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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    Is private health insurance in Thailand worth it? Real costs vs risks explained

    Thailand has a strong healthcare system with both public and private options. Public hospitals offer affordable care, but many people, including expats, choose private health insurance for faster service, modern facilities, and more treatment choices. To decide if private health...

  • Thailand’s digital wallet project: Green light to make cash splash

    Thailand’s digital wallet project: Green light to make cash splash

    The government of Thailand has given the green light for the formation of a committee for its ambitious digital money handout scheme, otherwise known as the digital wallet project. Slated for launch in February, the initiative aims to stimulate the economy by providing each Thai citizen above the age of 16 with 10,000 baht (US$269) in digital money. The project, requiring…

  • Severe weather warning issued for Thailand: Heavy rain forecast across 44 provinces including 80% of Bangkok

    Severe weather warning issued for Thailand: Heavy rain forecast across 44 provinces including 80% of Bangkok

    Thailand Meteorological Department (TMD) issued a severe weather warning for heavy rainfall across 44 provinces, including an 80% area of Bangkok. The public is advised to remain alert for sudden flash floods and forest runoff, particularly in low-lying and mountainous regions close to waterways. This severe weather warning comes due to the Monsoon trough passing over the central, lower northeastern,…

  • Eighth day of search for missing mushroom picker in Khao Kho forest as new clues emerge

    Eighth day of search for missing mushroom picker in Khao Kho forest as new clues emerge

    A desperate search for a 61 year old mushroom picker lost in the Khao Kho Forest in northern Thailand has entered its eighth day, with over 100 people, including residents and officials from various departments, joining the hunt. Tragically, the man, known locally as Khamphan Sisonkarn or Lod, disappeared on September 27 while foraging in the community forest of Jawa…

  • Bangkok hotel launches Fifty Shades of Grey theme room

    Bangkok hotel launches Fifty Shades of Grey theme room

    G Boutique Hotel Surawong Bangkok extends an invitation to kinky couples who desire Anastasia Steele and Christian Grey fantasies to experience its newly launched Fifty Shades of Grey-themed room, equipped with BDSM gear for those seeking an unconventional adventure. G Boutique Hotel Surawong Bangkok is a 3-star hotel in the heart of the Thai capital, just a 3-minute walk from…

  • Weakening baht boosts Thailand’s exports and tourism

    Weakening baht boosts Thailand’s exports and tourism

    Thailand Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin pointed out yesterday that the weakening baht, despite its potential negative impact on energy import costs, is actually proving to be a boon for the country’s exports and tourism. The baht had earlier plummeted to an 11-month low against the US dollar, trading at 37.095. According to the 61 year old prime minister, who also…

  • ThaiBev expansion: 7 billion baht investment includes new Cambodia factory

    ThaiBev expansion: 7 billion baht investment includes new Cambodia factory

    ThaiBev, the Singapore-listed food and beverage company, announced an investment plan of 7 billion baht for the expansion of its operations both domestically and internationally. The company’s CEO, Thapana Sirivadhanabhakdi, revealed that 4 billion baht will be used to construct a new beverage factory in Cambodia, while 3 billion has been set aside for logistics facilities, a biogas factory, and…

  • Car takes a dive, one man survives: Dramatic sea plunge at Sattahip pier caught on camera

    Car takes a dive, one man survives: Dramatic sea plunge at Sattahip pier caught on camera

    A shocking incident occurred in the early hours of this morning when a car plunged into the sea at the Sattahip – Koh Samui ferry pier, Chuk Samet, Sattahip, Chon Buri. One man managed to escape by breaking the car window, but two women remained trapped in the submerged vehicle. The event was captured on CCTV at around 4am today.…

  • Thai welfare department pushes for more ‘home-run’ support as homeless program stalls

    Thai welfare department pushes for more ‘home-run’ support as homeless program stalls

    The Thai Department of Social Development and Welfare is advocating for increased housing subsidies for the homeless, following a year in which fewer than 100 individuals signed up for the programme, revealed Varawut Silpa-archa, the Minister of Social Development and Human Security. This joint initiative of the department and the Thai Health Promotion Foundation allows for half of the participants’…

  • Tourism confidence in Thailand plummets amid economic jitters

    Tourism confidence in Thailand plummets amid economic jitters

    The tourism confidence index in Thailand has taken a hit, with figures sliding from 91 in the same period of 2019 to 69 in the third quarter of this year, according to the Tourism Council of Thailand (TCT). The third quarter’s number also represents a decline from 74 and 72 recorded in the first and second quarters of 2021 respectively.…

  • Unmasking Wadee: Twitter user reveals twisted tricks of fraudulent fortune teller

    Unmasking Wadee: Twitter user reveals twisted tricks of fraudulent fortune teller

    In a shocking series of revelations, a Twitter user @summeru756762 exposed a fraudulent fortune teller known as Wadee, who manipulates individuals into obedience, forcing them to transfer money and physically abusing them. The victim, acquainted with the trickster for four years, detailed a chilling account of manipulation, coercion, and abuse that has sparked widespread outrage and led to other victims…

  • Breaking news: Three shot dead, five injured by teenage gunman inside Siam Paragon (video)

    Breaking news: Three shot dead, five injured by teenage gunman inside Siam Paragon (video)

    UPDATE: Three people have been reportedly shot dead and at least five people were injured today by a teenage gunman on the rampage at Siam Paragon Mall in Bangkok. Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) officers swiftly responded to the scene, where one officer successfully apprehended the alleged gunman, a 14 year old boy at 5.06pm inside the luxury Siam Paragon…

  • Thai villager wins 100,000 baht in lottery from ancient tree numbers

    Thai villager wins 100,000 baht in lottery from ancient tree numbers

    In an enchanting twist of fate, an anonymous resident was thrust into a realm of financial prosperity after uncovering the winning lottery numbers, bestowed upon them by an ancient and revered tree nestled within the tranquil confines of Ban Beng Temple in Sri Narong, Chumphon Buri, Surin. This auspicious turn of events led to the resident’s remarkable windfall—a substantial prize…

  • Shell shock: Giant turtle roadside rescue fuels lottery frenzy in northeast Thailand

    Shell shock: Giant turtle roadside rescue fuels lottery frenzy in northeast Thailand

    A giant turtle was discovered crawling on a road by a young man who decided to take it home, sparking a flurry of lottery number predictions among the local villagers in northeast Thailand. The unusual occurrence took place in the Nong Thep community, Sri Narong District, Surin province. The 28 year old man, Kaewprasert, was en route to buy some…

  • Helmet heist: Foreign couple’s brazen theft to dodge checkpoint fines caught on CCTV

    Helmet heist: Foreign couple’s brazen theft to dodge checkpoint fines caught on CCTV

    A security camera caught a foreign couple stealing two motorcycle helmets from a post office welfare house in the northern province of Chiang Mai in a bid to avoid being fined at a police checkpoint. The director of the Mae Ping Post Office, Kraisri Thongwirat, discovered that two helmets belonging to the post office had gone missing yesterday, October 2.…

  • Survivor’s trauma lingers a year after the daycare centre massacre in northeast Thailand

    Survivor’s trauma lingers a year after the daycare centre massacre in northeast Thailand

    The trauma of the brutal daycare centre massacre at a Thai nursery still lingers, especially for Paweenuch Supolwong, a four year old survivor in Nong Bua Lamphu. The horrific daycare centre massacre that unfolded a year ago in the rural village of Uthai Sawan, ended in the deaths of 36 people, shattering the peace of this close-knit community. Now, every movement…

  • Bangkok underwear thief caught with knickers in a twist at entertainment haunt

    Bangkok underwear thief caught with knickers in a twist at entertainment haunt

    A Thai thief who stole women’s underwear from a coin-operated laundry shop has been apprehended. The arrest occurred after the police issued an arrest warrant, and the suspect was later found at an entertainment venue. Numerous women’s undergarments were discovered hidden under the seat of his motorbike. Police Lieutenant Colonel Jedsada Yangnok, the superintendent of Wang Thong Lang Police Station,…

  • Chilli reception: Thai senators to spice things up with complaint after Icelandic restaurant row

    Chilli reception: Thai senators to spice things up with complaint after Icelandic restaurant row

    Thai senators are preparing to lodge a complaint with the Icelandic government following an incident where Doctor Porntip Rojanasunan was thrown out of a Thai restaurant in Iceland by its Thai proprietor. Last week, a video went viral on Thai social media depicting a Thai man, who identified himself as the owner of a restaurant in Iceland, expelling Porntip from…

  • Tha Bo’s watery battle: Northern Thailand community withstands relentless flooding for two weeks

    Tha Bo’s watery battle: Northern Thailand community withstands relentless flooding for two weeks

    In the face of relentless and devastating flooding, the resilient community of Tha Bo in Ubon Ratchathani, northern Thailand, has been grappling with the harsh reality of nature’s fury for the past two weeks. The disaster uprooted the lives of 11 families, comprising 40 individuals, who found refuge and solace at Wat Ban Tha Bo. Their homes have been submerged…

  • Noodle shop’s slippery surprise: Giant python crashes lunchtime in Yala, Thailand

    Noodle shop’s slippery surprise: Giant python crashes lunchtime in Yala, Thailand

    A giant python, almost 5 metres long and weighing 7 kilogrammes, caused a stir today when it slithered into a noodle shop in Yala, Thailand. The reptile was discovered by the shop owner, Suhayna Beeing, who immediately alerted residents of the Gunung Janoang community, sparking panic and attracting a crowd of onlookers. Suhayna noticed the giant python hiding under a…

  • British man recounts shocking encounter with racist Russians in Phuket

    British man recounts shocking encounter with racist Russians in Phuket

    A British man recounted an unsettling encounter with some racist Russians in Phuket, southern Thailand. His unfortunate experience has led him to declare that he will never return to the island. The British man, who shared his story on the Reddit platform under the username Wanderlust3r0, started his narrative by stating he is a black British man with a Thai…

  • Laid to rest: Thai authorities bury 4.5 million kg of illicit pork in Chon Buri

    Laid to rest: Thai authorities bury 4.5 million kg of illicit pork in Chon Buri

    The Department of Livestock Development, along with other key agencies, has begun the process of burying over 4.5 million kilogrammes of illicit pork, seized at Laem Chabang Port in Chon Buri. This gargantuan task, involving 161 shipping containers of illicit pork, is set to be completed within eight days at the Animal Feed Research and Development Centre in Sa Kaeo.…

  • Bangkok slum advocates unite: Demand for affordable housing echoes on World Habitat Day

    Bangkok slum advocates unite: Demand for affordable housing echoes on World Habitat Day

    Advocates from the Four Regions Slum Network approached Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt, demanding immediate action to alleviate the city’s affordable housing crisis for its underprivileged citizens. The plea took place during a protest at Lan Khon Muang Plaza yesterday, October 2, coinciding with World Habitat Day, an annual event observed. The protesters submitted a list of requests to the 57…

  • Price plunge extravaganza: Nationwide cuts on products and services to boost Thailand economy

    Price plunge extravaganza: Nationwide cuts on products and services to boost Thailand economy

    A nationwide price reduction on over 150,000 products and services, ranging up to an 87% discount, has been declared with immediate effect in Thailand until the end of December. This is part of the government’s Quick Win policy initiative, aimed at reducing costs, boosting the economy, and expanding business opportunities, stated Commerce Minister Phumtham Wechayachai. The agreement, reached yesterday, involves…

  • Taxi turmoil: Thai woman cries foul as Bolt taxi charges 1,350 baht for 30 minute trip in Bangkok

    Taxi turmoil: Thai woman cries foul as Bolt taxi charges 1,350 baht for 30 minute trip in Bangkok

    Another day in Big Mango, another story of a bad boy Bangkok taxi driver ripping off a customer, this time a Thai woman was ripped off by Bolt Thailand. The Thai woman condemned the rail-hailing application for overcharging her after a Bolt taxi driver demanded 1,350 baht for a 30-minute ride, about 50 kilometres, from the Bangkok International Trade &…

  • Thai couple demands justice from online vendor after failing to claim 30 million baht lottery jackpot

    Thai couple demands justice from online vendor after failing to claim 30 million baht lottery jackpot

    A Thai couple lodged a formal complaint against an online lottery vendor for their failure to deliver a set of winning lottery tickets, resulting in the couple’s unfortunate loss of a 30 million baht jackpot. On October 2, a 37 year old Thai woman, Nareerat Phanphamorn, posted on Facebook that she had won the lottery jackpot but was unable to…

  • Thai high-flyer: PM Srettha aims to lift Thailand to upper-income status in four-year soar

    Thai high-flyer: PM Srettha aims to lift Thailand to upper-income status in four-year soar

    Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin announced ambitious plans to elevate Thailand to an upper-income nation within the next four years. The 61 year old prime minister unveiled the government’s fiscal strategy for 2024, targeting an average economic growth of 5% per annum and a minimum daily wage of 600 baht by 2027. The initial proposal includes a raise of the minimum…

  • Heavy rain warning: Thailand braces for flash floods as 44 provinces drenched, eastern region bears brunt

    Heavy rain warning: Thailand braces for flash floods as 44 provinces drenched, eastern region bears brunt

    The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) today issued a heavy rain warning and flash floods in 44 provinces. The eastern region is expected to be the hardest hit, with 80% of the area likely to face heavy downpours. Bangkok is also expected to experience significant heavy rain, with a risk of sudden flash floods and forest water run-off. The 24-hour weather…

  • Hyde Park Garden blooms early: Koon Estate & AISL accelerate luxury living

    Hyde Park Garden blooms early: Koon Estate & AISL accelerate luxury living

    In response to overwhelming demand, Koon Estate, a property developer, and Asia International School Limited (AISL), which operates Harrow International Schools in Asia, have decided to expedite the second phase of their luxury housing project, Hyde Park Garden. Nuttawat Kuvijitsuwan, Koon Estate’s executive director, revealed that planning for the new phase has commenced earlier than initially planned, driven by the…

  • Yom River banks breach in northern Thailand, leaves 500+ homes flooded

    Yom River banks breach in northern Thailand, leaves 500+ homes flooded

    The Sukhothai province in Thailand experienced intense flooding when the banks of the Yom River broke on Monday, leading to over 500 households in the commercial district becoming inundated. Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin conveyed persistent concerns about the flood situation in Sukhothai following relentless rain. Although the prime minister did not confirm his visit to the flood-stricken Sukhothai, he announced…

  • Thao Wessuwan draws devotees to temple for lottery luck and land sales success

    Thao Wessuwan draws devotees to temple for lottery luck and land sales success

    The revered Noen Sukh temple in Rayong was abuzz with activity as devotees queued up to pay homage to the Thao Wessuwan statue, believed to bring luck in lottery and successful land sales. A popular retro music band was also hired to perform, adding to the vibrant atmosphere. A couple revealed that they had experienced good fortune after praying at…