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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Sponsored How to reduce out-of-pocket medical expenses in Thailand?
Managing medical expenses in Thailand is important as healthcare costs continue to rise. The country’s healthcare system includes both public and private options, but even with the Universal Coverage Scheme (UCS) for citizens, many still face high out-of-pocket medical expenses....
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11 provinces on alert as tropical storm Noru pushes Chao Phraya to the brink
Residents in 11 of Thailand’s provinces are being warned as tropical storm Noru is expected to push the Chao Phraya River to the brink. Those residents, which are near waterways, are now being told that the storm could push the river’s water levels up by 66 centimetres. The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation and the Royal Irrigation Department issued…
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Airspace over Bangkok airport closed for airforce parade
Airspace over Don Mueng International Airport in Bangkok is closed for an hour tomorrow for a traditional and honorary air parade by the Royal Thai Air Force (RTF). The RTF received a lot of criticism from Thai netizens for the ceremony over Don Mueng Airport but insists it goes ahead to honour a retiring Air Force chief and welcome a…
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1 year old child allegedly snatched while parents slept
A search party is combing the area after a one year old child mysteriously disappeared while her parents slept. The child’s grandmother believes she was kidnapped. The child, Showathida “Nam Moei” Nuengpirom, went missing from the family home in the Kong Thanu sub-district, Mueng district, in Lopburi province in the central part of Thailand yesterday afternoon yesterday. The child’s 33…
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Traditional Thai medicine clinics offering cannabis treatments in Thailand
Cannabis has a long history in Thailand where it has traditionally been used as an ingredient in cooking and as a medicine to treat numerous ailments. The Thai Institute of Healing Arts defines marijuana as an “analgesic and sedative to control pain.” “Gancha,” as the Thais call it, once played a vital role in traditional Thai herbal medicine. Medicinal use…
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Police ignore cheating antics of drunk Bangkok cabbie
An outraged Thai woman took to social media after police refused to punish an allegedly drunk, chain-smoking Bangkok cabbie who guzzled alcohol while driving and overcharged her brother. Supunsa Hombanyen posted videos of the slovenly drunk taxi driver on her TikTok account, @mildhom, yesterday. She said… “On September 27, 2022, my brother took a taxi from Morchit in Bangkok to…
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Third baby elephant of the year born at Pattaya garden
The third baby elephant of the year has been born at a botanical garden in Pattaya. The Nong Nooch Gardens Pattaya welcomed the new little member, named “Ply Poa Jai” with a religious ceremony yesterday. The rite was held in front of an elephant statue in the garden. Photos show a monk blessing Ply Poa Jai as the little elephant…
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Thai doctor warns against eating bats after ‘bat hunter’ sells for 100 baht per kilo
A Thai doctor warns the public of the dangers of eating bat meat after a “bat hunter” in Sukhothai, northern Thailand, claimed that bat meat is good for your health. The man sells bats for 100 baht a kilogram. The “bat hunter,” 33 year old Somchai Wongpanat, made headlines in Thai media yesterday after claiming that eating bat meat “restores…
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Spartan Race to hit Phuket in November
More than 5,000 Thai and foreign athletes from all over South East Asia are to come together in Phuket for the 2022 Spartan Asia Pacific Championship on November 26-27 at Blue Tree waterpark. The spectacular event is part of the ongoing campaign to turn Phuket into the world’s premier health & wellness centre. The event will be a follow-up to…
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Free meals in Pattaya during Vegetarian Festival
It’s not just Phuket celebrating the annual Vegetarian Festival, dwellers in Pattaya are also gathering for free vegetarian food. From now until October 5, anyone can eat yummy vegetarian meals for free at the Sawang Boriboon Foundation in the Naklua sub-district of Bang Lamung District. Sawang Boriboon is a Thai-Chinese foundation. It can provide meals for 300 people per seating.…
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No coup is being plotted in Thailand, insists Ministry of Defence
A spokesperson for Thailand’s Ministry of Defence wants to put an end to rumours that the Thai army is plotting another coup d’état. Yesterday at 3.30pm, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Defence Gen Kongcheep Tantravanich publicly insisted that no coup d’état is in the works in Thailand… “I assure you that there is no coup at all. Please feel…
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“Billy” murder suspect reinstated at Kaeng Krachan NP
Chaiwat Limlikit-aksorn, former chief of Kaeng Krachan National Park, has been reinstated despite facing charges over the disappearance and alleged homicide of a Karen rights activist. The charges include premeditated murder, criminal intimidation with weapons, unlawful detention, and concealing a corpse. Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment Jatuporn Buruspat signed the order to reinstate Chiawat, effective…
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Nok Air cancels Nakhon Ratchasima-Chiang Mai flight routes
After just two months of operations, Thailand’s budget airline, Nok Air, is cancelling its flights from Nakhon Ratchasima to Chiang Mai province. The last flight took off yesterday morning with only 10 passengers on board. The move comes after the twice-weekly route saw low passenger numbers. The Bombardier Q400 turboprop aircraft that was used for the routes could carry up…
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Thai mental health officials want psychiatric drugs listed as essential meds
The number of cases of major depressive disorders (MDD) is rising in Thailand, and officials are looking for solutions. The country’s Mental Health Department is looking to push for the inclusion of psychiatric drugs on Thailand’s list of essential medicines. The department’s director-general said they will coordinate with the National Health Security office to promote this. The director-general, Dr Amporn…
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2 Thai knights in shining armour aid lost foreign child in Pattaya
Two Thai men became knights in shining armour when they went to assist a young foreign girl lost, wandering alone late at night down a dark quiet road in Pattaya. Thai netizens hailed their efforts to overcome a difficult situation and help a frightened child. One of the men, 23 year old Phoommiphat Chaichana, posted a video of the incident…
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Tropical Storm Noru hits northeast Thailand, 1 dead, 2 injured
Tropical Storm Noru hit northeast Thailand yesterday causing heavy rainfall, strong winds, and flash flooding in several provinces. A tree fell onto a car in Srisaket, killing one man and injuring two more people. At 6.55pm, officers from Huai Thap Than Police Station were informed that a tree had fallen onto a car near Huai Yang Lake. Police and rescue…
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Thai Airways promotion to Fukuoka, Japan
Thai Airways (THAI) has been busy over the past few days. On Monday Thailand’s flag carrier released details of its winter season itinerary while yesterday the airline scooped honours at the Skytrax 2022 World Airline Awards. Yesterday THAI was named the fourth best airline in the world for cabin crew while its staff was rated No.1 in Asia at the Skytrax 2022 World Airline Awards…
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Prasert levels 6-billion corruption accusations at Prayut
Suspended Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha and two cabinet ministers are facing possible charges over graft allegations concerning projects under the Ministry of Commerce, and the Ministry of Higher Education Science Research and Innovation. On behalf of various opposition parties, Pheu Thai, secretary-general Prasert Chantararuangtong, submitted two separate petitions to the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC). The first names are General…
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Phuket dwellers honour 10th Lunar Month
Temples across Phuket have honoured Thailand’s tenth lunar month with food offerings, and traditional puppets. Festivals are held for the tenth lunar month between September and October. During the festival, people offer food to their family members who have died. It is believed that during this time, the spirits of deceased people can come to meet with their relatives. Puppets…
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Thai govt owes 100 million baht to hospitality industry
An MP from the Democrat Party revealed that the Thai government owes about 100 million baht to hundreds of hotels across Thailand that joined the tourism-boosting campaign “We Travel Together.” The We Travel Together campaign was launched two years ago to boost Thai tourism affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. The initiative offered a 40% discount on hotels, flights, or food…
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Thai Airways flying high at Skytrax Awards
Thai Airways (THAI) has been named the fourth best airline in the world for cabin crew while its staff was rated No.1 in Asia at the Skytrax 2022 World Airline Awards at The Langham hotel in London. The carrier also did well in Skytrax’s global rankings, coming eighth in the airport services category, eighth in economy class catering, and 10th…
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English teacher’s body found in South Thailand
An English teacher’s body has been found last night in South Thailand’s Nakhon Si Thammarat province. The Danish man, 66 year old Devyd Haier, was found lying on his bed wearing only a pair of yellow shorts. He was found at his residence in a commercial building in the main city district. Devyd’s close friend said that when the two…
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Marketing in Thailand as a Foreigner: Volume #2.1 Ad Campaign Crossroad: Global Materials vs. The New Investment
Sometimes, It’s Okay to Wear Socks and Sandals Foreign marketers sometimes need to be bold enough to wear socks and sandals in a tropical country like Thailand to stand out. If you wonder why: READ HERE. I have no space for rewriting all this; otherwise, you would think this article is too long, but it is already long enough that…
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Tourism fee to go to Cabinet to enact or delay
The controversial 300-baht tourism fee is set to be reviewed by the Cabinet at the end of the month. They may decide to enact it or postpone the implementation to a later date. But, according to the Minister of Tourism and Sports Pipat Ratchakitprakarn, the fee is not going away. He says it is already set in law and can’t…
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Canadian gangster in Phuket killing faces death penalty in Thailand
Thai police are convinced that Canadian Matthew Dupre and accomplice Gene Karl Lahrkamp gunned down Vancouver gangster Jimi Singh Sandhu on the island of Phuket in February. The extradition hearing of a former member of Dupre began in Edmonton on September 27. Dupre is on the run from Thai police who claim the Alberta man took part in the killing…
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Knife-wielding tuk tuk driver says he is the victim in brawl over passengers
An 84 year old tuk tuk driver claimed that he was attacked by younger drivers because of a row over passengers. The alleged offenders defended themselves saying they were threatened by a knife first. The elderly tuk tuk driver, Pichit Sawanwijit, filed a complaint at Mueng Udon Thani Police Station saying he was attacked by three younger tuk tuk drivers…
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VIDEO: Nine cars in three days fly off ‘cursed’ road in eastern Thailand
Shocking CCTV footage reveals a total of nine vehicles losing control in the same place on a highway in Chachoengsao province, eastern Thailand, between September 24 – 26. Security cameras at a used car dealership on Suwinthawong Road in Mueang district captured nine vehicles losing control, seemingly out of nowhere, and spinning off the road. Most of the cars ended…
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Politicians urged to wear Thai suits to save energy
A Thai minister urged politicians and government officials to avoid wearing suits and ties and opt for Thai-fabric clothes instead. The minister says Thai fabric is suited to the kingdom’s climate and would help the government save energy. The Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, Varawut Silpa-archa, said at yesterday’s Cabinet meeting that he wants to introduce energy-saving measures to…
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Thai baht plunges to 38 against US dollar for first time in 16 years
The volatile Thai baht has depreciated to 38 against the US dollar even faster than foreseen by economists. The last time the baht reached 38 to the dollar was 16 years and two months ago on July 26, 2006. The baht has hit the 38 mark even earlier than expected by the Head of Capital at Kasikorn Bank Kobsidthi Silpachai,…
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Siam Paragon Bangkok International Fashion Week 2022
Siam Paragon, a ‘World Class Fashion Destination,’ the initiator of Siam Paragon Bangkok International Fashion Week, has long been a key driving force of Thai fashion industry. This year, the world class fashion showcase Siam Paragon Bangkok International Fashion Week 2022 (BIFW2022) has featured grand presentation from over 15 top-notch Thai fashion houses and new generation designers. BIFW2022 has been…
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Off-duty officer fires shots & fights with Bangkok cabbie
A road rage incident between a Bangkok taxi driver and an allegedly drunk off-duty police officer saw shots fired and a bout of fisticuffs on the hard shoulder of a motorway. The taxi driver, Thongchai Baanyam, filed a complaint with the police soon after the incident in Bangkok last night. The 42 year old told police that the reportedly drunk…
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