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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Sponsored 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...
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People’s Alliance rallies to protect Koh Kut, oust Thai PM
The People’s Alliance for Democracy has kicked off a movement to protect Thailand’s sovereignty over Koh Kut, rallying against neighbouring Cambodia’s claims on the island. The movement, led by Kanyut Boonloy, a former civil servant and local leader, gathered around 200 people in Trat yesterday, June 26. Residents, civil servants, former civil servants, students, and merchants donned yellow shirts, waving…
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Paetongtarn visits Sa Kaeo for border security and crime talks
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra is scheduled to visit Sa Kaeo province today to provide support to frontline personnel amid increased border security measures and rising concerns over cross-border crime. Government spokesperson Jirayu Houngsub announced yesterday, June 25, that the visit will start at 10am and will be attended by key Cabinet members, including Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Phumtham…
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Thai military may close Surin temple amid border tensions
Defence Minister Phumtham Wechayachai stated yesterday that local military commanders may advise the closure of Ta Muen Thom Temple in Surin province if tensions at the Thai-Cambodian border escalate. The temple, along with the nearby Prasat Ta Kwai, has become a focal point in the ongoing border disagreement. Recently, there were complaints from Thai citizens regarding inappropriate behaviour by Cambodian…
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Poipet casinos offer promotions to lure back Thai gamblers
Casino operators in Poipet, Cambodia, are implementing enticing travel promotions to attract Thai gamblers back after a noticeable decline in cross-border visits due to increased security measures at the Thai-Cambodian border. A local source noted that smaller gates at the Ban Khlong Luek border checkpoint in Sa Kaeo’s Aranyaprathet district remain operational to facilitate students travelling to school. The official…
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Cambodian workers defy Hun Sen’s call amid border crisis
A fierce diplomatic row between Thailand and Cambodia is putting hundreds of thousands of Cambodian migrant workers in the spotlight — but many are refusing to budge. Tensions flared this month after Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen made an extraordinary plea, urging his countrymen working in Thailand to return home, promising jobs and vocational training. The former prime minister’s appeal…
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Khon Kaen woman strikes it rich with 6 million baht lottery win
A woman from Phu Wiang district in Khon Kaen has become the talk of the town after winning 6 million baht in the national lottery. The lucky number, 507392, was drawn in the lottery yesterday, June 16, landing her the first prize. The Government Lottery Office (GLO) revealed the results, which included other prize numbers such as the three-digit front…
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Korat villager wins 12 million baht lottery jackpot
A lucky resident of Thong Lang village in Thailand’s northeastern province of Nakhon Ratchasima has struck it rich, winning a life-changing 12 million baht in the national lottery. The winning numbers were announced yesterday, June 16, with the first prize number being 507392. In addition to the first prize, the draw included several other winning numbers, such as the three-digit…
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Thai king supports troops at Thai-Cambodian border with gifts
His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua showed his support for the troops guarding the Cambodian frontier, sending royal gifts and a personal message of encouragement in a rare public expression of concern for their welfare. The morale-boosting gesture took place yesterday, June 16, during a formal ceremony at the Ta Muen Thom Temple outpost in the Chong Bok border…
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Tragic fall: Couple tumbles from bridge in northeast Thailand
A man and woman plunged from a bridge at Huai Chan Waterfall in Khun Han district, Sisaket province, in northeast Thailand yesterday after an evening of drinking turned deadly. The couple, aged 38 and 36, suffered serious injuries, and while the man survived, the woman tragically died in the hospital. Emergency services responded quickly, arriving at the scene where locals…
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Roi Et rocket crashes into Yasothon school as festival chaos erupts
A lively rocket festival turned into a terrifying ordeal after a massive homemade rocket crashed through the roof of a school in the northeastern province of Yasothon, narrowly missing teachers during a lesson. At around 9am yesterday, June 11, a 6-inch wide, 4-metre long Saen Tho rocket, launched as part of the annual Bun Bang Fai Festival in Roi Et…
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Imposter monk drags motorcycle along road in Korat (video)
A video showing a man dressed as a monk, tying his robe to a motorcycle with a sidecar and dragging it along a road, has surfaced on Facebook. The incident took place on Mittraphap Road, near Khao Yai Thiang in Si Khio district, Nakhon Ratchasima province, yesterday, June 6. The man is seen crawling on all fours and appeared to…
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Golden GI banana boom brings millions to Chaiyaphum farmers
The Office of Agricultural Economics Region 5 has highlighted the success of the golden banana export initiative in Nong Bua Daeng, Chaiyaphum province. This venture generates over 36 million baht annually for local farmers by producing golden bananas with geographical indication (GI) certification for the international market. Chaisak Wuttisak, director of the Office of Agricultural Economics Region 5 in Nakhon…
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Elderly woman leaps to safety after snake scare in Roi Et (video)
An elderly woman in Roi Et shocked her neighbours – and the Internet – by pulling off a move worthy of an action film after spotting a slithering intruder beneath a house. Kan Kong Suthiprapa, an 80 year old grandmother from Don Hat village in Selaphum district, was sitting on the steps of a neighbour’s house yesterday, June 4, when a…
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Udon Thani temple funeral turns violent as monk and man fight (video)
A confrontation occurred at a renowned temple in Udon Thani’s Mueang district, where a monk and a local man engaged in a physical altercation. The incident was captured on video and shared on social media, prompting public concern. The video shows a man in a black shirt restraining another man, while a monk uses his feet and fists against him.…
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False alarm: No volcano threat in Isaan’s Buriram
A mysterious rumbling heard by mushroom pickers near a long-dormant volcano outside Buriram city sparked local fears of an eruption, but officials have now confirmed it was merely the sound of underground water. Last Thursday, May 22, villagers collecting wild mushrooms at the base of Khao Kradong in Mueang district recorded eerie rumbling noises on their phones. One man shared…
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Udon Thani motorist fined for repainting no-parking kerb
A well-intentioned motorist’s attempt to boost business at a local food stall backfired spectacularly after he was caught painting over a red-and-white no-parking kerb in Udon Thani. The 45 year old auto mechanic, who is not connected to the eatery, took matters into his own hands on Saturday, May 24. Spotting an empty stretch outside the food outlet, he decided…
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Udon Thani boy flees home from alleged abuse by father (video)
In Udon Thani, a 12 year old boy ran away to sleep in an abandoned school, taking a photograph of his deceased mother with him. The boy claimed he left due to being physically harmed by his father and unequal treatment from his grandparents. Ata is now under the care of the Provincial Social Development and Human Security Office and…
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‘Spider-Man’ thieves caught after rooftop escape in Sakon Nakhon
Three daring men pulled off a rooftop escape attempt straight out of a superhero movie — but their ‘Spider-Man’ stunt ended in arrest. Yesterday, May 22, in Sakon Nakhon province, the trio was caught sneaking into a commercial building on Sakon-Nakae Road, only to be cornered by police and rescue workers after a thrilling rooftop chase. A vigilant local alerted…
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New plant species discovered at Phu Kradueng National Park
Researchers from Chulalongkorn University have identified three previously unknown plant species during a survey at Phu Kradueng National Park in the northeastern province of Loei. The team, with support from the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP), focused on spore-bearing plants, including ferns, collecting specimens along the park’s trails. The survey resulted in the collection of 288…
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Thai man goes viral for ‘sleep-riding’ motorbike stunt on a mattress (video)
Who says you can’t sleep on the job and get paid? One Thai man is living the dream after a bizarre and hilarious motorbike stunt sent the Internet into a frenzy. In a now-viral video that’s racked up over 11 million views, the man was seen riding a motorcycle while lying face-down on a mattress, clinging to the handlebars as he cruised down…
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Indian man found dead after going missing from Koh Samet resort
Local fishermen discovered the body of an Indian man in the sea off the eastern province of Rayong on Saturday, May 17, three days after he had disappeared from a resort on Koh Samet. Officers from Phe Police Station had earlier received a report of a missing Indian national, 49 year old Kakumanu, from a resort on Koh Samet. Resort…
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Maha Sarakham man nets 12 million baht lottery windfall (video)
A man from Mueang Phayakkhaphum Phisai district in Maha Sarakham province recently became a multi-millionaire after winning 12 million baht in the Thai lottery. The winning numbers were announced yesterday, May 16, with the first prize number being 251309. The news quickly spread on social media, with the village head of Khok Lam, Asda Nuek Kaewbutsa, expressing his joy on…
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Phu Kradueng cable car sparks sustainability fears
The proposed cable car project in Phu Kradueng National Park, Loei province, has once again been thrust into the spotlight, with questions being raised about its compliance with sustainable development objectives. Opponents argue that the project exemplifies a trend of government-supported large-scale initiatives that could exploit natural resources under the guise of tourism growth. The issue re-emerged late last month…
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31 Thai and Chinese suspects arrested in Rayong for money laundering
Police arrested 18 Thai and 13 Chinese suspects at an accommodation in the eastern province of Rayong for operating a money laundering scheme linked to a scam gang. Officers raided properties in the Ban Chang district of Rayong on two occasions, April 8 and May 7, and arrested 31 suspects involved in the money laundering operation. They also discovered several…
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Tour bus flips in northeast Thailand, 36 injured in midnight crash
Dozens of terrified passengers were left bloodied and bruised after a packed tour bus flipped onto its side in the dead of night in northeast Thailand — with many suspecting the driver had dozed off behind the wheel. The crash occurred around 3am yesterday, May 9, as the Chan Tour bus, en route from Rayong to Nakhon Phanom, veered off…
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Ancient Buddhist relics unearthed in Korat temple dig
In an archaeological breakthrough, ancient Buddhist relics dating back over 1,300 years have been unearthed beneath a historic temple in northeastern Thailand — and experts say the find could reshape our understanding of early Buddhist art in the region. The rare artefacts were discovered in April during a conservation project at Wat Dhammachak Semaram in Sung Noen district, Nakhon Ratchasima.…
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Thai teen in coma after hospital allegedly dismisses snake bite as unimportant
A hospital in the eastern province of Rayong reportedly provided inadequate treatment for a Thai man who was bitten by a snake, leaving the victim in a critical condition. A Thai woman, Paweena Tubtimhom, took to her Facebook account on Wednesday, May 7, to criticise Wang Chan Hospital after her 18 year old employee fell into a coma due to…
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Thai officials brace for rocket risks at Bun Bang Fai festival
Deputy Transport Minister Manaporn Charoensri has directed the Department of Airports (DoA) to work closely with communities to ensure compliance with aviation safety protocols during the forthcoming Bun Bang Fai festival. The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) has established guidelines to mitigate risks, as festival rockets may ascend to altitudes that could endanger aircraft. Approaching festival dates have prompted…
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No new anthrax infections found in Thailand’s Mukdahan province
The anthrax situation in Mukdahan province is showing signs of improvement, with the Public Health Ministry reporting no new cases as of yesterday, May 5. The province has recorded three anthrax cases, according to Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsutin. Of these cases, one person has died, while two remain hospitalised. Some 636 people in the province have come into contact…
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Northeast Thailand’s billion-baht cable car gets green light
A long-proposed cable car project at Phu Kradueng National Park in northeast Thailand is officially shifting into gear after a 25.7 million baht budget was approved for its design. Atthapol Charoenchansa, Director General of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP), confirmed the scheme would see a 3-kilometre route constructed, potentially beginning at the Pha Mak Dook…
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