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.

  • Sponsored

    Best islands to visit in Thailand before peak tourism season hits

    The Thaiger key takeaways November is the sweet spot. The month offers sunshine without the crowds or inflated prices. The Andaman Sea and Eastern Gulf are dry and peaceful, while the Southern Gulf is still rainy. ravel insurance like SafetyWing’s...

  • 12 Thai and foreign nationals arrested at 2 illegal hotels on Koh Pha Ngan | Thaiger

    12 Thai and foreign nationals arrested at 2 illegal hotels on Koh Pha Ngan

    Police arrested 12 Thai and foreign nationals for illegally running hotels and working without permits on Koh Pha Ngan, an island in the southern province of Surat Thani. Koh Phangan District Chief, Suriya Bunpan, led a joint operation with Immigration Police and Tourist Police to raid two hostels on the island after receiving a report about illegal activities involving foreigners.…

  • Thai daughter begs police to act after mother loses 10 million baht to romance scam | Thaiger

    Thai daughter begs police to act after mother loses 10 million baht to romance scam

    A woman pleaded with police to take action after her 74 year old mother lost nearly 10 million baht in a romance scam and ignored all her warnings. The 41 year old daughter, Mint, brought the case to the non-profit organisation Saimai Survive after failing to get help from both the bank and police. Bank staff told her they could…

  • PM Anutin’s wife stirs press row with ‘mean’ comment to reporters (video) | Thaiger

    PM Anutin’s wife stirs press row with ‘mean’ comment to reporters (video)

    An opposition MP criticised the prime minister’s wife after a comment made to reporters during a press encounter at an airport following his overseas trip. The incident followed Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul’s return from Malaysia earlier this week. Upon arrival at Wing 6 of Don Mueang Airport, Anutin faced a barrage of questions from reporters regarding remarks he made that…

  • Thailand sets sights on sky-high role as aviation powerhouse | Thaiger

    Thailand sets sights on sky-high role as aviation powerhouse

    Thailand’s transport officials are collaborating with aviation leaders to transform the country into a regional hub for aircraft maintenance and connectivity. The Transport Ministry sets plans in motion to transform the nation into a premier aviation hub for Southeast Asia. The strategy focuses heavily on boosting its maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) sector while redirecting air traffic to ease congestion…

  • Pheu Thai veteran Viroj Pao-in dies at 91 after illness | Thaiger

    Pheu Thai veteran Viroj Pao-in dies at 91 after illness

    A former Pheu Thai Party leader passed away at a hospital in Pathum Thani after battling an infection, prompting tributes from political allies and MPs. Thailand’s political landscape bid farewell to a long-serving figure this week as Viroj Pao-in, former caretaker leader of the Pheu Thai Party, passed away at the age of 91. He died from an infection at…

  • Thailand welcomes new Norse Air route from London to Bangkok | Thaiger

    Thailand welcomes new Norse Air route from London to Bangkok

    Thailand welcomed the first Norse Atlantic Airways flight from London-Gatwick to Bangkok, marking a new route aimed at boosting British tourism during the winter season. The inaugural flight touched down at Suvarnabhumi Airport on October 27, where it was greeted with a warm Thai-style welcome ceremony. Executives from the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and Airports of Thailand joined the…

  • Thai husband shoots neighbour for allegedly pursuing his wife | Thaiger

    Thai husband shoots neighbour for allegedly pursuing his wife

    A Thai man was shot in the leg outside a house in the southern province of Nakhon Si Thammarat for allegedly making romantic advances towards his neighbour’s wife. Officers from Bang Khan Police Station were alerted to the shooting at around 3.30am yesterday, October 29. The incident took place outside a residence in Wang Hin sub-district, Bang Khan district, Nakhon…

  • Patong villa thief caught after CCTV exposes cash heist | Thaiger

    Patong villa thief caught after CCTV exposes cash heist

    A Vietnamese man has been arrested in connection with a brazen cash theft from a private pool villa in Patong, after police traced him through CCTV footage and a distinctive motorbike. Patong Police, led by Police Colonel Chalermchai Hirasawat and his investigation team, swooped in on a hotel on Phra Metta Road at around 4pm yesterday, October 29, where the…

  • Family of 6 walks 600 kilometres to pay tribute to Queen Mother Sirikit | Thaiger

    Family of 6 walks 600 kilometres to pay tribute to Queen Mother Sirikit

    A family of six began their 600-kilometre journey on foot from the southern province of Surat Thani to Bangkok to pay their respects to Her Majesty Queen Sirikit, the Queen Mother, at the Grand Palace. To express their loyalty and gratitude, 27 year old Thai man Sitthichai Thongsuwan, together with his family members, set out from Chaiya district in Surat…

  • 74 year old tuk tuk driver swings knife at official’s pickup in Phuket | Thaiger

    74 year old tuk tuk driver swings knife at official’s pickup in Phuket

    A 74 year old Thai tuk tuk driver smashed a window of a welfare vehicle belonging to the Phuket Provincial Office of the Attorney General following an accident yesterday, October 29. Phuket Hotnews reported that the elderly tuk tuk driver, identified only as Kit, displayed violent behaviour at an intersection on Saphan Hin Road in Khlong Yai district. Officers from…

  • Thai MP blasted for wearing pink to mourning Parliament session | Thaiger

    Thai MP blasted for wearing pink to mourning Parliament session

    A Thai MP sparked public outrage after arriving at Parliament in a pink outfit during a mourning session, prompting a party apology and clarification. The incident occurred during a House of Representatives meeting yesterday, October 29, when all attending MPs were expected to wear black as a mark of mourning. Photos later emerged showing Somsak Boonprachom, MP for Ubon Ratchathani…

  • Taiwanese men caught with ketamine, gas stash in Pattaya raid | Thaiger

    Taiwanese men caught with ketamine, gas stash in Pattaya raid

    Two Taiwanese men were arrested after police raided a luxury home in Pattaya, where they found ketamine, laughing gas, and drug-related equipment. The arrest took place in Huay Yai following a tip-off from concerned residents who suspected illegal storage of narcotics and nitrous oxide, commonly known as laughing gas. A joint task force of over a dozen officers from Pattaya…

  • Anutin pushes China on rice deal at high-stakes APEC summit | Thaiger

    Anutin pushes China on rice deal at high-stakes APEC summit

    Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul will ask Chinese President Xi Jinping to speed up a major rice deal during their high-level meeting at the APEC summit in South Korea. Before flying out yesterday, October 29, Anutin confirmed he would request China to fast-track the consideration of importing 500,000 tonnes of Thai rice, a move expected to boost Thailand’s economy and strengthen…

  • Phuket man caught trying to rip wires from abandoned building | Thaiger

    Phuket man caught trying to rip wires from abandoned building

    A man was caught attempting to steal electrical wires from an abandoned building in Phuket, prompting police to arrest him at the scene during the act. Officers from Wichit Police Station arrested a 39 year old man, identified only as Chindanai, after he was found dismantling electrical fittings and attempting to remove wires from a derelict structure on Chao Fa…

  • Chon Buri doctor allegedly pours hot water over 3 year old boy during treatment | Thaiger

    Chon Buri doctor allegedly pours hot water over 3 year old boy during treatment

    A Thai doctor at a clinic in the Bo Win district of Chon Buri has come under scrutiny after allegedly pouring hot water over a three year old Laotian boy, causing severe burn wounds to his body. Laotian parents are seeking justice for their young son, who is suffering from serious burns after hot water was used as treatment on…

  • Thailand video news | Thai army sets conditions for release of Cambodian soldiers, Norse Atlantic launches direct London–Bangkok flights | Thaiger

    Thailand video news | Thai army sets conditions for release of Cambodian soldiers, Norse Atlantic launches direct London–Bangkok flights

    1In today’s Thailand video news, Alex and Jay bring you key stories from across Thailand and Southeast Asia. From the Thai army’s conditions for releasing Cambodian soldiers, to a new direct flight from London to Bangkok set to boost UK tourism, plus a lineup of spine-tingling Thai horror films to get you in the Halloween spirit and more on the…

  • Nigerian man tries to swallow cocaine during his arrest in Pattaya | Thaiger

    Nigerian man tries to swallow cocaine during his arrest in Pattaya

    One of two Nigerian suspects attempted to swallow cocaine during his arrest in Pattaya yesterday, October 29. Chon Buri Immigration Police officers received a tip-off about two Nigerian drug dealers, later identified as 38 year old Amarachi and 22 year old Ikenna. Officers then set up a sting operation and arranged a meeting for a crystal meth sale with Amarachi…

  • Ayutthaya shrine sparks lottery frenzy after string of jackpot wins | Thaiger

    Ayutthaya shrine sparks lottery frenzy after string of jackpot wins

    A shrine in Ayutthaya has sparked nationwide buzz after multiple visitors won top lottery prizes, with many now hoping to become the next lucky winner. The shrine, called Father of Million Baht (พ่อแก่เงินล้าน), is located in Bang Phra Khru, Nakhon Luang District, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya province. It has already produced seven first-prize lottery winners. Now, with the next draw…

  • Grand Palace closed for royal rites until November 8 | Thaiger

    Grand Palace closed for royal rites until November 8

    Thailand has closed its iconic Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew to visitors as royal funeral rites take place in honour of the late Queen Mother. The Bureau of the Royal Household announced that the Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew, also known as the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, will be closed from October 26 to November 8. The…

  • Nursing student killed while aiding crash victims on Pattaya motorway | Thaiger

    Nursing student killed while aiding crash victims on Pattaya motorway

    A Thai nursing student lost her life while assisting victims of a five-car pile-up on the motorway to Pattaya in the early hours of yesterday morning, October 29. Two others were killed and five were injured in the crash. The fatal accident was reported to the Highway Police at around 3.30am. The incident occurred on Motorway Number 7 in the…

  • Thailand hit by unseasonal chill and heavy rain warnings | Thaiger

    Thailand hit by unseasonal chill and heavy rain warnings

    Thailand is facing a weather shake-up as cool mornings and heavy rains sweep across several regions, prompting warnings for residents and farmers nationwide. A low-pressure system over the Cape of Annam and weakening high-pressure in upper Thailand are triggering widespread rain and storms, especially in northeastern and southern provinces. The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) warns of flooding risks and crop…

  • Thai army tells Cambodia: Meet our terms or no soldiers release | Thaiger

    Thai army tells Cambodia: Meet our terms or no soldiers release

    The Royal Thai Army (RTA) has confirmed it will release 18 detained Cambodian soldiers, captured in Sisaket in July, only if the Cambodian government fully complies with four stringent conditions. RTA spokesperson Major General Winthai Suvaree said the conditions, grounded in international law, must be met before any release is possible. “Hostile actions must cease significantly, and Cambodia must meet…

  • Thai police warn rowdy Israeli tourists to clean up act | Thaiger

    Thai police warn rowdy Israeli tourists to clean up act

    Thai officials and Israeli officials met in Phuket to address growing concerns over misconduct by Israeli tourists in popular destinations across Thailand. Thailand has called for better behaviour from Israeli tourists following a meeting between Thai law enforcement and Avi Bitton, a senior adviser to Israel’s Security Council. The talks, held in Phuket, were led by Police Major General Suwat…

  • Phuket’s veggie fest ends with sacred send-off to the gods | Thaiger

    Phuket’s veggie fest ends with sacred send-off to the gods

    Phuket marked the final day of its annual vegetarian festival with a sacred Buddha procession through the city, drawing crowds despite rainy conditions. The final day of the Phuket Vegetarian Festival 2025 concluded with a sacred ceremony steeped in tradition, as worshippers gathered for the revered Iu Keng ritual, a spiritual procession believed to carry away misfortune and bestow blessings…

  • Anutin brushes off China worries over rare earths deal with US | Thaiger

    Anutin brushes off China worries over rare earths deal with US

    Thailand’s prime minister dismissed concerns that a new rare earth cooperation deal with the US could strain relations with China, calling it goodwill. PM Anutin Charnvirakul made the remarks after returning from the ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur, addressing media at Don Mueang’s Wing 6 terminal in Bangkok yesterday, October 28. Anutin was responding to questions about the memorandum of…

  • Bangkok couple arrested for sex trafficking underage girls | Thaiger

    Bangkok couple arrested for sex trafficking underage girls

    Police have apprehended a couple operating a hotel in the Bang Khae district of Bangkok for allegedly sex trafficking underage girls. The arrest was made yesterday, October 28, led by Police Colonel Witthaya Sriprasertphap, head of the Anti-Human Trafficking Division. The suspects, 58 year old Wichit and his 37 year old wife, Boom, face charges of human trafficking and facilitating…

  • Jilted ex snatches bag in Pattaya, chased down by locals | Thaiger

    Jilted ex snatches bag in Pattaya, chased down by locals

    A Thai woman was left shaken after her ex-boyfriend allegedly snatched her bag in Pattaya, prompting nearby residents to intervene and detain the suspect. The incident occurred at around 12.10am on Monday, October 27, in Soi Pattaya Tai 24, when a 35 year old Thai woman was approached by her former boyfriend, an Indian national, who allegedly attempted to reconcile…

  • Patong scrambles for help after hillside collapse chaos | Thaiger

    Patong scrambles for help after hillside collapse chaos

    A landslide struck a hillside road in Patong following heavy rain, prompting officials to seek urgent help from provincial and national agencies. The incident occurred on the upper slope of 50 Pi Road, where heavy rain last week triggered a collapse of foundations and retaining walls. Concrete debris and soil fell onto the roadside below, forcing a temporary road closure.…

  • Burmese worker dies after fall from moving garbage truck in Kathu | Thaiger

    Burmese worker dies after fall from moving garbage truck in Kathu

    A Myanmar worker died after falling from a moving garbage truck in Kathu district, Phuket, while transporting waste, prompting a police investigation into the fatal accident. The incident occurred around 2.20pm yesterday, October 28, near the Kathu Social Security Office on Phra Phuket Kaew Road. Police and emergency responders arrived to find a six-wheeled private garbage truck parked at the…

  • Thai govt fires up 44 billion baht cash splash to boost spending | Thaiger

    Thai govt fires up 44 billion baht cash splash to boost spending

    Thailand’s government has launched a nationwide co-payment scheme to boost consumer spending and support economic growth in the final quarter of the year. The Khon La Khrueng Plus programme, officially launched today, October 29, aims to boost domestic spending and soften the blow of a projected Q4 slowdown. Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas said the initiative is expected to lift GDP…