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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  • Japanese tourist’s 6,000 baht tuk tuk ripoff shocker in Bangkok

    Japanese tourist’s 6,000 baht tuk tuk ripoff shocker in Bangkok

    A Japanese tourist shared a truly shocking experience on social media yesterday, detailing how they were ripped off by an unscrupulous Bangkok tuk tuk driver. The tourist was charged an extortionate 6,000 baht (US$162) for a trip from Asoke to the Sala Daeng area, a journey that would normally cost around 32 baht on the BTS Skytrain. Travelling in a…

  • Umphang-Sangkhla Buri route to boost tourism and border security

    Umphang-Sangkhla Buri route to boost tourism and border security

    Tak Province recently inaugurated a new route connecting Umphang and Sangkhla Buri, serving as a scenic corridor for tourism and bolstering security along the Thai-Myanmar border. The opening of this pathway is a strategic move to enhance travel and stimulate economic growth between Tak and Kanchanaburi provinces through the beauty of nature. District Chief Manoch Pohtinium of Umphang, in collaboration…

  • Nakhon Ratchasima hotel workers nabbed for underage trafficking

    Nakhon Ratchasima hotel workers nabbed for underage trafficking

    Two employees of a certain curtain hotel in Nakhon Ratchasima have been arrested for allegedly operating as pimps and trafficking underage girls for sexual services. The suspects, 46 year old Jansunun and 47 year old Tongta were apprehended in a sting operation by the Anti-Human Trafficking Division (AHTD) of the Royal Thai Police. The police operation, led by Police Major…

  • Chinese woman’s 14-year sister act scam nets 2 million baht pension

    Chinese woman’s 14-year sister act scam nets 2 million baht pension

    An astonishing case of identity fraud came to light when a Chinese woman in the city of Wuhan, China, impersonated her dead sister for 14 years, including through her retirement to claim a pension of 2 million baht. The deception came to an end when the authorities uncovered the ruse and sentenced her to imprisonment. The woman surnamed Zan, managed…

  • Amphetamine possession review by health minister sparks debate

    Amphetamine possession review by health minister sparks debate

    The maximum number of amphetamine pills one can possess without facing criminal prosecution is under review, as revealed by Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsutin. A meeting scheduled for Thursday, May 16, aims to reassess this limit, currently set at five pills. The existing regulation, enacted under previous Public Health Minister Cholnan Srikaew on February 9, designates individuals found with five…

  • Tragedy in Pattaya: Estonian toddler killed in car crash

    Tragedy in Pattaya: Estonian toddler killed in car crash

    In a heart-wrenching incident at Sukhsiri Village, East Pattaya, an Estonian toddler tragically lost his life in a devastating car accident yesterday. Filipp Naumov was found lifeless on the road, suffering severe head injuries and extensive bleeding. Despite the valiant efforts of rescuers and medical personnel, who performed CPR and rushed him to the hospital, Naumov succumbed to his injuries shortly…

  • Mangoes are beneficial for pregnant women and older individuals

    Mangoes are beneficial for pregnant women and older individuals

    Known as “Mamuang” in Thai, the mango, revered as the king of fruits, is a staple in both sweet and savoury dishes in Thailand. Tourists flock to the streets of Bangkok or Phuket, eager to indulge in local delights like mango with sticky rice or crispy catfish with mango salad. This subtropical fruit, with its unique flavour, is not only…

  • 2 Thai women swindle life savings from old man in Isaan

    2 Thai women swindle life savings from old man in Isaan

    An 85 year old Thai man is pleading for help after two Thai women allegedly stole life savings worth 150,000 baht from his home in the Isaan province of Chaiyaphum. The 85 year old basketwork vendor, Phaen, told Channel 8 that the theft occurred at around 10.30am on Friday, May 10. He told the news channel that he had not…

  • Trillion-baht gamble: Deputy minister defends Land Bridge project

    Trillion-baht gamble: Deputy minister defends Land Bridge project

    In a heated defence yesterday, Deputy Transport Minister Manaporn Charoensri championed the government’s ambitious 1-trillion-baht Land Bridge project, which she claims has sparked considerable interest from foreign investors. Her statement came in response to sharp criticisms from former Democrat leader Samart Ratchapolsitte, who cast doubt on the project’s cost-effectiveness and feasibility. Despite his scepticism, Manaporn insists the initiative is attracting…

  • Khon Kaen residents demand action against wild night bikers

    Khon Kaen residents demand action against wild night bikers

    The city of Khon Kaen has recently been disrupted by a gang of daredevil bikers, whose brazen stunts on public roads have triggered alarm and concern among residents. The local community is calling for police action against these reckless motorcyclists, fearing for the safety of other road users. In an unsettling display of audacity, one masked biker has been caught…

  • Drug-addicted monk arrested after petrol theft and car crash chaos

    Drug-addicted monk arrested after petrol theft and car crash chaos

    A drug-addicted Thai monk joined the illustrious list of monastic figures behaving disgracefully in Thailand when he was arrested yesterday for avoiding a 1,300 petrol station bill and crashing his car into a police motorcycle and a baht bus in the Isaan province of Maha Sarakham. A petrol station manager in Kantara Wichai district reported the petrol theft to Mueang…

  • Inferno erupts at Pattaya luxury clubhouse

    Inferno erupts at Pattaya luxury clubhouse

    A luxury clubhouse in the prestigious Nusa Chivani Pattaya Village of Na Jomtien was devastated by a ferocious fire yesterday. The blaze, which ignited on the second floor, rapidly consumed the entire two-story building, fuelled by a stash of documents and bed sets. Thick plumes of smoke filled the sky, visible for miles around, as the inferno raged. Local firefighters from surrounding…

  • Barking mad: Residents howl over stray dog treatment in Chon Buri

    Barking mad: Residents howl over stray dog treatment in Chon Buri

    A local teacher and a resident in the Bang Lamung district of Chon Buri province yesterday raised concerns over the handling of stray dogs by municipal officers, alleging inhumane treatment after the animals were sedated and left in a forest, leading to the death of one dog. The incident sparked a plea for more compassionate and responsible animal control practices.…

  • Thai Airways’ Boeing and Airbus aircraft sales

    Thai Airways’ Boeing and Airbus aircraft sales

    Thai Airways International (THAI) successfully sold its entire fleet of 18 retired aircraft, including six Boeing 777-200s, six Boeing 777-300s, and six Airbus A380s. This major move marks a significant step in the airline’s restructuring strategy. THAI CEO Chai Eamsiri confirmed that sales agreements for all 18 aircraft have been signed on May 12. The airline has already completed the…

  • 86 year old Thai man stabs friend to death for lack of respect

    86 year old Thai man stabs friend to death for lack of respect

    An 86 year old Thai man yesterday stabbed a 49 year old friend to death for a lack of respect after drinking alcohol together in the Isaan province of Udon Thani. Nong Han Police Station officers were alerted to the death of the 49 year old man, Anan Kongchang, at around 12.30pm yesterday, May 13. The incident occurred at a…

  • House committee to strategise on industrial accident prevention

    House committee to strategise on industrial accident prevention

    The House Committee on Industry is set to convene tomorrow to deliberate on strategies for preventing industrial accidents. This move follows a series of recent warehouse and factory fires, with the most recent one occurring last week at Map Ta Phut Tank Terminal (MTT) in Rayong. Kamonthas Kittisoonthornsakul, a Move Forward Party (MFP) MP for Rayong and deputy chair of…

  • Chiang Mai’s rot daeng under threat from ride-hailing apps

    Chiang Mai’s rot daeng under threat from ride-hailing apps

    Chiang Mai’s iconic rot daeng, or red cars, transport service is under threat as tourists are opting for alternative modes of transport, causing local operators to urge the government for assistance. The issue was highlighted in an online debate where a Facebook user expressed concerns over the survival of the rot daeng services, which are now facing stiff competition from…

  • Alcohol fuelled Phuket man arrested for axe attack on wife

    Alcohol fuelled Phuket man arrested for axe attack on wife

    A Chiang Mai native was arrested yesterday in Srisoonthorn, Phuket, following a violent domestic incident. During a heated argument fuelled by alcohol, 56 year old Insorn Bousai reportedly attacked his 52 year old wife, Boonjun Buasai, with an axe, causing severe injury to her foot. Thalang police, led by Police Lieutenant Thitiwat Asasingh, were informed of the distressing event at…

  • Thai govt plans to ‘rice’ to the occasion with decade-old grain auction

    Thai govt plans to ‘rice’ to the occasion with decade-old grain auction

    The Thai government expressed a strong intent to auction off the last remaining stocks of decade-old rice. This move is in line to replenish the state coffers, as made clear by Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Phumtham Wechayachai, in a recent Facebook post. The aged rice in question is part of the controversial rice-pledging scheme initiated during the administration…

  • Thai woman arrested for acid and knife attack on cheating husband

    Thai woman arrested for acid and knife attack on cheating husband

    Special Service Division (SSD), also known as the Commando Police, yesterday arrested a Thai woman in the central province of Kanchanaburi for a life-threatening acid and knife attack on her cheating husband. ThaiRath reported that the 45 year old suspect, Somjit Subsiri, committed the crime on August 13 at a house in Bangkok. She and her husband engaged in a…

  • Thai widow criticises government’s lack of aid after Hamas attack

    Thai widow criticises government’s lack of aid after Hamas attack

    A Thai widow, lamenting the loss of her husband in the Hamas attack in Israel on October 7, voiced concerns over the lack of financial aid from the Thai government. The Thai woman, 30 year old Narisara Malee, is mourning the loss of her 34 year old husband, Tianchai Yotthongdee, who was among the Thai agricultural workers who lost their…

  • Thai chief insists viral sexual yoga video was not shot in Thailand (video)

    Thai chief insists viral sexual yoga video was not shot in Thailand (video)

    A district chief on Koh Pha Ngan island in the southern province of Surat Thani insisted that a viral video of sexual yoga on Thai social media took place in Bali, Indonesia, not in Thailand. The video, shared widely on social media yesterday, May 13, showed three foreign couples engaging in unusual explicit acts, initially claimed to have taken place…

  • Myopia is increasing among children in Thailand and also globally

    Myopia is increasing among children in Thailand and also globally

    In recent years, the world has witnessed a concerning surge in myopia among children, with Thailand particularly affected, reporting between 11 to 12% of school-going children affected by the condition. Myopia, also known as nearsightedness, is a refractive error that causes distant objects to appear blurry while close objects remain clear. This condition not only impacts a child’s academic success…

  • Trans cashier nabbed for 40 million baht grand heist

    Trans cashier nabbed for 40 million baht grand heist

    The Thai authorities apprehended a former massage parlour cashier at Suvarnabhumi International Airport in connection to grand theft, with the heist totalling over 40 million baht. The 22 year old transgender woman was wanted for the alleged theft of valuables from a wealthy Phetcha Buri businesswoman’s home. On the evening of May 4, a daring heist took place in the…

  • Phetchabun honours local deity with ancient ritual

    Phetchabun honours local deity with ancient ritual

    Amidst the ancient traditions of Phetchabun, the community gathered yesterday for the time-honoured ritual in honour of the local deity, Chao Pho Chaiyaburi. This ceremony, deeply rooted in the cultural fabric of Ban Nong Nari, is believed to bring prosperity and protection to the village. Residents of the historic Nong Nari village in the Sadiang subdistrict have long held the…

  • Teen courier with 900k meth pills caught in Chiang Mai

    Teen courier with 900k meth pills caught in Chiang Mai

    In a dramatic pre-dawn operation, at 1.50am this morning, Thai police intercepted a teenage drug courier in Chiang Mai province, seizing nearly one million methamphetamine pills hidden in his pickup truck. The teenage driver admitted to being paid 80,000 baht for the illicit transport. Law enforcement officials from Lhoongkhot Police Station, under the command of Superintendent Suphachai Chanthara, collaborated with…

  • BrewDog’s Bangkok expansion: What this means for Thai nightlife

    BrewDog’s Bangkok expansion: What this means for Thai nightlife

    Multinational brewery and pub chain BrewDog is shaking up the Bangkok bar scene with its latest announcement, partnering with Atalanta Hospitality to open its first bar in Thailand, part of a major push into the Asian market. BrewDog, known for its edgy branding and innovative brews, currently operates over 100 bars and hotels worldwide. Last year, it ambitiously unveiled plans…

  • Young woman’s suicide note reveals feeling ‘period’ of neglect

    Young woman’s suicide note reveals feeling ‘period’ of neglect

    An emotionally unstable 21 year old woman left a suicide note of feeling undervalued before taking her own life at her home in Samut Songkhram province. The woman, who had been experiencing severe menstrual pain, left a poignant final message expressing her feelings of being unloved by her husband. On the evening of the incident, authorities, including Deputy Investigative Officer…

  • Research shockingly shows that air in most cars are laden with carcinogens

    Research shockingly shows that air in most cars are laden with carcinogens

    Imagine driving to work, dropping your kids off at school, or simply running errands in your car. Now, imagine that with every breath you take inside your vehicle, you’re inhaling potential carcinogens. This startling reality has been revealed by recent research, shedding light on a hidden danger lurking in the air we breathe daily. The study’s shocking findings Researchers from…

  • Ear today, gone tomorrow: Thai man bites off ear over marital affair

    Ear today, gone tomorrow: Thai man bites off ear over marital affair

    A Thai man in Chon Buri province bit off part of another man’s ear after discovering he was having an affair with his wife until she became pregnant. Mueang Chon Buri Police Station officers and local rescuers were alerted to a physical altercation between two groups of Thai men at Hua Hin-Bang Sai Market in the Chon Buri province on…