Guides
Thailand guides on travel, culture, cuisine, and lifestyle—discover top destinations, hidden gems, visa information, and essential tips. Plan your journey with The Thaiger, your trusted source for expert Thailand guides.
-
Sponsored The guide to affordable healthcare in Thailand
The Thaiger key takeaways Thailand’s healthcare system combines low-cost public services with world-class private hospitals. Private health insurance protects expats from major medical bills and meets visa requirements. Cigna offers expat-focused plans with direct billing, top hospital access, and 24/7...
-
New Wellness venture in Thailand, Singapore multi-national teams up with Anantara Hotel Group
Verita Healthcare Group, a Singapore-based multinational company, just announced their collaboration with Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas. The two groups team up to provide a global network of coordinated and property-based wellness centers. As a result of modern lifestyle habits, the levels of chronic disease is increasing and the population is aging. This leads to a rapidly growing demand for…
-
Singha grabs a 90% stake in Thailand’s Santa Fe restaurant chain
(…or is that a 90% ‘steak’?) PHOTOS: Wongnai DealStreetAsia, an investor news site reporting on Asian business, confirms that Singha Corporation has purchased a majority stake in the Thai restaurant chain, Santa Fe. It’s understood that Singha purchased the shares held by Lakeshore Capital for approximately US$50 million or 1.53 billion baht, giving it a 90% stake in the chain seen…
-
21% of Thai teenagers are gambling
PHOTO: Gambling, local style, Rai Et, north-east Thailand – Pinterest Early in October the Thai Health Promotion Foundation met to discuss the gambling situation in Thailand in 2019. Also present were the Centre for Gambling Studies, Stop Gambling Foundation and related groups. The meeting was set up after a report revealed that more than half (57%) of the Thai population,…
-
How Much Does a Hair Transplant in Turkey Cost?
Turkey is one of the top five medical tourism destinations on the planet right now, with one of its most important components being the Hair Transplant procedure. Hundreds of hair transplants are performed in the country every day. Thanks to its highly-skilled doctors, top-notch equipment, and ultra-hygienic clinics, the country has become the premier destination for those who want to…
-
57% of Thais gamble – new report
The Thai Health Promotion Foundation has hosted a meeting today to discuss the gambling situation in Thailand in 2019, as a report indicating that a whopping 30.42 million Thais, or 57% of the population, gamble. The meeting was also represented by the Centre for Gambling Studies, Stop Gambling Foundation and related associations. The director-general of the Centre for Gambling Studies,…
-
Your Top Tips for Breast Augmentation in Bangkok
In recent years, Bangkok has become a hub for cosmetic tourism. Many women are traveling to the City to get naturally-shaped breasts to enhance their appearance without burdening themselves with debt. You might be wondering whether it’s safe to undergo a breast augmentation in this city. But don’t worry, you can have peace of mind because the quality of the…
-
Toxic skin-whitening creams still available on shelves
“Skin creams containing banned ingredients are very dangerous and could seriously damage your health, scar you for life and even kill you, so they should be avoided at all costs.” – LGA report. The UK’s Local Government Association claims that skin-whitening creams can be as “toxic as paint strippers” and should be “avoided at all costs.” The skin creams are…
-
Over-use of social media may be harming our youth
Can time spent on social media – YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc – affect the mental health of youth? Yes, says a report by Johns Hopkins and other researchers, published in JAMA Psychiatry. For instance, they found that 12 – 15 year olds, who typically spent three or more hours a day on social media, were about twice as likely…
-
Fire up the barbecue – red meat’s ok. New study.
“They added that the quality of evidence linking processed meat with cardiovascular diseases and diabetes was very low.” by Ivan Couronne Cutting back on red meat is standard medical advice to prevent cancer and heart disease over recent decades. But a review of dozens of studies now concludes that the potential risk is low and evidence “uncertain”. In new guidelines…
-
Land of teenage tears – tackling Thailand’s youth depression and suicide
Thailand had the highest suicide rates in ASEAN, according to a recent study conducted by the World Health Organisation. The WHO ranked Thailand 32nd worldwide in its annual suicide rate report which came out earlier this month. The report indicated around 10,000 deaths by suicide per year, much higher than other ASEAN countries. Many of the deaths are Thailand’s younger…
-
Afternoon tea goes vegan at Bangkok’s Mandarin Oriental
PHOTO: www.mandarinoriental.com The Mandarin Oriental Bangkok has a newly-appointed executive pastry chef and he’s planning some afternoon tea delights with a difference. Chef Pablo Gicquel is introducing vegan and gluten-free options as part of the traditional afternoon tea offering, available from October 7 in The Author’s Lounge at the renowned Bangkok hotel. Highlights on the vegan menu will include vegan…
-
Thailand ranked sixth best in the world for healthcare
Sixth best healthcare system in the world! Well done Thailand. The Kingdom is gaining worldwide recognition for quality healthcare services after placing sixth in a ranking of countries with the best healthcare systems. The ranking was conducted by the US magazine CEOWORLD who do annual rankings of a number of world businesses and services. The rankings came out last month.…
-
Thailand by numbers
The National Economics and Social Development Council have prepared some snapshot infographics which provide a window into Thai society at the moment. The stats have been prepared from information relating to Q2 this year. Key facts are… • Thai people reading more than they were four years ago • People are moving away from the agricultural sector and into blue…
-
Sexual harassment is rife in Thailand – survey
“I’ve seen women in Thailand begin to collectively speak out, sharing their stories and pushing back on this victim-blaming which previously has gone completely unchecked here.” A recent survey of 1,107 Thais found that 21% of respondents say they have experienced sexual harassment. The survey was conducted by YouGov, a UK-based market research company. Sexual assault was the most common form…
-
Over 77,000 Bangkok residents living with HIV
Atachai Phunkron gets ready to serve his clients as a trained HIV counselor at the SWING drop-in centre in Bangkok – Richard Nyberg, USAID, 2016 Authorities estimate that 77,500 people are living with HIV in Bangkok, 1,190 of them contracted the virus this year, according to deputy Bangkok governor Pol Lt Gen Sophon Phisutthiwong. 628 of the 1,190 identified this year…
-
Student revolt over school lunches pays off
FILE PHOTO School officials in the Hanka district in Chainat, central Thailand have now upgraded the quality of the daily school lunches for their students after receiving a deluge of complaints from parents. The story was reported in khaosod.co.th. The scandal, one repeated too often around the state schools, broke after the students told their parents that only one or…
-
Thai Health Minister debunks ‘urine’ craze “body wastes must not be eaten or drunk”
“She added that urine is a kind of waste discharged from the body and is not for drinking.” The Thai Department of Health is warning the public against following the example of several online stories of Thais drinking their own urine and using it to wash their faces. The practice has become somewhat of a craze in recent weeks. Doctor…
-
Chikungunya virus mutates – “mosquitoes can carry chikungunya and dengue”
A Thai respiratory and critical care specialist at Bangkok’s Vichaiyut Hospital is claiming that the chikungunya virus, spread through the bites of an infected Aedes mosquito, has mutated where one mosquito could be the carrier of both the chikungunya and dengue viruses. Dr Manoon Leechawengwongs reported that in the past 30 days his hospital has treated 13 chikungunya patients compared to…
-
Noodle shop ‘taking the piss’ with special ingredient
PHOTOS: sanook.com Thai Facebook page ‘Return.v12’ has posted a storey about people who believe in the “power of urine” and that it can heal body pain and diseases. The noodle shop owner admitted that he has been using his own urine as a “secret ingredient” and that he has a lot of customers because of it. He claims that his…
-
Smoking at home in Thailand has been banned from today
The ban on smoking at home in Thailand comes into effect today. From today people can be prosecuted for “domestic abuse” by lighting up a cigarette inside a home. People can call Family and Protection centres on 1300 to report a smoker. According to the new law, women and children are often the recipients of second hand smoke and the…
-
Mandatory health insurance details for some visas announced this week
Details on the proposed mandatory health insurance requirements for Non-Immigrant O-A visas will be made next week, according to ThaiVisa. A senior executive from one of the insurance companies involved in the scheme told ThaiVisa that the Office of Insurance Commission, Ministry of Public Health, Foreign Ministry and Immigration Bureau will announce the insurance requirements for Non-Immigrant O-A visas on…
-
Ten things the Thai Government could to do right now
OPINION Thailand is a proud country with a rich cultural tradition. And great food. Expats and visitors have been flocking to the Land of Smiles for a century, especially the last 20 years when tourism has surged to become a major contributor to the country’s GDP. But the veneer of a never-ending rise in tourism numbers lost some of its…
-
Thai anti-alcohol campaigners demand stricter controls on underage drinking
PHOTO: “Don’t allow the children in the pubs!” – The Nation Anti-alcohol campaigners and youth networks, are calling on Metropolitan Police to check on shops in Bang Sue district’s Soi Wongsawang 11 that are allegedly selling alcohol to youth under the age of 20 in a location adjacent to an educational institution. The group, led by Alcohol Watch coordinator Khamron…
-
Top 10 things the internet is changing forever
The internet continues to change everything. Whilst it’s creating entire new industries and jobs it’s also putting a lot of people out of work and killing older business models. Accelerating the changes is the rise and rise of smartphones as a source of just about everything. It’s an evolutionary digital disruption, as profound as the Industrial Revolution. The genie is…
-
First batch of Government approved medical cannabis ready next week
4,500 bottles of medical cannabis, produced by the Thai government’s Pharmaceutical Organisation, will be ready for delivery on August 7. Dr. Surachoke Tangwiwat, deputy secretary-general of the Food and Drug Administration, says that Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul had made it a policy that all state hospitals in every province will stock medical cannabis for distribution to patients, when prescribed…
-
Thailand’s job market – popular job sectors
by Cita Catellya A new report on the most popular job in Thailand shows how the country’s job market is evolving. In this digital age, it may come as no surprise that IT roles are now one of the most popular job areas. Everyone is moving to a digital outlet, and companies continue to implement technology in the workplace to be able to…
-
Tobacco giant lobbies Thai government to reverse vaping laws
PHOTO: Sampan.org Leading Thai cigarette importer Philip Morris Trading wants the new government and policymakers to start talking with the tobacco industry to find constructive solutions to reducing harm caused by smoking. The tobacco giant is hoping the new government will consider innovative “smoke-free products” (vaping) for smokers, who would otherwise continue smoking. Cut to the chase – Philip Morris,…
-
Thailand’s food delivery business up 14% in 2019
“Diners are increasingly ordering food online platforms, and eating out at restaurants less.” We’re eating in more and dining out less. But we can still enjoy our favourite restaurant food. Welcome to the latest ‘disrupter’ making inroads to our eating habits. KResearch (a part of Kasikorn Bank) estimates that the food delivery business in 2019 will amount to 33-35 billion…
-
The world’s Top 10 wealthiest monarchs and royal families
(Values are listed in USD) 1. King Maha Vajiralongkorn, Thailand The Thai royal family is currently listed as the richest royal family in the world. King Maha Vajiralongkorn is estimated to be worth US$30 billion. The Thai monarch’s wealth comes from investments made by the Crown Property Bureau, according to a report in the express.co.uk 2. Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, Brunei The sultan…
-
Thai FDA refuses to endorse Decha’s cannabis oil
PHOTO: Decha Siripat from the Khao Kwan Foundation and supporters Patients who were looking forward to gain access to medicinal cannabis oil, produced by the Khao Kwan Foundation’s Decha Siripat, learned yesterday that the Thai Food and Drug Administration have declined to endorse his own version of the drug. 12 organisations have now accused the FDA of procrastination and mismanagement…
Don't forget to check out some other things to do in Thailand - get help starting a business or finding a job in Thailand, buy Thailand property, rent a yacht or book a medical procedure worldwide.