Eastern Thailand News

Eastern Thailand news, Pattaya news, Isaan news, Rayong updates, and Chonburi developments—stay informed on local events, business, tourism, and culture, including attractions like the Sanctuary of Truth and Koh Samet. Get the latest from The Thaiger, your trusted Eastern Thailand news source.

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    Weekend road trip routes across Thailand [2025]

    Weekend road trips in Thailand are a great way to enjoy beautiful scenery, local culture, and quick getaways without much travel time. From winding mountain routes in the north to coastal drives in the south, every journey brings new sights...

  • Thai student arrested for using AI to create explicit celebrity images | Thaiger

    Thai student arrested for using AI to create explicit celebrity images

    Police in Chon Buri Province arrested a 25 year old man for allegedly creating and distributing explicit images of celebrities using artificial intelligence (AI) technology. The student, Suphanat, has been previously apprehended for similar offences and was found with over 1,000 doctored images. The arrest on April 5, 2024, by the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB) led by Police Major…

  • Khon Kaen parents forced to pay ‘tea money’ for student admission | Thaiger

    Khon Kaen parents forced to pay ‘tea money’ for student admission

    Eight secondary schools in the northeastern province of Khon Kaen found themselves in hot water as officials from the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) launched an investigation into alleged corruption practices. Parents have lodged complaints, accusing decision-makers within these schools of demanding exorbitant “tea money” sums, reaching up to 100,000 baht, from families whose children failed the entrance examination. Thirat Bangpetch,…

  • Michelin Guide makes a tasty debut in Thailand culinary hotspot | Thaiger

    Michelin Guide makes a tasty debut in Thailand culinary hotspot

    Representatives from the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), government officials, media personalities, and distinguished guests converged at the Okura Prestige Bangkok hotel yesterday for a high-profile press conference for the revelation of Chon Buri as the New City Debut for the Michelin Guide Thailand 2025 edition. Chon Buri, nestled on the eastern coast of Thailand, emerges as the perfect canvas…

  • Police nab knife-wielding teenagers in Nakhon Ratchasima | Thaiger

    Police nab knife-wielding teenagers in Nakhon Ratchasima

    A gang of teenagers brandishing knives and causing late-night disturbances with firecrackers in Nakhon Ratchasima province has been apprehended by the police. The group, comprising of both boys and girls, reportedly terrorised the local community with their threatening behaviour. Law enforcement officers from Pak Chong Police Station, led by Police Colonel Veerapol Rabiapthoh, and his team, in collaboration with local…

  • Rayong fisherman nets suspected ambergris worth millions of baht | Thaiger

    Rayong fisherman nets suspected ambergris worth millions of baht

    A fishing expedition near Hua Hin beach in Rayong province recently turned up an unexpected catch for a local fisherman, who netted what appeared to be a lump of ambergris, a valuable substance used in the production of perfume. The discovery has sparked excitement among residents, and experts are being called upon to confirm the authenticity of the find. The…

  • British man dies after bathroom fall at Chon Buri residence | Thaiger

    British man dies after bathroom fall at Chon Buri residence

    A British businessman met a fatal end today at 7.10am after slipping and falling onto a glass sliding door in the bathroom at his Chon Buri residence, resulting in glass impaling his chest. Police Lieutenant Colonel Surasingh Sukmak, the deputy investigator, was notified of the incident which involved 54 year old British national, Gareth John Wilson. The accident took place…

  • Industrial Commission exposes Chinese steel mill’s law violations | Thaiger

    Industrial Commission exposes Chinese steel mill’s law violations

    The Industrial Commission in Thailand has exposed law violations on the back of a Chinese steel mill crane collapsing in Rayong. This mill, as it turns out, is under Chinese ownership. The revelation led by Industrial Commission Chairman Akaradej Wongpitakroj has brought to the surface allegations of multiple Thai law violations by these Chinese investors. The commission informed the public…

  • Workers get million-baht compensation for Rayong crane accident | Thaiger

    Workers get million-baht compensation for Rayong crane accident

    Following a harrowing crane collapse tragedy in Rayong’s Pluak Daeng district where seven lives were lost, negotiations between workers and authorities have culminated in a million-baht compensation deal. The predominantly Myanmar workforce reluctantly reopened the site this morning only after the construction firm, under pressure, agreed to a compensation package amounting to 1.6 million baht for each fatality. The turmoil…

  • Chon Buri bridge marred by graffiti, locals demand action | Thaiger

    Chon Buri bridge marred by graffiti, locals demand action

    Graffiti vandalism on the Chon Buri bridge has sparked outrage among locals, leading to calls for swift action by authorities. Social media was abuzz with criticism after images of spray-painted railings on the bridge surfaced online. The Chon Buri bridge, a landmark of the city, was defaced with large, blue spray-painted words, including crude language that has not only marred…

  • Fishing net tragedy claims life in Sa Kaeo | Thaiger

    Fishing net tragedy claims life in Sa Kaeo

    A local fishing enthusiast tragically lost his life in Sa Kaeo Province. His body was found entangled in a fishing net in a large pond. The 42 year old man, identified only by his first name, Bannarot, had been missing for a day before his body was discovered today, revealing a poignant scene as his older brother performed a spirit-calling…

  • Massive turnout for sacred coin giveaway at Surin temple event | Thaiger

    Massive turnout for sacred coin giveaway at Surin temple event

    Thousands gathered at a temple in Surin Province, eagerly awaiting the distribution of sacred coins and other charitable gifts by the revered monk Luang Pu Heng, known as the god of fortune in southern Isaan. The event, also known as Wat Ban Dan Chong Jom, saw the distribution of 3,000 kilogrammes of rice and 200,000 baht in cash, drawing a…

  • Robot arm crushes worker to death in Chon Buri (video) | Thaiger

    Robot arm crushes worker to death in Chon Buri (video)

    In a heart-wrenching incident at the Vandapac factory in Chon Buri province on Wednesday, a routine day turned fatal when a robotic arm struck a worker, crushing him to death. The unsuspecting worker was going about his duties, laying out sheets of material, when tragedy struck most unexpectedly. Unsettling CCTV footage reveals the horrifying sequence of events, as the massive…

  • Brazen thieves swipe electrical wire in daring daylight raid | Thaiger

    Brazen thieves swipe electrical wire in daring daylight raid

    Two audacious thieves brazenly snatched electrical wire from a residence in Bo Win, Chon Buri, sparking concern among locals. The victim, Prasong Tankratok, a hardworking contractor who often spends long hours away from home, found himself at the mercy of the thieves’ calculated strike. Upon returning from work on Monday, Prasong was met with the disturbing scene of his ransacked…

  • Surin ex-headman’s incense ritual unveils lucky lottery numbers | Thaiger

    Surin ex-headman’s incense ritual unveils lucky lottery numbers

    A revered former village headman ignited incense sticks that revealed auspicious numbers in Surin province yesterday, continuing a streak of providing winning lottery numbers over several draws. The ex-village headman, 61 year old Bai Kannula, led relatives and his family in a ritual to honor the household spirits at his residence, No. 52 in Ban Ka, Nong Khawaw sub-district, Sikhoraphum district,…

  • Surin man travels 2,589 kilometres to witness snow in China | Thaiger

    Surin man travels 2,589 kilometres to witness snow in China

    A young man from Surin Province completed a daring journey from Thailand to China, spanning a staggering 2,589 kilometres. Riding a Honda Wave motorcycle through rugged terrain, the man embarked on this adventure to fulfil his dream of riding through snow, a quest that took seven days to complete, starting on March 17. The man who goes by the name…

  • Glowing gold and sleek black eels captivate crowds at Thai temple | Thaiger

    Glowing gold and sleek black eels captivate crowds at Thai temple

    Villagers and tourists alike flocked to a Thai temple in Chon Buri to witness the enchanting sight of two extraordinary eels, one shimmering in dazzling gold, the other sleek in jet black. The eels swam in a basin at Wat Worapot Sangkhavas Temple in Phan Thong District, Chon Buri. The frenzy was sparked by a viral social media post showcasing…

  • Chon Buri police nab thief stealing 18,000 baht gold bracelet | Thaiger

    Chon Buri police nab thief stealing 18,000 baht gold bracelet

    A theft at a gold shop in Chon Buri Province was foiled when police apprehended a 21 year old factory worker who posed as a customer to steal a gold bracelet. The suspect, Shinawatra, was arrested and confessed to the crime, prompted by the high gold prices to fund personal expenses. The brazen theft occurred at a gold shop in…

  • Kidnap ringleader caught after seven-year hunt in Khon Kaen | Thaiger

    Kidnap ringleader caught after seven-year hunt in Khon Kaen

    The Thai authorities have arrested the alleged ringleader of a drug gang in Khon Kaen, who is accused of kidnapping a 13 year old girl to extort 30,000 baht from her father to settle a methamphetamine debt. The 30 year old suspect, identified as Kamonchai, was apprehended after he reportedly went into hiding following media coverage of the incident on…

  • Sakon Nakhon headman caught in 9 million baht heroin bust | Thaiger

    Sakon Nakhon headman caught in 9 million baht heroin bust

    In a major drug bust, authorities in Bueng Kan Province apprehended three individuals, including a prominent subdistrict headman from Sakon Nakhon, for smuggling nearly 10 kilogrammes of heroin. The arrest took place yesterday afternoon at a border patrol police company in Bueng Kan, following a covert operation led by the local law enforcement and border patrol units. The suspects were…

  • Northeast Thailand: Son murders father in family dispute | Thaiger

    Northeast Thailand: Son murders father in family dispute

    A family tragedy unfolded in Non Sang, Nong Bua Lamphu province when a son murdered his father in a moment of apparent self-defence. The harrowing incident, which took place yesterday evening, resulted in an urgent manhunt for the perpetrator, who is now urged to surrender to the authorities. The deceased, Songsakran, was known by locals for his drastic change of…

  • Koh Chang hotel ordered to demolish illegal concrete platform | Thaiger

    Koh Chang hotel ordered to demolish illegal concrete platform

    The Thai authorities swiftly ordered the demolition of an unauthorised concrete platform that appeared on the pristine White Sand Beach on Koh Chang after residents filed complaints. The discovery of the construction, which encroached into the sea in front of Koh Chang Grand View Hotel, led to a multi-agency investigation, revealing the absence of a permit for such a structure.…

  • Samut Songkhram takes bold steps to save aquatic ecosystem | Thaiger

    Samut Songkhram takes bold steps to save aquatic ecosystem

    To save Thailand’s aquatic ecosystem, the Samut Songkhram Provincial Fisheries Office launched a campaign against the invasive black chin tilapia species. Amidst concerns over the blackchin tilapia’s relentless invasion of natural water resources linked to vital rivers, the Tha Chin and Mae Klong, authorities are taking decisive action. The Samut Songkhram Provincial Fisheries Office took centre stage yesterday, unveiling a vigorous…

  • Young golf caddie’s life cut short in road accident in Sattahip | Thaiger

    Young golf caddie’s life cut short in road accident in Sattahip

    A young golf caddie met a tragic end in a motorcycle crash in Na Jomtien, Sattahip district, Chon Buri province yesterday morning. The accident, which unfolded on the serene stretch of Nong Jap Tao – Khao Chi Chan Road, has plunged a family into mourning and raised urgent questions about road safety. Local authorities were alerted to the accident scene…

  • Motorway mayhem: 26 Chinese tourists injured in bus crash | Thaiger

    Motorway mayhem: 26 Chinese tourists injured in bus crash

    A tourist bus carrying 26 Chinese nationals met with a gruesome accident on the Chon Buri Motorway on Tuesday afternoon. A collision unfolded near the 65 + 900 kilometre marker, inbound towards Bangkok, in the Mueang district of Chon Buri province. When local rescue teams, alongside the highway police, arrived at the accident scene, they were met with a harrowing…

  • Man dies in collision with fuel tanker on Chon Buri motorway | Thaiger

    Man dies in collision with fuel tanker on Chon Buri motorway

    A road accident claimed the life of a 63 year old man when his car collided with the rear of a 10,000-litre fuel tanker yesterday at 5.30am on the motorway in Chon Buri Province. At the crash site near the Khaolam interchange at kilometre marker 80+800 on the inbound lane to Bangkok, authorities found a wrecked Nissan Sunny with Bangkok…

  • Drunk American flees horror crash leaving British family shattered in Thailand | Thaiger

    Drunk American flees horror crash leaving British family shattered in Thailand

    A drunk American man is on the run after a horror smash left a British family of three hospitalized in Thailand. The British man fears unless the fugitive is brought to justice he will continue to drink and drive and cause mayhem after showing no remorse after the crash. Thai police are actively pursuing the American, who is accused of…

  • Man physically assaulted by teens after Korat festival | Thaiger

    Man physically assaulted by teens after Korat festival

    A 55 year old man was physically assaulted by a group of teenagers in Nakhon Ratchasima, sparking outrage from his daughter who demanded justice and called for witnesses. The incident occurred on Wednesday, March 13 at approximately 3.30am, during the final night of the Thao Suranari victory celebration in the Korat region. The man fell victim to a brutal attack…

  • Decade-old Thai rice from controversial scheme found fresh | Thaiger

    Decade-old Thai rice from controversial scheme found fresh

    Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Phumtham Wechayachai conducted a rice inspection following an invitation from the Association of Thai Agricultural Product Surveyors. The association, keen to dispel allegations regarding the quality of rice held under the contentious rice-pledging scheme, orchestrated an eventful visit to warehouses owned by Poonpon Trading Ltd and Kittichai Ltd in different districts of the northeastern…

  • Bus and truck collision injures 30 on Chon Buri expressway | Thaiger

    Bus and truck collision injures 30 on Chon Buri expressway

    A collision involving a bus and a truck on the Burapha Withi Expressway near Bang Pakong, Chon Buri resulted in severe damage and multiple injuries yesterday. The incident, which took place between kilometres 45 and 46, left several passengers trapped and injured. Emergency services rushed to the scene of a major traffic accident on the expressway leading to Chon Buri.…

  • Tourists attacked as hungry monkeys swarm Bang Saen Beach | Thaiger

    Tourists attacked as hungry monkeys swarm Bang Saen Beach

    In the blistering heat of midday last Friday, March 8, a frenzy of ravenous monkeys cascaded down from Khao Sam Muk, invading Bang Saen Beach in Chon Buri province. With desperation in their eyes, the furry bandits eagerly awaited sustenance from unsuspecting tourists, with some even resorting to car-climbing antics in a desperate bid for food. Reports flooded in of…