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.
  • Pattaya NewsPattaya leaders aid bedridden and elderly in city push | Thaiger

    Pattaya leaders aid bedridden and elderly in city push

    Pattaya officials carried out a targeted welfare operation in Naklua yesterday, delivering aid to bedridden patients and elderly residents. Yesterday, August 20, Deputy Mayor Thitipan Petchtrakul and Pattaya City Council President Banlue Kullavanij hit the streets of Naklua, delivering essential aid to three of the area’s most vulnerable residents. Accompanied by fellow council members and officers from the Social Welfare…

  • Pattaya NewsGun-toting dad smashes woman’s face in Pattaya diner row | Thaiger

    Gun-toting dad smashes woman’s face in Pattaya diner row

    A furious father sparked chaos in Pattaya after pistol-whipping a woman and firing a shot into the air during a restaurant clash. The shocking incident occurred on Sunday, August 17, on Soi Phothisan 8, but the suspect was arrested three days later after police obtained damning CCTV evidence. At 5pm yesterday, August 20, officers from Bang Lamung Police Station raided…

  • Phuket NewsBitten by bravery: Cobra strikes back in Phuket | Thaiger

    Bitten by bravery: Cobra strikes back in Phuket

    A Thai security guard in Phuket ended up needing hospital treatment after being bitten by a highly venomous king cobra moments after capturing it with his bare hands. The shocking encounter unfolded in Kamala yesterday afternoon, August 20, when the guard bravely bagged the enormous reptile. But his moment of triumph quickly turned sour when the cobra lashed out and…

  • Bangkok NewsPheu Thai shuts down Prayut comeback rumours | Thaiger

    Pheu Thai shuts down Prayut comeback rumours

    Rumours of a shocking political U-turn have been flatly denied by the Pheu Thai Party, following claims they planned to nominate former coup leader and ex-Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha as their next candidate for premier. Slamming the speculation as fake news, Pheu Thai Secretary-General Sorawong Thienthong told reporters the rumour had nothing to do with the party and dismissed…

  • Aviation NewsFree flights frenzy: Tourists lured with 700 million baht giveaway | Thaiger

    Free flights frenzy: Tourists lured with 700 million baht giveaway

    Thailand is betting big on tourism, with a 700 million baht budget set aside to hand out free domestic flights to foreign travellers. The government is rolling out a bold plan to lure at least 200,000 more international tourists into Thailand’s heartland by offering free domestic air tickets. Tourism and Sports Minister Sorawong Thienthong confirmed today, August 20, that he…

  • Bangkok NewsBangkok’s ‘green lung’ boosted by Thai-Norwegian push | Thaiger

    Bangkok’s ‘green lung’ boosted by Thai-Norwegian push

    Bangkok’s “green lung” is breathing easier thanks to Bangchak Corporation’s bold reforestation push, now earning praise from the Thai-Norwegian Chamber of Commerce (TNCC). The chamber, which counts Bangchak as a premium member, has put the energy giant’s environmental mission in the spotlight as it drives sustainability and biodiversity work in Bang Kachao, Samut Prakan province. Bangchak, led by Senior Executive…

  • Phuket NewsMedia chiefs unite in Phuket to shape future broadcasts | Thaiger

    Media chiefs unite in Phuket to shape future broadcasts

    Phuket has rolled out the red carpet for the world’s media chiefs, hosting the 23rd Annual General Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Institute for Broadcasting Development (AIBD). The three-day forum, which opened yesterday, August 19, at the Beyond Kata Hotel, has drawn more than 100 senior delegates from 24 countries under the banner Media Power: Building People, Creating Peace, and Forwarding…

  • Pattaya NewsBritish tourist faces 10 years over Pattaya death crash | Thaiger

    British tourist faces 10 years over Pattaya death crash

    A British tourist is staring at a decade behind bars after a Thai woman he allegedly struck while pulling a motorbike stunt in Pattaya died in hospital. The 22 year old British national, Brandon Mills, from Doncaster, was riding a rented scooter on one wheel when he ploughed into 49 year old Churairat Petchraksa outside a bar on Thursday, August…

  • Pattaya NewsEEC Travel Mart puts Thailand’s tourism in the spotlight | Thaiger

    EEC Travel Mart puts Thailand’s tourism in the spotlight

    Thailand’s Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) provinces have pulled out all the stops to turbocharge the country’s tourism industry, unveiling a high-powered showcase billed as a game-changer for the region. The EEC Travel Mart, staged yesterday, August 19, at the Nong Nooch Pattaya International Convention and Exhibition Centre, brought together hundreds of top names from the tourism sector. Business leaders, hoteliers,…

  • Pattaya NewsPattaya cement scandal: Contractor fined for drain dump | Thaiger

    Pattaya cement scandal: Contractor fined for drain dump

    When it comes to environmental blunders, few things anger Pattaya residents more than contractors treating the city’s drains like a rubbish tip. That frustration boiled over this week when municipal officers caught a contractor red-handed pouring cement wastewater directly into a public drain on Pattaya Beach Soi 4. The man was hauled into City Hall and slapped with a 2,000…

  • Business NewsThai hotel group sues over 400 baht wage hike challenge | Thaiger

    Thai hotel group sues over 400 baht wage hike challenge

    The Thai Hotels Association (THA) is planning to file a lawsuit against the tripartite wage committee in the Administrative Court, aiming to challenge the 400 baht minimum wage increase, which it argues burdens hotels in secondary tourism areas. THA president Thienprasit Chaiyapatranun stated that the association’s committee has already agreed to proceed with the legal action, pending a consensus from…

  • Phuket NewsPhuket’s power shift: New governor steps in | Thaiger

    Phuket’s power shift: New governor steps in

    Phuket is bracing for a major leadership change. From October 1, Saransak Srikruaneth will take the reins as governor, replacing Sophon Suwannarat, who bows out after a turbulent two-year term. The Cabinet confirmed Saransak’s appointment on Monday, August 18, following his transfer from the Ministry of Interior’s Inspector General’s office. For Sophon, whose retirement begins on September 30, the end…

  • Thailand NewsThai hospitals probed over fake migrant health certificates | Thaiger

    Thai hospitals probed over fake migrant health certificates

    Private hospitals in Thailand are facing a scandal after allegations surfaced that they have been issuing fake health certificates to migrant workers without carrying out proper medical checks. Deputy Public Health Minister Chaichana Dechdecho announced yesterday, August 19, that two to three hospitals are under investigation, with early evidence suggesting doctors signed off on the fraudulent certificates without conducting blood…

  • Bangkok NewsPaetongtarn skips Cabinet again as court date looms | Thaiger

    Paetongtarn skips Cabinet again as court date looms

    Thailand’s suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra is facing the fight of her political life—and she’s staying silent. For the second week running, Paetongtarn skipped yesterday’s weekly Cabinet meeting, fuelling speculation as she prepares to take the stand in an explosive ethics case linked to a leaked phone call. The 38 year old leader, who also holds the post of culture…

  • Pattaya NewsRogue app drivers face tough Pattaya clampdown | Thaiger

    Rogue app drivers face tough Pattaya clampdown

    Chaos on Pattaya’s streets is finally facing a clampdown, after city police and transport chiefs joined forces to tackle rogue taxis, illegal ride-hailing apps, and traffic gridlock. On Monday, August 18 at 4.45pm, top brass gathered at Pattaya City Police Station’s Operations Centre for an urgent summit on transport reform. The meeting was co-chaired by Police Lieutenant Colonel Phanuphong Nimsuwan,…

  • Pattaya NewsPattaya car scam swindles Indian owner, vehicle vanishes | Thaiger

    Pattaya car scam swindles Indian owner, vehicle vanishes

    A luxury rental car has vanished without a trace in Pattaya, leaving its owner—an Indian businessman—crying foul and calling it the work of professional scammers. Yesterday, August 19 at 11.30pm, 54 year old Prem Kumar walked into Pattaya City Police Station to file a complaint. He reported that a white-and-black Toyota, bearing licence plate JPH 9160 Chon Buri, had been…

  • Thailand NewsThailand pushes for UNESCO glory with ancient shadow play | Thaiger

    Thailand pushes for UNESCO glory with ancient shadow play

    The Ministry of Culture confirmed yesterday that nang yai, a spectacular shadow puppet performance dating back to the 15th century, will be proposed for UNESCO’s Register of Good Safeguarding Practices by March 2026. Suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, currently overseeing the ministry, said the campaign is officially titled the Community-based Revitalisation of Nang Yai Tradition in Thailand (CRNT). She described…

  • Technology NewsThailand goes all in on AI—but can it be trusted? | Thaiger

    Thailand goes all in on AI—but can it be trusted?

    Thais are embracing artificial intelligence (AI) like never before, with new research showing it’s become an “invisible” part of daily life—but concerns over fairness, bias, and safety are growing just as fast. A report launched in Bangkok yesterday, August 18, by telecoms giant Telenor Asia revealed that 91% of Internet users in Thailand now rely on AI, up from 77%…

  • Pattaya NewsIllegal waterworks busted in Jomtien street raid | Thaiger

    Illegal waterworks busted in Jomtien street raid

    It was a routine inspection that turned into a shocking discovery—Jomtien municipal officers have busted an unauthorised excavation on Soi 5, near Wat Boon Kanjanaram, where a rogue operator had secretly tapped into Pattaya’s water system. During the inspection, officials uncovered a freshly dug site with evidence of an illegal water connection. The engineer behind the operation was swiftly summoned…

  • Aviation NewsThailand taps Polish Airlines to lure big-spending tourists | Thaiger

    Thailand taps Polish Airlines to lure big-spending tourists

    Thailand is stepping up its campaign for European tourists with a bold new partnership with LOT Polish Airlines, spearheaded by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and Governor Thapanee Kiatphaibool. The deal targets high-spending Eastern Europeans, with Poland leading the charge, and aims to reinforce Bangkok’s ambition to become Southeast Asia’s aviation capital. The push comes as overall foreign arrivals…

  • Bangkok NewsBangkok’s Banthat Thong to become global street food hub | Thaiger

    Bangkok’s Banthat Thong to become global street food hub

    Bangkok’s famous Banthat Thong Road could soon rival the world’s top foodie destinations after the Commerce Ministry unveiled bold plans to transform it into a global street food landmark. Once packed with up to 40,000 visitors a day, the bustling stretch has seen numbers dwindle amid rising rents, falling Thai spending power, and tougher competition. Business operators say survival has…

  • Business NewsThailand’s tourist numbers slide as 2025 forecast cut again | Thaiger

    Thailand’s tourist numbers slide as 2025 forecast cut again

    Thailand’s tourism dreams have hit another bump after the Tourism and Sports Ministry revealed foreign arrivals plunged by more than 7% this year, forcing officials to scale back growth forecasts yet again. From January 1 to August 17, the country welcomed 20.81 million international visitors, down 7.04% compared to the same period last year. Despite the overall decline, China remains…

  • World NewsFree shots of death: Brit blinded in Laos methanol horror (video) | Thaiger

    Free shots of death: Brit blinded in Laos methanol horror (video)

    A dream backpacking adventure in Laos turned into a nightmare when a 23 year old Brit was left permanently blind after drinking poisoned spirits at a hostel in Vang Vieng. The poisoning, which struck in November last year, claimed six foreign lives in total. Calum Macdonald, from the UK, was one of several travellers served free whisky and vodka shots…

  • Thailand NewsChinese girl trafficks boyfriend to Myanmar, parties in Thailand | Thaiger

    Chinese girl trafficks boyfriend to Myanmar, parties in Thailand

    A teenage love story turned into a nightmare when a 19 year old Chinese boy was betrayed by his 17 year old girlfriend and sold to scam gangs in Myanmar for 100,000 yuan (around 500,000 Thai baht). The victim, from Zhanjiang in Guangdong province, endured four months of torture, forced labour, and starvation before his family managed to secure his…

  • Phuket NewsThai man pulled to safety in Phuket racetrack drama (video) | Thaiger

    Thai man pulled to safety in Phuket racetrack drama (video)

    Spectators were left horrified after a man casually wandered onto a racetrack in Phuket during the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Thailand 2025 event, in what could have ended in certain death. The shocking incident occurred yesterday, August 18, just after the high-octane races wrapped up at Saphan Hin Public Park, which had hosted the two-day event over the weekend on August…

  • Business NewsThailand launches world-first crypto tourist pay scheme | Thaiger

    Thailand launches world-first crypto tourist pay scheme

    Thailand has thrown open the doors to a digital revolution in tourism, unveiling the world’s first system allowing foreign visitors to convert cryptocurrency into Thai baht for everyday purchases—from pad thai stalls to 7-Eleven counters. The pilot project, called TouristDigiPay, launched yesterday, August 18, under the watch of Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira. Unlike crypto-payment models abroad,…

  • Bangkok NewsBangkok tops global Gen Z city list | Thaiger

    Bangkok tops global Gen Z city list

    Move over New York and London—Bangkok just stole the spotlight as the ultimate Gen Z city in the world. The Thai capital has clinched the- top spot in Time Out’s 2025 global ranking of the Best Cities for Gen Z, leaving some of the world’s most iconic destinations trailing in its wake. The survey gathered insights from over 18,500 locals…

  • Phuket NewsClose call: Foreign tourist plunges from Patong hotel | Thaiger

    Close call: Foreign tourist plunges from Patong hotel

    A foreign tourist was left fighting for his life last night after plunging from a hotel in Patong under baffling circumstances. The terrifying incident occurred at 6.36pm yesterday, August 18, when Patong Police were alerted to a man falling from a height at a hotel on Phra Mettha Road. Emergency responders from the Kusoldharm Phuket Foundation raced to the scene…

  • Pattaya NewsDrunken blunder: Pattaya waitress’s bike stolen outside bar | Thaiger

    Drunken blunder: Pattaya waitress’s bike stolen outside bar

    A bar waitress in Pattaya lost more than just her buzz after a staff birthday party—she lost her motorbike too. At around 5.06am yesterday, August 18, 25 year old Sumitra Saengarun reported that her black GPX motorcycle had been stolen from outside the Red Cat Bar on Pattaya Beach Road, just metres from Pattaya City Police Station. Sumitra, who works…

  • Pattaya NewsMassive blaze reduces Pattaya recycling plant to ashes | Thaiger

    Massive blaze reduces Pattaya recycling plant to ashes

    A fierce blaze ripped through a recycling factory in Pattaya yesterday, leaving nothing but twisted metal and charred debris. The inferno erupted at the Banjong Recycling Factory in Village 4, Takhian Tia subdistrict, Bang Lamung district yesterday, August 18, with fireballs lighting up the sky and smoke billowing for kilometres. The cause? A suspected electrical short circuit—though forensic teams are…