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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Sponsored How one hospital visit in Thailand could cost more than your whole trip
Thailand is a favourite spot for travellers who want to enjoy more while spending less. From cheap street food to low-cost hotels and fun attractions, it’s easy to stretch your budget here. But there’s one thing many people don’t think...
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Thailand’s Visa payments slow despite higher visitor spending
Visa Thailand is experiencing slower growth in Visa card payments by inbound tourists, correlating with stagnant foreign tourist arrivals. Despite this, there has been an increase in spending per visitor, attributed to “higher quality travellers,” according to the card company. During April and May, foreign tourist spending in Thailand using Visa cards increased by 10% year-on-year. This is a decrease…
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Police raid illegal sawmill linked to Chinese operators in Phitsanulok
An illegal sawmill accused of secretly being run by Chinese nationals has been raided in Phitsanulok amid complaints of toxic pollution affecting locals. Yesterday, May 23, police and forestry officials stormed the veneer processing plant in Chai Nam subdistrict, Wang Thong district, after mounting community concerns about burning wood scraps that released choking smoke and dust. The operation was led…
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Chon Buri police arrest suspects in BMW cloning scam
A slick car fraud ring has been smashed by Chon Buri highway police after a victim’s BMW was illegally cloned and used to rack up fines, prompting a high-stakes investigation and arrests. On Wednesday, May 21, officers led by Police Lieutenant General Jirabhop Bhuridej, Commissioner of the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB), swooped on suspects involved in a sophisticated car forgery…
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Cement mixer crash sparks chaos on Phuket’s slippery roads
A cement mixer truck overturned on a rainy morning in Phuket, leaving a driver injured and traffic snarled on a busy route. At 9.45am yesterday, May 23, rescue teams at Kusontham Muang Mai Centre were alerted by the Andaman Narendra Centre about the accident. The incident took place on Thep Krasattri Road, just before the Mueang Mai Tunnel’s red light.…
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Bomb threat panic on Phuket flight sparks emergency evacuation
Chaos broke out yesterday at Phuket International Airport when a passenger on an AirAsia flight caused panic by jokingly warning of a bomb in his bag — triggering a full-scale emergency response and a police investigation. At 3.50pm yesterday, May 23, officials were alerted after 62 year old Thanawut Wichaidit reportedly told a flight attendant, “Watch out for the bomb…
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12-year-old stabs classmate to death in Isaan school lunch break
In Phibun Mangsahan district, Ubon Ratchathani province, a tragic incident unfolded when a 12 year old student fatally stabbed a classmate at a secondary school. The incident, which occurred during the school’s lunch break on Thursday, May 22, has deeply shocked the community and brought attention to the safety measures within educational institutions. Police reports indicate that the incident took…
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Bangkok police arrest Chinese photo scam ringleaders
A ruthless gang of Chinese and Thai fraudsters has been busted in Bangkok after swindling victims out of millions of baht with a bogus photo promotion scam. Two Chinese nationals, 29 year old Di Tian Shaanxi and 44 year old Li Shengyou, along with three Thai accomplices, were arrested near a shopping mall on Phahon Yothin Road on Thursday, May…
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PM Paetongtarn pushes UK trade and jobs boost in London talks
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra engaged the UK private sector and Thai businesses in London this week to enhance trade, promote a free trade agreement, and boost employment opportunities for Thais. The discussions on Thursday, May 22, centred around increasing the trade value of agricultural and food products and expanding import channels for Thai goods, including lifestyle products. A Thailand-UK Free…
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Seasonal downpour to drench Thailand, flooding expected
Weather conditions across Thailand are expected to deteriorate, with increased rainfall predicted for 73 provinces. Heavy to very heavy rain may lead to flash floods, forest runoff, and landslides. Residents are advised to avoid flood-prone areas, especially in Bangkok, where 70% of the area is at risk as of today. Thailand is forecast to experience significant rainfall in the north,…
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Snake scare: Huge king cobra terrorises Pattaya backyard pond
Pattaya residents were left stunned after a gigantic 4.5-metre king cobra was discovered swimming in a garden pond, sparking fears for local safety. The rare and dangerous serpent was safely captured by authorities and is set to be released back into the wild, far away from homes. The drama unfolded in Soi Por Or Chieb, Khao Mai Kaew subdistrict, East…
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Witnesses spooked as ‘haunted truck’ moves on its own after crash
Locals shared eerie accounts of witnessing a “haunted truck“ moving in a circle without a driver in the middle of a road in the Isaan province of Kalasin following a crash at around 7pm yesterday, May 22. Officers from Mueang Kalasin Police Station were called to the Kalasin-Kamalasai Road in Kamalasai district to investigate what residents dubbed a haunted truck. Police…
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Pattaya’s party problem: Festivals fuel chaos, neglect locals
Pattaya’s dazzling festivals and flashy events may light up the city, but not everyone is cheering. Long-term visitor Alan French has fired a stark warning to Pattaya’s mayor, claiming the city is losing its soul by prioritising spectacle over substance. In a blunt letter titled simply “Dear Sir,” French calls out Mayor Poramet Ngampichet for focusing too much on high-profile…
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Missing man found dead in Tak mountains after month-long search
A man who had been missing for nearly a month was found dead in a mountainous area in Tak province. The body was discovered in a state of decomposition, with evidence of animal predation. Police were alerted yesterday, May 22, by the man’s relatives about the discovery on Mount Kroot in Mueang Tak district. Police from Wang Chao District Station,…
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Thai lawyer jailed for lese majeste wins global human rights award
A Thai lawyer imprisoned for speaking out against the monarchy has been honoured with a prestigious international human rights prize, spotlighting his courageous fight for free expression and democracy. Arnon Nampa, 40, was named the Asia-Pacific winner of the 2024 Front Line Defenders Award for Human Rights Defenders at Risk — becoming the first Thai ever to receive this recognition.…
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Fake diploma scandal at Pattaya’s Nong Prue school resolved
A private school in Nong Prue, Pattaya, has finally resolved a scandal that rocked its reputation after 19 students were caught up in a fake diploma and fraud controversy. Parents and students accused the former deputy director, known only as “J,” of issuing counterfeit diplomas and receipts, and pocketing tuition fees. The explosive allegations triggered a high-profile mediation meeting chaired…
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Bangkok transwoman caught on CCTV stealing neighbours’ parcels
The family of a Thai transwoman who stole her neighbours’ parcels at a condominium in Bangkok attributed her actions to mental illness and pledged to compensate the victims. Residents of a condominium in Thong Lo, Bangkok, took to social media to expose the thefts. Victims claimed that officers, reportedly from Makkasan Police Station, were unable to resolve the matter effectively.…
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Burmese roti vendor arrested for series of sexual assaults in Pattaya
A Burmese roti vendor attempted to bribe police with 15,000 baht after he was arrested for a series of sexual assault cases in Pattaya yesterday, May 22. Two teenage women filed a complaint at Mueang Pattaya Police Station on Wednesday, May 21, stating that the suspect approached them while they were on Pattaya Beach. He tricked them into getting on his…
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Midnight horror: Man finds giant python coiled in toilet bowl (video)
Imagine waking up at 3am, groggy and half-asleep, only to open your bathroom door and come face-to-face with a giant python coiled inside your toilet bowl! That’s exactly what happened to one young man in Thailand, sparking a mix of shock and horror — and a flood of questions about how the massive snake slithered into such an unlikely spot.…
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Chon Buri abbot saves starving gran and teen with kind act
A touching story of survival has emerged from Chon Buri, where a 70 year old grandmother and her teenage granddaughter were forced to live off boiled rice water after falling into dire poverty. Now, thanks to a compassionate monk and viral video, they’ve finally received a lifeline. At 2.30pm yesterday, May 22, Phra Khru Thawornsatthakhun, abbot of Wat Woraprot Sangkhawat,…
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Udon Thani boy flees home from alleged abuse by father (video)
In Udon Thani, a 12 year old boy ran away to sleep in an abandoned school, taking a photograph of his deceased mother with him. The boy claimed he left due to being physically harmed by his father and unequal treatment from his grandparents. Ata is now under the care of the Provincial Social Development and Human Security Office and…
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Foreign tourists caught defecating outside restuarant in Phuket
A Thai restaurant owner in Phuket urged the government to consider increasing the number of public bathrooms after foreign tourists defecated outside his business on two separate occasions. The owner of Salaloy Restaurant, Pananut Asawapitakchon, shared details of the unpleasant incidents on his Facebook account yesterday, May 22. He explained that the incidents occurred twice beforehand, last week and this week,…
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‘Spider-Man’ thieves caught after rooftop escape in Sakon Nakhon
Three daring men pulled off a rooftop escape attempt straight out of a superhero movie — but their ‘Spider-Man’ stunt ended in arrest. Yesterday, May 22, in Sakon Nakhon province, the trio was caught sneaking into a commercial building on Sakon-Nakae Road, only to be cornered by police and rescue workers after a thrilling rooftop chase. A vigilant local alerted…
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Thailand video news | Thailand to enforce medical certification for cannabis use, Malaysia & Thailand to upgrade cross-border power grid
In Thailand video news, Alex and Jay cover news stories from across Thailand and Southeast Asia. The stories include Thailand’s tightened cannabis laws, and former PM Yingluck faces a ฿10 billion penalty over her rice scheme. Pattaya police crack down on prostitution, while a tourist in Krabi causes outrage by insulting park rangers. Police bust an illegal gay brothel in…
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TAT and AIS launch travel campaign to boost domestic tourism
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has collaborated with Advanced Info Service (AIS) to introduce the Sukjai Travel Thailand – Aunjai Everywhere campaign to invigorate domestic tourism this year. The campaign focuses on showcasing both prominent cities and emerging travel destinations, beginning with an event on Banthat Thong Road in Bangkok, offering tourists an array of culinary delights and exclusive…
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Aussie drunk smashes rescue booth in Pattaya, caught on CCTV
A drunken Australian man caused a stir in Pattaya after smashing a rescue booth, mistaking radio chatter for people talking. Nathan James Webber, 51, was arrested yesterday, May 22, for damaging a Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Foundation rescue booth near Soi Najomtien 8. The bizarre incident unfolded in the early hours of May 20 when volunteer rescue workers reported the booth…
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New plant species discovered at Phu Kradueng National Park
Researchers from Chulalongkorn University have identified three previously unknown plant species during a survey at Phu Kradueng National Park in the northeastern province of Loei. The team, with support from the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP), focused on spore-bearing plants, including ferns, collecting specimens along the park’s trails. The survey resulted in the collection of 288…
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Parcel firm under fire for blocking traffic in Wichit, Phuket
A parcel delivery company on Chao Fa East Road in Wichit town, Phuket, is under fire for allegedly encroaching on public land and causing serious traffic disruptions, sparking outrage among locals. After a flood of complaints, a joint government inspection took place yesterday, May 22, probing the firm’s use of public space to park large delivery vehicles, which residents say…
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Pickup driver accused of tailgating motorcyclist, causing fatal crash
A female motorcyclist lost her life after a crash, allegedly as a result of being tailgated by a pickup driver in Nonthaburi province in the early hours of yesterday, May 22. An 18 year old motorcyclist, Tuwanan Klinmalee, contacted officers from Chaiyaphruek Police Station to report the incident, which occurred on Chaiyaphruek Road in the Pak Kret district of Nonthaburi…
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TrueCorp outage chaos: Free data and calls offered
TrueCorp sparked nationwide chaos yesterday morning when mobile and Internet services suddenly crashed, leaving thousands of customers disconnected. The telecom giant has since apologised and promised compensation for those affected by the unexpected disruption. “Various services, including voice and data, are now returning to full capacity across all areas nationwide,” TrueCorp announced yesterday afternoon, May 22, trying to reassure frustrated…
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Prepare for flash floods across Thailand this week, warns DDPM
The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) issued a warning across 52 provinces to prepare for flash floods, forest run-off, landslides, and flooding from today, May 23 to 27. Yesterday, May 22, Phaskorn Boonlaksm, the director-general of DDPM, announced that the Central Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Directorate has been monitoring weather conditions in conjunction with the Thai Meteorological Department…
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