Bangkok News

Bangkok news, politics, business, crime, and nightlife—stay updated with breaking stories, events, and expat updates from Thailand’s capital. Get the latest from The Thaiger, your trusted Bangkok news source.

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    Long-term life in Thailand? 5 reasons private health insurance pays off in the long run

    Thailand is a great place for expats and retirees, offering a warm climate, affordable living, and rich culture. However, healthcare can be tricky for foreigners since they aren’t eligible for public health coverage, and private care can be expensive. Private...

  • Thailand Winter Festival fuels tourism boom

    Thailand Winter Festival fuels tourism boom

    Thailand‘s vibrant cultural tapestry, woven with ancient traditions and modern spectacles, is driving a tourism surge, with the Thailand Winter Festival taking the spotlight as the grand finale of 2023. The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) wrapped up the year with a dazzling Thailand Winter Festival, featuring five cultural extravaganzas, including a Colorful Canals promotion for the mesmerising Loy Krathong…

  • Stranded man sells appliances for 800 baht to visit ill sister

    Stranded man sells appliances for 800 baht to visit ill sister

    A 56 year old man was deceived and abandoned by a van driver, leaving him stranded along Bang Na-Trat Road, Bang Phli district, Samut Prakan province. Phorncharoen Saengthothep, originally from Udon Thani, was travelling back home to care for his sick sister suffering from diabetes and had sold his rice cooker and fridge for 800 baht to fund his journey.…

  • Vet shares unusual tale of pet pig choking on pork meatball on TikTok (video)

    Vet shares unusual tale of pet pig choking on pork meatball on TikTok (video)

    A bizarre incident occurred when a local villager brought his pet pig to a vet in a fertiliser sack, after it choked on a pork meatball, yesterday, December 20. The incident was shared on TikTok by user @naynaykung019, who happens to be the treating veterinarian. The video clip shows the pet pig owner seeking help, stating that his pet pig…

  • MFP Pita defends himself over shareholding charge at Constitutional Court

    MFP Pita defends himself over shareholding charge at Constitutional Court

    Pita Limjaroenrat, the advisory chairman of the Move Forward Party (MFP), defends himself at the Constitutional Court over the charges against him for the iTV shareholding case. The Court was poised to dissect his involvement in the beleaguered iTV – a spectacle eagerly anticipated by political enthusiasts. At precisely 9.10am, Pita, exuding an air of calm confidence, addressed the media.…

  • Bangkok BTS Skytrain extends service hours to 2am on December 31

    Bangkok BTS Skytrain extends service hours to 2am on December 31

    Bangkok BTS Skytrain will extend moments of happiness for the passengers with extended service hours from midnight to 2am on the last day of the year December 31. The board director of the Bangkok Mass Transit System Public Company, Surapong Laoha-unya, announced yesterday, December 19, that the BTS Skytrain will extend its operating hours at all stations and lines on on…

  • The hidden struggle of Thailand’s overlooked workforce

    The hidden struggle of Thailand’s overlooked workforce

    Thailand’s National Statistical Office (NSO) Director, Piyanut Wuthison, has exposed the stark reality of the nation’s labour force where 21 million workers in the informal sector constitute a staggering 52.3% of Thailand‘s workforce. “Our annual survey sheds light on the silent warriors of the informal labour sector, a staggering 21 million strong. These workers, often grappling with irregular hours and…

  • Government criticised after drunk teen found sleeping near Khao San Road

    Government criticised after drunk teen found sleeping near Khao San Road

    A Bangkok municipal official helped send a 16 year old drunk Thai girl home after she slept on a footpath near Khao San Road. Netizens urged authorities to pay attention to underaged partygoers. A popular news page, Thaicrime Online, shared a video showing a municipal officer from the City Law Office and two men carrying a drunk teenager to a…

  • Art extravaganza at BACC: Discover Hong Kong West Kowloon and harmonious generations gala

    Art extravaganza at BACC: Discover Hong Kong West Kowloon and harmonious generations gala

    The Bangkok Art and Culture Centre (BACC) is gearing up for a week of cultural immersion, featuring two events that promise to be nothing short of extraordinary. Unlocking West Kowloon’s Secrets: A 20-Year Odyssey On the 5th floor Auditorium, today, December 19, from 6pm to 7.30pm, join the inaugural session of the BACC Circle executive talk series. Renowned speaker Bernard…

  • Cable thefts solved: Name on getaway car led to arrest of 3 thieves

    Cable thefts solved: Name on getaway car led to arrest of 3 thieves

    Police were able to identify and arrest three thieves who were stealing electrical cables in Bangkok because the name of one of the thieves was written on the car they used to commit the crime. Officers from the Don Mueang Police Station received numerous theft reports from a construction site of the New Connect Don Mueang condominium on the Vibhavadi…

  • Thai police and health agencies join efforts to tackle rising mental health-related crimes

    Thai police and health agencies join efforts to tackle rising mental health-related crimes

    The Royal Thai Police (RTP) have joined forces with public health agencies, signing a game-changing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to address the escalating issue of individuals with psychological disorders. The initiative aims not only to curb the growing number of attacks but also to ensure those affected receive the vital medical treatment they urgently require. Deputy National Police Chief, Police…

  • Foreign buyers flock to Thailand’s tropical condos: Chinese and Russians lead

    Foreign buyers flock to Thailand’s tropical condos: Chinese and Russians lead

    Foreign buyers such as the Chinese and Russian are dominating the condominium scene, turning Bangkok, Pattaya, and Phuket into international real estate playgrounds. A staggering 10,703 units, raking in a jaw-dropping 52.3 billion baht, exchanged hands in the nine months leading up to September, marking a whopping 38% surge from the previous year, according to the Real Estate Information Center,…

  • King’s son returns to Thailand: Grabs first Thai ID and passport

    King’s son returns to Thailand: Grabs first Thai ID and passport

    His Majesty the King‘s second eldest son, Vacharaesorn Vivacharawongse, has made a monumental return to Thailand, marking his presence by securing his first-ever Thai ID card and a brand-new passport. The royal revelation was brought to light by political maven Chompoonute Nakornthap, aka Cherie, in a Facebook post that set social media abuzz. The tantalising post yesterday, December 15, featured…

  • Ex-Labour Ministry secretary faces horror as 40 million baht property title deeds vanish

    Ex-Labour Ministry secretary faces horror as 40 million baht property title deeds vanish

    A former Labour Ministry secretary revealed a shocking case where his mortgage title deeds for a home and land worth 40 million baht have disappeared. The property, a 418 square metre lot in an upscale village in Nonthaburi province, was mortgaged to a reputable bank in 2003. Paisan (surname withheld) explained that he had been regularly servicing the debt, reducing…

  • Thai tourism boom: 9,000 Chinese flock to Bangkok for game-changing conference

    Thai tourism boom: 9,000 Chinese flock to Bangkok for game-changing conference

    Thailand played host to a jaw-dropping 9,000 Chinese entrepreneurs, propelling the country into the limelight as the ultimate business and leisure destination. Amid the glitz and glamour of Bangkok’s Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) held a conference on agricultural products and technology. Chinese agricultural and technology experts, as well as economic professionals, attended the…

  • Unemployed Thai man arrested for gold theft after his birthday party

    Unemployed Thai man arrested for gold theft after his birthday party

    Police arrested an unemployed Thai man for stealing a gold necklace from a shop in Bangkok after paying off debts and throwing himself a belated birthday party at a resort in the central province of Kanchanaburi. Officers at Phetchakasem Police Station received a theft complaint at the Mae Thong Kham gold shop on Phetchakasem Road in Bangkok’s Bang Kae district…

  • Motorcycle parking fee confusion at Mo Chit 2 terminal clarified by TCL

    Motorcycle parking fee confusion at Mo Chit 2 terminal clarified by TCL

    Transport Company Limited (TCL) clarified a recent complaint about a 1,500 baht fee for a four-day motorcycle parking at Mo Chit 2 terminal. The matter, raised on the Facebook page “Want to be famous, I’ll arrange it with a video clip,” featuring a caption claiming a charge of 1,500 baht for four-day motorcycle parking at Mo Chit 2, has been…

  • Khao San Road unaffected by 4am closing time due to exclusion from approved zone

    Khao San Road unaffected by 4am closing time due to exclusion from approved zone

    Tourism operators on Khao San Road expressed their indifference towards the forthcoming 4am closing time set to come into effect from today, stating it will have minimal impact due to the area’s exclusion from the approved zone for extended hours. Sanga Ruangwattanakul, who presides over the Khao San Road Business Association, pointed out that there is a prevailing confusion among…

  • Former transport minister Saksayam Chidchob to be judged by charter court

    Former transport minister Saksayam Chidchob to be judged by charter court

    The Constitutional Court will unveil its verdict on January 17 on the contentious share concealment accusations against former Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob. Following a marathon six-hour hearing, Saksayam defended himself against all accusations. “I’ve laid bare the truth about my stake in Burijarearn Construction Limited Partnership. I’ve fully explained the matter.” The court spectacle featured an ensemble cast, including Varaporn Thetsen,…

  • Thai tourism booms as over a quarter vow to return: Visa insights

    Thai tourism booms as over a quarter vow to return: Visa insights

    A Visa study has uncovered that Thailand is set to witness a tourism surge with a whopping 28% of travellers who explored the country this year, expressing their firm intention to make a return within the next 12 months. The 2023 Global Travel Intentions Study by Visa, the largest and longest-running consumer insights study of its kind, has provided a…

  • Bangkok’s Red Cross Fair at Lumpini: Where the fun never ‘cross’-es the deadline

    Bangkok’s Red Cross Fair at Lumpini: Where the fun never ‘cross’-es the deadline

    The renowned Red Cross Fair, held at Lumpini Park, Bangkok, is still going strong after it kicked off on December 8. Don’t miss out on the fun and frolics before the fair ends on December 18. A golden location within the event sees vendors bidding for the best spots. With a theme of Joyful Happiness at the Place of Giving,…

  • Jodd Fairs Rama 9 market in Bangkok reopens after fire

    Jodd Fairs Rama 9 market in Bangkok reopens after fire

    Jodd Fairs Rama 9 market in Bangkok announced its official reopening yesterday after a fire broke out and destroyed 120 shops on December 13. The fire slightly injured a Thai woman and destroyed shops, mostly fashion and clothing, on Wednesday, December 13. Huay Kwang district chief Paitoon Ngammook told the public that the market would be closed for at least…

  • Vape trails go up in smoke: Police puff out a e-cigarette distribution network in Bangkok busts

    Vape trails go up in smoke: Police puff out a e-cigarette distribution network in Bangkok busts

    A significant e-cigarette distribution network has been dismantled by the police, following a series of raids in Bangkok. The leader of the network, 32 year old Jenkij Hom-aroon, was apprehended during the operation that occurred yesterday. The Consumer Protection Police Division (CPPD) spearheaded the operation, acting on information related to the Iqos Thailand FanClub. This Facebook group was identified as…

  • Revolutionary roadmap revealed: Thailand’s expressway blitz to slash emissions

    Revolutionary roadmap revealed: Thailand’s expressway blitz to slash emissions

    The Expressway Authority of Thailand (EXAT) unwrapped an audacious 10-year blueprint set to roll out 200 kilometres of spanking new expressways, aimed at slashing a whopping 30% of greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. The ambitious plan is the key to unlocking Thailand’s carbon neutrality by 2050, as revealed by EXAT Governor Surachet Laophulsuk at the electrifying Sustainability Forum 2024 hosted…

  • Thai senator faces lawsuit for alleged money laundering

    Thai senator faces lawsuit for alleged money laundering

    Senator Upakit Pachariyangkun is facing charges after public prosecutors filed a lawsuit against him today, December 14. The Thai politician has been accused of money laundering and aiding a transnational criminal organisation. This legal action follows the Office of the Attorney-General (OAG) decision to indict Upakit on charges of money laundering, involvement in a transnational criminal organisation, and alleged support…

  • Thai PM unleashes bold tourism overhaul: Second-tier provinces take centre stage

    Thai PM unleashes bold tourism overhaul: Second-tier provinces take centre stage

    Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin shook the foundations of Thailand‘s tourism strategy, revealing a radical shift during a high-stakes meeting at Government House. The Thai premier, flanked by Tourism and Sports Minister Sudawan Wangsuphakijkosol and Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Chief Thapanee Kiatphaibool, unveiled his masterplan to propel the nation into a perpetual high-season destination, leaving traditional hotspots like Chiang Mai…

  • Irishman’s life hangs by a thread after mosquito bite in Thailand

    Irishman’s life hangs by a thread after mosquito bite in Thailand

    A truck driver from Cork, Ireland, is fighting for his life in a Bangkok hospital after an unexpected twist of fate following a rare mosquito bite in Thailand. The Burke family now faces daily bills of 2,700 euros (103,213 baht) for his intensive care, leaving them in a desperate plea for help. Originally planning to return home on November 19,…

  • Revolutionary Thai project turns waste into gold: The PARQ’s green secrets unveiled

    Revolutionary Thai project turns waste into gold: The PARQ’s green secrets unveiled

    In a move towards environmental sustainability, The PARQ, Thailand‘s pioneering mixed-use development, has unveiled its secret weapon: a cutting-edge waste management system that’s turning food waste into nutrient-rich plant vitamins. As the first project in Thailand to achieve the prestigious LEED Gold® version 4 certification and the WELL certified™ core gold standard, The PARQ is not just a real estate…

  • Nightly temples extravaganza: Bangkok’s spiritual spectacle lights up the sky

    Nightly temples extravaganza: Bangkok’s spiritual spectacle lights up the sky

    In a dazzling celebration of tradition and spirituality, Bangkokians are set to bask in the mesmerising glow of the city’s temples after dark. The much-anticipated Illuminated 10 Temples and National Museum event promises a spiritual journey like no other, offering locals and tourists alike a chance to bid adieu to the old year and embrace the dawn of the new…

  • Thai Airways tests sustainable aviation fuel on Phuket-Bangkok flight

    Thai Airways tests sustainable aviation fuel on Phuket-Bangkok flight

    Thai Airways International and PTT Oil and Retail Business PLC piloted a flight employing sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) from Phuket to Bangkok yesterday, December 13. The initiative, which signals a significant stride towards an environmentally friendly aviation industry, was revealed during a media briefing at Phuket International Airport. Disathat Panyarachun, the head of PTT Oil and Retail Business PLC, explained…

  • NEPC plans to cap power tariff for Thai households at current rate

    NEPC plans to cap power tariff for Thai households at current rate

    The National Energy Policy Council (NEPC), in its recent meeting, moved to limit the power tariff for households consuming not more than 300 units a month at the existing rate of 3.99 baht per unit, an insider familiar with the meeting discussions revealed. In the NEPC meeting, led by Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, two main points were reviewed, both related…