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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    How much travel insurance should cost you in Thailand (By trip length)

    When planning a trip to Thailand, travel insurance is a smart investment that can save you from unexpected costs. Whether it’s medical expenses, lost luggage, or trip cancellations, the right coverage can provide peace of mind and financial protection against...

  • South Korean man plunges to death in mystery Pattaya hotel fall

    South Korean man plunges to death in mystery Pattaya hotel fall

    A South Korean man plunged to his death from a Pattaya hotel rooftop in a late-night mystery, just two days before a young Chinese man fell fatally from another building in the city. It’s unsure whether it was an accident or whether he is another victim of the insensitively titled Pattaya Flying Club. Emergency crews from the Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan…

  • Thai Vietjet launches cheap Mumbai-Phuket flights

    Thai Vietjet launches cheap Mumbai-Phuket flights

    Holidaymakers dreaming of sun-soaked Phuket get ready to pack your bags – budget airline Thai VietJet Air is turning up the heat on the India-Thailand travel scene with a brand new direct flight from Mumbai to the island paradise. The low-cost carrier, part of the larger VietJet Aviation Group, is set to launch the highly anticipated route in August, giving…

  • Man electrocuted, another injured in Udon Thani tree accident

    Man electrocuted, another injured in Udon Thani tree accident

    A 49 year old man died, and a 58 year old man was seriously injured while cutting eucalyptus trees for sale yesterday, July 7, in the Udon Thani province. The accident occurred when the tree’s branches came into contact with high-voltage power lines. Police Colonel Fasatan Laosen from Sangkhome District Police Station, Udon Thani, received a report of the incident,…

  • Thailand Video News | Thai government withdraws casino bill amid political crisis and public pushback, Thailand sees 34% drop in Chinese tourists, forcing revised outlook

    Thailand Video News | Thai government withdraws casino bill amid political crisis and public pushback, Thailand sees 34% drop in Chinese tourists, forcing revised outlook

    In Thailand, cannabis advocates are protesting potential recriminalization, fearing economic fallout for small businesses, while the government simultaneously retreats from a controversial casino bill amid political upheaval. The country is also reeling from a sharp drop in Chinese tourists, viral concerns over road safety, and heated conversations around marketing ethics, all while launching new efforts—like Phuket’s night market—to revive local…

  • Bloodied man staggers from Pattaya alley after savage attack

    Bloodied man staggers from Pattaya alley after savage attack

    A bloodied man staggered out of a Pattaya alley screaming for help after a suspected booze-fuelled blade attack, with police now hunting the mystery knifeman behind the brutal ambush. A middle-aged Thai man, known only by the nickname “Mr Brave,” was found drenched in blood with horrific facial wounds in Soi Banglamung 13/1, Moo 5 yesterday, July 7, following what…

  • Five Thai men caught trying to cross border from Poipet

    Five Thai men caught trying to cross border from Poipet

    Five Thai men were apprehended attempting to illegally cross the border back into Thailand from Poipet yesterday, July 7. The Burapha Task Force, along with the Aranyaprathet Special Unit and the 1201 Ranger Company, intercepted the group. Initial inquiries revealed they were gamblers who had pawned their passports in an attempt to continue betting but eventually found themselves penniless. Four…

  • Burmese family in Phuket apologises after viral motorcycle photo

    Burmese family in Phuket apologises after viral motorcycle photo

    A Burmese family in Phuket issued a public apology after a photo of all seven members travelling on a single motorcycle went viral and sparked controversy on Thai social media. The image, showing a family of seven riding a motorcycle through the Sam Kong Tunnel in Phuket, was widely circulated on social media yesterday, July 7. In the photo, the…

  • Child’s mishap sparks fire panic at Phatthalung shopping mall

    Child’s mishap sparks fire panic at Phatthalung shopping mall

    A fire incident occurred in a well-known shopping mall in Phatthalung, when a 10 year old child, while waiting for their guardian to pay, lit a cardboard box with a lighter, causing smoke and panic. Employees and customers fled the scene. The incident happened at 7pm yesterday, July 7, with Phatthalung Municipality fire officials receiving reports of the fire at…

  • Suspect in Phatthalung shooting caught in Songkhla rubber plantation

    Suspect in Phatthalung shooting caught in Songkhla rubber plantation

    Police have apprehended a 35 year old man, the suspect in the shooting of 54 year old man in Phatthalung. The suspect, Teerapong, also known as Boy, had evaded capture by hiding in a rubber plantation after a bounty of 100,000 baht was placed on his head. The arrest operation was carried out by the Centre for the Prevention and…

  • Tsunami fears rattle Phuket as officials urge calm

    Tsunami fears rattle Phuket as officials urge calm

    Thailand urged the public to “stay aware, not scared” after a spate of offshore earthquakes sent social media into meltdown and raised awkward questions about tsunami preparedness in Phuket and along Thailand’s Andaman coast. The call for calm came during a high-level emergency briefing chaired by Deputy Interior Minister Thirat Rattanawanich yesterday, Monday, July 7, as Phuket officials joined a…

  • Thai royal award celebrates Vietnam’s top teachers

    Thai royal award celebrates Vietnam’s top teachers

    Vietnam’s star educators are basking in the royal spotlight after a Thai delegation arrived to celebrate their achievements and ramp up educational ties across Asia. From July 6 to 8, a high-profile delegation from the Princess Maha Chakri Award Foundation (PMCAF), led by Chairman Dr Krissanapong Kirtikara, visited Vietnam to meet past award winners, promote regional cooperation and prepare for…

  • Fire devastates commercial building in Pathum Thani

    Fire devastates commercial building in Pathum Thani

    A fire erupted at a three-storey commercial building selling electrical appliances on Pathum Thani-Lat Lum Kaeo Road, Pathum Thani province, around 4am today, June 8. The incident prompted Deputy Police Inspector Supakorn Chammanee from Khu Bang Luang Police Station to investigate, accompanied by local officials, including Nipon Khaokham, the mayor of Khu Kwang subdistrict, and Theerachai Silakhaw, the village headman.…

  • Thai man admits killing 2 year old stepson for crying too much

    Thai man admits killing 2 year old stepson for crying too much

    A Thai man confessed to killing his two year old stepson at a house in Nonthaburi province near Bangkok, claiming the child’s crying irritated him. The boy, named Kong Beng, was rushed to Sai Noi Hospital in Bang Bua Thong district at around 10pm on Sunday, July 6, after being found unconscious in the family home. Despite medical efforts, he…

  • Cat-astrophe in Pattaya: Faulty bug zapper blamed as fire guts bar

    Cat-astrophe in Pattaya: Faulty bug zapper blamed as fire guts bar

    A racy late-night basement bar in Pattaya went up in flames in the early hours, with shocked punters and neighbours jolted awake by the acrid stench of smoke and the sound of sirens. The fire, which tore through Cat Flaps on Soi Phratamnak 4 just after 2am, yesterday, July 7, marked the third bar blaze in Pattaya in as many…

  • Government warns Thais: Nominee roles risk jail time

    Government warns Thais: Nominee roles risk jail time

    The government issued a warning against acting as nominees for foreign investors in business ventures, particularly in tourism-related sectors, highlighting the risk of severe legal repercussions. Sanctions include imprisonment, substantial fines, asset confiscation, and the revocation of business licences. Deputy Government Spokesperson Anukul Pruksanusak stated that many are either unknowingly or willingly being used as fronts or nominees by foreigners…

  • Thailand braces for heavy rain with 39 provinces at risk

    Thailand braces for heavy rain with 39 provinces at risk

    The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) forecasts continuous heavy rainfall across Thailand, identifying 39 provinces at risk. The northeast, north, and east are expected to be most affected. Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Danas is projected to make landfall on July 7. Over the next 24 hours, Thailand is anticipated to experience sporadic heavy rainfall, prompting a warning for residents in areas like…

  • Last farewell: Thai-Swedish couple arrested in Phuket for selling cocaine

    Last farewell: Thai-Swedish couple arrested in Phuket for selling cocaine

    A Swedish man and his Thai girlfriend bid farewell to each other after they were arrested at a condominium in Phuket yesterday, July 6, for selling cocaine. Officers from Patong Police Station reported the arrest of the two suspects, a 41 year old Swedish man and his 31 year old Thai girlfriend, yesterday. The names of the suspects have not…

  • Thailand struggles to revive Chinese tourism as arrivals drop 34%

    Thailand struggles to revive Chinese tourism as arrivals drop 34%

    Thailand’s tourism sector is grappling with a sharp decline in Chinese arrivals, forcing tourism agencies to lower expectations and step up efforts to attract more visitors. In the first half of 2025, Chinese tourist numbers fell by 34% compared to last year, with only 2,265,556 arrivals recorded. This downturn has pushed China into second place behind Malaysia, which saw 2,299,897…

  • Manchester gets Thai’d up with new direct flight to Bangkok

    Manchester gets Thai’d up with new direct flight to Bangkok

    Manchester Airport is flying high after bagging a brand-new direct route to Bangkok, making it the only airport outside London with a non-stop flight to the Thai capital. The weekly service, operated by Norse Atlantic Airways on a Boeing 787-9, will take off in November, offering northerners a hassle-free ticket to the most-visited city on the planet. Tickets have just…

  • Family of 7 on motorcycle sparks safety outrage in Phuket

    Family of 7 on motorcycle sparks safety outrage in Phuket

    A couple in Phuket sparked online criticism after a photo showing them dangerously transporting five children on a motorcycle circulated on Thai social media. Phuket Hotnews, and Newshawk Phuket, shared images of the family of seven riding on a single motorcycle yesterday, July 6, accompanied by a caption reading, “How many people can you count?” According to the pages, the…

  • Police investigate toddler’s death with bruises in Nonthaburi

    Police investigate toddler’s death with bruises in Nonthaburi

    A two year old boy has died with bruises covering his body, prompting an investigation by police in Nonthaburi province. The child’s biological father fainted upon arriving at the hospital, while the mother suspects her new partner of four months. At 10.20pm yesterday, July 6, police from Sai Noi Police Station were informed by Sai Noi Hospital that a man…

  • Phuket’s got night fever as new market hits the spot

    Phuket’s got night fever as new market hits the spot

    Phuket Town has a new reason to stay up late, a sprawling night market has officially opened near Surin Circle, giving a boost to small businesses and offering a fresh hotspot for locals and tourists alike. The Plern Pao Night Market was launched with a flourish on Saturday, July 5, with Phuket MP Thitikan Thitiphrutikul presiding over the opening ceremony.…

  • Bangkok expressways free on July 10 and 11 for Buddhist holidays

    Bangkok expressways free on July 10 and 11 for Buddhist holidays

    Motorists in Bangkok will enjoy free access to major expressways for two days to mark the Asanha Bucha and Buddhist Lent holidays. The Expressway Authority of Thailand (EXAT) announced toll exemptions on July 10 and 11, from midnight to midnight each day. Some 61 toll booths across the Chalerm Maha Nakhon, Si Rat, and Udon Ratthaya expressways will waive toll…

  • Thai woman admits having relationships, children with monks

    Thai woman admits having relationships, children with monks

    A Thai woman confessed to having romantic relationships with several monks and even having children with some of them. She was also found to have been romantically involved with politicians and wealthy men. The widely respected abbot of Tri Thotsatheo Temple in Bangkok, Arch, unexpectedly left the monkhood in June at a temple in the northeastern province of Nong Khai,…

  • Elderly man injured by driver in buffalo collision dispute

    Elderly man injured by driver in buffalo collision dispute

    A 71 year old man filed a police report in Surin province after being assaulted by a driver following an accident involving a buffalo. The driver allegedly struck him with a licence plate, causing facial injuries. The victim, Likit, reported the incident to Police Lieutenant Kan Wanaram, Deputy Inspector at the Sri Narong Police Station, on July 6. The collision…

  • Drunk man pulls gun, attacks guests at Buriram housewarming party

    Drunk man pulls gun, attacks guests at Buriram housewarming party

    A drunk man armed with a gun caused a disturbance at a housewarming ceremony in Buriram yesterday, July 6, injuring one person and threatening local security officers. The incident took place at around 3pm in Ban Jan village, Nong Teng subdistrict, Krasang district. Witnesses said the man arrived uninvited, fired a shot into the air, and later assaulted several people.…

  • Burmese man arrested for wife’s murder in Samut Prakan hotel

    Burmese man arrested for wife’s murder in Samut Prakan hotel

    A Burmese man was apprehended for the suspected murder of his wife at a hotel in the Mueang district of Samut Prakan province. Hotel staff found the man behaving suspiciously outside the room before discovering his dead wife inside. Yesterday, July 6 at 12.30pm, Police Lieutenant Panyawat Khamsi from the Samut Prakan Mueang Police Station received reports of a woman found…

  • Family feud: Thai father’s shot misses son, fatally hits his friend

    Family feud: Thai father’s shot misses son, fatally hits his friend

    A Thai father attempted to shoot his son after a family feud outside a house in the Isaan province of Sakon Nakhon but accidentally shot his son’s friend, resulting in his death. The father was also injured in a knife attack. Officers from Mueang Sakon Nakhon Police Station and a rescue team rushed to the scene at a house in…

  • Senate panel summons PM Paetongtarn over border issues

    Senate panel summons PM Paetongtarn over border issues

    Thailand’s Senate Committee on Military and National Security has invited suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra to explain the government’s approach to mounting security concerns along the Thai-Cambodian border. Senator Chaiyong Maneerungsakul, the committee’s secretary and spokesperson, said the decision was prompted by disputes affecting Thailand’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and national interests under the constitution. He added that Cambodia’s actions were…

  • Thai women caught in call centre scam at Cambodia border

    Thai women caught in call centre scam at Cambodia border

    The Eastern Border Security Forces apprehended two Thai women who falsely claimed they were deceived into working in Poipet, Cambodia. In reality, they were hired to cross the border illegally and create mule bank accounts and conduct face scans for a call centre scam. Their background checks revealed that one suspect, 48 year old Ornuma Boonchoong, had been implicated in…