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.

  • Sponsored

    9 most common health issues covered by insurance for expats in Thailand

    Thailand is a popular destination for expats due to its affordable lifestyle and excellent healthcare system. However, settling in a new country often brings health concerns. To ensure you’re covered for the most common medical needs, understanding what expat health...

  • Thai man dies surrounded by over 100 beer bottles in Rayong home | Thaiger

    Thai man dies surrounded by over 100 beer bottles in Rayong home

    A Thai man died in his home in the eastern province of Rayong, with over 100 empty beer bottles discovered in his bedroom. Reports suggest he turned to heavy drinking due to severe personal stress. Rescue workers from the Siam Rayong Foundation were called to a house in the Ban Chang district to assist the man, who was reportedly suffering…

  • Ubon manhunt after machete attack leaves girl, 4, blind | Thaiger

    Ubon manhunt after machete attack leaves girl, 4, blind

    Police in Det Udom district announced a manhunt for a suspect involved in the attack on a four year old girl, which left her blind. The suspect has a criminal record with over 10 drug-related cases. The incident occurred on June 28 in Ubon Ratchathani province. Ekaphop Luangprasert, the owner of the Saimai Must Survive Facebook page, visited Ubon Ratchathani…

  • Family scoops 6 million baht jackpot in Thai lottery | Thaiger

    Family scoops 6 million baht jackpot in Thai lottery

    The tranquil village of Ban Yang Noi in Surin province erupted in joyous celebration as news broke of a staggering 6 million baht lottery win that has forever altered the destiny of Ta Noi and Yai Phon and their loved ones. The air was thick with anticipation yesterday, July 16, as families across Thailand tuned in for the much-awaited government…

  • Landmine blast injures 3 soldiers near Thai-Cambodian border | Thaiger

    Landmine blast injures 3 soldiers near Thai-Cambodian border

    A border patrol mission turned into a nightmare after three Thai soldiers were injured in a landmine blast in a former conflict zone near Hill 481 in the Chong Bok area in Nam Yuen district, Ubon Ratchathani province. Military sources say the men are lucky to be alive. At around 8pm yesterday, July 16, Lieutenant General Boonsin Phadklang, Commander of the…

  • Thailand builds giant bridges to save wild elephants from roads | Thaiger

    Thailand builds giant bridges to save wild elephants from roads

    Thailand has launched two colossal new bridges to stop wild elephants from meeting a grisly end under speeding cars. Yesterday, July 15, Transport Minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit declared open the towering structures built in Rayong’s Khao Chamao district and Chanthaburi’s Kaeng Hang Maew district—key corridors for elephant herds roaming the east. “These bridges will help wild elephants coexist with humans sustainably,”…

  • Lottery fever grips Kham Chanod as lucky numbers vanish | Thaiger

    Lottery fever grips Kham Chanod as lucky numbers vanish

    Hopeful punters have swarmed Udon Thani’s mystical Kham Chanod Island, desperately trying to snag elusive lucky numbers before the lottery draw today. Yesterday, July 15, hundreds of visitors descended on the sacred home of Phaya Naga, where believers flock to seek blessings from Pu Sri Sutho and Mae Ya Sri Pratumma. Despite a noticeable drop in foot traffic this year,…

  • RTA ready to fence Ta Muen Thom temple amid tensions | Thaiger

    RTA ready to fence Ta Muen Thom temple amid tensions

    The commander of Thailand’s 2nd Army Region has declared the military’s readiness to erect a fence around the disputed Ta Muen Thom temple in Surin province if the government and the Department of Fine Arts give the green light. Lieutenant General Boonsin Padklang confirmed that, despite the simmering dispute, stability currently prevails along the border. He noted that while local…

  • Anutin dismisses Khao Kradong land dispute investigation | Thaiger

    Anutin dismisses Khao Kradong land dispute investigation

    Bhumjaithai Party leader Anutin Charnvirakul dismissed a renewed investigation into the Khao Kradong land dispute in Buriram, asserting that all actions taken during his tenure as interior minister were lawful. The dispute involves land claimed by both the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) and private individuals linked to Bhumjaithai. In 2021, the Supreme Court ruled in favour of the SRT,…

  • Udon Thani woman scammed by fake dentist out of 1 million baht | Thaiger

    Udon Thani woman scammed by fake dentist out of 1 million baht

    A 34 year old woman from a veterinary hospital in Udon Thani has fallen victim to a scam, losing nearly 1 million baht. The fraudster posed as a charming dentist, luring her into investing in luxury goods through an app. Initially engaging in friendly conversation, the scammer eventually persuaded her to invest, resulting in a loss of 849,500 baht. Anna…

  • Brawling cat impaled on fence sparks Udon Thani rescue | Thaiger

    Brawling cat impaled on fence sparks Udon Thani rescue

    A cat found itself impaled on a fence after a night of fighting, prompting a rescue operation in Udon Thani. At 12.45pm yesterday, July 10, rescue volunteers from the Thammasat Foundation were called to help a cat trapped on a fence in Mueang Udon Thani district. The incident occurred on a fence approximately 3 metres high, located in a residential area…

  • Foul play: Buriram village choked by giant chicken farm nightmare | Thaiger

    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…

  • Thai officer accused of land encroachment on self-help settlement | Thaiger

    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…

  • RTAF helicopter makes emergency landing on school field | Thaiger

    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…

  • Ubon Ratchathani police arrest 4 for violent assault on woman | Thaiger

    Ubon Ratchathani police arrest 4 for violent assault on woman

    Police in Ubon Ratchathani apprehended four men on charges related to a violent assault involving a 65 year old woman. The suspects allegedly attacked the woman with an iron object during a dispute. Police Lieutenant General Wathana Yijeen, commander of Region 3, and Police Major General Patiyut Singsamorot of the Ubon Ratchathani Provincial Police, announced the arrest of 27 year…

  • Man found dead in idling car at Udon Thani petrol station | Thaiger

    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…

  • Google accused of ‘fake maps’ in Thailand-Cambodia temple spat | Thaiger

    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.…

  • People’s Alliance rallies to protect Koh Kut, oust Thai PM | Thaiger

    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…

  • Paetongtarn visits Sa Kaeo for border security and crime talks | Thaiger

    Paetongtarn visits Sa Kaeo for border security and crime talks

    Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra is scheduled to visit Sa Kaeo province today to provide support to frontline personnel amid increased border security measures and rising concerns over cross-border crime. Government spokesperson Jirayu Houngsub announced yesterday, June 25, that the visit will start at 10am and will be attended by key Cabinet members, including Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Phumtham…

  • Thai military may close Surin temple amid border tensions | Thaiger

    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…

  • Poipet casinos offer promotions to lure back Thai gamblers | Thaiger

    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…

  • Cambodian workers defy Hun Sen’s call amid border crisis | Thaiger

    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…

  • Khon Kaen woman strikes it rich with 6 million baht lottery win | Thaiger

    Khon Kaen woman strikes it rich with 6 million baht lottery win

    A woman from Phu Wiang district in Khon Kaen has become the talk of the town after winning 6 million baht in the national lottery. The lucky number, 507392, was drawn in the lottery yesterday, June 16, landing her the first prize. The Government Lottery Office (GLO) revealed the results, which included other prize numbers such as the three-digit front…

  • Korat villager wins 12 million baht lottery jackpot | Thaiger

    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…

  • Thai king supports troops at Thai-Cambodian border with gifts | Thaiger

    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…

  • Tragic fall: Couple tumbles from bridge in northeast Thailand | Thaiger

    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…

  • Roi Et rocket crashes into Yasothon school as festival chaos erupts | Thaiger

    Roi Et rocket crashes into Yasothon school as festival chaos erupts

    A lively rocket festival turned into a terrifying ordeal after a massive homemade rocket crashed through the roof of a school in the northeastern province of Yasothon, narrowly missing teachers during a lesson. At around 9am yesterday, June 11, a 6-inch wide, 4-metre long Saen Tho rocket, launched as part of the annual Bun Bang Fai Festival in Roi Et…

  • Imposter monk drags motorcycle along road in Korat (video) | Thaiger

    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…

  • Golden GI banana boom brings millions to Chaiyaphum farmers | Thaiger

    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…

  • Elderly woman leaps to safety after snake scare in Roi Et (video) | Thaiger

    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…

  • Udon Thani temple funeral turns violent as monk and man fight (video) | Thaiger

    Udon Thani temple funeral turns violent as monk and man fight (video)

    A confrontation occurred at a renowned temple in Udon Thani’s Mueang district, where a monk and a local man engaged in a physical altercation. The incident was captured on video and shared on social media, prompting public concern. The video shows a man in a black shirt restraining another man, while a monk uses his feet and fists against him.…