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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    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...

  • Fraudster mobbed in Pattaya after attempting iPhone scam

    Fraudster mobbed in Pattaya after attempting iPhone scam

    A man was caught in the act and mobbed by angry residents in Pattaya after attempting to scam a mobile phone shop with a fake bank transfer slip. The incident unfolded at 3.30am yesterday, June 5, in Soi Rungland Village, South Pattaya, when the suspect was detained by locals after trying to flee with two high-end iPhones. The suspect, identified…

  • British man flees after crashing sedan into house in Udon Thani

    British man flees after crashing sedan into house in Udon Thani

    A British man crashed his saloon car into a local house in the Isaan province of Udon Thani, narrowly missing a young Thai girl, before fleeing the scene. The homeowner, 52 year old Prayoon Saenwian, filed a complaint with officers at Mueang Udon Thani Police Station at around 4pm on Wednesday following the incident. He also submitted CCTV footage from…

  • Phuket school flouts rules as education office struggles for action

    Phuket school flouts rules as education office struggles for action

    An unregistered kindergarten in Cherng Talay continues to promote itself as a legitimate school despite lacking formal approval from the Phuket Provincial Education Area Office (PPEAO), raising concerns over education oversight on the island. Despite weeks of questioning, the PPEAO has failed to provide clear answers on the legal status of the school, leaving many concerned about the oversight of…

  • Former lecturer found dead in Bangkok temple suicide

    Former lecturer found dead in Bangkok temple suicide

    An 85 year old former lecturer from Kasetsart University was found dead in a suspected suicide at Wat Phra Si Mahathat, located in the Bang Khen district of Bangkok. The elderly man reportedly ended his life due to ongoing health problems and personal distress. Police arrived at the temple on Phahon Yothin Road in Anusawari subdistrict at 12.30pm on Tuesday,…

  • Thai security guard found dead with e-cigarette and drug paraphernalia

    Thai security guard found dead with e-cigarette and drug paraphernalia

    An unpleasant smell at a dormitory in Nonthaburi province near Bangkok led to the discovery of the naked dead body of a Thai security guard yesterday, June 5. A 41 year old man, Chaiwat, contacted officers from Bang Srimueang Police Station and rescuers from the Por Teck Tung Foundation to investigate the death of his neighbour, 48 year old Charnchai,…

  • Terror in Chalong: Landlady’s plea after year of harassment

    Terror in Chalong: Landlady’s plea after year of harassment

    A distressed landlady in Chalong has reached out to the media after more than a year of harassment by her mentally unstable neighbour, claiming police inaction and a lack of mental health support have left her with no choice but to go public. Pranee Boonsawang, 51, known as Som, owns an apartment complex in Soi Palai, Village 2, Chalong, where…

  • Escaped Chinese fraud suspect recaptured in East Thailand

    Escaped Chinese fraud suspect recaptured in East Thailand

    A Chinese fraud suspect made a daring escape from a Pattaya police station in the dead of night — by leaping out of a second-floor window. The 38 year old man, identified as Li Jian, was being questioned at Pattaya City Police Station in Soi 9 at around 1.30am yesterday, June 5, when he pulled off a stunt straight out…

  • Torrential downpour: Heavy rainfall continues to batter Thailand

    Torrential downpour: Heavy rainfall continues to batter Thailand

    The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) has issued a warning for heavy rainfall across 42 provinces, including Bangkok, from the afternoon until evening. Residents are advised to exercise caution. Increased rainfall is expected in the coming week. Over the next 24 hours, thunderstorms and heavy rain are forecast in northeastern, eastern, and western southern regions of Thailand. This weather is attributed…

  • Abandoned boy gets new home after teacher’s plea for help

    Abandoned boy gets new home after teacher’s plea for help

    A heart-wrenching story of a 13 year old boy who was abandoned by his parents as a baby and forced to live in dire conditions has taken a hopeful turn. Thanks to the kindness of a compassionate person and the support of local agencies, the young boy now has a safe, clean home, offering him a chance at a brighter…

  • Thai police hold seminar on criminal procedure code amendment

    Thai police hold seminar on criminal procedure code amendment

    A fiery debate is brewing in Thailand over the People’s Party’s draft bill amending the Criminal Procedure Code, as police officers and legal experts across the country discuss its potential impact. The Royal Thai Police (RTP) is organising a series of mobile seminars to gather opinions on the controversial proposal, with the northeastern region being the latest to host a…

  • Thai woman attempts to kick fellow passenger off moving train

    Thai woman attempts to kick fellow passenger off moving train

    A Thai woman allegedly attempted to kick another woman off a moving train after a conflict over access to fresh air and a loud phone call. The witness, Nattamon Siripesarat, recorded a video of the physical assault and shared it on her Facebook account on Sunday, June 1. She captioned the post… “Chose a train for a safer trip, but…

  • Foreign tourist vandalises Chiang Mai temple, police seek suspect

    Foreign tourist vandalises Chiang Mai temple, police seek suspect

    A foreign tourist is on the run after spray-painting graffiti on the historic wall of Wat Lam Chang, a 650-year-old temple in Chiang Mai’s old city. The culprit, who left behind English-language text and a house motif, is now being hunted by police after reportedly fleeing the northern province by air. The incident was first reported by the temple’s abbot,…

  • Missing Dane found safe with new girlfriend in South Thailand

    Missing Dane found safe with new girlfriend in South Thailand

    A 59 year old Danish man, who was feared to be a victim of foul play after losing contact with his family and having his Facebook page mysteriously deleted, has been found safe and happy in Nakhon Si Thammarat province in southern Thailand. It turns out, Brian Dilling Pedersen had simply been living it up with his new girlfriend, completely…

  • Chiang Mai homestay featured in Thai film destroyed in fire

    Chiang Mai homestay featured in Thai film destroyed in fire

    A fire broke out early Tuesday morning at a well-known homestay, which was also used as a filming location, in Chiang Mai, completely destroying the wooden accommodation. The Mae Daet Subdistrict Royal Thai Police (RTP) Cyber Village Facebook page shared a video showing police officers, rescue workers, and firefighters attempting to control the blaze at the popular homestay, Doolaylay. According…

  • Fire breaks out on 8th floor of Bangkok construction site

    Fire breaks out on 8th floor of Bangkok construction site

    A fire broke out on the 8th floor of a Bangkok building under construction, sending plumes of thick smoke into the air but fortunately causing no injuries. The fire, which started in a pile of leftover construction materials, was quickly brought under control, leaving the building’s structure unaffected. The fire occurred around 12.12pm today, June 5, in the Chatuchak district…

  • Bus operators fight back against Phatthalung road ban

    Bus operators fight back against Phatthalung road ban

    Bus operators in Thailand’s southern provinces are fuming over a new ban that restricts them from using the Phatthalung-Trang route, which runs through the Khao Phap Pha mountain. The controversial decision sparked outrage among double-decker bus operators, who are demanding that the Transport Ministry and Land Transport Department review the ban for safety reasons. Around 100 operators took to the…

  • Man kills aunt after meth-fuelled dispute over money in Thailand

    Man kills aunt after meth-fuelled dispute over money in Thailand

    A tragic incident occurred when a 28 year old man, Anupong, reportedly under the influence of meth, strangled his aunt, 47 year old Napathon, after she refused to give him money. The crime took place in a two-storey house in a housing estate in Mueang Nakhon Pathom district yesterday, June 4, with relatives expressing their sorrow over the event. The…

  • Bangkok and Koh Samui lead Europe’s summer getaways

    Bangkok and Koh Samui lead Europe’s summer getaways

    Thailand has once again emerged as the number one summer destination for European tourists, with Bangkok topping the charts as the most popular spot. The country has held this coveted title for the past two years, according to a survey by the online booking platform Agoda. The survey revealed that a significant number of European visitors to Thailand hail from…

  • Moo-tor deals: Yala car boss throws in a cow with every sale

    Moo-tor deals: Yala car boss throws in a cow with every sale

    In Yala, the owner of a second-hand car dealership has launched a unique promotion, offering a cow with every car purchase to celebrate the Hari Raya Eid al-Adha festival. Abidin Dulkanon, owner of Bangmod Used Car located in Mueang district, Yala province, handed over a large cow to Abdulkareem Sameoh from Khlong Maning subdistrict, Mueang district, Pattani province. Abdulkreem was…

  • Pattaya police foil violent brawl at Bali Hai Pier skate park

    Pattaya police foil violent brawl at Bali Hai Pier skate park

    A potentially violent clash involving a large group of foreign youths was thwarted in the early hours of today after swift action by Pattaya City Police. Officers, led by Police Colonel Anek Sarethongyoo, responded to a tip-off from the Pattaya Special Operations team, who had received intel about a group of armed youths gathering at the skate park near Bali…

  • Thai industry ministry shuts down toxic waste site in Chachoengsao

    Thai industry ministry shuts down toxic waste site in Chachoengsao

    The Ministry of Industry, led by minister Ekanat Promphan, is preparing to shut down Kumpan Thong Industry Company, a site linked to toxic waste in Phanom Sarakham district, Chachoengsao province. The company allegedly distributed contaminated soil to locals for landfills and operated a factory without proper authorisation since late May. The ministry’s task force, dubbed Team Sudsoi, in collaboration with…

  • King cobra stops car in Phayao, leaving woman terrified

    King cobra stops car in Phayao, leaving woman terrified

    A woman had a terrifying near-“hiss” with a giant king cobra on a rural road in the northern province of Phayao, leaving her shaken but unharmed. The incident occurred yesterday, June 4, between Ban Wang Bong and Ban Huai Son, when the 3-metre-long snake appeared out of nowhere, forcing her to slam on the brakes and narrowly avoid a collision.…

  • Thai drug lord extradited after fleeing with 7.9 million meth pills

    Thai drug lord extradited after fleeing with 7.9 million meth pills

    A major drug dealer from Sakon Nakhon has been extradited to Thailand after being apprehended in Laos, where he had fled following the seizure of 7.9 million methamphetamine pills. The suspect had evaded capture for three years before being returned yesterday, June 4, at 1.30pm via the Third Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge border checkpoint in Nakhon Phanom province. The return of…

  • Thai teachers demand MoU cancellation over alcohol discounts

    Thai teachers demand MoU cancellation over alcohol discounts

    Thai educators are up in arms over a controversial deal between a state agency and a beer company, launching a petition to cancel the agreement. The backlash is centred on concerns that the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Office of the Welfare Promotion Commission for Teachers and Educational Personnel (OTEP) and Tawandang German Brewery undermines teacher integrity and sets…

  • Thailand seeks 12m baht over coral reef damage by cargo ship

    Thailand seeks 12m baht over coral reef damage by cargo ship

    Thailand is pursuing compensation of at least 12 million baht after a Myanmar cargo ship, the MV Ayar Linn, ran aground on a coral reef in Mu Koh Surin National Park, Phang Nga, causing significant environmental damage. On June 1, the vessel was discovered lodged on a coral reef in Ao Jak Bay, according to Athapol Charoenshunsa, Director General of…

  • Buriram dentist leaves needle in patient’s gum, sparking black magic fear

    Buriram dentist leaves needle in patient’s gum, sparking black magic fear

    A forgetful dentist in the Isaan province of Buriram left a needle embedded in a female patient’s gum 15 years ago, sparking panic over suspected black magic. The 49 year old woman, Rungnapha Thaingyotha, shared on Facebook that she unexpectedly discovered a piece of steel in her gum near her lower left molar. She experienced pain in the area for…

  • Transgender arrested for selling explicit content in Chiang Mai

    Transgender arrested for selling explicit content in Chiang Mai

    Police yesterday arrested a transgender person accused of creating fraudulent online profiles to sell explicit content on Twitter. The arrest of Metinee, also known as Kantong, followed complaints from victims who discovered their Facebook profile pictures were used without consent. Police Colonel Kritthaphon Yisakorn led the operation, which involved the Police Cyber Task Force of Region 5 and the regional…

  • Lop Buri road crash leaves woman with broken leg

    Lop Buri road crash leaves woman with broken leg

    A young woman has suffered horrific injuries, including a broken leg, after her motorcycle toppled due to poor road conditions and non-functioning streetlights in Lop Buri province. The accident, which occurred on a stretch of the Chai Nat-Pa Sak irrigation canal road, has highlighted a growing problem in the area that locals are desperate to see addressed. The incident took…

  • Mechanic’s test drive ends in crash after sedan cuts off car

    Mechanic’s test drive ends in crash after sedan cuts off car

    A test drive of a customer’s car by a mechanic and an intern ended in an accident when the vehicle overturned after being cut off by a sedan. The collision, which occurred yesterday, June 4, outside the Sisaket Provincial Land Office in Mueang district, involved a white Mitsubishi Pajero and a municipal garbage truck. Three people were injured, including the…

  • Nonthaburi handbag fight leads to stabbing and arrest

    Nonthaburi handbag fight leads to stabbing and arrest

    A seemingly harmless handbag purchase sparked a violent altercation, with a man tracking down his rival to stab him after a chaotic scene at a shopping centre. The incident unfolded on March 21 at a shopping mall in Bang Yai, Nonthaburi, where a fight broke out over the purchase of a popular brand-name handbag. A queue-jumping argument quickly escalated into…