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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    What is the 5 year visa for the digital nomad in Thailand?

    The Destination Thailand Visa (DTV) is a great option for digital nomads, remote workers, and freelancers who want to stay in Thailand for a long time. This multiple-entry visa is valid for five years, allowing stays of up to 180...

  • Builders uncover corrupt Thai Army practices

    Builders uncover corrupt Thai Army practices

    Construction workers say they fear for their lives after stumbling over corrupt Royal Thai Army practices while building army premises. The builders employed the help of a lawyer after they discovered shady dealings while working on army housing loan projects, reported Bangkok Post. They are frightened they will be linked to these corrupt practices. The builders lodged a complaint, via…

  • Where to buy cheap cannabis in Bangkok

    Where to buy cheap cannabis in Bangkok

    Where to buy cheap cannabis in Bangkok Bangkok is brimming with cannabis cafes and dispensaries selling high-quality, imported buds of every strain of marijuana under the sun, which can often come with a hefty price tag. Hidden away, there are some lesser-known spots selling decent quality, Thai-grown cheap cannabis in Bangkok. The major cannabis cafes in Bangkok are appealing as…

  • Attack on master complainer was wrong says Deputy PM

    Attack on master complainer was wrong says Deputy PM

    The violent attack on Thailand’s master complainer, Srisuwan Janya, by another activist was denounced yesterday by Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon. The well-known publicity-seeking Srisuwan was attacked at a press conference he organised outside the Central Investigation Bureau announcing he was going to file a complaint with the police against comedian Udom “Nose” Taepanich. Srisuwan believes Nose Udom’s remarks,…

  • Escapee prisoner captured by police on a roof in northern Thailand

    Escapee prisoner captured by police on a roof in northern Thailand

    UPDATE Last night, police captured the escapee prisoner who broke out of Fort Surasakmontri army prison in Lampang province, northern Thailand, on Tuesday. Police found the soldier on the roof of his friend’s house in Mueang district, Lampang province, where he had been hiding. Officers from Khelang Nakhon Police Station closed in on the townhouse at 10pm after receiving knowledge…

  • Drug cartel steals seized drugs, car, and guns from red-faced police

    Drug cartel steals seized drugs, car, and guns from red-faced police

    In a scene more reminiscent of the Keystone Cops, narcotics suppression police were left red-faced after drugs they seized from a trafficker in the southern province of Songkla were stolen back by a drug cartel. And, just for good measure, the drug cartel stole their police car, guns and phones as well. The Deputy Chief of the Songkhla Provincial Administrative…

  • Brand Shinawatra – choice of a new generation?

    Brand Shinawatra – choice of a new generation?

    In today’s Bangkok Post, former senator and member of the National Reform Council Prasarn Marukpitak looks forward to the forthcoming election with still more than six months to go. According to Prasarn, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, youngest daughter of Thaksin, is increasingly popular, far more so than ageing veterans such as Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha. Pheu Thai is now loudly protesting that…

  • Top 5 Beauty procedures to keep in mind when in Thailand

    Top 5 Beauty procedures to keep in mind when in Thailand

    In the past decade, Thailand has become an important hub for the beauty industry in Southeast Asia. Thanks to its innovative and advanced medical centres, people from all around the globe flock to the Land of Smiles to go under the knife. A wide range of cosmetic procedures is available in Thailand, from hair transplants to liposuction. But if you’re…

  • The best non-invasive medical procedure in Phuket

    The best non-invasive medical procedure in Phuket

    Nowadays, less invasive cosmetic procedures can give similar results to invasive procedures. Hence, they’re becoming more and more popular. For those who don’t want to undergo invasive surgery, many minimally-invasive and non-invasive procedures are available. Not only do these procedures have little to no downtime, but they can also give similar results to the more invasive options. Hence, they’re growing…

  • Amazon Web Services to invest billions of dollars in Thailand

    Amazon Web Services to invest billions of dollars in Thailand

    Amazon Web Services (AWS) announced on Monday that it plans to invest billions of dollars in Thailand over the next 15 years. AWS, Amazon’s cloud computing division, plans to invest $US5 billion (about 190 billion baht) in Thailand during that time. AWS will carry out the investment in phases. In the first phase, 20 billion baht will be invested immediately,…

  • New species of crab discovered in mountains of southern Thailand

    New species of crab discovered in mountains of southern Thailand

    On Friday, a team of Thai scientists published the discovery of a new species of freshwater crab living high up in the mountains of southern Thailand. The striking maroon-red crustacean was discovered by Pan Yisin from the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Forestry, scientist Ruangrit Phromdam and their team. Pan and Ruangrit named the crab “Ajahn Sukri Red Ant Crab…

  • A rogue official arrested for issuing ID cards to migrants

    A rogue official arrested for issuing ID cards to migrants

    A rogue government official was arrested yesterday for illegally issuing Thai identification (ID) cards to more than 50 migrants in exchange for money at the San Sai District Office in Chiang Mai. Chiang Mai Governor Nirut Pongsitthaworn reported yesterday that the San Sai District Office hired a temporary officer to help out with document work. However, the officer turned out to…

  • Elderly monk starts barefoot journey around Thailand to raise money for hospital

    Elderly monk starts barefoot journey around Thailand to raise money for hospital

    An elderly Buddhist monk set off at 5am today on a 3,145 kilometre journey around Thailand. The 73 year old monk will walk barefoot from his temple in Songkhla province, southern Thailand, all the way to Chiang Rai in northernmost Thailand and on to his hometown in Nakhon Phanom province in the northeast. Luang Ta Bunchuen Panyawutho, of the Thai…

  • Resistant and contagious BQ.1 sub-variant hits Thailand

    Resistant and contagious BQ.1 sub-variant hits Thailand

    As new strains of Covid are beginning to crop up in Thailand, the first infection of the highly resistant and contagious BQ.1 sub-variant has now been found in the kingdom. Ramathibodi Hospital’s Centre for Medical Genomics confirmed the presence of the sub-variant of the Omicron strain, which mutated from the BA.5 sub-variant. In a post on Facebook, the centre cited…

  • 5 captives brainwashed by transwoman’s cult, 15 more victims file complaints

    5 captives brainwashed by transwoman’s cult, 15 more victims file complaints

    UPDATE A police investigation into the three women and two children held captive in a Bangkok condominium by a transwoman and her accomplice revealed they were brainwashed. More victims came forward after the story broke and filed complaints with the police against the suspects. The Commander of the Metro Police Detective Department, Teeradate Thamsutee, revealed more details about the case…

  • Lottery winner drinks himself to death in Pattaya

    Lottery winner drinks himself to death in Pattaya

    A Thai man went out drinking to celebrate winning the lottery but did not wake up the next day. He was found lying dead in his bedroom surrounded by bottles of liquor yesterday morning in Pattaya, Chon Buri province, eastern Thailand. Officers from Bang Lamung Police Station and rescue workers from Sawang Boriboon Foundation were called to a house in…

  • Flood warning issued for southern Thailand

    Flood warning issued for southern Thailand

    The Meteorological Department warns people in southern Thailand to be wary of heavy rainfall, flash flooding, and potential landslides over the next couple of days. Rain will continue in southern Thailand today until at least Saturday as an intense low-pressure cell covers the upper Andaman sea. Thunderstorms are expected in 70% of southeast Thailand today in Chumphon, Surat Thani, Nakhon…

  • Serial thief blames prison friends for planning robberies

    Serial thief blames prison friends for planning robberies

    Thai police last night swooped to arrest a serial thief and seized stolen assets of over 10 million baht in the process at a condominium in Bangkok. Officers also uncovered detailed plans for future robberies. The thief protested his innocence, claiming his friends in prison had planned everything for him. Police arrested 48 year old Bualuang Wangkeyree last night at…

  • Plan to push Pattalung into world’s top green destinations

    Plan to push Pattalung into world’s top green destinations

    The government reported yesterday that it plans to push Pattalung province in the southern part of Thailand into the world’s top 100 green or sustainable destinations by 2027. The Minister of the Tourism and Sports Ministry, Piphat Ratchakitprakarn, reported yesterday that his department and the Organization for the Development of Sustainable Tourism have a project to raise awareness of green…

  • 50,000 chickens drown in flood at farm in central Thailand

    50,000 chickens drown in flood at farm in central Thailand

    Shocking pictures of 50,000 dead chickens that drowned in floods at a farm in the central province of Ang Thong yesterday reveal a glimpse into the incomprehensive damage that relentless flooding continues to cause to farmers’ livelihoods in Thailand. Much of central Thailand is underwater after the Chao Phraya river overflowed again. Almost 20,000 households in Sing Buri province were impacted…

  • China Southern Airlines ready for Bangkok takeoff

    China Southern Airlines ready for Bangkok takeoff

    News breaking yesterday that China Southern Airlines is planning to resume flights to Bangkok signals more good news for the Thailand tourism industry aiming to attract another 12 million foreign travellers before the end of the year. In 2019 more than 12 million Chinese tourists travelled to Thailand, making up one-quarter of the kingdom’s foreign arrivals. There had been a…

  • Bangkok motorcycle taxi rider attacked by teenagers

    Bangkok motorcycle taxi rider attacked by teenagers

    A motorcycle taxi rider was brutally attacked by teenagers in the Thon Buri district of Bangkok. He says he had to pretend to die to save his own life, although that appears to be a bit of an exaggeration given the man is allegedly well-known for being a troublemaker. The teenagers who assaulted the man surrendered themselves to the police…

  • Pheu Thai calls to dissolve Bhumjaithai Party over cannabis policy

    Pheu Thai calls to dissolve Bhumjaithai Party over cannabis policy

    The Pheu Thai Party is pushing to see rival Bhumjaithai Party go up in smoke, planning a petition to dissolve the party over the handling of their cannabis policies. The party plans on filing a petition to the Election Commission to consider the dissolution of all parties involved in the bungling of the decriminalisation of cannabis in Thailand. They claim…

  • Police rescue 3 women & 2 kids held captive for 3 years in a Bangkok condo

    Police rescue 3 women & 2 kids held captive for 3 years in a Bangkok condo

    Police rescued three women and two children from a condominium in Bangkok after being held captive for three years by their unscrupulous bosses. The two suspects were arrested yesterday. Police raided the luxury condominium on Arun Amarin Road in the Bang Phlat district of Bangkok and rescued the five victims being held by a transwoman and her employee after being…

  • VIDEO: Thailand’s ‘master complainer’ attacked over complaint against comedian

    VIDEO: Thailand’s ‘master complainer’ attacked over complaint against comedian

    Thai social activist Srisuwan Janya, deemed “Thailand’s master complainer,” was attacked today after accusing comedian Nose Udom of violating the law with his anti-government standup comedy sketches. Secretary-General of the Association for the Protection of the Thai Constitution – Srisuwan Janya – travelled to the Crime Suppression Division at 10am today to request that the authorities launch an investigation into…

  • Floods could take a toll on Thailand’s rice industry

    Floods could take a toll on Thailand’s rice industry

    Floods could take a toll on Thailand’s rice industry. The honorary president of the Thai Rice Exporters Association, Chookiat Ophaswongse, says it’s too early to estimate the value of damages since floods are still happening in many parts of the country. However, the Kasikorn Research Center estimates that the floods from August and October may cause around 2.9-3.1 billion baht…

  • Thailand introduces new rule for cash deposit machines

    Thailand introduces new rule for cash deposit machines

    On November 15, people depositing cash into their bank account via cash deposit machines (CDMs) in Thailand will have to insert their credit or debit card and PIN to verify their identity. The Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO) said the new identification requirement is a safety measure to prevent money laundering earned from drug trafficking, gambling, and other criminal activity. Bank…

  • Arrest warrant for Thai activist who missed court hearing over lese majeste

    Arrest warrant for Thai activist who missed court hearing over lese majeste

    Bangkok’s Southern Criminal Court has issued an arrest warrant for a young Thai activist and dance teacher after she failed to attend a court meeting over lese majeste charges. The woman, 29 year old Kanlaymon “Mint” was scheduled to appear in court on October 4, but failed to show up. She had been granted bail, and the person who bailed…

  • ‘Pay for a pool villa in Phuket instead of paying the energy bills’ this winter, advises Thai official

    ‘Pay for a pool villa in Phuket instead of paying the energy bills’ this winter, advises Thai official

    Instead of wasting money on high energy bills this winter, Westerners should turn off the heating and spend their money in Thailand instead, advises the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT). With wholesale gas and electricity prices rocketing in Europe TAT’s invitation makes sense. In the UK, the average household is about £2,500 a year, up from £1,400 in October 2021.…

  • Bangkok could hit lows of 15°C by end of October

    Bangkok could hit lows of 15°C by end of October

    Time to invest in a woolly sweater or two as Bangkok is transitioning into ‘winter.’ By the end of the month, the temperature in the capital could hit lows of 15 degrees Celsius, according to the Meteorological Department. Yesterday, a chill was felt in the capital for the first time in a long time, reaching lows of 22 degrees Celsius.…

  • Drunken monk with an axe causes chaos smashing cars

    Drunken monk with an axe causes chaos smashing cars

    Another day of shame for the Buddhist faith after a drunken monk was arrested for causing chaos in the central province of Kamphaeng Phet. The monk went on the rampage smashing cars in the community with a beer can in one hand and an axe in the other. The arrested monk, 49 year old Prayoon, defended his actions by claiming…