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.
  • Business NewsThailand targets 2.8 trillion baht tourism revenue in 2026 | Thaiger

    Thailand targets 2.8 trillion baht tourism revenue in 2026

    Thailand is chasing a high-stakes travel comeback — and it’s banking on quality over quantity to get there. The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) unveiled its bold vision for 2026: raking in a staggering 2.8 trillion baht in tourism revenue and breaking into the world’s top 10 countries for tourism income. It’s an ambitious leap — a 5% boost from…

  • Thailand NewsBorder bombshell: Thailand blames Cambodia for landmine attack | Thaiger

    Border bombshell: Thailand blames Cambodia for landmine attack

    A deadly landmine blast near the Thai-Cambodian border has reignited a fiery diplomatic row, with Thailand accusing Cambodia of planting fresh anti-personnel mines in violation of international law. Three Thai soldiers were critically injured last week by a Russian-made PMN-2 landmine in Nam Yuen district, Ubon Ratchathani province. One soldier lost his foot. Two more mines were found just metres…

  • Business NewsThai restaurants on the brink as costs soar and diners vanish | Thaiger

    Thai restaurants on the brink as costs soar and diners vanish

    Thailand’s once-vibrant restaurant scene is in hot water — and not just in the kitchen. A toxic mix of soaring costs, shrinking foot traffic, and underwhelming tourism has left the Thai food industry on the verge of collapse. Many eateries are bleeding cash, with daily revenue dropping by more than 50%, according to the Thai Restaurant Association. “Restaurant owners are…

  • Thailand NewsThaksin to attend secretive coalition dinner sparking influence row | Thaiger

    Thaksin to attend secretive coalition dinner sparking influence row

    Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra will be dining with ruling coalition MPs today, reigniting speculation over his behind-the-scenes influence in Thai politics. Chief Government Whip Wisut Chainaroon confirmed the meeting, calling it a rare but much-needed gathering to strengthen unity before Parliament reconvenes. “This isn’t unusual,” said Wisut, a list MP from the Pheu Thai Party. “Since this government took…

  • Bangkok NewsBangkok blitz: Over 1.3 million fake goods seized in massive raid | Thaiger

    Bangkok blitz: Over 1.3 million fake goods seized in massive raid

    In a sweeping six-month crackdown, the Department of Intellectual Property (DIP) has seized over 1.3 million counterfeit items in raids across Bangkok and beyond. The campaign has already triggered 139 legal cases, signalling a renewed push to clean up the country’s notorious counterfeit trade. “This is a serious issue,” said DIP Director General Nusara Kanjanakul. “It impacts not only consumer…

  • Thailand NewsSenator faces 10 years jail for using false professor title | Thaiger

    Senator faces 10 years jail for using false professor title

    A Thai senator could be booted from Parliament and jailed for up to 10 years after being caught falsely claiming the title of Professor during her campaign. The Election Commission (EC) has ruled that 45 year old Keskamol Pleansamai, a physician-turned-politician, wrongfully used the academic title in her Senate election application last year, a violation that could land her in…

  • Pattaya NewsPattaya mob sparks bill-dodging chaos at Indian restaurant | Thaiger

    Pattaya mob sparks bill-dodging chaos at Indian restaurant

    In Pattaya, an altercation at an Indian restaurant has led to significant property damage and financial losses, with patrons fleeing without paying bills amounting to over 5,000 baht. The incident took place in the early hours of Tuesday, July 15, at Green Chilly Indian Restaurant, situated near Soi 16 in South Pattaya. The restaurant’s owner, 34 year old Tiyaporn Saengchan,…

  • Phuket NewsPhuket’s new ‘OneMap’ takes the stress out of island travel | Thaiger

    Phuket’s new ‘OneMap’ takes the stress out of island travel

    Phuket’s tangled public transport network just got a digital makeover. In a bold step toward smart mobility, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is pushing Phuket OneMap — a sleek new web platform that shows live public bus routes, estimated arrival times and stop info in one place. No app downloads needed. Just load it on any phone browser and…

  • Bangkok NewsSuvarnabhumi tests indoor smoking rooms to curb toilet puffing | Thaiger

    Suvarnabhumi tests indoor smoking rooms to curb toilet puffing

    Smokers flying through Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport may soon breathe a sigh of relief — indoors. In a controversial move, Thai health authorities are building two prototype smoking rooms inside the airport, aiming to clamp down on passengers lighting up in restricted areas like toilets. The Department of Disease Control (DDC) confirmed the rooms are expected to be completed by the…

  • Thailand NewsThailand to send back stolen orangutans to Indonesia | Thaiger

    Thailand to send back stolen orangutans to Indonesia

    Thailand is preparing to send four rescued orangutans back to Indonesia by the end of the year, marking a symbolic step in the fight against wildlife trafficking — and celebrating 75 years of diplomatic ties between the two nations. The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) confirmed that the orangutans were seized in two separate illegal wildlife…

  • Pattaya NewsPattaya woman scammed while trying to save sick aunt | Thaiger

    Pattaya woman scammed while trying to save sick aunt

    A Pattaya housekeeper desperate to save her sick aunt was cruelly scammed out of nearly 5,000 baht in an online loan fraud — leaving her devastated and broke. The incident unfolded at 10pm yesterday, July 18, when 26 year old Ratchaneekorn Pholjamrat walked into Pattaya City Police Station, clutching receipts and screenshots, to file a formal complaint against the online…

  • Business NewsMahagitsiri family loses court battle in Nescafé joint venture | Thaiger

    Mahagitsiri family loses court battle in Nescafé joint venture

    The Mahagitsiri family has faced a setback in its legal dispute with Nestlé, as a court has ruled that the original voting rules in their Nescafé joint venture in Thailand must be reinstated. Thailand’s Central Intellectual Property and International Trade Court has annulled a temporary injunction previously sought by the family, thereby reinstating the original voting regulations at Quality Coffee…

  • Bangkok NewsVietnamese dealer busted in Bangkok bar drug raid | Thaiger

    Vietnamese dealer busted in Bangkok bar drug raid

    A wild Bangkok nightlife scene turned into a full-blown drug bust early yesterday morning after police swooped in on a popular entertainment venue in Wang Thonglang district, arresting a Vietnamese dealer and detaining 40 others who tested positive for drugs. The raid was the climax of an ongoing investigation by the Metropolitan Police Bureau into a suspected drug operation run…

  • Thailand NewsAmerican tourist falls to death after lovers’ row at Chiang Mai condo | Thaiger

    American tourist falls to death after lovers’ row at Chiang Mai condo

    A dream holiday turned into a nightmare in Chiang Mai after a 35 year old American man plunged to his death from the 10th floor of a luxury condominium. The tragic incident unfolded at 9.50pm on Friday, July 18, in the Chang Klan area, shocking the local expat and tourist communities. The victim, Justin Todd Henry, had travelled to Thailand…

  • Bangkok NewsBangkok lift horror: Woman killed in goods elevator accident | Thaiger

    Bangkok lift horror: Woman killed in goods elevator accident

    A Bangkok worker was crushed to death in a horrific elevator accident yesterday after a goods lift malfunctioned at a commercial building in the capital’s Pom Prap Sattru Phai district. The victim, a 46 year old woman known only as Koi, worked at a forklift parts shop on Ban Batr Road. She was killed instantly when her head became trapped…

  • Thailand NewsMaya Bay closes for conservation from August | Thaiger

    Maya Bay closes for conservation from August

    Thailand’s famed Maya Bay is off-limits once again, as officials shut it down for two months to let nature breathe after another hectic High Season. The popular tourist magnet, made famous by the Leonardo DiCaprio film The Beach, will be closed along with neighbouring Loh Sama Bay from August 1 to September 30. The temporary closure, announced by the Department…

  • Pattaya NewsAussie man found dead in Pattaya condo double tragedy named | Thaiger

    Aussie man found dead in Pattaya condo double tragedy named

    A bizarre double tragedy has rocked Pattaya after two foreign men were found dead just hours and floors apart in the same condominium. One of the victims, an Australian national, has been named, while the identity of the Swedish man remains undisclosed pending embassy notification. The grim discoveries were made two hours apart on Thursday, July 17, at the Grand…

  • Thailand Weather UpdatesThailand braces for another week of heavy rain and strong winds | Thaiger

    Thailand braces for another week of heavy rain and strong winds

    Thailand’s Meteorological Department (TMD) has issued a warning for heavy to very heavy rainfall across Thailand, with strong winds expected in the Andaman Sea and the upper Gulf of Thailand from today to next Thursday. Many regions, including northern, northeastern, central, eastern, and western southern Thailand, are expected to experience significant rainfall due to a monsoon trough and a strong…

  • Thailand NewsZika fear grips Thailand amid rainy season spike | Thaiger

    Zika fear grips Thailand amid rainy season spike

    Thailand is on red alert as the Zika virus spreads rapidly through the rainy season, with pregnant women warned they could face devastating consequences if infected. Health officials have sounded the alarm after a spike in cases was reported across three provinces – Bangkok, Phayao, and Maha Sarakham – urging residents to take immediate precautions. The Department of Disease Control…

  • Pattaya NewsPattaya motorbike taxi driver found dead in apartment | Thaiger

    Pattaya motorbike taxi driver found dead in apartment

    Pattaya was rocked by a tragic late-night discovery when a local motorcycle taxi driver was found dead in his apartment, shocking his community and leaving his wife devastated. The grim scene unfolded at 1.06am today, July 18, when the Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Rescue Unit received a call about a body found in a room at an unnamed apartment block on…

  • Thailand NewsHackers breach Thai Labour Ministry website, data safe | Thaiger

    Hackers breach Thai Labour Ministry website, data safe

    Cyber crooks launched a bold attack on Thailand’s Ministry of Labour website yesterday, replacing the homepage with a brazen “hacked” message — but officials say no sensitive data was compromised. The ministry confirmed that its systems were breached but insisted the core database remained untouched. Permanent Secretary Boonsong Thapchaiyuth assured the public that the digital assault, while serious, caused no…

  • Pattaya NewsPattaya mob attack: Bolt driver beaten by gang of 30 | Thaiger

    Pattaya mob attack: Bolt driver beaten by gang of 30

    Pattaya’s nightlife turned violent in the early hours of today when a Bolt driver was viciously attacked by a mob of more than 30 people, leaving tourists and bar staff in shock. The savage assault unfolded at 3.36am today, July 18, along Pattaya Second Road near Soi 10, where police responded to frantic calls about a mass brawl. Officers arrived…

  • Thailand NewsPaetongtarn visits rangers hurt in Ubon border blast | Thaiger

    Paetongtarn visits rangers hurt in Ubon border blast

    What began as a routine patrol near the Thai-Cambodian border ended in a bloody blast, leaving one soldier without a leg and two others wounded. Now, Thailand’s Prime Minister and Culture Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra is stepping in to deliver more than just sympathy—she’s promising action. Today, July 18, Paetongtarn travelled to Sapphasitprasong Camp Hospital in- Ubon Ratchathani province to visit…

  • Bangkok NewsBangkok woman choked by foreigner in 7-Eleven fights for justice (video) | Thaiger

    Bangkok woman choked by foreigner in 7-Eleven fights for justice (video)

    A late-night milk run turned into a nightmare for one Bangkok woman, choked by a stranger in a 7-Eleven, dismissed by police, and left fearing for her safety. But she’s not staying silent. In a harrowing incident that has sparked outrage online, a woman recounted how a quick trip to the 7-Eleven at Fortune Condo Narathiwas ended in a physical…

  • Thailand NewsMan drowns after pickup plunges off Nakhon Si Thammarat bridge | Thaiger

    Man drowns after pickup plunges off Nakhon Si Thammarat bridge

    A late-night shortcut turned fatal for one man in Nakhon Si Thammarat, when a routine drive ended in horror as his pickup truck plunged off an unfinished bridge, claiming his life in a freak drowning accident. The tragic incident unfolded around 8.30pm yesterday, July 17, when 51 year old Bamrung’s brown-black Isuzu pickup veered off a construction zone in Village…

  • Thailand NewsThaksin plans to turn Thailand into a tech and aviation powerhouse | Thaiger

    Thaksin plans to turn Thailand into a tech and aviation powerhouse

    Thaksin Shinawatra is back in the spotlight—and he’s thinking big. The former PM has laid out an ambitious strategy to turn Thailand into a regional superhub for aviation, electric vehicles (EV), and green-powered data centres, in what he calls a “golden opportunity” for national transformation. In his recent public statement, Thaksin said Thailand is geographically primed to become ASEAN’s premier…

  • Thailand NewsUdon Thani man found dead after financial collapse | Thaiger

    Udon Thani man found dead after financial collapse

    A man was found dead outside his home in Udon Thani in a chilling scene that left neighbours and relatives shaken. The 54 year old, who reportedly lost millions and struggled with emotional despair after his divorce, left behind a haunting farewell note and five luxury watches. Police Lieutenant Sirichai Photichak from Udon Thani Police Station led officers and rescue…

  • Thailand NewsThailand hit by mental health spike and baby bust | Thaiger

    Thailand hit by mental health spike and baby bust

    Thailand’s facing a double dose of trouble—more people are battling mental health issues than ever before, while fewer babies are being born. Experts say it’s a social time bomb. The newly released Thai Health Report 2025, launched yesterday, July 17, by the Thai Health Promotion Foundation (ThaiHealth) and Mahidol University, paints a worrying picture of the nation’s emotional and demographic…

  • Thailand NewsPaetongtarn vows Buddhism reboot after monk scandals | Thaiger

    Paetongtarn vows Buddhism reboot after monk scandals

    After a string of monk scandals that has left Thailand reeling, Culture Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra stepped into the spotlight, promising a bold revamp to rescue the tarnished image of Buddhism. In a public statement on social media, Paetongtarn, who also heads the ruling Pheu Thai Party, declared her mission to restore public confidence in the country’s dominant religion, warning that…

  • Thailand NewsContractor kills knife-wielding man in Trang shootout | Thaiger

    Contractor kills knife-wielding man in Trang shootout

    A knife-wielding man was shot dead in broad daylight on a village road in Trang province, after reportedly terrorising locals in a drug-fuelled outburst. The gunman was identified as a local contractor who claimed he was acting in self-defence. The incident unfolded yesterday, July 17, in Huai Yot district, when 40 year old Pathompong, a contractor, fatally shot 32 year…