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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  • Pay Thai car tax in minutes with new app: DLT (video) | Thaiger

    Pay Thai car tax in minutes with new app: DLT (video)

    Paying your annual car tax just got a whole lot easier—and you won’t even have to leave the sofa. The Department of Land Transport (DLT), in partnership with Krungthai Bank, has launched a groundbreaking service allowing drivers to pay their annual vehicle tax via the Pao Tang app. Officials say the move will save time, cut travel costs, and make…

  • Yom River floods force urgent evacuations in Phichit | Thaiger

    Yom River floods force urgent evacuations in Phichit

    A sudden surge of water from the Yom River, flowing down from Sukhothai and Phitsanulok in northern Thailand, has caused flooding in Phichit, prompting urgent evacuations in low-lying areas. The river’s unexpected early rise has caught residents off guard, forcing many to quickly move valuables and livestock to higher ground. Yesterday, August 8, the Yom River’s overflow was first reported…

  • Thai evacuees set to return as tensions with Cambodia ease | Thaiger

    Thai evacuees set to return as tensions with Cambodia ease

    Thai officials are preparing to assist thousands of evacuees in returning home as tensions along the Cambodian border subside. Surin Governor Chamnan Chuentha confirmed that stability has returned to most border areas following Thursday’s General Border Committee meetings in Kuala Lumpur, where Thailand and Cambodia agreed on a 13-point ceasefire. Transportation arrangements are being coordinated with shelters and the Department…

  • Bangkok-bound train derails in Prachuap Khiri Khan, 10 injured | Thaiger

    Bangkok-bound train derails in Prachuap Khiri Khan, 10 injured

    Chaos erupted in Kui Buri, Prachuap Khiri Khan, early this morning when three sleeper carriages of a Bangkok-bound express train detached and derailed, leaving 10 people injured. The incident happened at around 5am today, August 9, when the special express train No. 38/46 from Su-ngai Kolok and Padang Besar to Krung Thep Aphiwat (Bang Sue) was approaching a curved section…

  • Police bust Laotian women in Bangkok ‘fake ad’ sex sting | Thaiger

    Police bust Laotian women in Bangkok ‘fake ad’ sex sting

    A customer’s complaint over a misleading online sex booking led to a Bangkok resort raid, where police arrested three Laotian women in a “bait-and-switch” prostitution scheme. Metropolitan Police Division 3 swooped on a resort in the Hathai Rat area, arresting three Laotian women accused of offering sexual services online under false pretences. The operation was led by Commissioner of the…

  • 7 Chinese barbers arrested in Bangkok salon raid | Thaiger

    7 Chinese barbers arrested in Bangkok salon raid

    An upscale Ratchada barbershop in Bangkok became the scene of a dramatic Tourist Police raid, ending with seven Chinese men cuffed for cutting hair illegally. Tourist Police stormed a high-end salon on Bangkok’s Ratchadaphisek Road, arresting the suspects for working without the necessary permits in a profession reserved for Thai citizens. The operation formed part of a nationwide crackdown led…

  • Thailand–Hong Kong flight ‘rat pack’ busted in mid-air bag theft | Thaiger

    Thailand–Hong Kong flight ‘rat pack’ busted in mid-air bag theft

    A Hong Kong passenger caught a suspected in-flight thief red-handed on a Thailand–Hong Kong flight, exposing “rat pack” gangs targeting travellers’ bags. What was meant to be a much-needed rest for one Hong Kong tattoo artist turned into a mid-air sting operation when he spotted a man rifling through his bag just 30 minutes after take-off from Thailand. The passenger,…

  • Bang Lamung chief warns village bosses to clean up act | Thaiger

    Bang Lamung chief warns village bosses to clean up act

    Local leaders in Chon Buri’s Bang Lamung district have been given a blunt warning—follow the rules, protect your reputation, and keep your guns in check. Village headmen and subdistrict chiefs in Bang Lamung were told in no uncertain terms to toe the line during a monthly meeting at the district office’s community hall. The meeting yesterday, August 8, was presided…

  • Pattaya raid busts Malaysian in sex video scam | Thaiger

    Pattaya raid busts Malaysian in sex video scam

    Immigration police stormed a Pattaya condominium in a late-night raid, arresting a Malaysian man accused of secretly filming Thai women during sex and using the footage to extort cash. The dramatic bust at 12.30am yesterday, August 8, followed a complaint from a woman who said she was lured via the WeChat app by the suspect, 24 year old Malaysian national…

  • Phuket cops seize sunglasses stash from illegal Cambodian vendor | Thaiger

    Phuket cops seize sunglasses stash from illegal Cambodian vendor

    Phuket Immigration officers have launched a high-profile crackdown on illegal beach vendors following complaints from residents and business owners that Cambodian migrant workers were openly selling goods without permission. Locals claimed the activity was damaging the island’s tourism image and undercutting Thai vendors who operate legally. Superintendent of Phuket Immigration Police Colonel Kriangkrai Ariyaying ordered Deputy Superintendent Police Lieutenant Colonel…

  • Thailand deluge: Bangkok braced for mega storm chaos | Thaiger

    Thailand deluge: Bangkok braced for mega storm chaos

    The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) has issued a weather forecast predicting thunderstorms across 45 provinces, focusing on two regions, with Bangkok expected to experience the heaviest rainfall. Residents are urged to exercise caution due to potential dangers from thunderstorms yesterday, August 8. The forecast, for 6pm yesterday to 6pm today, August 9, indicates that the southwest monsoon is currently affecting…

  • Phuket jet ski blitz nets 38 illegal rides in safety push | Thaiger

    Phuket jet ski blitz nets 38 illegal rides in safety push

    Phuket’s rogue jet ski operators have been hit with a major crackdown, as police swooped on six locations and seized 38 illegally operated machines. The coordinated operation, led by the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) and the Phuket Marine Police, was launched to boost tourist safety and safeguard the island’s image. Officials said many operators were running jet ski services without…

  • Cambodian PM nominates Donald Trump for Nobel Peace Prize | Thaiger

    Cambodian PM nominates Donald Trump for Nobel Peace Prize

    The Prime Minister (PM) of Cambodia, Hun Manet, announced on his Facebook account that he would nominate the President of the United States of America, Donald J. Trump, for the Nobel Peace Prize. Trump posted on his social media platform, Truth Social, on July 26, during military clashes between Thailand and Cambodia, that he would cease all trade talks with…

  • Patong fruit row turns bloody as vendor stabs tourist | Thaiger

    Patong fruit row turns bloody as vendor stabs tourist

    A late-night fruit snack in Patong turned into a bloody street fight when a payment dispute ended with a tourist being stabbed in the stomach. Patong Police were called to the scene at 2.20am today, August 8, outside Patong Medical Clinic on Rat-U-Thit 200 Pi Road. Police Lieutenant Colonel Somprasong Labaisat, Deputy Superintendent (Investigation) of Patong Police Station, led the…

  • Bangkok ex-boxer sets Malaysian tourists on fire in mall horror | Thaiger

    Bangkok ex-boxer sets Malaysian tourists on fire in mall horror

    Shoppers in central Bangkok were left horrified after a former Thai boxer allegedly doused two Malaysian tourists in flammable liquid and set them on fire outside a popular mall. Good Samaritans leapt into action to tackle the attacker before police arrived. The attack took place at around 10pm yesterday, August 7, on Ratchadamri Road, Lumpini, in front of a well-known…

  • Thai woman suffers 54 stitches after brutal assault by ex-husband | Thaiger

    Thai woman suffers 54 stitches after brutal assault by ex-husband

    A Thai woman is seeking justice after her ex-husband assaulted her at her home in Nonthaburi province near Bangkok, leaving her with multiple severe injuries which required 54 stitches. The 32 year old victim, Noi, took her case to the Pavena Foundation for Children and Women because she feared delays in the police investigation and was concerned for her safety.…

  • Electrocuted monkey falls onto car, shattering rear window | Thaiger

    Electrocuted monkey falls onto car, shattering rear window

    A monkey yesterday, August 7, fell from an electricity pole onto a sedan parked outside a condominium in Samut Prakan province, shattering the vehicle’s rear window after being electrocuted. Initially, security guards at the condominium, located in the Bang Pu neighbourhood, contacted the Bang Pu Sub-district Municipality Office for assistance in catching the long-tailed macaque, fearing it might cause further…

  • Toilet drug kitchen busted in Bangkok cannabis snack raid | Thaiger

    Toilet drug kitchen busted in Bangkok cannabis snack raid

    Bangkok police have uncovered a cannabis snack production house where toilets were used as mixing stations, seizing nearly a million baht’s worth of illegal products—just days after a toddler was hospitalised from eating one of the jellies. The Consumer Protection Police Division (CPPD) launched the raid following social media reports that a two year old child had eaten a jelly,…

  • Thai monks busted at Phuket temple for meth use | Thaiger

    Thai monks busted at Phuket temple for meth use

    A Phuket temple has been rocked by scandal after three monks and two workers were caught using methamphetamine (meth) during a surprise drug raid. Cherng Talay Police, acting on a formal complaint, swooped on Wat Cherng Talay in Thalang at 2pm yesterday, August 7, in a joint operation with the Phuket Provincial Office of Buddhism, Thalang district officials, public health…

  • Thai businessman and activist secures bail after arrest on firearms, drugs and assault | Thaiger

    Thai businessman and activist secures bail after arrest on firearms, drugs and assault

    Police released a well-known Thai businessman and political activist on bail of 100,000 baht after his arrest yesterday, August 7, on charges of possessing firearms and drugs, and physically assaulting women. A Thai woman lodged a complaint with the Youth and Women Welfare Centre, alleging that the prominent businessman and activist, Tanat “Luk Nat” Thanakitamnuay, better known as “Hi-So Luk…

  • Motorcycle rider killed on Phuket’s deadly Coconut Grove curve | Thaiger

    Motorcycle rider killed on Phuket’s deadly Coconut Grove curve

    A Phuket motorcyclist has died after a high-speed crash at a notorious curve on Thepkasattri Road in Mai Khao, sparking renewed concerns over road safety in the area. The accident occurred yesterday evening, August 7, near the Coconut Grove Curve—a stretch long feared by local riders. Police say the 41 year old victim, later identified as Mai Khao resident Samreong…

  • Thailand video news | Thailand and Cambodia ink 13-point border peace accord in Kuala Lumpur, Tomorrowland locked In for Pattaya’s Wisdom Valley Festival site | Thaiger

    Thailand video news | Thailand and Cambodia ink 13-point border peace accord in Kuala Lumpur, Tomorrowland locked In for Pattaya’s Wisdom Valley Festival site

    In Thailand video news, Alex and Jay deliver the latest regional updates — from Thailand and Cambodia’s 13-point peace accord and a mass exodus of Cambodian workers, to a national mental health warning and fresh challenges in the Thai film industry. Other highlights include a Pattaya villa raid over explicit livestreams, a British overstay arrest linked to theft, and Indonesia’s…

  • 10 year old Canadian girl drowns off Kata Beach in Phuket | Thaiger

    10 year old Canadian girl drowns off Kata Beach in Phuket

    A rescue team yesterday, August 7, discovered the body of a Canadian girl who had drowned in the sea off Kata Beach in Phuket. Officers from Karon Police Station and rescuers from the Kuson Dham Foundation were called to Kata Beach after the 10 year old was swept away by waves while swimming with her family at around 4pm. The…

  • Pattaya beach blitz on rogue boats and pushy vendors | Thaiger

    Pattaya beach blitz on rogue boats and pushy vendors

    Pattaya’s beaches are set for a major shake-up as city officials launch a fresh crackdown on rogue boat operators and pushy beach vendors. Yesterday, August 7, a high-level meeting at Pattaya City Hall brought together Deputy Mayor Wuthisak Rermkijakarn, senior city advisors, district officials, marine authorities, and police to hammer out new rules for sea-based activities and beach businesses. Pattaya’s…

  • Bangkok toll booths go free for Mother’s Day travel | Thaiger

    Bangkok toll booths go free for Mother’s Day travel

    Drivers in Greater Bangkok can look forward to a free ride next Monday, as the Expressway Authority of Thailand (EXAT) scraps toll fees at 63 booths for the day in celebration of Mother’s Day. The toll waiver will run from 12.01am on Monday, August 11, to midnight on Tuesday, August 12, giving motorists a 24-hour break from charges on three…

  • Cambodia delays Thailand’s call for landmine clearance and scam crackdown | Thaiger

    Cambodia delays Thailand’s call for landmine clearance and scam crackdown

    Despite a ceasefire agreement aimed at bringing peace to the border between the two countries, Cambodia reportedly rejected proposals for landmine clearance and a crackdown on call centre scams, suggesting instead that the issues be postponed to the next discussions. Representatives from Thailand and Cambodia attended an extraordinary session of the General Border Committee (GBC) in Malaysia yesterday, August 7, to…

  • Furious dad drags Chon Buri tattoo shop to cops | Thaiger

    Furious dad drags Chon Buri tattoo shop to cops

    A furious father marched his teenage son into a Chon Buri police station this week to accuse a local tattoo parlour of illegally inking the 14 year old boy without parental consent. The drama unfolded yesterday, August 7, at Phlu Ta Luang Police Station, where Dr Thirawat Weerawat, better known as Attorney Ice Sai Lui, accompanied the boy’s parents to…

  • Loan sharks arrested after shutting down debtors’ phones over unpaid loans | Thaiger

    Loan sharks arrested after shutting down debtors’ phones over unpaid loans

    Police raided three mobile phone stores in Pathum Thani province near Bangkok in a crackdown on a loan shark gang that offered high-interest loans and used debtors’ mobile phones as collateral. Officers from the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB) reported the successful operation today, August 7. They searched three branches of a mobile phone shop called Nak Leng Mue Tue,…

  • Thailand tempest: Heavy rain set to drench Bangkok | Thaiger

    Thailand tempest: Heavy rain set to drench Bangkok

    The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) issued a weather warning, predicting thunderstorms across 36 provinces, with Bangkok expected to be particularly affected, experiencing heavy rainfall in 60% of its area. Residents have been advised to exercise caution due to potential hazards from these conditions. The weather forecast for the next 24 hours indicates that thunderstorms will be prevalent throughout Thailand, driven…

  • Tough times hit Thai cinema as viewers cut back | Thaiger

    Tough times hit Thai cinema as viewers cut back

    Box office blues could be looming for Thai cinemas as cash-strapped moviegoers become pickier about what’s worth their ticket money. That’s the concern from top Thai studio GDH 559 Co Ltd Content Director Thodsapon Thiptinnakorn, who said the sluggish economy is making audiences more selective—possibly reducing their cinema visits from several times a month to just once. “Viewers may think…