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.

  • Sponsored

    Long-term life in Thailand? 5 reasons private health insurance pays off in the long run

    Thailand is a great place for expats and retirees, offering a warm climate, affordable living, and rich culture. However, healthcare can be tricky for foreigners since they aren’t eligible for public health coverage, and private care can be expensive. Private...

  • Vaccine updates for expats; hospital extends hours to accelerate vaccinations | Thaiger

    Vaccine updates for expats; hospital extends hours to accelerate vaccinations

    In an effort to accelerate the rollout of vaccines and prevent overcrowding at inculcation centres, MedPark Hospital in Bangkok is opening up vaccination appointments after business hours until August 9 as part of its “Going the Extra Mile, Extra Hours” campaign. The extended hours are from 6pm to 10pm. MedPark Hospital is participating in the ThailandIntervac project by the Ministry…

  • Wednesday Covid Update: 20,200 new cases, provincial totals | Thaiger

    Wednesday Covid Update: 20,200 new cases, provincial totals

    Thailand’s daily counts for Covid-19 cases and deaths hit record highs today with 20,200 new Covid-19 cases and 188 coronavirus-related fatalities recorded today by the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration. A total of 672,395 confirmed Covid-19 infections and 5,503 coronavirus-related deaths have been recorded in Thailand since the start of the pandemic last year. Thailand’s latest and most severe wave…

  • Tour Phuket’s Islands with 5 Star Marine | Thaiger

    Tour Phuket’s Islands with 5 Star Marine

    Sponsored article 5 Star Marine Searching for a private boat charter in Phuket? Look no further than 5 Star Marine. Operating in Phuket for over 13 years, 5 Star Marine has since evolved to become industry leaders. Today, they are one of the top boat companies in Phuket, due to their strength in customer focus and premium boats at affordable…

  • 31 anti-government activists granted conditional release | Thaiger

    31 anti-government activists granted conditional release

    The Central Criminal Court has granted 31 anti-government protesters conditional release on the basis that they are not considered flight risks. The activists include Jatupat Boonpattararaksa, aka, “Pai Dao Din”, and have been in custody since their arrest in front of the Narcotics Suppression Bureau in Bangkok on Sunday and Monday. According to a Thai PBS World report, the protesters…

  • Wednesday Covid Update: Record high of 20,200 new cases and 188 deaths | Thaiger

    Wednesday Covid Update: Record high of 20,200 new cases and 188 deaths

    A record high of 20,200 new Covid-19 cases and another high of 188 coronavirus-related deaths were reported today by the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration. Thailand now has 211,076 active Covid-19 cases. In the latest and most severe wave of the virus, first recorded on April 1, the CCSA has recorded 643,522 Covid-19 cases. In 24 hours, the CCSA says 17,975 Covid-19 patients were…

  • Transport Company announces bus services are suspended until August 31 | Thaiger

    Transport Company announces bus services are suspended until August 31

    The state-run Transport Company announced that all interprovincial bus services will be suspended until the end of the month. Under the recent order imposed by the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration, interprovincial public transportation out of the 29 “dark red” zones, including Bangkok, is not allowed. The CCSA’s order is in effect until August 16, but a spokesperson says the…

  • Hemp ice cream hits the Thai market | Thaiger

    Hemp ice cream hits the Thai market

    The ice cream maker “Hemp” has launched a CBD infused ice cream. Their products are produced using Golden Triangle Group’s assistance. The group represent a big business mover and shaker in Thailand’s legal cannabis industry. Previously they opened a cafe on Soi Sukhumvit 36 in Bangkok. The flavours include: Northern Lights: chamomile mint chip tea Pineapple Express: apple and mango…

  • Samut Prakan man dies in fire, possibly self-inflicted | Thaiger

    Samut Prakan man dies in fire, possibly self-inflicted

    An Indian national, Thiruvadi Mari Prakash who lived in Samut Prakan, a central Thai province, has died after succumbing to burns from a petrol induced fire. Early reports suggest the man started the fire to commit suicide. Duty officer Adithep Phocharoen, says the fire was reported around 10:30 pm on the second floor of a 6 story apartment. Once alerted,…

  • Tuesday Covid Update: 18,901 new cases, provincial totals | Thaiger

    Tuesday Covid Update: 18,901 new cases, provincial totals

    The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration reported 18,901 new Covid-19 cases and 147 coronavirus-related deaths today, raising the total case count since the start of the pandemic to 652,185 and the Covid death toll to 5,315. The latest and most severe wave of Covid-19 in Thailand, which was first recorded on April 1, has accounted for 623,322 infections and 5,221…

  • Air Asia technician arrested for allegedly stealing electronics | Thaiger

    Air Asia technician arrested for allegedly stealing electronics

    Bangkok Police have arrested a technical who worked for Air Asia for allegedly stealing multiple pieces of electrical equipment. The thefts had been discovered after Air Asia had noticed the equipment was missing. Officials then checked CCTV and saw 27 year old Preecha Inthachai allegedly putting items in a bag. Don Muang police then arrested Preecha and searched his home…

  • 3 metre long python caught near family’s house in Phuket | Thaiger

    3 metre long python caught near family’s house in Phuket

    Recently, a group of civil defence volunteers were called to a family’s house in Srisoonthorn, Phuket to help catch a 3 metre long python. Nopparit Rungrueng, who is the headman of the Srisoonthorn Subdistrict led the team of snake finders/catchers. The volunteers got to the house just before noon and started to look for the snake, which was spotted by…

  • Government says not to buy Favipiravir/Avigan online, says it might be fake | Thaiger

    Government says not to buy Favipiravir/Avigan online, says it might be fake

    Yesterday, Traisuree Taisaranaku, the deputy government spokesperson said that people should refrain from buying the antiviral medication Favipiravir online because it’s possibly fake. The drug also goes by the brand name Avigan, as well as other names. The spokesperson says the medication should only be taken if it is prescribed by a doctor. Traisuree says people were tricked through social…

  • Man goes missing off Freedom Beach, Phuket | Thaiger

    Man goes missing off Freedom Beach, Phuket

    Yesterday, a man went for a swim off of Freedom Beach in Phuket and was carried away by a strong current. He was last seen early in the afternoon. Boonyarit Inthakarn from the Patong Police arrived at the beach just after 2 pm. 21 year old Thanakit Srisuwanwichian, told police he, and his then non-missing friend, Akkarapol Pattranonwere, were swimming…

  • What is so important about the Sandbox? | Thaiger

    What is so important about the Sandbox?

    OPINION by Bill Barnett from c9hotelworks.com Being on the ground in Phuket over the past sixteen months of the pandemic I have experienced the up’s and downs of pandemic tourism firsthand. Over the past month with the Sandbox program coming into place, we have seen over 13,000 travellers arrive at the Phuket International Airport. “What is so important about the…

  • Thailand’s foreign tourist numbers expected to plummet during 2021 | Thaiger

    Thailand’s foreign tourist numbers expected to plummet during 2021

    Tourism officials have repeated a bleak prediction that international arrivals in Thailand are likely to drop to an all-time low this year. According to a Bangkok Post report, Tourism Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn says foreign visitors to the Kingdom may only number 500,000 this year. “If the ongoing outbreak continues past September, the total number of foreign tourists this year might…

  • Tuesday Covid Update: 18,901 new cases and 147 deaths | Thaiger

    Tuesday Covid Update: 18,901 new cases and 147 deaths

    18,901 new Covid-19 cases and 147 coronavirus-related deaths were reported today by the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration, raising the total case count in the latest wave, first recorded on April 1, to 623,322 confirmed Covid-19 infections. There are now 209,039 active Covid-19 cases in Thailand. Dozens of isolation centres are being set up in Bangkok, the epicentre of the…

  • Bangkok Train Market official says they will reopen | Thaiger

    Bangkok Train Market official says they will reopen

    The Thaiger recently wrote that Bangkok’s Train Market/Ratchada Night Market was possibly closing for good. However, now, a member of the management team for the market says the closure is only temporary and that it will reopen as soon as conditions allow it to do so. “We had to close because of the situation right now, and we will announce…

  • August vaccination plan: 80% of Bangkok residents; open to general public, expats | Thaiger

    August vaccination plan: 80% of Bangkok residents; open to general public, expats

    Thailand has opened its mass Covid-19 vaccination campaign to the general public who are at least 18 years old, including foreign residents. Priority is still given to those who are 60 and above, and those who have one of the specified underlying conditions that puts them at risk of severe infection if they were to contract Covid-19. By the end…

  • 300 beds added to Phuket’s second field hospital | Thaiger

    300 beds added to Phuket’s second field hospital

    300 hospital beds have been erected at a meeting hall at Phuket Rajabhat University AKA PRU, in Rassada. It is set to be the second field hospital for “light green” Covid cases. The Phuket Vice Governor, Pichet Panapong says the 300 additional beds were set up because all beds at the first field hospital at Prince of Songkla University were…

  • The Thaiger launches the ‘I Am Strong’ campaign | Thaiger

    The Thaiger launches the ‘I Am Strong’ campaign

    (Video Link Below) Here is a link to the donation page… https://gogetfunding.com/the-thaigers-i-am-strong-campaign/ The Thaiger (The Thaiger Pte Ltd) is reaching out to readers and viewers of our news channels to help the thousands of people who are falling through the cracks of government and community help at this time. Many of these people are migrant workers, but many are also…

  • Protestors fill Bangkok streets to protest Prayut, many protest leaders present | Thaiger

    Protestors fill Bangkok streets to protest Prayut, many protest leaders present

    Yesterday, a multitude of pro-democracy protesters sat in their cars and motorbikes gathered at Bangkok’s Democracy Monument demanding Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha resign. The “car mob” was full of pro-democracy leaders and anti-establishment groups, like Nattawut Saikua, former secretary general of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship/Red Shirt movement. As well as other protest leaders, such as Ratsadon leaders…

  • Teenagers arrested for allegedly running underage prostitution racket | Thaiger

    Teenagers arrested for allegedly running underage prostitution racket

    Two teenagers were arrested for allegedly running a prostitution racket where underage girls would provide sexual services. The 16 year old and the 19 year old were arrested at a hotel in Kanchanaburi’s Muang district by a task force investigating human trafficking. Officers also say they rescued two 15 year olds who were at the hotel and were hired to…

  • PM’s daughters get letter asking them to tell their father to resign | Thaiger

    PM’s daughters get letter asking them to tell their father to resign

    A joint letter was sent to PM Prayut Chan-o-cha’s twin daughters Tanya and Nittha, asking them to relay the message to their father that he should resign because of his mismanagement of the Covid situation. The letter was sent by the daughters’ former classmates and was addressed to “Ms Ploy” and “Ms Ploen”. The former classmates’, Class 40 of the Communication…

  • Monday Covid Update: 17,970 new cases, provincial totals | Thaiger

    Monday Covid Update: 17,970 new cases, provincial totals

    17,970 new Covid-19 cases and 178 coronavirus-related deaths were reported today by the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration. Since the start of the pandemic last year, the CCSA has reported a total of 633,264 confirmed Covid-19 cases and 5,168 coronavirus-related deaths. The recent wave has accounted for 604,421 of those cases. Thailand now has 208,875 active Covid-19 cases. Over the…

  • Healthcare worker pleads with PM to set up “war room” to manage pandemic | Thaiger

    Healthcare worker pleads with PM to set up “war room” to manage pandemic

    A healthcare worker at the Thammasat University field hospital in central Thailand has urged the Thai PM to set up a “war room” for daily Covid-19 meetings. In a Facebook post, the unnamed medic pleads with the PM to hold daily meetings with his ministers in order to stay on top of developments and deal with issues immediately, as opposed…

  • Official detained after spreading rumour of planned coup to oust PM | Thaiger

    Official detained after spreading rumour of planned coup to oust PM

    Following a rumour that a military coup to remove PM Prayut Chan-o-cha from office was in the works, a state official has been detained, accused of spreading fake news. The Bangkok Post reports that deputy police spokesman Kissana Phathanacharoen has confirmed that a man has been detained for questioning in the central province of Chachoengsao, where he has admitted to…

  • Thai AirAsia suspends flights, cuts salaries as financial woes continue | Thaiger

    Thai AirAsia suspends flights, cuts salaries as financial woes continue

    As Thailand’s airlines continue to struggle with the financial fallout from Covid-19, Thai AirAsia has suspended all flights for this month. The carrier is also cutting staff salaries or deferring partial or whole payment until September. According to a Bangkok Post report, the airline’s financial woes are worsening as low passenger numbers show no sign of improving and cash flow…

  • Monday Covid Update: 17,970 new cases and 178 deaths | Thaiger

    Monday Covid Update: 17,970 new cases and 178 deaths

    17,970 new Covid-19 cases and 178 coronavirus-related deaths were reported today by the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration. In the latest and most severe wave of infections, first recorded on April 1, the CCSA has reported 604,421 confirmed Covid-19 infections. There are now 208,875 active Covid-19 cases in Thailand. Over the past several days, the daily Covid-19 case count has…

  • Family finds long lost man after he is rescued from 17 metre well | Thaiger

    Family finds long lost man after he is rescued from 17 metre well

    They say when you lose something valuable you’ll often find it in the place you’d least expect it. That certainly turned out to be true for a family with an estranged uncle who they had lost 15 years ago who was reunited with them after a freak accident that found the man at the bottom of the well in Sattahip.…

  • 16 new dark red provinces and restrictions extended to August 16 | Thaiger

    16 new dark red provinces and restrictions extended to August 16

    16 more provinces will be added to Thailand’s dark red zones and all will see partial lockdown restrictions extended until August 16 according to a statement this late afternoon by the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration. The announcement extended the lockdowns set to expire August 3 for an additional 2 weeks, and expanded the number of provinces classified as dark…