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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    Do foreigners get free healthcare in Thailand?

    Thailand’s healthcare system is well-regarded across Southeast Asia, with options ranging from public hospitals to world-class private facilities. But when it comes to foreign residents or tourists, healthcare access isn’t as straightforward. So, do foreigners get free healthcare in Thailand?...

  • Bangkok raids seize 12,000 e-cigarettes near schools

    Bangkok raids seize 12,000 e-cigarettes near schools

    Bangkok shops located near schools were targeted in a series of raids that resulted in the seizure of an estimated 12,000 e-cigarettes. With a retail value of approximately 3.6 million baht, these cigarettes were found across five different establishments. The investigation took place last night and involved three stores on Soi Ratchadaphisek in Chatuchak district, one on Soi Lat Phrao…

  • The ins and outs of remote sensing applications in Thailand

    The ins and outs of remote sensing applications in Thailand

    The advent of remote sensing technology, which allows observing and measuring Earth’s features from a distance, reshaped how we learn about the environment and deepened our understanding of the planet’s inner workings. Thailand was the first among Southeast Asian countries to recognize the critical role of remote sensing and actively integrate it into natural resources inventorying and environmental monitoring. 1971…

  • Vietnam’s tourism website triumphs over Thailand

    Vietnam’s tourism website triumphs over Thailand

    Vietnam’s national tourism promotion website, vietnam.travel, has emerged victorious, outshining Thailand’s counterpart and climbing above numerous regional competitors. According to March rankings by the prestigious website rating platform SimilarWeb, vietnam.travel seized the impressive spot of #132,676 globally, overtaking Thailand’s travel hub ranked at #136,108. The Philippines trails at #808,295 and Malaysia lags at #881,886 in its wake. The triumph doesn’t…

  • Thai tree felling tragedy claims motorcycle rider’s life

    Thai tree felling tragedy claims motorcycle rider’s life

    A Thai man was felling a neem tree along the roadside when it collapsed onto a passing motorcycle rider, resulting in his death in the central province of Suphan Buri. A motorist came across the injured Thai man, later identified as 24 year old Kritsana Siangjaew, on the Liab Klong Chonlaprathan Road in the Uthong district of Suphan Buri province…

  • Wedding guest scam ruins dream ceremony in Thailand

    Wedding guest scam ruins dream ceremony in Thailand

    A tale of deceit and dashed dreams emerged when a 41 year old British woman conned friends, including a bridesmaid, out of thousands for a Thailand wedding. The scandal unravelled just days before Elaine and Marc Walker’s nuptials, leaving the bride’s mother footing the bill for guests’ flights. In a twist of events, 41 year old Natalie Green was instructed…

  • Hong Kong Songkran festival celebrations relocated

    Hong Kong Songkran festival celebrations relocated

    The water-splashing festivities of Thailand’s Songkran festival, hosted in Hong Kong’s Kowloon City, are set to make a splash in a new venue – a basketball court. This change came hot on the heels of last year’s arrests of three individuals for dousing police officers and reporters at the event. Kowloon City district officer Alice Choi Man-kwan disclosed that participants…

  • Traveloka and Hong Kong Tourism Board collaborate

    Traveloka and Hong Kong Tourism Board collaborate

    Traveloka and the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) have forged an alliance aimed at showcasing the wonders of Hong Kong to eager travellers from Thailand and beyond. This collaboration, anticipated to skyrocket tourism figures, promises to position Hong Kong as the ultimate hotspot for adventurous souls seeking new experiences. The resurgence of Hong Kong’s tourism sector post-border reopening has been…

  • Gas truck flip scatters cylinders on Kanchanaphisek Expressway

    Gas truck flip scatters cylinders on Kanchanaphisek Expressway

    A gas truck overturned on the Kanchanaphisek Expressway, scattering cylinders across the road and causing significant traffic disruption. The incident, which occurred at approximately 8.30am today, April 10, resulted in one injury and a traffic standstill that lasted nearly two hours. Chaos ensued early this morning on the Kanchanaphisek Expressway when a truck carrying a multitude of gas cylinders lost…

  • Suicide or foul play: Mystery surrounds man’s death in Bangkok (video)

    Suicide or foul play: Mystery surrounds man’s death in Bangkok (video)

    Police are investigating the mysterious death of a Thai man who allegedly committed suicide soon after a drunken row with his Burmese wife. The Thai man bit his Burmese wife’s lip before allegedly committing suicide by setting himself on fire at their shared home in the Saimai district of Bangkok on April 7. However, the circumstances surrounding his death remain…

  • Homeless man’s reign of terror sparks concern in Sattahip

    Homeless man’s reign of terror sparks concern in Sattahip

    In a corner near the junction of Highway 332 and J-Intersection-Kasemphop Road, Bang Saray, Sattahip, a temporary abode has been claimed by a violent 55 year old homeless man. Responding to distress calls, law enforcement officers swooped in to confront the unidentified vagabond, after reports flooded in of his erratic and alarming behaviour. Witnesses recounted harrowing tales of the man…

  • Nex Point Plc and Toyota Group unveil hydrgen-powered trucks

    Nex Point Plc and Toyota Group unveil hydrgen-powered trucks

    In a move towards greener transportation solutions, commercial electric vehicle (EV) giant Nex Point Plc has joined forces with Toyota Tsusho and Denso from Japan to pioneer hydrogen fuel cell vehicle (FCEV) trucks in Thailand. This groundbreaking memorandum of understanding aims to revolutionise the country’s transport sector and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. CEO Khanist Srivajiraprabha highlighted the significance of applying…

  • Koh Chang durian prices soar to 250 baht amid production drop

    Koh Chang durian prices soar to 250 baht amid production drop

    A surge in demand for the famed Chanee Koh Chang durian from Trat Province has seen prices starting at 250 baht per kilogramme. With a reported production drop of 30% due to unpredictable weather, local farmers are busy selling the highly sought-after fruit both in-store and online. Phuttiphong Phothipanich, an agricultural officer from Koh Chang, Trat Province, inspected the first…

  • Sting operation: Hong Kong duo nabbed in Bangkok mall scam bust

    Sting operation: Hong Kong duo nabbed in Bangkok mall scam bust

    The Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB) coordinated with mobile operator AIS in the arrest of two Hong Kong men who attempted to defraud people in a shopping mall in Bangkok by sending scam messages using a StingRay device. CCIB officers, also known as the Cyber Police, were alerted to the scam messages by users of the AIS mobile operator. The…

  • Pattaya plagued by motorcycle wheel thieves

    Pattaya plagued by motorcycle wheel thieves

    A criminal gang is targeting motorcycle wheels in a recent surge of thefts in Pattaya. The brazen escapades of the gang have left the community on edge, with urgent pleas for police intervention. The shocking incident unfolded at Government Housing Na Jomtien Village, captured in chilling detail by closed-circuit television cameras. The footage, which swiftly made rounds on social media,…

  • Airfares drop for popular domestic routes ahead of Songkran

    Airfares drop for popular domestic routes ahead of Songkran

    Transport Minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit announced a decrease in airfares for three popular domestic routes by 3.8% to 14% starting this Friday, in line with the Songkran festival. The fares for the six airlines offering flights between Bangkok and Chiang Mai, Krabi, and Phuket have been set at a maximum of 3,000 baht (US$80) per one-way trip. The anticipated fares for…

  • Severe summer storm wreaks havoc in Phichit, Thailand

    Severe summer storm wreaks havoc in Phichit, Thailand

    A severe summer storm recently ravaged Phichit province in Thailand, causing extensive damage to homes, religious sites, and infrastructure. The storm, which struck yesterday evening, particularly impacted three districts: Bang Mun Nak, Dong Charoen, and Taphan Hin. The powerful storm toppled trees, snapped utility poles, and sent roofs flying, resulting in widespread power outages that lasted through the night. The…

  • Thai man disappears after allegedly killing his 10 year old daughter

    Thai man disappears after allegedly killing his 10 year old daughter

    A Thai man vanished after allegedly killing his 10 year old daughter at a resort in the northern province of Uttaradit on April 8. Mueang Uttaradit Police Station officers were alerted to the death of the 10 year old girl, Napat, yesterday, April 9, by an employer of a resort. Upon arrival at the scene, employers led officers to room…

  • Serial offender arrested for violent rape in Khon Kaen

    Serial offender arrested for violent rape in Khon Kaen

    A 52 year old man with a history of sexual offences was recently apprehended for committing a violent rape in a rural area of Khon Kaen province. The suspect, Chaichana (surname withheld), was arrested today, April 10, following the issuance of a warrant by the Khon Kaen Provincial Court. The harrowing incident took place on April 8, when a 56…

  • Lottery fever peaks as draw nears in Thailand

    Lottery fever peaks as draw nears in Thailand

    The lottery community is abuzz with excitement as the upcoming draw on April 16, approaches. Enthusiasts and fortune seekers are eager to discover which numbers will emerge as the most auspicious, with various sources offering their predictions and tips for this lottery cycle. A popular lottery forecast figure, known simply as Notty, shared their final set of lucky numbers with…

  • Thailand primes for haze mitigation ahead of Songkran festival

    Thailand primes for haze mitigation ahead of Songkran festival

    Responding to the escalating haze crisis, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has directed all provinces in the upper north, including Chiang Mai, to prepare their operation centres. This step aims to mitigate air pollution during the forthcoming Songkran festival, which traditionally sees a surge in tourist arrivals. According to Deputy Prime Minister and Natural Resources and Environment Minister Phatcharavat Wongsuwan, these…

  • Thai couple face backlash for romantic graffiti on bridge in Japan

    Thai couple face backlash for romantic graffiti on bridge in Japan

    A Thai couple faced a backlash on social media after expressing their love by writing their names, Beer <3 Mayvy 2024, on a bridge at a popular tourist destination in Tokyo, Japan. A Thai man took to Facebook to condemn the couple’s action, sharing a picture of the handwritten message on the bridge with a caption that read… “I visited…

  • 15 police officers found guilty in fatal shooting cover-up

    15 police officers found guilty in fatal shooting cover-up

    At the Central Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases, 15 police officers have been convicted of dereliction of duty for their involvement in a cover-up surrounding the fatal shooting of a highway police officer in Nakhon Pathom last year. Former Krathumban Police Station inspector, Police Major Kiartisak Somsuk, alongside 14 other officers and seven civilians, faced justice for colluding…

  • Thai stocks shed by foreign investors amidst delayed US rate cuts

    Thai stocks shed by foreign investors amidst delayed US rate cuts

    The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) reported that foreign investors offloaded Thai stocks to the tune of 68.9 billion baht (US$ 2 billion) in the first quarter, with 41.2 billion sold in March alone. This trend is linked to the delayed US interest rate cuts, weaker financial performance of Thai companies compared to those on other exchanges, and overall economic…

  • Thai doctor offered bribe to drop lawsuit in Swiss scandal

    Thai doctor offered bribe to drop lawsuit in Swiss scandal

    The Thai doctor who was a victim in the Swiss scandal case in Phuket revealed that an unidentified person offered her and her family a bribe in exchange for withdrawing the lawsuit against the Swiss man. The female doctor, 26 year old Tarndao Chandam, took to social media and accused the 45 year old Swiss man, Urs Fehr, of physically…

  • Brutal assault on Jomtien Beach sparks police investigation

    Brutal assault on Jomtien Beach sparks police investigation

    Pattaya’s Jomtien Beach became the site of a brutal assault recently, an event captured on video and circulated on social media, triggering a thorough investigation by the local police. The footage shows a group of six men violently attacking a young Thai man near a sidewalk. The video, posted by a Facebook user and soon went viral, reached the local…

  • Splashy Songkran: Thai restaurant sales set to surge despite economic lull

    Splashy Songkran: Thai restaurant sales set to surge despite economic lull

    Looking ahead to the upcoming Songkran festival, a trade group predicts a boost in restaurant sales during the second quarter, which could potentially surpass pre-pandemic levels, despite the current stagnant economy. Thaniwan Kulmongkol, President of the Thai Restaurant Association, noted that although the second quarter is typically a slow season for the Thai restaurant industry, the Songkran festival is expected…

  • Tourist&#8217;s car wheel trapped in poorly covered sewer hole in Sattahip

    Tourist’s car wheel trapped in poorly covered sewer hole in Sattahip

    A peculiar incident unfolded on Monday when an unsuspecting tourist found his car wheel ensnared in an inadequately covered sewer hole on Bang Saray Beach Road, in Sattahip, Chon Buri province. Local media outlets reported this event as it happened under the veil of the previous night. On arrival at the scene of the incident, emergency responders came across a…

  • Dusit International urges government to boost quality tourism in Thailand

    Dusit International urges government to boost quality tourism in Thailand

    Dusit International Vice Chairman Chanin Donavanik urged the government to focus on enhancing the quality of tourism and encouraging exploration of lesser-known destinations to boost the industry. Chanin believes the government’s existing tourism promotion policies, including visa-free schemes and luxury tax reductions, are effective. Chanin, who also serves as the executive committee’s chairman, highlighted several areas for the authorities to…

  • Thailand ready to host 100,000 Myanmar refugees amid conflict

    Thailand ready to host 100,000 Myanmar refugees amid conflict

    Thailand’s readiness to accommodate an influx of 100,000 refugees from Myanmar, due to escalating conflicts, was recently confirmed by Foreign Affairs Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara. The announcement came in the wake of rebel forces capturing Myawaddy, a border town adjacent to Tak’s Mae Sot district. The minister’s statement followed a meeting held yesterday to discuss the evolving situation in Myanmar. The…

  • British man fined 5,000 baht for naked stroll on Krabi beach

    British man fined 5,000 baht for naked stroll on Krabi beach

    A British man faces a fine of 5,000 baht after a viral video, filmed by a Thai local, showed him walking naked with his friends along Ao Nang Beach in the southern province of Krabi. A resident of Krabi province witnessed the naked British man, later identified as 23 year old Joseph William Kershaw, and filmed him. The video was…