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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    9 most common health issues covered by insurance for expats in Thailand

    Thailand is a popular destination for expats due to its affordable lifestyle and excellent healthcare system. However, settling in a new country often brings health concerns. To ensure you’re covered for the most common medical needs, understanding what expat health...

  • AoT app expanding: flight info, taxis, shopping and more | Thaiger

    AoT app expanding: flight info, taxis, shopping and more

    Airports in Thailand are hard at work souping up their travel app in hopes of making it an essential super-app for the incoming flood of tourists. Their “Sawasdee by AoT” app currently provides flight and airport information for people landing at six AoT-run airports. But they plan to add a host of tourism services, to aid the predicted 90 million…

  • Police arrest 7 men for robbery of Chinese man’s house in Pattaya | Thaiger

    Police arrest 7 men for robbery of Chinese man’s house in Pattaya

    Police arrested seven Thai men over the robbery of a Chinese man and his Thai wife’s house in Pattaya earlier this month. The suspects said they were hired by three Thai men who believed the Chinese man was keeping 200 to 400 million baht inside the house. The robbery occurred on the night of December 11 at the couple’s house…

  • Woman and Thai-Turkish daughter dumped on roadside in Pattaya | Thaiger

    Woman and Thai-Turkish daughter dumped on roadside in Pattaya

    A Thai husband dumped his wife and her six year old Thai-Turkish daughter on the roadside in Pattaya in Chon Buri province, eastern Thailand, on Saturday. Left alone with no money or belongings, the pair waited on the roadside for three days for him to come back, but he never returned. Last night, a 28 year old woman named Sasiporn…

  • Thai AirAsia predicts 90% post-pandemic recovery | Thaiger

    Thai AirAsia predicts 90% post-pandemic recovery

    Thai AirAsia is predicting a great year next year, forecasting passenger load to reach 90% of the levels it was at before the Covid-19 pandemic. The rosy outlook was stated as foreign arrivals have been pouring into Thailand. The popular budget airline also has faith that the mega-demographic of Chinese tourists will be able to rejoin the tourism world next…

  • DTAM to cannabis vendors: New Year’s weed parties illegal | Thaiger

    DTAM to cannabis vendors: New Year’s weed parties illegal

    For those who were planning a more mellow New Year’s Eve celebration, lighting up a joint and saying goodbye to 2022, the government has a strong warning for you. The Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine (DTAM) cautioned cannabis vendors not to take part in or organise New Year’s Eve smoke parties. The Ministry of Public Health says that…

  • Alcohol banned from festive gift baskets in Thailand | Thaiger

    Alcohol banned from festive gift baskets in Thailand

    Pre-made gift baskets are a hit in Thailand for all special occasions and are especially popular around the Christmas and New Year holidays. But the Ministry of Commerce would like to remind the country’s merchants that selling alcohol as part of a gift set is against the law in Thailand. Anyone who fails to comply with the law will face…

  • Bangkok chosen as Asia’s 2nd most cycling-friendly city | Thaiger

    Bangkok chosen as Asia’s 2nd most cycling-friendly city

    Netizens are not convinced with the Independent‘s selection of Bangkok as Asia’s 2nd most cycling-friendly city. Singapore ranked in first place, followed by Bangkok, Osaka in Japan, Xiamen in China, Taipei in Taiwan, Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, and Beijing in China. Bangkok is a “fantastic city for cycling” thanks to Lumphini Park, Benjakitti Park, and the city’s “brilliant guided cycling…

  • Motorbike driver killed by bus after skidding on oil stain in Bangkok | Thaiger

    Motorbike driver killed by bus after skidding on oil stain in Bangkok

    A motorist fell from his motorbike after skidding on an oil stain on Bangkok‘s busy Sukhumvit Road yesterday morning. He was struck and killed by an oncoming public bus. The man, whose identity has not been reported, was hit by public bus No.98 from Huai Kwang to Bang Na near the entrance of Sukhumvit Soi 53 and Thong Lor BTS…

  • Thai wildlife workers rush to aid stressed elephant rescued from smugglers | Thaiger

    Thai wildlife workers rush to aid stressed elephant rescued from smugglers

    Thai wildlife workers are rushing to aid a highly stressed elephant rescued from smugglers. Border police and national park officials caught two smugglers in the Huay Yang district in the western Prachuap Khiri Khan province on Sunday. The authorities arrested the two men. They are identified as 28 year old Thai national Phongsak Huakaew, and 28 year old Myanmar national…

  • Drivers switch places in moving bus in western Thailand, 11 tourists injured | Thaiger

    Drivers switch places in moving bus in western Thailand, 11 tourists injured

    Ten foreign tourists and one Thai passenger were injured in a bus crash in Phetchaburi province in western Thailand at around 3am yesterday. Two drivers tried to switch seats while the vehicle was still moving, causing the bus to crash into a power pole, they admitted to the police. The white tour bus, travelling from Surat Thani to Bangkok, was carrying…

  • What is the average English teacher salary in Thailand? | Thaiger

    What is the average English teacher salary in Thailand?

    Teaching in Thailand is a great opportunity to experience a new culture, explore a new country, and make a lasting impact on students’ lives. The cost of living is low, the scenery is beautiful, and the people are friendly. So, you might wonder. What is the average English teacher’s salary in Thailand? An ESL teacher in Thailand can typically make…

  • Navy ship sinks in Thailand: ‘There weren’t enough life jackets on board’ | Thaiger

    Navy ship sinks in Thailand: ‘There weren’t enough life jackets on board’

    In a race against time, the Royal Thai Navy continues their search today for missing crew members from the HTMS Sukhothai which sank off the coast of Thailand on Sunday night. So far, the navy’s HTMS Kraburi has brought ashore the bodies of six crew members found floating in the sea. The navy is still searching for 23 missing sailors.…

  • What $150,000 buys you for a 2 bedroom condo in Bangkok | Thaiger

    What $150,000 buys you for a 2 bedroom condo in Bangkok

    If you are looking for what $150,000 buys you for a 2-bedroom condo in Bangkok, you have come to the perfect place! For those looking for an affordable place to live, finding a two-bedroom condo at $150,000 in Bangkok is certainly possible. With a growing number of condominiums available in the city, and with many of them offering competitive prices,…

  • Navy ship sinks in Gulf of Thailand: 77 rescued, 4 dead, 24 missing | Thaiger

    Navy ship sinks in Gulf of Thailand: 77 rescued, 4 dead, 24 missing

    UPDATE 4 In a press release this afternoon, the Royal Thai Navy reported the results of their continued search for missing sailors from the HTMS Sukhothai which sank in the Gulf of Thailand on Sunday. On Sunday night, 75 crew members were rescued from the sinking ship. Navy vessels have since found two more sailors alive in the Gulf of…

  • 2 Chinese and 17 Thais arrested for illegal money lending apps | Thaiger

    2 Chinese and 17 Thais arrested for illegal money lending apps

    On Thursday, Thai police reported the arrests of two Chinese citizens and 17 Thais for operating several illegal money lending applications charging interest rates of 2,080 percent per year. The Center for Countering Abuse by Loan Sharks of the Royal Thai Police investigated more than 40 illegal money lending applications after numerous victims filed complaints in the last 12 months.…

  • Burmese workers in Bangkok protest for 600 baht minimum wage | Thaiger

    Burmese workers in Bangkok protest for 600 baht minimum wage

    Burmese migrants rallied in Bangkok yesterday, on International Migrants Day, to ask the government to increase the minimum wage to 600 baht per day and care about the rights of migrant workers in Thailand. More than 100 Burmese citizens under the group name “Bright Future” gathered outside the Embassy of Myanmar near Saint Louis BTS Station at 2pm. Burmese migrants…

  • Man allegedly strangles ex-wife and dumps her body on roadside in northeast Thailand | Thaiger

    Man allegedly strangles ex-wife and dumps her body on roadside in northeast Thailand

    A Thai man allegedly strangled his ex-wife to death before dumping her body on the side of the road in Chaiyaphum province in northeast Thailand last night. Police have issued a warrant for his arrest. The body of 36 year old Jib was found on the roadside in Kaeng Khro District early this morning. Police say it was clear she…

  • Anutin promises no 4am curfew; Tourism Ministry suggests Bangla Road trial | Thaiger

    Anutin promises no 4am curfew; Tourism Ministry suggests Bangla Road trial

    The chances of a 4am national nightlife curfew are looking dim. Minister of Public Health Anutin Charnvirakul says his ministry strongly opposes the measure. Meanwhile, proponent Minister of Tourism and Sports Pipat Ratchakitprakarn has reduced his campaign from a nationwide extension to just making Bangla Road in Phuket a pilot area for the 4am curfew. The Ministry of Tourism had…

  • Corpse found in Bangkok water tank might not be a murder case | Thaiger

    Corpse found in Bangkok water tank might not be a murder case

    UPDATE A 27 year old woman from Myanmar believes the corpse discovered in a water tank in Bangkok yesterday is her deceased sister. She does not believe her sister was murdered. Wen, who rents a room next to the disused building where the corpse was discovered, asked police to see the body and inspect the scene as she believed it…

  • New restaurants in Phuket to try this December 2022 | Thaiger

    New restaurants in Phuket to try this December 2022

    If you’re looking for a new, high-end restaurant to try in Phuket this December, then look no further! From cosy beach-side eateries to grand, five-star restaurants, Phuket has it all. We’ve rounded up some of the best restaurants in the city that are sure to tantalise your taste buds and make your culinary experience in Phuket even more memorable. From…

  • Navy rescues German man with heart failure from cruise ship in Gulf of Thailand | Thaiger

    Navy rescues German man with heart failure from cruise ship in Gulf of Thailand

    Officers from the Royal Thai Navy battled against strong waves to help a German man who suffered from heart failure on a cruise ship in Thailand‘s waters last night. The MEIN SCHIFF 5 cruise ship departed from Chon Buri province and was headed for Singapore when 73 year old passenger Bernd Joachim Max Thiele, of German nationality, fell unwell about…

  • Thailand tops BBC poll for Southeast Asia travel | Thaiger

    Thailand tops BBC poll for Southeast Asia travel

    A recent BBC poll saw Thailand on the top of the list of most desired destinations to travel to in Southeast Asia. BBC News conducted a poll of people planning a trip from Europe and North America to Southeast Asia in July. Thailand topped the list with 57.4% of people responding that they would be likely to visit the kingdom.…

  • Navy rescues 1 sailor from Gulf of Thailand, 30 still missing | Thaiger

    Navy rescues 1 sailor from Gulf of Thailand, 30 still missing

    UPDATE 3 Last night, the Royal Thai Navy rescued one missing sailor – Chief Petty Officer Natee Timdee – found floating in the Gulf of Thailand. Natee was unconscious when he was found but his condition is now “safe.” The navy reports that 30 sailors are still missing. At 8:45pm, the HTMS Kraburi docked at Prachuap Pier after patrolling the…

  • Thailand to open all land border crossings next year | Thaiger

    Thailand to open all land border crossings next year

    Thailand is planning to open all land border crossings with neighbouring countries next year. The move is reportedly part of an effort to facilitate the transportation of goods to help restart one aspect of the economy. The Department of Foreign Trade says it will negotiate with Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia and Malaysia to reopen all 97 land borders and hold trade…

  • Pheu Thai Party wants to reform tourism, cut red tape | Thaiger

    Pheu Thai Party wants to reform tourism, cut red tape

    The Pheu Thai Party is calling for reform of the way Thailand approaches tourism, though its focus seems to be the same as the ruling party’s. The opposition party held a brainstorming session on Friday to discuss how to improve tourism in Thailand. They stressed branching out and eliminating outdated red tape, but also put their hope squarely on medical…

  • Blaze damages Bangkok luxury condominium | Thaiger

    Blaze damages Bangkok luxury condominium

    A blaze damaged a luxury condominium in Thailand’s capital of Bangkok this afternoon. The fire damaged a unit on the 40th floor of the 42-floor Saichol Mansion B, located in Bangkok’s Klong San district. Officials evacuated over 100 residents from the building, while firefighters worked for about 15 minutes to put out the blaze. Luckily, no casualties were reported. Police…

  • Where to celebrate New Year’s in Phuket (2023) | Thaiger

    Where to celebrate New Year’s in Phuket (2023)

    Phuket is one of the most popular holiday destinations in the world and it’s no wonder why. With its stunning beaches, vibrant nightlife, delicious food, and unique culture, Phuket is the perfect place to celebrate the 2023 New Year. From spectacular fireworks displays to beach parties to cultural events, there’s something for everyone when it comes to ringing in the…

  • Builder discovers corpse inside water tank in Bangkok, Thailand | Thaiger

    Builder discovers corpse inside water tank in Bangkok, Thailand

    Police are launching a murder investigation after a builder discovered a corpse stuffed into a water tank at a disused building in Bangkok this morning. Doctors estimate that the deceased died six months ago. At 10:10am, officers from Bangkok’s Hua Mak Police Station travelled to a four-storey building in Ramkhamhaeng Soi 1 in Suan Luang district to investigate the discovery of…

  • Navy ship sinks in the Gulf of Thailand, 84 rescued, 1 dead, 21 missing | Thaiger

    Navy ship sinks in the Gulf of Thailand, 84 rescued, 1 dead, 21 missing

    False information in this story has been updated. In total, 84 members of the Royal Thai Navy have been rescued from the Gulf of Thailand after the HTMS Sukhothai navy vessel sank to the bottom of the sea last night amid rough conditions. One body has been recovered and 21 crew members are still missing. As of noon today, the…

  • Body of Canadian man washes up on beach in southern Thailand | Thaiger

    Body of Canadian man washes up on beach in southern Thailand

    The body of a 63 year old Canadian man washed up on a beach on the mainland of Surat Thani province in southern Thailand yesterday evening. He went missing from Koh Pha Ngan island six days ago. At 8pm, officers from Khanom Police Station rushed to Khanom Beach after a decaying body was discovered on the shore in front of the…