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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Sponsored Do foreigners get free healthcare in Thailand?
Thailand’s healthcare system is well-regarded across Southeast Asia, with options ranging from public hospitals to world-class private facilities. But when it comes to foreign residents or tourists, healthcare access isn’t as straightforward. So, do foreigners get free healthcare in Thailand?...
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Thai massage steals spotlight at Osaka Expo 2025
Thailand is making waves and easing aches on the global stage, as the ancient art of Thai massage steals the spotlight at the World Expo 2025 Osaka Kansai. With expert therapists, soothing techniques, and herbal traditions on full display, visitors are lining up in droves to experience a touch of Thailand’s healing magic. The Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative…
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Punches and passports: Bangla Road fight goes viral (video)
It was less of a beach holiday and more of a boxing match in Patong, as a shocking video of foreign tourists brawling on Phuket’s infamous Bangla Road has gone viral, drawing heavy criticism and fuelling online debate about visa policies and foreign gangs in Thailand. The drama unfolded in the heart of Patong’s nightlife zone, where two men were seen…
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4 Indian nationals rescued from kidnapping gang in Bangkok
Police today successfully rescued four Indian nationals from a kidnapping for ransom operation carried out by fellow countrymen at a house in Bangkok. An Indian man named Sanjeeve Kumar filed a complaint with officers at Yannawa Police Station on Wednesday, April 16 after learning that his two friends, Ramesh Sharmar and Amandeep Kajal, were detained by a criminal gang. Sharmar’s…
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Songkran crowds pour 1 billion baht into Thai economy
It wasn’t just water flying this Songkran—cash was too. Thailand’s Maha Songkran World Water Festival has soaked the nation in celebration and injected a whopping 1.58 billion baht into the tourism industry, making it one of the most lucrative holiday events in recent memory. According to Government Deputy Spokesperson Anukul Phruksanusak, the five-day spectacle, held from April 11 to 15,…
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Thailand prepares final strategy for Deep South peace
Is peace finally within reach for Thailand’s conflict-hit Deep South? A high-stakes mission next week may mark the turning point in ending decades of unrest in the southern border provinces. Defence Minister Phumtham Wechayachai has announced plans to visit Pattani, Yala, and Narathiwat on April 26 and 27, in what could be the final round of consultations before a formal…
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Drunk pickup driver crashes into family and blocks medical aid
A 70 year old drunk Thai man crashed his pickup into a motorcycle carrying a family of four on a road in the southern province of Phatthalung and obstructed rescue workers from providing medical assistance to the injured. The Phatthalung Rescue Foundation responded promptly to the incident, which occurred on Manora Road in the Kuan Maphrao district on the night…
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Bangkok set for major law shake-up after 40 years
Is Bangkok finally getting the makeover it desperately needs? The capital is set for a long-overdue shake-up, as officials prepare to modernise the decades-old law that governs the city, and it could change how Bangkok is run for generations to come. The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) announced plans to revise the BMA Act 1985, a 40 year old law that…
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Rescued pit bull mauls Thai woman who gave dog second chance
A dog lover who opened her heart to a rescue pit bull cross was left fighting for her life after the animal turned on her in a savage attack, just weeks after it broke a monk’s arm. The 40 year old woman is in a serious condition after a pit bull cross she adopted from a shelter viciously mauled her…
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Byte me: Thai online sellers plug into AI revolution to boost cash
Thailand’s e-commerce scene is getting a high-tech makeover as local sellers turn to artificial intelligence (AI) to outsmart the competition and rake in more baht. But while the potential is massive, a new report reveals most sellers still feel left in the digital dust. Thailand’s online shopkeepers are waking up to the AI boom but many say they’re still struggling…
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Chiang Mai hotels thrive during Songkran with strategic pricing
Hotels in Chiang Mai experienced a strong performance during the Songkran holiday, despite offering lower room rates compared to the previous year. The pricing strategy was aimed at attracting last-minute domestic travellers, whose confidence was affected by last month’s earthquake. Paisarn Sukjarean, President of the Thai Hotels Association’s upper northern chapter, indicated that many Thais remained unsettled by the earthquake…
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Thai woman strangles baby with electric wire after row with boyfriend
A 19 year old Thai woman strangled her 10 month old baby girl with an electric wire following an argument with her boyfriend at a house in the central province of Ratchaburi. Esor News shared part of the video showing the abuse on April 17. The caption read, “This woman strangled her child with an electric wire after her boyfriend…
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Bank of Thailand seeks new governor as Sethaput’s term ends
The Ministry of Finance has initiated the process to select a new governor for the Bank of Thailand (BoT), as Sethaput Suthiwartnarueput’s five-year term concludes on September 30. A selection committee, led by former Finance Permanent Secretary Sathit Limpongpan, will soon convene to establish candidate requirements and the application timeline, according to ministry spokesperson Pornchai Thiraveja. Under Thai law, the…
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Malaysian PM meets Myanmar junta boss in Bangkok hotel
In a move shaking up Southeast Asian diplomacy, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has become the first ASEAN chair to meet face-to-face with Myanmar’s military leader — and he did it in a Bangkok hotel. The unannounced one-hour sit-down between Anwar and Senior General Min Aung Hlaing took place yesterday, April 17, during Anwar’s two-day working visit to Thailand. Also…
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Geely does it: Chinese EV giant shifts gears with Thai expansion
A Chinese electric carmaker is ready to spark up Thailand’s electric vehicle (EV) scene, with big plans, bold investments and a battery-powered push to win over local drivers. Geely, one of China’s top EV brands, is plugging into Thailand in a big way, with its local distributor, Thonburi Neustern Co, unveiling ambitious plans to supercharge the brand’s presence in the…
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Indian women steal the spotlight with viral Pattaya dance
Who needs a stage when the streets of Pattaya will do just fine? Two Indian women have taken the Internet by storm after a video of their impromptu dance performance on a Thai street went viral and the world can’t stop watching. Decked out in traditional Indian attire, the duo lit up the streets of Pattaya with sheer joy, rhythm,…
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Bangkok airport security guard strikes gold but gives it back
A female security guard at Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok is winning praise nationwide after discovering a bag filled with gold necklaces and pulling off a high-speed mission to return it to its owner, just minutes before his flight back to India. CCTV footage from Gate 8 on the 4th floor of the departure terminal shows the heartwarming moment today,…
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Dead baby on street: Thai woman claims she mistook labour for urge to urinate
A Thai woman, who gave birth and left her newborn to die on a street in Bangkok during the Songkran festival, claimed she took drugs and mistook the signs of labour for the need to urinate. The 27 year old woman, Piyathida, shocked the public when her newborn daughter’s body was discovered on a street outside a village in Bangkok’s…
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Thailand video news | Parliament investigates collapsed billion-baht building in Bangkok, Thai influencer ‘Uncle Tony’ faces legal heat over pork video
On today’s Thailand video news update, Jay and Alex cover a wide range of critical stories—from a high-profile corruption investigation over a collapsed government building to a legal controversy involving a social media influencer. Other headlines include a temporary Nescafé ban, the debut of AI policing during Songkran, and regional developments involving China, Russia, and ASEAN neighbours. Here’s a…
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Pattaya boosts Songkran safety with drones and freebies
Tourists heading to Koh Larn for Songkran got more than just a splash this year, they were greeted by high-tech patrols, free gifts, and a full force of security personnel as Pattaya rolled out a slick operation to keep visitors safe and smiling. The action unfolded at the Multi-Purpose Hall on Laem Bali Hai Pier, South Pattaya, where senior officials…
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Brake-ing news: Officials rebuild trust after German tourist crash
Phang Nga officials are scrambling to restore tourist confidence after a horrific road crash left two German holidaymakers critically injured and their toddler hospitalised. The brutal smash happened around 5pm on Tuesday, April 15, in the Khao Lak area, when a speeding pickup truck slammed into a young family crossing Phetkasem Road at a zebra crossing near the local post…
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Reckless BMW driver shifts blame in viral pickup pile-up crash
The aggressive BMW driver captured in a viral video intentionally ramming into a pickup, arrogantly insisted that both he and the injured pickup driver were at fault, the public disagrees. The incident occurred on the Bangkok Outer Ring Road motorway in Pathum Thani and quickly gained public attention after the Facebook page Here on Board (เฮียขับรถ) shared multiple dashcam videos of…
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Thief poses as monk to steal 300k baht from Ubon temple
A thief disguised as a monk targeted the abbot’s quarters at a temple in the Isaan province of Ubon Ratchathani, stealing 300,000 baht. The incident, captured on CCTV, marks the second such theft, leading to a manhunt by local police. The footage, shared by the Warin Chamrap Ban Hao Facebook page, shows a man dressed like a monk leaving the…
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Meth-ed up: Thai drug dealer gobbles stash, ends up in hospital
A Thai drug dealer in Samut Prakan thought he’d outsmart the cops by wolfing down nearly 100 meth pills but instead of escaping jail, he landed himself in hospital fighting for his life. The 40 year old suspect in Samut Prakan sparked a wild police chase before shoving a stash of meth pills down his throat in a desperate bid…
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Teen girl’s leg trapped in drainage grate during Songkran festival
What started as a fun-filled Songkran celebration quickly turned into a nightmare for one teenage girl in Chon Buri’s Sattahip district, after her leg got stuck in a drainage grate in the middle of the street. The 14 year old, dressed in traditional Songkran clothing, had been enjoying the water fights in Sattahip market yesterday, April 17, when she accidentally…
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Baht to the future: Thai currency eyes 33 mark as dollar dives
The Thai baht is flexing its muscles on the global stage, with experts predicting it may surge past the symbolic 33-per-dollar mark in the second quarter, fuelled by trade tensions, a faltering US economy, and sky-high gold prices. According to Kasikorn Research Center (K-Research), the baht has climbed to a six-month high, riding the wave of a weakening US dollar…
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Woman shot dead by boyfriend in Yasothon, northeast Thailand
A tragic incident unfolded in Yasothon province yesterday when a 24 year old woman was fatally shot by her boyfriend following an unsuccessful attempt to reconcile. The woman had previously returned to her home in Samakkhi subdistrict, Loeng Nok Tha district, unable to endure his jealousy-fuelled violence. Officers from Loeng Nok Tha Police Station responded to the scene yesterday, on…
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Swedish man’s ‘explosive’ suitcase sparks airport chaos in Thailand
A Swedish man triggered full-blown airport panic in Udon Thani after leaving behind a suitcase laced with what looked like bomb-making materials, only for it to turn out to be stuffed with nothing more than dried herbs and dirty laundry. The 58 year old Swede sparked a major security scare at Udon Thani International Airport after abandoning a suspicious suitcase…
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Ex-councillor wins 90 million baht lottery jackpot in Chumphon
A former local councillor and shrimp farm owner in Chumphon struck lucky this Songkran festival by winning first prize in the lottery, securing a substantial sum of 90 million baht. This remarkable win was publicised by DJ Wongwattana Matchimasatit, a well-known radio host and former secretary to the mayor of Hat Sairee subdistrict. He shared his congratulations on Facebook, celebrating…
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Bangkok and 46 provinces brace for thunderstorms and heavy rain
Weather forecasts indicate that 47 provinces in Thailand will experience thunderstorms and strong winds, with Bangkok likely to see heavy rainfall from the afternoon into the evening. Residents are advised to remain cautious, especially in southern regions where rain is expected to cover 60% of the area. The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) predicts that the upper part of the country…
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Tariff and away! Thailand backs ASEAN in showdown with Trump
Thailand is saddling up with its ASEAN friends for a tariff tussle with the US, as Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra vows to stand firm against Washington’s trade muscle-flexing and back a united front in talks with Donald Trump’s White House. Thailand PM Paetongtarn has thrown her weight behind ASEAN’s united stand against a hike in US import tariffs, declaring the…
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