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.

  • Tourist collapses and dies on Pattaya’s major party road | Thaiger

    Tourist collapses and dies on Pattaya’s major party road

    A tourist tragically collapsed and died on Pattaya’s major party road, Walking Street, in the early hours of yesterday morning. Dozens of witnesses watched as the man suddenly collapsed in front of a strip of beer bars. The man collapsed without making any noise and hit his head hard on the pavement. Rescuers tried to provide CPR, but the man…

  • Bangkok barber botches pawnshop job | Thaiger

    Bangkok barber botches pawnshop job

    Bangkok barber Phuttarak “Chang Tong” Nakaew was minding his own business in his shop last week when a police officer came calling, pretending to be a customer. The officer arrested Chang Tong in Bangkok’s Bang Khun Thian district after he’d finished cutting his hair. Sharp-eyed officers immediately seized a plastic revolver which the 40 year old used in an attempted…

  • Malware, not charging cable, to blame for phone hack | Thaiger

    Malware, not charging cable, to blame for phone hack

    A man’s Facebook post sparked controversy on social media after he reported that 101,560 baht (about US$3,300) had disappeared from his bank account while he was charging his phone at a public charging station. Many began to suspect that the charging cable had been tampered with to steal data from his device, leading to widespread concerns and panic. People vowed…

  • Sex Workers Bill will protect Thailand’s most-exploited | Thaiger

    Sex Workers Bill will protect Thailand’s most-exploited

    Many thousands of Thais – mostly women – work their whole lives in the sex industry without legal protection. With nothing to shield them, they are exploited both directly and indirectly. The Sex Workers Bill sets out to remedy some of that. Operators use harsh methods to control their workers and ensure the money keeps rolling in. Owners of venues must…

  • Peace Corps return to Thailand Post-Covid | Thaiger

    Peace Corps return to Thailand Post-Covid

    On Friday, the Peace Corps in Thailand saw the return of 52 American volunteers, who will be serving alongside community members throughout the country. This marks the first time since the evacuation of volunteers in March 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The evacuation of volunteers in 2020 was a historical moment as it marked the first time in the…

  • Cheating Thai professors who research everything | Thaiger

    Cheating Thai professors who research everything

    When a student is caught cheating in an exam, the penalty, at the very least, is a failing grade. So when it became public recently that cheating Thai professors had bought their research papers, the student body, among many others, was eager to see what punishment would result. The Higher Education Ministry has told all universities to check the source…

  • Getting to Bangkok’s floating markets | Thaiger

    Getting to Bangkok’s floating markets

    Getting to Bangkok‘s floating markets just got a whole lot easier thanks to new feeder bus services from the MRT Blue Line to Bangkok’s four top floating markets. Bangkok’s floating markets might not be the capital’s biggest draw, but they are a must-see for almost every visitor to the city. Moreover, for those who live in the city, they are…

  • Flights from China over Chinese New Year average 34 daily | Thaiger

    Flights from China over Chinese New Year average 34 daily

    The skies above Thailand will be full of Chinese flights this week, with 240 scheduled flights over the Chinese New Year. The Aeronautical Radio of Thailand (Aerothai) announced that during the holiday period from January 19 to 25, an average of 34 flights per day are expected to arrive in Thailand from China. This is expected to bring a significant…

  • China gives green light to Chinese tour groups | Thaiger

    China gives green light to Chinese tour groups

    China has lifted its restriction on group tours travelling to Thailand and 19 other countries. The reopening of tour groups officially started yesterday, marking a significant step towards normalising international travel for Chinese tourists. The Ministry of Culture and Tourism in China made the announcement yesterday. This move will officially allow tour agencies and online travel companies to begin booking…

  • Thai Ring Announcing and Fitness ft. Mark Abbott | Thaiger Podcast Ep.21 | Thaiger

    Thai Ring Announcing and Fitness ft. Mark Abbott | Thaiger Podcast Ep.21

    https://youtu.be/GSC0FR_Bm9Q Mark Abbott. Fitness Youtuber, MC, Combat sports, Ring announcer, and One of the Voices of the world-famous Muay Thai boxing venue, Lumpinee Stadium. Mark came to Thailand 17 years ago and is one of the top bilingual MCs and Fitness Youtubers in the country. We sit with him today to talk about his journey to becoming the voice of…

  • Exclusive Beachfront Property for Sale in Phuket | Twin Palms Residences Montazure | Thaiger

    Exclusive Beachfront Property for Sale in Phuket | Twin Palms Residences Montazure

    https://youtu.be/d1iBRg7RfkU Welcome to Twin Palms Residences Montazure in Kamala, Phuket, where luxury and serenity meet. Nestled on the picturesque Kamala beach, this exclusive beachfront condominium is the epitome of tropical living. This stunning condo boasts a spacious open floor plan with floor-to-ceiling windows that offer breathtaking ocean views. The condo features 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, and a private balcony. The…

  • Besotted Thai man begins 1,200 kilometre journey on foot to propose to girlfriend | Thaiger

    Besotted Thai man begins 1,200 kilometre journey on foot to propose to girlfriend

    A besotted Thai man has started a 1,400 kilometre journey across Thailand on foot with the goal of proposing to his girlfriend – who he met on social media five months ago – on Valentine’s Day. He set off from his home in Nakhon Nayok province in central Thailand and is aiming to reach his girlfriend’s house in Satun province…

  • Police ordain as monks to pray for Thailand’s Princess Bajrakitiyabha | Thaiger

    Police ordain as monks to pray for Thailand’s Princess Bajrakitiyabha

    Police officers and local men ordained as monks at Bang Phlee Yai Klang Temple in Samut Prakan province near Bangkok yesterday to make merit and pray for the recovery of Her Royal Highness Princess Bajrakitiyabha Narendira Debyavati. In total, 49 police officers and local men took part in the ordination ceremony. The group will observe 227 rules for monks outlined…

  • The ultimate travel experience awaits at Four Points by Sheraton Phuket Patong Beach Resort | Thaiger

    The ultimate travel experience awaits at Four Points by Sheraton Phuket Patong Beach Resort

    Press Release Four Points by Sheraton Phuket Patong Beach Resort is the ultimate destination for guests seeking work and life balance, with 600 guest rooms conveniently located in the heart of Phuket’s most famous beach district. Nestled in a crescent-shaped bay of white sand, overlooking the turquoise sea on Phuket’s highly sought-after west coast, Patong Beach is one of Thailand’s…

  • ‘Tuhao’ and 40 others indicted on multiple charges | Thaiger

    ‘Tuhao’ and 40 others indicted on multiple charges

    Chinese businessman “Tuhao” and 40 accomplices were indicted in Bangkok on Thursday on a wide variety of charges, including drug trafficking and money laundering. The indictment of Chaiyanat “Tuhao” Kornchayanant comes after attorney-general Naree Tantasathien gave the go-ahead. The AG ordered the Office of Narcotics Litigation to arraign Chaiyanat and the other suspects at the Bangkok South Criminal Court. Charges…

  • Subdistrict accountant swindles 15 million baht in government funds | Thaiger

    Subdistrict accountant swindles 15 million baht in government funds

    An accountant for Lad Yao subdistrict in Nakhon Sawan province, central Thailand, was arrested yesterday for swindling 15 million baht in government funds to pay back her gambling debt and repay loan sharks. Police officers from the Office of Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) arrested a female accountant, 41 year old Phatchara, at the Lad Yao sub-district office in Nakhon…

  • Sick wild elephant treated in central Thailand | Thaiger

    Sick wild elephant treated in central Thailand

    A sick wild elephant had to be shot with a tranquilliser dart and sedated before wildlife officials and veterinarians could treat the animal in a forest in Tha Takiap district of Chachoengsao Province on Wednesday. Two elephants were found wandering in Ang Toei forest on Tuesday. One of them was clearly very sick, with a bad wound on the left…

  • Military reform top of electioneering agenda | Thaiger

    Military reform top of electioneering agenda

    Military reform has been at the top of this weeks electioneering agenda. Pheu Thai and Move Forward both want to see widespread reform of the military, including the ending of conscription. Though the move will be popular among younger Thais, it is not universally supported. Both Thai Sang Thai and the Democrat Party believe that military conscription is necessary and…

  • Passengers left waiting hours at Bangkok’s new central train station | Thaiger

    Passengers left waiting hours at Bangkok’s new central train station

    The opening of Bangkok‘s new central train station Bangkok Aphiwat Central Station did not go so smoothly yesterday with the first service to Chiang Mai departing three hours later than scheduled and many more delayed services. BBC Thai and CH7 report that services were delayed to await the arrival of Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob, who was rather late to an…

  • Andaz brand debuts in Thailand with the opening of Andaz Pattaya jomtien beach | Thaiger

    Andaz brand debuts in Thailand with the opening of Andaz Pattaya jomtien beach

    Press Release CHICAGO (January 16, 2023) – Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE: H) announced today the opening of Andaz Pattaya Jomtien Beach, marking the debut of the Andaz brand in Thailand. Nestled across over 15 acres (6.4 hectares) of stunning beachfront land, amid mature trees and gardens overlooking the Gulf of Thailand, this luxury lifestyle resort provides a myriad of ways…

  • Thailand welcomes 900,000 foreign tourists during Jan 1-15 | Thaiger

    Thailand welcomes 900,000 foreign tourists during Jan 1-15

    In the first half of January, Thailand welcomed a grand total of 913,013 foreign tourists, according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT). Governor of the TAT Yuthasak Supsasorn revealed that Russia has overtaken Malaysia as the Number 1 tourism market… Foreign Arrivals in Thailand by Nationality January 1 – 15, 2023 Russians (99,593) Malaysians (89,461) South Koreans (47,471) Indians…

  • Get connected with Thailand’s top cannabis shops, farms, and wholesalers on WEED.in.th | Thaiger

    Get connected with Thailand’s top cannabis shops, farms, and wholesalers on WEED.in.th

    Since the decriminalization of cannabis in Thailand on June 9th, over 2,540 cannabis-related storefront businesses have emerged, and more than 50,000 reviews have been submitted for these businesses. In addition to the proliferation of storefronts, over 1,125,000 residents have registered for permission to cultivate cannabis in record-breaking time. In response to the growing demand for cannabis in Thailand, the team…

  • Man found dead after cycling nearly 70 kilometres to find job | Thaiger

    Man found dead after cycling nearly 70 kilometres to find job

    A man was found dead at a bus stop in the Isaan province of Roi Et after cycling nearly 70 kilometres to find a job. It is believed he had a heart attack. Locals also reported that he got hit by a car the day before he died but refused treatment. Officers from Mueang Roi Et Police Station were notified…

  • Thai man uses soy sauce to fake suicide, hoping to win wife back | Thaiger

    Thai man uses soy sauce to fake suicide, hoping to win wife back

    A Thai man used soy sauce to fake suicide on Monday in hopes of winning back his wife and son. The man, 50 year old Watchara, was estranged from his wife, 40 year old Pla, due to conflicts between the couple. He lives in the southern Chumphon province, while she lives in Pattaya. On Monday, Watchara travelled to Pattaya, hoping…

  • Rare clouded leopard struts its stuff in Thailand’s new wildlife safe haven | Thaiger

    Rare clouded leopard struts its stuff in Thailand’s new wildlife safe haven

    In the mountains of Kanchanaburi in western Thailand, hidden cameras are capturing more and more clouded leopards, Indo-Chinese tigers, gaurs, and other wildlife. Recognising the importance of the conservation of Thailand’s wildlife, Thailand’s Treasury Department is preparing to declare an area of land covering 219,000 rai of land a non-hunting area. The huge conservation area – covering Si Sawat and…

  • Police wife accused of swindling 110,000 baht from Burmese novice | Thaiger

    Police wife accused of swindling 110,000 baht from Burmese novice

    The wife of a police officer has been accused of swindling 110,000 baht from a 10 year old Burmese novice monk. The Ministry of Justice awarded the child the allowance after his father was jailed for murdering his mother. The arresting officer took pity on the boy, named Marwin, and asked his wife to submit guardianship forms so they could…

  • Thai man claims he fell asleep before car ended up on wall in Bangkok | Thaiger

    Thai man claims he fell asleep before car ended up on wall in Bangkok

    A Thai man claimed he fell asleep while driving before his car ended up on top of a barrier wall of an off-ramp to Rama IV Road in Bangkok yesterday. The car’s rear ended up on top of the off-ramp’s restraining barrier, while the front was smashed into the expressway. The driver, Atthapol Yolsophon, sustained minor injuries, and rescuers rushed…

  • Thailand still needs thousands more tourism workers | Thaiger

    Thailand still needs thousands more tourism workers

    Thailand still needs thousands more tourism workers than it already has. The kingdom’s Labour Ministry recently surveyed the labour demands of 32,359 tourism operators in 60 provinces. The ministry found that out of all the operators, 1,817 businesses needed a total of 9,763 more workers. Employers need receptionists, porters, waiters, cleaners and housemaids, chefs, kitchen workers, cashiers, and accountants. The…

  • Cannabis in Thailand: A Guide for Tourists | Thaiger

    Cannabis in Thailand: A Guide for Tourists

    Thailand’s crazy cannabis laws can be difficult to navigate so the Ministry of Public Health has issued a guide titled “10 Things Tourists Need to Know About Cannabis in Thailand” to help budding cannabis tourists stay out of trouble. Since the marijuana plant (“Gancha” in Thai language) was removed from Thailand’s list of Category 5 Narcotics on June 9 this…

  • 8 million MOPH webpages hacked by gambling websites | Thaiger

    8 million MOPH webpages hacked by gambling websites

    The Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) closed approximately eight million official government-related webpages after they were hacked by illegal gambling websites. MOPH Information and Communication Technology Centre Director Anan Kanoksin told Thai media that illicit online gambling websites have been illegally squatting on government platforms after they sat idle for months. The illegal gambling websites were able to squat on…