Thailand News

Thailand news, politics, business, crime, and lifestyle—get breaking updates from Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Pattaya, and beyond. Stay informed on Thai society, economy, tourism, and expat life with The Thaiger.

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    How to travel around Thailand for under US$30 a day

    The Thaiger key takeaways Staying in budget hostels or guesthouses and eating street food keeps daily expenses low. Mixing buses, trains, and budget flights allows affordable travel between cities and islands. Free or cheap activities, such as temples, markets, parks,...

  • Lending company manager arrested for siphoning 200,000 baht from clients’ accounts | Thaiger

    Lending company manager arrested for siphoning 200,000 baht from clients’ accounts

    A lending company manager in Buriram has been apprehended following accusations of syphoning approximately 200,000 baht from clients’ accounts. The suspect reportedly manipulated the personal details of three clients, thereby gaining access to cash cards used to withdraw funds from the victims’ loan accounts. Anurak, the 32 year old manager of the lending establishment in Mueang district, was taken into…

  • British man arrested in Chiang Mai for abusing teen student | Thaiger

    British man arrested in Chiang Mai for abusing teen student

    A British man, posing as an English teacher in Phuket for two years, has been arrested for sexually abusing a 16 year old foreign student twice at a private residence. The incidents, which took place on December 9, 2014, and April 2, 2015, came to light following an investigation by the school after the student’s guardians reported the matter. The…

  • David Beckham scores big with fans at Predator event in CentralWorld (video) | Thaiger

    David Beckham scores big with fans at Predator event in CentralWorld (video)

    Football legend David Beckham held a meet & greet at CentralWorld shopping mall in Bangkok yesterday for the Adidas event, The Legend of Predator. The 48 year old soccer icon attended The Legend of Predator event held at the Central Court in CentralWorld yesterday January 30, organised by Adidas. At the event, more than 21 models of Adidas Predator football…

  • Golden cobra startles homeowner in Thailand kitchen | Thaiger

    Golden cobra startles homeowner in Thailand kitchen

    A homeowner was shocked to discover a large golden cobra in her kitchen in the Ang Thong province of Thailand. The snake, which was menacingly displaying its hood, caused two kittens to run in fright before the homeowner swiftly called for rescue services today, January 31. The Ang Thong Provincial Rescue Association was alerted to the presence of the large…

  • Homeowner encounters cobras before Thai lottery, eyes luck | Thaiger

    Homeowner encounters cobras before Thai lottery, eyes luck

    In a surprising morning encounter, a homeowner witnessed two cobras intertwining in a display often associated with good fortune, right before the Thai lottery draw. The resident plans to use his house number to test his luck in the upcoming lottery. Early today, at 9am, Mongkol Thiamtat, from house number 16 in the village of Paiyubin, Wang Chan district, Rayong…

  • Disturbing behaviour of police officer who raped minor exposed by another student | Thaiger

    Disturbing behaviour of police officer who raped minor exposed by another student

    Female students reportedly exposed the disturbing behaviour of the Patiew Police Station officer, who raped the 17 year old girl in the Isaan province of Yasothon. Ironically, the officer reportedly trained students on how to protect themselves from sexual abuse and assaults but, he now faces a rape charge. A Thai mother sought help from Saimai Survive after her 17…

  • Police raid exposes massive counterfeit cosmetics operation worth millions | Thaiger

    Police raid exposes massive counterfeit cosmetics operation worth millions

    The Thai authorities have cracked down on a colossal counterfeit cosmetics ring involving a Chinese investor and the illicit sale of beauty products worth millions. The Commissioner of the Police Consumer Protection Division, Police Lieutenant General Witthaya Sriprasertphap, along with relevant agencies, orchestrated a press conference on Monday, January 29 that marked the unravelling of a major illegal cosmetics empire. A…

  • Engineering student arrested for stealing iPhones and iPads in Nakhon Phanom | Thaiger

    Engineering student arrested for stealing iPhones and iPads in Nakhon Phanom

    A 21 year old engineering student was apprehended in Mueang district, Nakhon Phanom, last night, following accusations of stealing iPhone smartphones and iPad tablet computers. The stolen goods, reportedly worth around 200,000 baht (US$5,640), were lifted from a branch of the Big C store. The incident occurred at the Nakhon Phanom branch of Big C around 3am yesterday, January 30.…

  • Arrest warrant issued in Phetchaburi for suspect in vendor’s murder | Thaiger

    Arrest warrant issued in Phetchaburi for suspect in vendor’s murder

    The Thai authorities issued an arrest warrant for Phimwaj, known as Arm Hua Saphan, for the intentional murder of a 30 year old street vendor who was shot dead while driving in Phetchaburi province. The victim’s father has revealed a possible motive of jealousy and vengeance, suggesting that the assailant harboured resentment due to his acquaintanceship with the victim’s girlfriend,…

  • Google reigns supreme: Thailand’s top talent magnet for sixth year running | Thaiger

    Google reigns supreme: Thailand’s top talent magnet for sixth year running

    WorkVenture revealed the most coveted companies in Thailand, and surprise, surprise: Google claims the top spot for the sixth consecutive year. Unveiling the Top 50 Companies in Thailand 2024, the survey, conducted among over 11,452 young professionals, offers a snapshot of the Thai job market’s evolving landscape. As the professional arena adapts to the changing tides, the new generation of…

  • Royal Thai Air Force faces job loss concern over golf course handover | Thaiger

    Royal Thai Air Force faces job loss concern over golf course handover

    The head of the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) expressed concerns over potential job losses that could result from the return of two military golf courses to the government. The Kantrarat and Thupatemi golf courses, which provide welfare services to military personnel, are currently under the scrutiny of the military commission, which suggests that such facilities should be managed by…

  • Thai man kills woman over leaked video of him masturbating | Thaiger

    Thai man kills woman over leaked video of him masturbating

    A Thai man confessed to killing a woman in the northern province of Sukhothai in a fit of rage after the victim posted a video of him on social media masturbating. The dead body of a 40 year old Thai woman, Ananya “Tarn” Chaiya, was discovered at a plantation in Ban Dan Lan Hoi district of Sukhothai province on January…

  • Mystery smell forces Cathay Pacific flight U-turn | Thaiger

    Mystery smell forces Cathay Pacific flight U-turn

    Cathay Pacific Airways‘ flight CX 633, destined for Penang, Malaysia, found itself making an unexpected U-turn to Hong Kong International Airport due to an unusual smell in the cabin post-takeoff. The Airbus A330 had taken off on its scheduled Sunday morning, January 28, departure at 8.15am, only to encounter this bizarre situation. The Hong Kong flag carrier revealed that the…

  • Ubon Ratchathani teen negotiates fine with community service | Thaiger

    Ubon Ratchathani teen negotiates fine with community service

    A 19 year old woman in Ubon Ratchathani faced a hefty fine of 6,300 baht (US$177) for driving without a license. Lacking the funds to pay the fine, she humorously asked the police if she could borrow money. The officer’s playful response was an offer to lend her the money if she agreed to feed his catfish every night, a…

  • Alzheimer’s and miscommunication revealed after missing British man rescued | Thaiger

    Alzheimer’s and miscommunication revealed after missing British man rescued

    Dong Yen Police Station officers rescued a British man who claimed he was abandoned at a temple in the Isaan province of Udon Thani. His wife later clarified the situation and revealed that he suffers from Alzheimer’s. A police officer at the Kam Chanote Temple in the Ban Dung district of Udon Thani province accompanied the 82 year old British…

  • Teenager had motorcycle stolen after leaving it for 10 minutes | Thaiger

    Teenager had motorcycle stolen after leaving it for 10 minutes

    A teenager had his motorcycle stolen after parking it outside a condo in Pattaya for a mere 10 minutes on January 27. The 16 year old victim, Panupong, reported the theft to Pattaya police at 5.30pm. The black Honda PCX, purchased by Panupong’s mother for his daily commute and delivery gigs, was snatched from its spot outside the apartment. Panupong…

  • TikTok user exposes taxi overcharge in Bangkok, fare hits 105 baht (video) | Thaiger

    TikTok user exposes taxi overcharge in Bangkok, fare hits 105 baht (video)

    A TikTok user sparked a conversation about taxi services after posting a video showing an unusually high fare for a short journey. The user, under the name namotasapakavato1, warned fellow passengers after a taxi ride from a BTS station to Rangsit became a cause for concern—not only did the driver bring along his wife, who sat in the front seat,…

  • Significant drop in forest fires in Chiang Mai and northern region | Thaiger

    Significant drop in forest fires in Chiang Mai and northern region

    Protected Areas Regional Office 16 Director Kritsayam Kongsatree revealed an unprecedented 79% drop in blazes across Chiang Mai and its northern neighbours. Department of National Parks, Wildlife, and Plant Conservation (DNP) Chief Kritsayam manages a colossal 7.8 million rai encompassing 19 forests in Chiang Mai and Lamphun. His proactive patrolling initiatives have slashed the number of hotspots from the ominous…

  • Adultery suspected in murder of Thai man in Chachoengsao | Thaiger

    Adultery suspected in murder of Thai man in Chachoengsao

    Police suspected adultery as a motive for the murder of a Thai man whose body was found on the roadside of a motorway in the central province of Chachoengsao on January 29. The man asked his wife for a divorce and told her that he had a child with another woman before he disappeared. The lifeless body of the 33…

  • Royal Thai Air Force plans 19 billion baht for new fighter jets acquisition | Thaiger

    Royal Thai Air Force plans 19 billion baht for new fighter jets acquisition

    The commander-in-chief of the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF), Punpakdee Pattanakul, announced a budget request for the upcoming fiscal year totalling 19 billion baht (US$537 million), intended for the acquisition of new fighter jets. These could potentially be the US F-35 or Sweden’s Gripen E/F. Despite the recently instated government offset policy, Punpakdee’s comments suggest the RTAF’s determination to secure…

  • Thailand faces thunderstorms and high waves, north cools down | Thaiger

    Thailand faces thunderstorms and high waves, north cools down

    Today’s weather update signals turbulent conditions across the country, with the Meteorological Department of Thailand (TMD) issuing an alert for thunderstorms in 20 provinces. The forecast warns of high waves exceeding 2 metres in the southern seas, while the northern region experiences a significant drop in temperature. The weather pattern over the upper northern region is influenced by a westerly…

  • 14 year old student stabs peer to death in Bangkok school tragedy | Thaiger

    14 year old student stabs peer to death in Bangkok school tragedy

    The tragic event of a 14 year old student allegedly stabbing his peer to death at Matthayom Naknawa- upatham School in Suan Luang district unfolded on Monday. The incident has prompted the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security to step in, minister Varawut Silpa-Archa yesterday, January 30 confirmed. The accused student reportedly attacked his classmate after the school assembly,…

  • Chinese tourist drowns on Rayong’s Koh Samet | Thaiger

    Chinese tourist drowns on Rayong’s Koh Samet

    A Chinese tourist drowned at Ao Tubtim, Koh Samet, Rayong at 5pm on on January 27. Phe police officers rushed to the accident scene following a report of a Chinese tourist drowning. Local rescue and Rayong medical teams were also dispatched. Clad in a blue swimsuit, the 46 year old Chinese tourist lay lifeless. Despite the immediate deployment of first…

  • Teen dies in Bangkok after motorcycle chase ends in horror crash | Thaiger

    Teen dies in Bangkok after motorcycle chase ends in horror crash

    A tragic accident in Bangkok claimed the life of a 17 year old teen after a motorcycle chase ended in a violent collision with a garbage truck. The incident occurred at around 3.15am today on Kanjanapisek Road, Bang Khae District. The police, forensic experts, and emergency medical teams were called to the scene, where they found the young victim dead.…

  • Thai workers overseas contribute 60 billion baht in Q1 | Thaiger

    Thai workers overseas contribute 60 billion baht in Q1

    Over 21,000 Thai workers were dispatched overseas in the first quarter of the 2024 fiscal year, generating nearly 60 billion baht (US$1.69 billion) in remittances, as disclosed by a leading labour representative. The period of October to December saw 21,281 Thais heading overseas for work, half of whom, numbering 10,024, were recruited by the private sector, according to Pairoj Chotikasathien,…

  • Royal project scam exposed with six arrests and 270 million baht loss | Thaiger

    Royal project scam exposed with six arrests and 270 million baht loss

    An illicit operation, exploiting the name of royal projects to defraud unsuspecting investors, has been exposed. Six individuals implicated in the scheme have been apprehended, with damages resulting from the con estimated at a staggering 270 million baht (US$7.6 million). The arrests followed a comprehensive search operation spanning Bangkok, Lop Buri, Chachoengsao, Songkhla, and Nakhon Si Thammarat, confirmed Police Major…

  • Drastic fivefold rise in e-cigarette use among Thai schoolchildren | Thaiger

    Drastic fivefold rise in e-cigarette use among Thai schoolchildren

    E-cigarette usage amongst Thai schoolchildren has witnessed a drastic fivefold rise over the last seven years, with the majority of users starting their vaping journey during their primary school years, reveals a newly conducted study. The study was carried out amongst 6,700 students and the findings were shared at a seminar, the collective effort of the Centre for Tobacco Control…

  • Driver perishes as 22-wheel truck overturns in Si Racha | Thaiger

    Driver perishes as 22-wheel truck overturns in Si Racha

    A tragic incident unfolded yesterday as a 22-wheel trailer truck lost control on a curve and overturned in the Si Racha district of Chon Buri, resulting in the driver’s death. The driver was trapped in the wreckage, and it took rescue workers over three hours to extricate the body. The accident occurred near the Burapha Golf Course in Si Racha.…

  • Agriculture chief defends against bribe claims in corruption case | Thaiger

    Agriculture chief defends against bribe claims in corruption case

    The Director-General of the Department of Rice staunchly defended actions taken in a controversy involving a well-known activist, Srisuwan Janraya, who was offered money to halt corruption complaints. At 1pm today, January 30, at the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Natthakit Khanthip addressed the allegations that a consultant to the Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives suggested that the director-general’s wife…

  • Phuket Airport’s got trunks: Viral sensation as tourists make splash in speedos | Thaiger

    Phuket Airport’s got trunks: Viral sensation as tourists make splash in speedos

    A Facebook user sparked viral attention after sharing an image in the Thai Tourism group, Du Lịch Thái Lan, capturing the unusual sight of two foreign tourists clad in tiny speedo trunks at Phuket International Airport. The social media post, by Bui Thi Huong, which rapidly garnered over 500 likes, featured a caption in Vietnamese saying, “Heard that Phuket Airport…