers had embarked on a high-stakes reconnaissance mission on July 23, tasked with verifying the location of a Cambodian BM-21 artillery position. But the very next day, border skirmishes erupted between…

  • Pattaya NewsFatal crash sparks fury over ‘death trap’ roadworks in Pattaya | Thaiger

    Fatal crash sparks fury over ‘death trap’ roadworks in Pattaya

    A fatal motorbike crash in Pattaya has reignited outrage over hazardous road conditions after a Laotian man was killed yesterday in what residents describe as a “death trap” stretch of road. The accident happened around 8pm yesterday, July 30, on a road running parallel to the railway in Soi Nong Hin. Emergency responders from the Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Rescue Unit…

  • Bangkok NewsMP blasted for ‘disrespecting’ Thai military during border clash | Thaiger

    MP blasted for ‘disrespecting’ Thai military during border clash

    Prominent political activist Srisuwan Janya has filed a petition with the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), demanding an investigation into what he calls “serious ethical misconduct” by a Chon Buri member of Parliament. The complaint targets Sahassawat Kumkong, an MP with the People’s Party (PP), whose now-deleted Facebook post criticised the Thai military amid the tense border conflict with Cambodia. The…

  • Phuket NewsPhuket taps run dry: 12-hour water cut hits Rawai | Thaiger

    Phuket taps run dry: 12-hour water cut hits Rawai

    The Provincial Waterworks Authority (PWA) has warned residents and businesses in Rawai, Phuket, to prepare for a full-day water outage tomorrow as essential pipework shuts down the supply for 12 hours. The disruption will run from 10am to 10pm tomorrow, August 1, and affects a large section of Rawai, including Soi Mittraphap, Saiyuan 1, Soi Laem Ka, Soi Wirachot, Soi…

  • Thailand NewsThailand failing its youth? Grim report warns of future crisis | Thaiger

    Thailand failing its youth? Grim report warns of future crisis

    Thailand’s future is in danger—and the warning signs are coming straight from the classroom and job market. A damning new report has revealed that Thailand’s human capital development is hitting major roadblocks, with children and young adults falling behind in education, health, and job readiness. The findings suggest the country’s long-term economic ambitions could be seriously undermined if urgent action…

  • Thailand NewsThailand grounds all drones as border tensions flare | Thaiger

    Thailand grounds all drones as border tensions flare

    The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) has imposed a nationwide drone ban from July 30 (yesterday) to August 15—or until further notice—as tensions rise along the Thai–Cambodian border. The drastic move is part of heightened national security measures. The ban applies to all unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Offenders risk up to one year in prison, a fine of 40,000…