Eastern Thailand News
Eastern Thailand news, Pattaya news, Isaan news, Rayong updates, and Chonburi developments—stay informed on local events, business, tourism, and culture, including attractions like the Sanctuary of Truth and Koh Samet. Get the latest from The Thaiger, your trusted Eastern Thailand news source.
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Sponsored How to reduce out-of-pocket medical expenses in Thailand?
Managing medical expenses in Thailand is important as healthcare costs continue to rise. The country’s healthcare system includes both public and private options, but even with the Universal Coverage Scheme (UCS) for citizens, many still face high out-of-pocket medical expenses....
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Foul play: Buriram village choked by giant chicken farm nightmare
A once-tranquil village in Buriram has been plunged into misery as a sprawling chicken farm turns daily life into a living hell. Residents of Ban Khok Wan, in Nang Rong district, say their community is overwhelmed by noxious odours, swarms of flies, and the constant roar of heavy trucks thundering through the night. Today, July 9, locals and members of…
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Thai officer accused of land encroachment on self-help settlement
Thailand’s Ministry of Social Development and Human Security (MSDHS) requested police action regarding an alleged land encroachment involving a prominent police officer in Ubon Ratchathani. Police Senior Sergeant Major Yutthaphon Srisompong, popularly known online as “Johnny the Enforcer,” owns a resort in Lam Dom Noi. The land on which the resort is built has been designated by the ministry as…
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Gambling despair: Buriram student drowns after losing savings
A night of heartbreak ended in tragedy when a 21 year old university student leapt into a canal and drowned after losing his savings to online gambling. The harrowing incident unfolded yesterday, July 4, in Buriram municipality. Police Lieutenant Suphot Tukkraok was alerted to the drowning and immediately coordinated with the Buriram rescue diving team to search for the young…
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RTAF helicopter makes emergency landing on school field
It was a day the children of Roi Et will never forget—when a roaring Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) helicopter swooped out of a stormy sky and touched down right on their school field. The drama unfolded on Thursday afternoon, July 3, at Ban Kham Pha-Ung School, Pracharat Bamrung, in Pho Chai district. According to the school’s official social media…
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Man found dead in idling car at Udon Thani petrol station
Shoppers at a quiet Udon Thani petrol station were left reeling after a grim discovery early this morning: a man found dead inside his car, which had been running non-stop for nearly 17 hours. Emergency services rushed to the scene in Nong Han district after a stunned cleaner raised the alarm. “I came in at 7am and saw the same…
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Google accused of ‘fake maps’ in Thailand-Cambodia temple spat
A fresh row has erupted over ancient ruins straddling the Thai-Cambodian border, after the Royal Thai Army (RTA) slammed Google Maps for allegedly “misleading the world” about the true ownership of the historic Ta Muen Thom temple. The RTA insists the ancient site in Surin province belongs to Thailand and blasted the popular mapping service for showing it as Cambodian territory.…
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Helicopter tail number sparks lottery frenzy in Udon Thani
A helicopter landing in Udon Thani has sent lottery fever into overdrive, with residents betting on a number they believe will lead them to fortune. Excitement is mounting in Udon Thani as lottery enthusiasts eagerly await today’s draw, all eyes on the tail number of a helicopter that has taken the town by storm. The focus is on the army…
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People’s Alliance rallies to protect Koh Kut, oust Thai PM
The People’s Alliance for Democracy has kicked off a movement to protect Thailand’s sovereignty over Koh Kut, rallying against neighbouring Cambodia’s claims on the island. The movement, led by Kanyut Boonloy, a former civil servant and local leader, gathered around 200 people in Trat yesterday, June 26. Residents, civil servants, former civil servants, students, and merchants donned yellow shirts, waving…
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Thai military may close Surin temple amid border tensions
Defence Minister Phumtham Wechayachai stated yesterday that local military commanders may advise the closure of Ta Muen Thom Temple in Surin province if tensions at the Thai-Cambodian border escalate. The temple, along with the nearby Prasat Ta Kwai, has become a focal point in the ongoing border disagreement. Recently, there were complaints from Thai citizens regarding inappropriate behaviour by Cambodian…
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Poipet casinos offer promotions to lure back Thai gamblers
Casino operators in Poipet, Cambodia, are implementing enticing travel promotions to attract Thai gamblers back after a noticeable decline in cross-border visits due to increased security measures at the Thai-Cambodian border. A local source noted that smaller gates at the Ban Khlong Luek border checkpoint in Sa Kaeo’s Aranyaprathet district remain operational to facilitate students travelling to school. The official…
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Death penalty call: Activists accuse PM over leaked tape
Two fiery political activists have filed explosive charges against Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, claiming she committed acts so severe they could carry the death penalty. The complaint was lodged on Thursday at Mueang Khon Kaen Police Station by anti-corruption campaigners Tul Prasertsilp and Chaichana Tasaniyom. The duo accused the prime minister of breaching multiple sections of Thailand’s Criminal Code over…
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Cambodian workers defy Hun Sen’s call amid border crisis
A fierce diplomatic row between Thailand and Cambodia is putting hundreds of thousands of Cambodian migrant workers in the spotlight — but many are refusing to budge. Tensions flared this month after Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen made an extraordinary plea, urging his countrymen working in Thailand to return home, promising jobs and vocational training. The former prime minister’s appeal…
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Korat villager wins 12 million baht lottery jackpot
A lucky resident of Thong Lang village in Thailand’s northeastern province of Nakhon Ratchasima has struck it rich, winning a life-changing 12 million baht in the national lottery. The winning numbers were announced yesterday, June 16, with the first prize number being 507392. In addition to the first prize, the draw included several other winning numbers, such as the three-digit…
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Thai king supports troops at Thai-Cambodian border with gifts
His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua showed his support for the troops guarding the Cambodian frontier, sending royal gifts and a personal message of encouragement in a rare public expression of concern for their welfare. The morale-boosting gesture took place yesterday, June 16, during a formal ceremony at the Ta Muen Thom Temple outpost in the Chong Bok border…
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Cambodian rush at Sa Kaeo border amid closure fears
The permanent Ban Klong Luek Border Crossing in Aranyaprathet district, Sa Kaeo province, experienced congestion as many Cambodians hurried back to their country fearing a sudden border closure. Sa Kaeo Governor Parinya Phothisat visited the site to observe the situation and assured that the border will not close. Yesterday, June 13, a large number of Cambodians formed long queues at…
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Tragic fall: Couple tumbles from bridge in northeast Thailand
A man and woman plunged from a bridge at Huai Chan Waterfall in Khun Han district, Sisaket province, in northeast Thailand yesterday after an evening of drinking turned deadly. The couple, aged 38 and 36, suffered serious injuries, and while the man survived, the woman tragically died in the hospital. Emergency services responded quickly, arriving at the scene where locals…
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Imposter monk drags motorcycle along road in Korat (video)
A video showing a man dressed as a monk, tying his robe to a motorcycle with a sidecar and dragging it along a road, has surfaced on Facebook. The incident took place on Mittraphap Road, near Khao Yai Thiang in Si Khio district, Nakhon Ratchasima province, yesterday, June 6. The man is seen crawling on all fours and appeared to…
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Golden GI banana boom brings millions to Chaiyaphum farmers
The Office of Agricultural Economics Region 5 has highlighted the success of the golden banana export initiative in Nong Bua Daeng, Chaiyaphum province. This venture generates over 36 million baht annually for local farmers by producing golden bananas with geographical indication (GI) certification for the international market. Chaisak Wuttisak, director of the Office of Agricultural Economics Region 5 in Nakhon…
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Escaped Chinese fraud suspect recaptured in East Thailand
A Chinese fraud suspect made a daring escape from a Pattaya police station in the dead of night — by leaping out of a second-floor window. The 38 year old man, identified as Li Jian, was being questioned at Pattaya City Police Station in Soi 9 at around 1.30am yesterday, June 5, when he pulled off a stunt straight out…
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Elderly woman leaps to safety after snake scare in Roi Et (video)
An elderly woman in Roi Et shocked her neighbours – and the Internet – by pulling off a move worthy of an action film after spotting a slithering intruder beneath a house. Kan Kong Suthiprapa, an 80 year old grandmother from Don Hat village in Selaphum district, was sitting on the steps of a neighbour’s house yesterday, June 4, when a…
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False alarm: No volcano threat in Isaan’s Buriram
A mysterious rumbling heard by mushroom pickers near a long-dormant volcano outside Buriram city sparked local fears of an eruption, but officials have now confirmed it was merely the sound of underground water. Last Thursday, May 22, villagers collecting wild mushrooms at the base of Khao Kradong in Mueang district recorded eerie rumbling noises on their phones. One man shared…
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Udon Thani motorist fined for repainting no-parking kerb
A well-intentioned motorist’s attempt to boost business at a local food stall backfired spectacularly after he was caught painting over a red-and-white no-parking kerb in Udon Thani. The 45 year old auto mechanic, who is not connected to the eatery, took matters into his own hands on Saturday, May 24. Spotting an empty stretch outside the food outlet, he decided…
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12-year-old stabs classmate to death in Isaan school lunch break
In Phibun Mangsahan district, Ubon Ratchathani province, a tragic incident unfolded when a 12 year old student fatally stabbed a classmate at a secondary school. The incident, which occurred during the school’s lunch break on Thursday, May 22, has deeply shocked the community and brought attention to the safety measures within educational institutions. Police reports indicate that the incident took…
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Udon Thani boy flees home from alleged abuse by father (video)
In Udon Thani, a 12 year old boy ran away to sleep in an abandoned school, taking a photograph of his deceased mother with him. The boy claimed he left due to being physically harmed by his father and unequal treatment from his grandparents. Ata is now under the care of the Provincial Social Development and Human Security Office and…
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New plant species discovered at Phu Kradueng National Park
Researchers from Chulalongkorn University have identified three previously unknown plant species during a survey at Phu Kradueng National Park in the northeastern province of Loei. The team, with support from the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP), focused on spore-bearing plants, including ferns, collecting specimens along the park’s trails. The survey resulted in the collection of 288…
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Thai man goes viral for ‘sleep-riding’ motorbike stunt on a mattress (video)
Who says you can’t sleep on the job and get paid? One Thai man is living the dream after a bizarre and hilarious motorbike stunt sent the Internet into a frenzy. In a now-viral video that’s racked up over 11 million views, the man was seen riding a motorcycle while lying face-down on a mattress, clinging to the handlebars as he cruised down…
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Shell-ebration time: Korat Zoo hatches giant tortoises
Thailand has something to shell-ebrate — Korat Zoo has made history by successfully hatching 11 Aldabra giant tortoise babies, becoming the first zoo in the country to breed the rare species. The hatchlings emerged on Sunday, May 18, much to the delight of zookeepers and conservationists. Zoo director Thanachon Kensingh announced today, May 21, that all 11 newborns are healthy…
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Indian man found dead after going missing from Koh Samet resort
Local fishermen discovered the body of an Indian man in the sea off the eastern province of Rayong on Saturday, May 17, three days after he had disappeared from a resort on Koh Samet. Officers from Phe Police Station had earlier received a report of a missing Indian national, 49 year old Kakumanu, from a resort on Koh Samet. Resort…
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Phu Kradueng cable car sparks sustainability fears
The proposed cable car project in Phu Kradueng National Park, Loei province, has once again been thrust into the spotlight, with questions being raised about its compliance with sustainable development objectives. Opponents argue that the project exemplifies a trend of government-supported large-scale initiatives that could exploit natural resources under the guise of tourism growth. The issue re-emerged late last month…
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31 Thai and Chinese suspects arrested in Rayong for money laundering
Police arrested 18 Thai and 13 Chinese suspects at an accommodation in the eastern province of Rayong for operating a money laundering scheme linked to a scam gang. Officers raided properties in the Ban Chang district of Rayong on two occasions, April 8 and May 7, and arrested 31 suspects involved in the money laundering operation. They also discovered several…
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