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.

  • Thailand tourism at a tipping point as regional rivals surge, TTF 2026 warns | Thaiger

    Thailand tourism at a tipping point as regional rivals surge, TTF 2026 warns

    Thailand’s tourism industry is approaching a decisive moment. As travel patterns evolve and regional competitors accelerate investment, the kingdom faces mounting pressure to adapt or risk losing its long-held leadership position in Asia-Pacific tourism. For decades, Thailand has been one of the world’s most successful tourism destinations. Today, however, competition is intensifying. While Thailand’s international arrivals declined 7.2% in 2025,…

  • The digital nomad’s guide to healthcare and insurance in Thailand | Thaiger

    The digital nomad’s guide to healthcare and insurance in Thailand

    Thailand continues to attract digital nomads with its rich culture, fast internet, and strong healthcare system. Many private hospitals meet international standards and offer English-speaking doctors, making medical care reliable and easy to access for foreigners. Health insurance also plays a key role, especially for those staying long-term or applying for visas such as the Destination Thailand Visa or the…

  • Singha Park Chiang Rai celebrates 10th anniversary of International Balloon Fiesta with grand showcase of 30+ balloons from 13 nations | Thaiger

    Singha Park Chiang Rai celebrates 10th anniversary of International Balloon Fiesta with grand showcase of 30+ balloons from 13 nations

    Singha Park Chiang Rai celebrates its spot as a “World Class Love Destination,” preparing to host the largest international balloon festival in ASEAN, “Singha Park International Balloon Fiesta 2026,” for the 10th time. The event is set to transform the Chiang Rai sky with the colours of over 30 balloons from 13 countries worldwide to welcome the month of love…

  • How to combine stocks and crypto in 2026 investment strategies | Thaiger

    How to combine stocks and crypto in 2026 investment strategies

    Stocks have long been the go-to for building wealth, steady, reliable, and trusted by generations. But traditions aren’t the key theme of 2026. The rise of cryptocurrencies has snatched the attention of everyone from tech enthusiasts to institutions worldwide, and sometimes, it even outpaces stocks. Between 2022 and 2024, both markets were rocked by volatility, regulatory crackdowns, and fierce debate.…

  • What to do in Bangkok this weekend (January 23 to 25) | Thaiger

    What to do in Bangkok this weekend (January 23 to 25)

    Bangkok has decided to be generous this weekend. You’ve got proper live music, rooftops that turn into long conversations, markets you swear you’ll “just walk through” and end up staying for hours, plus a few quiet pockets when your social battery needs a breather. Here are the best things to do in Bangkok this weekend. Things to do in Bangkok…

  • What you need to know before getting a hair transplant in Thailand | Thaiger

    What you need to know before getting a hair transplant in Thailand

    Hair loss has a way of creeping up quietly. One day, the hairline feels a little higher, the crown a little thinner, and suddenly you’re paying attention to the mirror again. For many people, hair transplantation becomes part of the conversation sooner or later. Thailand has become one of the places people look to. If you’re one of the people…

  • Fusion of dazzling beauty: The HKTDC twin jewellery shows to shine in March 2026 | Thaiger

    Fusion of dazzling beauty: The HKTDC twin jewellery shows to shine in March 2026

    The twin jewellery shows organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council will open in March. The 42nd HKTDC Hong Kong International Jewellery Show, specialising in finished jewellery, and the 12th HKTDC Hong Kong International Diamond, Gem & Pearl Show, focusing on loose stones and raw materials for jewellery, will be held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre…

  • Inside Thailand’s underground motorcycle racing culture | Thaiger

    Inside Thailand’s underground motorcycle racing culture

    On certain stretches of Bangkok’s Sukhumvit Road, after midnight, you can hear them before you see them. The sound starts as a distant whine, rising in pitch, then suddenly a cluster of motorcycles appears, weaving through sparse traffic at speeds that make the riders look almost horizontal. They lean into turns, engines screaming, exhausts popping. In seconds, they’re gone, leaving…

  • How popular is badminton in Thailand and where can you play it? | Thaiger

    How popular is badminton in Thailand and where can you play it?

    Badminton has been one of Thailand’s most beloved sports for generations, sitting alongside football and Muay Thai in the national consciousness. For over 70 years, Thais have grown up with rackets in hand, playing in parks, backyards, school gyms, and makeshift courts wherever space allowed. Walk through any Bangkok park at dawn or any provincial sports hall in the evening,…

  • The Art of Pearl Afternoon Tea | Thaiger

    The Art of Pearl Afternoon Tea

    The St. Regis Bangkok is delighted to announce a new collaboration with Thailand’s leading luxury pearl brand, Matara, for the limited-edition The Art of Pearl Afternoon Tea experience. Served exclusively at The Drawing Room from February 1 to April 30, this refined afternoon tea draws inspiration from the enduring beauty of pearls, where both the exquisite sweets and savouries and…

  • Is the Infinix Note Edge the best budget phone for 2026? | Thaiger

    Is the Infinix Note Edge the best budget phone for 2026?

    The premium smartphone market in Thailand has never been more expensive. Flagships from Apple, Samsung, and Xiaomi routinely breach the 40,000 baht barrier, with the iPhone 17 Pro Max commanding nearly 49,000 baht and the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra sitting between 40,900 and 46,900 baht. For most Thai consumers, these prices represent two months’ salary or more. Enter the Infinix…

  • How Italian-Thai Development became Thailand’s most controversial construction company | Thaiger

    How Italian-Thai Development became Thailand’s most controversial construction company

    At 9.13 on the morning of 14 January, passengers on a north-eastern-bound train in Nakhon Ratchasima province heard a sound like tearing metal. Above them, a massive steel crane used to lift concrete spans for an elevated high-speed rail line had begun to fall. The launching gantry, weighing several tonnes, crashed onto the last two carriages, derailing them and igniting…

  • Top 5 orthopaedic specialised hospitals in Thailand | Thaiger

    Top 5 orthopaedic specialised hospitals in Thailand

    Bone, joint, and spine problems show up in different ways. For some, it’s an old injury that never healed properly. For others, it’s a condition that slowly starts limiting movement or everyday comfort. When treatment becomes unavoidable, knowing where to go can feel overwhelming. Thankfully, Thailand has no shortage of hospitals offering high-quality orthopaedic care. Many of them are known…

  • The best suit tailors in Bangkok (2026) | Thaiger

    The best suit tailors in Bangkok (2026)

    Tired of wearing ill-fitting suits that just don’t cut it? It’s time to upgrade your style game and go for a bespoke suit instead. Not only will it fit you like a dream, but it’ll also elevate your look to a whole new level. But wait, before you go running to your nearest tailor, it’s important to find one who’s…

  • Top 11 influencer marketing agencies in Thailand (2026) | Thaiger

    Top 11 influencer marketing agencies in Thailand (2026)

    The marketing landscape in Thailand has evolved dramatically as we settle into 2026. According to DataReportal’s Digital 2026: Thailand report, the country’s internet penetration has reached 94.7%, with 56.6 million active social media identities nationwide. Thai consumers are no longer simply online; they are deeply embedded in digital ecosystems where AI algorithms dictate what they see, buy, and love. In…

  • Inside Bangkok’s gun trade at Wang Burapha, Thailand’s firearms district | Thaiger

    Inside Bangkok’s gun trade at Wang Burapha, Thailand’s firearms district

    In central Bangkok, a few blocks from the gilded spires of the Grand Palace, shop windows display an unexpected inventory that few visitors expect to see. Where tourists anticipate silk scarves or smartphone cases, they’re filled with Glocks, CZs, SIGs, Kimbers, Colts and Berettas arranged in neat rows, hunting rifles propped against the glass, boxes of ammunition stacked like tea…

  • Do allergy meds cause dementia? Pediatrician explains | Thaiger

    Do allergy meds cause dementia? Pediatrician explains

    Pediatrician Clarifies Safety of Antihistamines Following Viral Dementia Fears A leading pediatrician has issued a detailed clarification regarding viral social media posts suggesting a link between routine antihistamine use and dementia, aiming to alleviate growing anxiety among parents. The online controversy stemmed from content claiming that daily consumption of allergy medications accelerates brain degeneration or Alzheimer’s disease. The posts included…

  • Time to talk about ‘Thai time’ | Thaiger

    Time to talk about ‘Thai time’

    Ask any foreigner in Thailand what confused them first, and you’ll hear the same answer: Time. Or more specifically, why nobody seems to be in a rush to meet it. In the West, being late is personal. It feels like disrespect, a failure, a small moral crime, and you receive a stigma as being lazy or unorganised. But in Thailand,…

  • 9 things you must do to protect yourself from Bangkok’s hazardous PM2.5 levels in 2026 | Thaiger

    9 things you must do to protect yourself from Bangkok’s hazardous PM2.5 levels in 2026

    Bangkok woke up to a grey shroud on January 14, with Bangkok PM2.5 levels hitting hazardous territory, readings between 79 and 108 µg/m³ across the capital, nearly triple Thailand’s safety threshold. Fifty-four provinces are under health warnings as smoke from agricultural fires in Cambodia and eastern Thailand has drifted into central regions, where stagnant weather has trapped it. Add in…

  • How Thai stand-up comedy is learning to stand on its own | Thaiger

    How Thai stand-up comedy is learning to stand on its own

    Stand-up comedy in Thailand is young, unstable, and quietly interesting. It does not follow the American club system or the British circuit model. There are no clear ladders, few sponsors, and almost no shared language for what stand-up is supposed to be. And yet, it is growing slowly, improvising as it goes. At the centre of this growth for the…

  • Muay Thai Visa Thailand launches DTV visa support for international students | Thaiger

    Muay Thai Visa Thailand launches DTV visa support for international students

    Muay Thai Visa Thailand (MTVT), operated by Bangkok’s Sor.Dechapant Muay Thai School has launched a dedicated visa support service aimed at helping foreign students apply for Thailand’s new Destination Thailand Visa (DTV) through accredited Muay Thai training. The initiative addresses a growing need among international applicants seeking long-term stays in Thailand via recognised soft power activities, with Muay Thai training…

  • The deadly Rama 2 Road: Why Thailand’s ‘Seven-Generation Road’ keeps claiming lives | Thaiger

    The deadly Rama 2 Road: Why Thailand’s ‘Seven-Generation Road’ keeps claiming lives

    Dissecting the crisis of ‘Seven-Generation Road’ Rama 2, where repeated construction accidents and crane collapses continue to claim lives, yet contractors keep receiving new projects, exposing legal loopholes that amount to paper tigers. If there is one road in Thailand that has become legendary for both its extraordinary length and the dangers hidden behind its development, Rama 2 Road, or…

  • The new volatility cycle: Why 2025’s market shocks will redefine trader expectations in 2026 | Thaiger

    The new volatility cycle: Why 2025’s market shocks will redefine trader expectations in 2026

    Perhaps no one would call 2025 uneventful, doubly so if they are an investor. Tariffs and reciprocal action, active conflicts, and geopolitical tensions. Shadow fleets and a reorganisation of economic and strategic ties. A simple Google search for “What affected markets in 2025” returns what reads like a list of why volatility happens. Let’s see what contributed to this volatility,…

  • Muay Thai fight promotions that go beyond traditional martial art | Thaiger

    Muay Thai fight promotions that go beyond traditional martial art

    Muay Thai has long been Thailand’s national sport, but today, it’s more than a martial art. It’s a social ladder, a second chance, a cultural export, and a fight for recognition. While elite promotions like ONE Championship and the historic Rajadamnern Stadium keep Muay Thai in the spotlight. There are parallel fight cultures that thrive in alleyways, fight clubs and…

  • How does Thailand celebrate Teacher’s Day? | Thaiger

    How does Thailand celebrate Teacher’s Day?

    In Thailand, few roles are held in higher regard than that of a teacher. Each year on January 16, the country pauses to observe Teacher’s Day, an annual national occasion dedicated to recognising the people who guide, educate, and inspire future generations. The Thai saying “Kru kue mae-pim kawng chad,” meaning “Teachers mould the nation,” captures the spirit of the occasion.…

  • Thailand dominates global night market rankings with 3 markets in the top 10 | Thaiger

    Thailand dominates global night market rankings with 3 markets in the top 10

    When was the last time you wandered through a night market surrounded by sizzling street food and that electric energy that only comes alive after dark? If you’re in Thailand, you’re spoiled for choice, and now there’s proof the Kingdom’s night markets rank among the planet’s best. A new study by long-haul travel specialists Travelbag has crowned Bangkok’s Chatuchak Weekend…

  • How is Thailand using virtual reality to train doctors, students, and workers? | Thaiger

    How is Thailand using virtual reality to train doctors, students, and workers?

    Virtual reality has moved from novelty to necessity across Thailand’s education sector. The technology now addresses real problems such as training medical teams, teaching environmental conservation, and upskilling industrial workers, aligning with the national Thailand 4.0 strategy that prioritises digital infrastructure and innovation-driven growth. The investment backing this transformation is substantial. The Ministry of Education’s Anywhere Anytime initiative allocated US$800 million…

  • Bangkok Design Week 2026 returns with ‘DESIGN S/O/S’ from January 29 to February 8 | Thaiger

    Bangkok Design Week 2026 returns with ‘DESIGN S/O/S’ from January 29 to February 8

    Get ready for the return of Bangkok Design Week 2026 (BKKDW 2026), now in its ninth consecutive year, organised by the Creative Economy Agency (Public Organisation) or CEA, in collaboration with Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, government and private sector organisations, educational institutions, international organisations, and creative district network partners. This year, the international design festival brings together creators, designers, entrepreneurs, developers,…

  • Public holidays and observances in Thailand (2026) | Thaiger

    Public holidays and observances in Thailand (2026)

    As we step into 2026, now’s the perfect time to plan your year in Thailand. From nationwide festivals to regional celebrations, these public holidays shape everything from travel schedules to business operations and social gatherings. Here are our key dates for Thailand’s holidays and observances for 2026. Thailand holidays for January 2026 January 1 (Thursday) – New Year’s Day: A…

  • Thailand Privilege Card awards Friends of Thailand memberships to three international Muay Thai Fighters | Thaiger

    Thailand Privilege Card awards Friends of Thailand memberships to three international Muay Thai Fighters

    Thailand Privilege Card Co., Ltd. (TPC), operator of the Thailand Privilege membership programme under the supervision of Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), continues to reinforce Thailand’s image not only as a world-class tourism destination but also as a premier destination for long-term residency. Most recently, TPC presented the Friends of Thailand membership card to three foreign fighters from the Rajadamnern…