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.

  • PM Prayut recovering after hand surgery | Thaiger

    PM Prayut recovering after hand surgery

    Many people have opinions about Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, but one thing almost everyone can agree on: he is great with his hand gestures. Iconic photos have graced The Thaiger and other news sources capturing his broad waves, his hands pressed together in a “wai” position, pointing, awkward “I love you” hand gestures, and perhaps most famously, his shushing gestures.…

  • Thief steals Thai singer’s license plate to nick diesel in NE Thailand | Thaiger

    Thief steals Thai singer’s license plate to nick diesel in NE Thailand

    A Thai singer took to social media to appeal to fans to help find a number plate stolen from his car after an inventive thief used it to steal diesel from a petrol station in northeast Thailand. Buriram Police are on the lookout for the light-fingered tealeaf who stole the license plate and attached it to his vehicle before travelling…

  • Summer begins today with temperatures climbing | Thaiger

    Summer begins today with temperatures climbing

    Bring on the heat! Thailand will officially enter its summer season today with temperatures expected to soar as high as 43 degrees Celsius. The Meteorological Department (TMD) announced on Friday declaring the start of the summer heat. The onset of summer comes just as a monsoon in the upper regions of Thailand will cause temperatures to rise. The monsoon is…

  • Famous Thailand footballer jilted bride-to-be at altar, she files police complaint | Thaiger

    Famous Thailand footballer jilted bride-to-be at altar, she files police complaint

    A famous Thailand footballer jilted his bride-to-be at the altar and defrauded her family according to claims by the man’s fiancé. The jilted bride from Buriram filed a complaint with the police alleging that the man is a star from a well-known Surin football club, he swindled her family out of hundreds of thousands of baht and failed to show…

  • Irishman suffers life-threatening injuries in motorcycle accident in Thailand | Thaiger

    Irishman suffers life-threatening injuries in motorcycle accident in Thailand

    A young Irishman is the latest in a long line of victims injured in a motorcycle accident in Thailand without having any cover or insurance. How many more need to suffer fatalities or life-threatening injuries before they learn to drive properly or get insured? Michael John Miller, from Knock in Mayo, is the latest man to suffer life-threatening injuries following…

  • Bangkok police building razed to the ground by fierce blaze | Thaiger

    Bangkok police building razed to the ground by fierce blaze

    A Bangkok police building that stored thousands of official state documents was razed to the ground by a fierce blaze in the early hours of this morning. About 50 firefighters dashed to the Fifth Division of the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) on Sathorn Road to tackle the fire. Fortunately, there were no casualties because of the blaze. According to reports from…

  • Committee proposes law legalizing prostitution over 20 | Thaiger

    Committee proposes law legalizing prostitution over 20

    Great news for punters, a committee drafting a new law governing prostitution has agreed that voluntary sexual service without criminal penalties should be allowed from the age of 20. Jintana Chanbamroong, head of the Department of Women’s Affairs and Family Development at the Social Development and Human Security Ministry, chaired the committee drafting the new law. The new law is a…

  • Dough-n’t do it! Thailand’s Department of Health says Pa Thong Ko is unhealthy | Thaiger

    Dough-n’t do it! Thailand’s Department of Health says Pa Thong Ko is unhealthy

    The Department of Health in Thailand issued a dough-n’t do it warning to the public, urging them to stop consuming the popular breakfast combination of Pa Thong Ko fried dough with Thai iced tea. Pa Thong Ko is commonly paired with sweetened condensed milk and coffee, making it a popular and flavourful breakfast option for many Thais but – it is…

  • Charges filed against Thai factory used by Tesco | Thaiger

    Charges filed against Thai factory used by Tesco

    After catching heat for what critics considered a half-assed investigation, Thai police have now filed criminal charges against a factory used by Tesco. VK Garment Factory, a clothing factory in Mae Sot used to produce F&F clothes has been charged over its treatment of workers. The charges for fraud claim that the factory used workers’ bank cards illegally, withheld immigration…

  • Discover world-class travel experience and irresistible deals from luxury hotels across Thailand at “Siam Paragon World Class Vacation Fair” | Thaiger

    Discover world-class travel experience and irresistible deals from luxury hotels across Thailand at “Siam Paragon World Class Vacation Fair”

    PRESS RELEASE Siam Paragon, reinforcing its positioning as a ‘World Class Destination,’ is joining forces with luxury hotels and resorts across Thailand to host the “Siam Paragon World Class Vacation Fair,” a travel fair dedicated to world-class travel experiences. On offer are the best deals and exclusive offers from luxury hotels, boutique resorts and leading wellness destinations, featuring a wide selection…

  • Lost slow loris returned to forest in Prachuap Khiri Khan | Thaiger

    Lost slow loris returned to forest in Prachuap Khiri Khan

    The Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park authorities in the western province of Prachuap Khiri Khan returned a lost slow loris to the forest after it wandered into a residential area today in search of food. The resident who discovered the animal, Weera Rairueng, told reporters that he heard an unfamiliar animal sound coming from a banana plantation behind his house…

  • Thai Airways profits nearly tripled in last year’s final quarter | Thailand News Today | Thaiger

    Thai Airways profits nearly tripled in last year’s final quarter | Thailand News Today

    Thailand is making headlines in the news for a variety of reasons. Thailand‘s national carrier, Thai Airways, saw a dramatic increase in profits in the last quarter of the year, nearly tripling their profits. This is great news for the country, as it is a sign of economic growth and stability. In addition, Thailand has strengthened its tourism ties with…

  • Thailand scoops democracy award for 2022, seriously | Thaiger

    Thailand scoops democracy award for 2022, seriously

    Thailand, the land of military coups, and political repression, and governed under a military dictatorship, has been crowned the most improved democracy in a recent poll. Who’d have thought? According to the Democracy Index, compiled by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), Thailand has made significant strides in democratic health, jumping from 72nd to 55th place in just one year. And…

  • March Madness: Thailand prepares for a month of festivals and events | Thaiger

    March Madness: Thailand prepares for a month of festivals and events

    Thailand is preparing for a busy month of festivals and events in March, with the return of many annual celebrations that were put on pause during the pandemic. March is a particularly important month in Thailand as it includes the important Buddhist festival of Makha Bucha Day. This holiday falls on the full moon day of the third lunar month…

  • Bangkok taxi driver flees hit-and-run, later stabs victim’s friend | Thaiger

    Bangkok taxi driver flees hit-and-run, later stabs victim’s friend

    A taxi driver involved in a hit-and-run incident at Soi Phahonyothin 52 in Bangkok on Wednesday also stabbed a man before fleeing the scene. However, guilt finally got the better of the driver and he surrendered himself to the police yesterday. The victim stabbed by a taxi driver is a man called Ra. He had surgery after the knife attack…

  • Get ready for delicious seafood at festival in Cha-am, Thailand | Thaiger

    Get ready for delicious seafood at festival in Cha-am, Thailand

    Get ready for a week filled with mouth-watering seafood, live music, and lots of fun activities as Thailand’s oceanside city of Cha-am prepares to host its annual seafood festival. From March 11 to 18, visitors can enjoy a range of delicious locally caught seafood at the event. The festival will be held from the viewpoint of the Cha-am beachfront. Whether…

  • Thai govt launches mouth-watering e-guidebook for foreign foodies | Thaiger

    Thai govt launches mouth-watering e-guidebook for foreign foodies

    Hold on to your buckled belts foodies, because the Thai government has just cooked up something delicious – a mouth-watering e-guidebook aimed at promoting gastronomy tourism for Muslim and foreign visitors alike. The guidebook is so good, it’ll have travellers licking their lips in no time! So, whether you’re foodies seeking new culinary adventures or a traveller looking to spice…

  • Regents International School Pattaya students reach peak of Mt Kilimanjaro | Thaiger

    Regents International School Pattaya students reach peak of Mt Kilimanjaro

    It was a moment of joy, pride, and accomplishment for the Kili ’23 Expedition Team as they reached the summit of Mt Kilimanjaro on March 1st, 2023. After six days of arduous hiking and scrambling, the team of eleven students from Regents International School Pattaya and their leader, Mr Fabia, successfully made it to the top of the highest freestanding…

  • Thai Airways profits nearly tripled in last year’s final quarter | Thaiger

    Thai Airways profits nearly tripled in last year’s final quarter

    Thai Airways International (THAI) had a strong financial performance in the final quarter of 2022, reflecting the gradual recovery of Thailand’s tourism industry. According to the national flag carrier’s annual financial statement filed with the Thai Stock Exchange on February 24, the net income for the fourth quarter of 2022 surged to 11.15 billion baht, almost triple the 4 billion…

  • 3 Thai transwomen attacked by group of taxi drivers near Soi Cowboy | Thaiger

    3 Thai transwomen attacked by group of taxi drivers near Soi Cowboy

    Three Thai transwomen reported they were attacked by a gang of taxi drivers near the popular nightlife spot, Soi Cowboy, in Bangkok at 4am on Tuesday, February 28. The victims also claimed that Thong Lor Police ignored their pleas for justice because they were transgender. One of the victims, 24 year old Watchaya, spoke to the media about the incident…

  • All bets off as MP faces gambling charge in Parliament | Thaiger

    All bets off as MP faces gambling charge in Parliament

    All bets are off according to spokeswoman Pongsri Tharaphume who revealed “an investigation will be launched” into an incident involving an unnamed MP who allegedly engaged in gambling activities at his office in Parliament. Parliament president Chuan Leekpai has requested an investigation to determine whether the MP violated the House’s code of ethics. The investigation was initiated in response to…

  • Thailand strengthens tourism ties with China in high-profile meeting | Thaiger

    Thailand strengthens tourism ties with China in high-profile meeting

    Thailand is strengthening its tourism ties with China after the two countries inked a letter of intent in a high-profile meeting. Chinese Culture and Tourism Minister, Hu Heping, and Thailand’s Tourism and Sports Minister, Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, signed the Letter of Intent between the TAT and China Tourism Group Travel Services. As 2023 marks 48 years of diplomacy between the two…

  • Ladyboy steals English tourist’s gold necklace in Phuket | Thaiger

    Ladyboy steals English tourist’s gold necklace in Phuket

    Police managed to reunite an English tourist with his gold necklace after it was snatched by a ladyboy in the Patong area of Phuket, southern Thailand, in the early hours of this morning. At 4.30am, officers at Patong Police Station were informed that a tourist’s gold necklace was stolen in front of the Central Department Store in Patong. Police rushed…

  • Koh Lipe tourism industry loses 10 million baht after local fisherfolk protest | Thaiger

    Koh Lipe tourism industry loses 10 million baht after local fisherfolk protest

    Local fisherfolk in the southern province of Satun have blocked the Pak Bara Pier to stop people from using it in protest after being banned from fishing for a month due to overlapping rules from two government departments. The result of the closure has affected the tourism industry, especially on Lipe Island, which lost revenue of over 10 million baht. The…

  • Thailand wins award for ‘Best Tourist Country’ in Sweden | Thaiger

    Thailand wins award for ‘Best Tourist Country’ in Sweden

    Thailand continues to make waves across the globe for its reputation as a tourist magnet. Thailand has been recognised as the Best Tourist Country at the 30th annual Grand Travel Awards 2023 in Stockholm, Sweden. Organised by TravelNews, the award is based on a survey conducted by research company Nordic Bench, which collected responses from 3,227 Swedish travellers and travel professionals…

  • 11 Thai police officers arrested for alleged gang rape of 14 year old | Thaiger

    11 Thai police officers arrested for alleged gang rape of 14 year old

    A children’s foundation is rallying for justice after a 14 year old girl was allegedly gang-raped by 15 men. Eleven of the men are reported to be serving Thai police officers and the teenage girl was supposedly raped on multiple occasions in Leoi province in northeast Thailand over a two-year period. Today, officials from the Children, Youth and Families Foundation…

  • Thai men condemed for inappropriately touching Taiwanese YouTuber | Thaiger

    Thai men condemed for inappropriately touching Taiwanese YouTuber

    Thai and Taiwanese netizens condemned two Thai men for inappropriately touching a Taiwanese YouTuber, Ar Yuan, while she was travelling in Bangkok. The Taiwanese YouTuber, Ar Yuan ( 一隻阿圓) runs a YouTube channel called I am CIRCLE (一隻阿圓) which promotes travel and lifestyle videos and draws over 762,000 subscribers to her channel. According to the Taiwanese news agency, ETtoday, Ar…

  • Indian community pushes for Holi festival near Pattaya Beach | Thaiger

    Indian community pushes for Holi festival near Pattaya Beach

    Pattaya’s Indian community is pushing for the upcoming Holi festival to be held near Pattaya Beach. The festival, considered ‘Indian Songkran’ by some, is to be held on Sunday, March 11. The Pattaya Indian Association and Domestic Tourism Association met with Pattaya Mayor Poramase Ngampiches to request the hosting of the “Happy Holi Festival of Colours in Pattaya Thailand” near…

  • Police arrest Cambodian for raging fire at Pattaya ‘secret’ beach (video) | Thaiger

    Police arrest Cambodian for raging fire at Pattaya ‘secret’ beach (video)

    Police arrested a homeless Cambodian national yesterday under suspicion of starting a raging fire at a secret beach in Pattaya, eastern Thailand, on Monday night, causing damages amounting to 300,000 baht. On Monday, 41 year old fisherman Teeraphat Iampinyo discovered a raging fire at a secret beach – mostly used by fishermen to sell fish and store equipment. The beach…

  • Transgender actress marries wealthy Thai businessman | Thaiger

    Transgender actress marries wealthy Thai businessman

    Transgender actress, model, and beauty queen Poyd Treechada Petcharat yesterday tied the knot with wealthy Thai businessman Oak Bhavagha Hongyok. The ceremony, held at Phuket’s Baan Ar-Jor, followed the traditional Peranakan style, which originated with the wave of Chinese immigrants to the region six centuries ago, reported The Straits Times. The 36 year old Poyd gained international recognition after winning…