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.

  • Sponsored

    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?...

  • Pregnant woman and unborn child die after receiving 4 injections at Rayong hospital

    Pregnant woman and unborn child die after receiving 4 injections at Rayong hospital

    A distraught husband and his mother have appealed for justice after his seven-month pregnant wife and unborn child died following treatment at a hospital in Rayong province. The patient was given four injections administered over 48 hours before experiencing symptoms of pulmonary edema, leading to the tragic loss of both lives. The 42 year old husband recounted how his 37…

  • Blackpink fans scammed: Thai woman arrested for selling fake concert tickets

    Blackpink fans scammed: Thai woman arrested for selling fake concert tickets

    Police arrested an unscrupulous Thai woman for selling fake concert tickets to see the popular K-Pop girl group Blackpink. The victims suffered financial losses exceeding 700,000 baht. During the Blackpink World Tour Bangkok Encore last weekend, police discovered that many attendees arrived at the event holding identical e-tickets, all of which had been purchased under the name of 26 year…

  • Thai minimum wage: Coalition parties and industry council engage in discussions

    Thai minimum wage: Coalition parties and industry council engage in discussions

    Eight Thai political parties agreed to support a Thai minimum wage increase to 450 baht (US$13) per day and continued discussions with the Federation of Thai Industries about moving the bill forward. Pita Limjaroenrat, leader of the Move Forward Party (MFP), emphasized the excellent cooperation within the coalition government. The MFP leader informed INN News that the atmosphere during the…

  • Thai man saves python from cooking pot, offers it to monks

    Thai man saves python from cooking pot, offers it to monks

    A Thai man saved a 3-metre long python from being cooked and decided to offer it to monks at the Kode Thim Tharam temple in the eastern Rayong province. However, the monks declined the offer due to inappropriate conditions for the snake at the temple. Today at 7am, Prasert Linsamphan brought a python named ‘Nong Jiji’ to the Kode Thim…

  • Thai e-marketplaces Shopee and Lazada shift to profitability

    Thai e-marketplaces Shopee and Lazada shift to profitability

    The e-commerce landscape in Thailand experienced a significant shift as major players Shopee and Lazada reported profits for the first time in almost a decade. This change has been attributed to careful spending, operational adjustments, and increased service fees. In 2022, Shopee recorded a profit of 2.4 billion baht, while Lazada posted a profit of 413 million baht. Shopee’s revenue reached…

  • Highway Police Commissioner transferred over easy pass sticker scandal

    Highway Police Commissioner transferred over easy pass sticker scandal

    The Commissioner of the Highway Police was transferred to work for the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) following the easy pass sticker scandal. Highway Police were accused of accepting bribes and granting special passes for overloaded trucks. The allegations were made by Move Forward Party (MFP) member Wiroj Lakkhanaadisorn. He took to Facebook to share evidence suggesting that certain police officers…

  • MFP leader concerned over Thai media censorship

    MFP leader concerned over Thai media censorship

    Concerns about media freedom in Thailand have been raised by Move Forward Party (MFP) leader Pita Limjaroenrat after a local pay-TV provider blocked a BBC profile about him. During a news conference, Pita addressed the issue, stating that press freedom must be rectified and made tangible in the country. Pita highlighted that at least three foreign news media outlets had experienced…

  • Unusual tree brings luck seekers, sparks lottery frenzy in Thai village

    Unusual tree brings luck seekers, sparks lottery frenzy in Thai village

    An unusual Sisal tree bearing an uncanny resemblance to a mythical Naga snake has drawn crowds of people to the residence of an 89 year old woman in Non Malai village in Thailand’s northeast Buriram province. Villagers believe the tree brings fortune. They flocked to pay respects and seek lucky lottery numbers from the peculiar tree in front of the…

  • Thailand sees tourist tax refund surge since reopening in June

    Thailand sees tourist tax refund surge since reopening in June

    Following Thailand‘s full reopening in June last year, the number of tourist tax refunds has surged, as reported by Revenue Department director-general Lavaron Sangsnit. The increase in foreign visitors is evident in the substantial rise in value-added tax (VAT) refund totals. In 2022, over 423,000 tourists received VAT refunds, totalling 1.2 billion baht. Between January and May 2022, there were…

  • Thailand urged to prioritise accessible tourism for disabled and elderly

    Thailand urged to prioritise accessible tourism for disabled and elderly

    Tourism operators in Thailand are calling for the development of a long-term action plan to make the country more accessible for elderly and disabled travellers. Jittasak Putjorn, an assistant professor at Silpakorn University researching the development of Thailand as a “Tourism For All” destination, said that the government and private operators should work together to close the gap in development…

  • Thai police and Interpol unite to combat human trafficking in Southeast Asia

    Thai police and Interpol unite to combat human trafficking in Southeast Asia

    The Royal Thai Police (RTP) is set to collaborate with Interpol in establishing a coordinating centre to combat human trafficking gangs operating in Southeast Asia. A meeting between Thai police officials and the FBI took place at the Interpol Global Complex for Innovation in Singapore to discuss human trafficking prevention strategies. The centre aims to tackle online crimes involving the…

  • Rat-astrophe at beachside feast! Thai woman’s warning after rodent bite

    Rat-astrophe at beachside feast! Thai woman’s warning after rodent bite

    A Thai woman issued a warning to others after she was bitten by a large rat while she was dining near Bang Saen Beach in Chon Buri province. TikTok user, Wave.ds, posted a video of his sister with a bite wound two days ago with a caption that said… “Poor sister. A rat bit her when eating food on Bang…

  • Heavy rain warning across Thailand, strong winds raise flood risk

    Heavy rain warning across Thailand, strong winds raise flood risk

    Heavy rain and flash floods are forecast across Thailand today with a 70% chance of Bangkok being affected. Compelling precautions, the Thai Meteorological Department has warned residents in at-risk areas. The Meteorological Department reports that for the next 24 hours, beginning from 6pm yesterday until 6pm today, heavy rain and thunderstorms are expected across the northern, central, and eastern regions…

  • Woman fatally shot amid domestic argument, husband blames dog jump for her death

    Woman fatally shot amid domestic argument, husband blames dog jump for her death

    A woman was found dead in her home after an argument with her drunken husband in Chachoengsao, Thailand. Police and forensic officers are investigating the scene and questioning four individuals, including the husband, to identify the perpetrator. Yesterday, officers from Chachoengsao Police Station were notified of a shooting that resulted in a fatality in a two-storey house in the city.…

  • Tragic property dispute ends in fatal shooting: Former owner surrenders to police

    Tragic property dispute ends in fatal shooting: Former owner surrenders to police

    The former owner of the repossessed house in Pathum Thani province near Bangkok surrendered to the police last night after he shot and killed its new owner. The new owner bought the property from the bank. The accused murderer alleged that the bank unjustly seized his house and resold it. At 3pm yesterday, the former owner of the house, 65…

  • Lorry crashes into house after swerving to avoid truck in Thailand

    Lorry crashes into house after swerving to avoid truck in Thailand

    A six-wheel lorry veered off the road and crashed into a house in Thailand‘s eastern Chanthaburi province, causing significant damage to the property. The homeowner narrowly escaped injury, while the truck driver stated that a sudden lane change by a pickup truck forced him off the road. The incident occurred yesterday in the Chanthaburi district when the vehicle lost control…

  • Bullied Thai student fatally stabs 1 and injures 2 others at renowned school

    Bullied Thai student fatally stabs 1 and injures 2 others at renowned school

    A secondary school student fatally stabbed a fellow student after an argument at a reputable school in Sri Rattana district in Thailand‘s northeast Sisaket province. Two other 14 year olds sustained serious injuries, Khaosod reported this morning. The incident led the Sisaket Provincial Governor, Samruay Kasemsuk, to urgently visit and aid the deceased student’s family, providing financial assistance and moral…

  • Cabinet approves extension for over 200,000 migrant workers amid government limbo

    Cabinet approves extension for over 200,000 migrant workers amid government limbo

    The Thai Cabinet approved an extension for over 200,000 migrant workers’ employment contracts, allowing them to retain their jobs until the new government assumes office, according to Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam. The decision impacts workers from Myanmar, Laos, and Cambodia, and comes after an initial rejection of the Labour Ministry’s request for an extension. The change of heart was…

  • Rayong’s frog-tunate discovery: Residents hop on golden toad’s good luck

    Rayong’s frog-tunate discovery: Residents hop on golden toad’s good luck

    Residents in a Rayong village believe a golden yellow toad they discovered amid regular frogs during a heavy downpour will bring good luck. The woman who caught the toad refuses to sell it as she believes it would bring good luck and generate a lottery windfall someday. Reporters yesterday met with the woman who caught the toad, Vinijta Ruamwong, at…

  • Motorbike rider killed in tragic collision with 6-wheel truck in central Thailand

    Motorbike rider killed in tragic collision with 6-wheel truck in central Thailand

    A tragic accident occurred at Nawanakorn Industrial Estate in Thailand‘s central Pathum Thani province when a 26 year old man on a motorbike collided with a six-wheeled truck, resulting in his death. The incident took place at 7.30pm yesterday, and authorities are investigating the cause of the accident. The deceased man, originally from Ban Haet district in the northeast Khon…

  • Woman shot dead by ex-owner refusing to vacate repossessed house

    Woman shot dead by ex-owner refusing to vacate repossessed house

    A tragic incident unfolded this afternoon in Thanyaburi district, Pathum Thani when a woman was fatally shot by the irate former owner of a house she had recently purchased from a bank. The man, 65 years old, had refused to vacate the property and was in a standoff with the police at the time of the shooting. Officers were alerted…

  • Songkhla Lake bridge project raises concerns for Thailand’s last Irrawaddy dolphins

    Songkhla Lake bridge project raises concerns for Thailand’s last Irrawaddy dolphins

    Concerns have been raised over the potential impact of a proposed bridge across Songkhla Lake in Thailand on the critically endangered Irrawaddy dolphin population. Environmentalist Dr Thon Thamrongnawasawat highlighted the importance of conservation efforts to protect the last 14 remaining Thai dolphins. Dr Thon Thamrongnawasawat, an expert in marine science and environmental issues, took to social media to express concerns…

  • Petrol station scandal: Thai soldier accuses pervy transwomen of secret filming in public bathroom

    Petrol station scandal: Thai soldier accuses pervy transwomen of secret filming in public bathroom

    A Thai soldier accused a group of perverted transwomen of filming him and his friend when they used a public bathroom at a petrol station in the Lee district of Lamphun province in northern Thailand. The incident gained attention after explicit images were shared on Twitter The soldier, 37 year old Arm, shared his story on a residents’ Facebook group…

  • 150 year old durian trees draw crowds to Trang, selling out daily

    150 year old durian trees draw crowds to Trang, selling out daily

    Residents and tourists are dashing to a 150-year-old durian orchard in Trang Province for its delicious, 50-baht-per-kilogram fruits. Demand has outpaced supply, with customers flocking to buy the durian varieties from this unique orchard of indigenous species. Sathit Rammana, a 52 year old orchard owner from Trang Province, tends to a 1,000 year old tree orchard called Ta Chan. Sathit’s…

  • TikTok sensation: Daring orange tabby cat stuns with pool diving skills

    TikTok sensation: Daring orange tabby cat stuns with pool diving skills

    A clip of an orange tabby cat named Fuji secretly diving into a swimming pool has gone viral online after being shared on TikTok. The feline’s antics left the owner baffled, initially thinking the pet had accidentally fallen into the water. The video was posted on TikTok by the @jaratpongouytrak4 account. It quickly garnered attention from cat lovers as it…

  • Hit-and-run chaos in Pattaya: Thai man left stranded as white sedan driver escapes justice

    Hit-and-run chaos in Pattaya: Thai man left stranded as white sedan driver escapes justice

    A Thai man involved in a hit-and-run accident near a Big C department store in Central Pattaya with the driver of the white sedan responsible is still at large. Thanachot Aranyapragorn shared his story with local media, expressing frustration that the driver has not been apprehended despite filing a report with Pattaya Police nine days ago. The accident occurred on…

  • Ex-national parks chief’s complaint rejected in bribery scandal case

    Ex-national parks chief’s complaint rejected in bribery scandal case

    A bribery scandal involving a former director-general of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation in Thailand took a new turn as the Central Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases dismissed the complaint filed by the accused against the arresting police officers. Rutchada Suriyakul Na Ayutya accused members of the police Anti-Corruption Division (ACD) of malfeasance, fabricating…

  • Abusive teacher faces arrest for tormenting 280 kids

    Abusive teacher faces arrest for tormenting 280 kids

    A Thai nursery teacher faces arrest for allegedly abusing over 280 children at a childcare centre. On May 30, 2023, Wichit Boonchinwuttikun, the Saraburi Province’s police chief, disclosed the progress in the case; the suspect admitted their guilt and remorse. The investigation into the childcare centre abuse began when nine children were interviewed by a multidisciplinary team of prosecutors, police,…

  • Woman rescued after lying naked in roadside forest

    Woman rescued after lying naked in roadside forest

    A 36 year old woman sought police help after she discovered herself lying naked in a roadside forest along Sri Waree Noi Road in Samut Prakarn province near Bangkok. The police suspect she was violated by a couple of friends who she spent time with the previous night. At about 9am today, a member of the Bang Plee Rescue Team accompanied…

  • A bug’s life: Century-old temple overrun by termites attracts lottery enthusiasts in search of lucky signs

    A bug’s life: Century-old temple overrun by termites attracts lottery enthusiasts in search of lucky signs

    A century-old temple in Phetchabun province, Thailand, has termites almost completely covering its ancient Buddha statues. News of this brought lottery enthusiasts dashing to the temple in search of lucky signs. Locals and temple committee members opened the ancient chapel at Noen MaKha Noi Temple in preparation for its renovation, yesterday, May 29. Upon entering, they witnessed large termites covering…