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 are the most affordable places to visit in Thailand?

    The Thaiger key takeaways Thailand is still relatively affordable in 2025, offering cheap stays, street food, and low-cost attractions across all regions. Key budget-friendly destinations include Pai, Chiang Mai, Bangkok, Koh Tao, and Kanchanaburi. Travel protection matters. SafetyWing insurance ensures...

  • Thailand urged to tighten rules on cosy inmate detentions | Thaiger

    Thailand urged to tighten rules on cosy inmate detentions

    Thailand’s anti-graft body is urging the new Cabinet to review prison detention rules over concerns they could allow inmates to serve sentences at home. The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) is urging the new Cabinet to instruct the Department of Corrections (DoC) to review its rules on off-site detention, following concerns that current regulations could allow prisoners to serve their sentences…

  • 5-million-baht fireworks boost to supercharge Pattaya festival | Thaiger

    5-million-baht fireworks boost to supercharge Pattaya festival

    Chon Buri officials approved extra funding to support a major fireworks festival in Pattaya, aiming to boost tourism and attract international visitors. The Pattaya International Fireworks Festival 2025 will dazzle visitors with its most spectacular show yet, thanks to a 5 million baht boost from the Chon Buri Provincial Administrative Organisation (PAO). Scheduled for November 28 to 29 along Pattaya…

  • Thai man steals gold ring hoping for prison life over freedom | Thaiger

    Thai man steals gold ring hoping for prison life over freedom

    A Thai man confessed that he stole a gold ring in Udon Thani province yesterday, September 11, because he wanted to escape his troubled life and return to prison, where he said life felt easier. Meuang Udon Thani Police Station officers received a report about the theft at a gold shop on the third floor of a shopping mall in…

  • British expat reveals retirement costs in Thailand, sparking relocation dreams | Thaiger

    British expat reveals retirement costs in Thailand, sparking relocation dreams

    A British expat broke down the cost of living for his retirement in Thailand on TikTok, prompting many of his followers to consider relocating to the country. The man, Simon Thatcher, shared the video on his account, @skyhighthaisi, detailing his monthly expenses to show whether living in Thailand is still affordable in 2025. Thatcher explained that he lives under a…

  • Bangkok police seize 5.45m meth pills worth 200 million baht | Thaiger

    Bangkok police seize 5.45m meth pills worth 200 million baht

    Bangkok police have confiscated more than 5.45 million meth pills, valued at approximately 200 million baht, and detained a drug courier at the Lat Krabang Airport Rail Link station parking area. Yesterday, September 11, Metropolitan Police Bureau commissioner Police Lieutenant General Siam Boonsom, alongside senior narcotics officers, announced the arrest of 27 year old Adisorn Boonyanusanti. The operation also resulted…

  • Court demands 3 referendums for new Thai Constitution | Thaiger

    Court demands 3 referendums for new Thai Constitution

    Thailand’s Constitutional Court has ruled that any move to draft a new constitution must involve three referendums and cannot include elected charter drafters. The Constitutional Court delivered the ruling following a petition filed by Parliament President Wan Muhamad Noor Matha, who requested legal clarification on Parliament’s authority to initiate a new constitution and the necessary procedures. The case stems from…

  • Thalang cracks down on illegal claw machines in malls | Thaiger

    Thalang cracks down on illegal claw machines in malls

    Dozens of claw machines have been shut down across Phuket’s Thalang district in a major crackdown on unlicensed gambling-style games at public venues. Officials from the Thalang District Office inspected shopping malls, convenience stores, and other locations between September 6 and 9. Around 50 unlicensed machines were found and immediately deactivated, including several at the popular Robinson Lifestyle Thalang mall.…

  • Hero shopper takes down thief at Bangkok Big C (video) | Thaiger

    Hero shopper takes down thief at Bangkok Big C (video)

    A quick-thinking Bangkok man has become a local hero after using martial arts to tackle a suspected thief who tried to snatch shopping baskets from two tourists. The incident unfolded on the night of September 1 at a Big C supermarket in Bangkok. As two Chinese women were shopping, a man reportedly grabbed their basket, containing handbags and valuables, and…

  • Lottery fever: Tarantula picks lucky number for upcoming draw | Thaiger

    Lottery fever: Tarantula picks lucky number for upcoming draw

    A crowd gathered at a temple in central Thailand for a ritual where a tarantula selected lottery numbers, sparking fresh excitement among players. Dozens of hopeful locals gathered today, September 12, behind Wat Bot Rat Sattha in Bang Rakam subdistrict, Pho Thong district, Ang Thong province, for a traditional ritual centred around the legendary Paya Bung, a revered, burrow-dwelling tarantula…

  • Wild animal zone shut down after fatal lion attack at zoo | Thaiger

    Wild animal zone shut down after fatal lion attack at zoo

    National park officials have ordered the closure of a wildlife park’s wild animal zone following a fatal incident involving lions, triggering a full safety and welfare review. The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) has ordered the immediate suspension of operations in Safari World’s Safari Park area, following a deadly lion attack and a subsequent inspection that…

  • Thai businesswoman swindled out of 159 million baht in stock trading scam | Thaiger

    Thai businesswoman swindled out of 159 million baht in stock trading scam

    A Thai businesswoman lost 159 million baht in an investment scam. She admitted that greed and a desire for higher profits led her to transfer the sum to a scam gang within just three weeks. The victim, identified only as A, urged the non-profit organisation Saimai Survive to follow up on her case after she lodged a complaint with the…

  • British man slashed in Pattaya condo by trans escort gang | Thaiger

    British man slashed in Pattaya condo by trans escort gang

    A British man was injured after being attacked in his Pattaya condo by a group of transgender persons following a dispute over payment for services. Police in Pattaya are on the hunt for a gang of four transgender women accused of slashing a 65 year old British man in his South Pattaya apartment after a dispute over money turned violent.…

  • Drunk Thai man beats neighbour’s puppy to death in Bangkok | Thaiger

    Drunk Thai man beats neighbour’s puppy to death in Bangkok

    A drunk Thai man beat his neighbour’s puppy to death at a rental accommodation in Bangkok. The motive for his actions remains unknown and is currently under investigation. The owner of the puppy, Sumo, sought help from the non-profit organisation Watchdog Thailand Foundation (WDT) to bring the attacker to justice. The foundation handed the case over to Don Mueang Police…

  • Thaksin starts prison life with Covid quarantine and calm | Thaiger

    Thaksin starts prison life with Covid quarantine and calm

    Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra has begun serving a prison sentence under Covid quarantine, as officials assess his condition and consider future duties in detention. Now serving a one-year sentence at Klongprem Central Prison following a Supreme Court ruling, the 76 year old veteran politician is being held in a separate ward with other elderly inmates while officials determine his placement.…

  • Thai Lion Air eyes new routes despite tourism slowdown | Thaiger

    Thai Lion Air eyes new routes despite tourism slowdown

    Thai Lion Air is expanding its fleet and launching new routes as it targets high-demand destinations, despite a drop in international tourist arrivals. The budget carrier plans to add at least two Boeing 737 jets to its fleet this year, focusing on high-demand routes such as China and Japan, despite revising its earlier goal of operating 40 aircraft. The adjustment…

  • Thai woman on trial in Taiwan for flushing hamsters down toilet | Thaiger

    Thai woman on trial in Taiwan for flushing hamsters down toilet

    A Thai woman flushed ten hamsters down the toilet and posted a video of her cruel actions on social media after breaking up with her Taiwanese boyfriend. The 27 year old Thai woman, identified only as Sunny, is now facing court proceedings in Taiwan following her viral Instagram video showing the act of animal cruelty. The shocking videos were shared…

  • Former Bangkok governor sworn in as new party-list MP | Thaiger

    Former Bangkok governor sworn in as new party-list MP

    A familiar face is back in politics after a high-profile former Bangkok governor took the oath as one of three new MPs sworn into Thailand’s House of Representatives this week. The appointments were officially confirmed in the Royal Gazette on Tuesday, September 9, following recent resignations that left vacant party-list seats in the Pheu Thai and United Thai Nation (UTN)…

  • U-turn project slashes road deaths to zero in Phuket | Thaiger

    U-turn project slashes road deaths to zero in Phuket

    A road safety project in Phuket has transformed a dangerous highway, cutting fatalities to zero in a key area through joint efforts by local and international partners. The dramatic turnaround stems from the Safe & Seamless U-Turn initiative launched on Thepkrasattri Road (Route 402), Phuket’s busiest and most notorious thoroughfare, renowned for its deadly crashes and congestion. Formally handed over…

  • Thailand on flood alert as monsoon brings heavy downpours | Thaiger

    Thailand on flood alert as monsoon brings heavy downpours

    Thailand’s Meteorological Department (TMD) has warned of heavy rain, flash floods and rough seas as the monsoon brings thunderstorms across multiple regions. The monsoon trough remains active over the North and upper Northeast, while moderate southwesterly winds prevail over the Andaman Sea, Thailand and the Gulf. According to the TMD, thunderstorms are expected nationwide with isolated heavy rainfall in northern…

  • Thai man slams restaurant for blending green chicken curry in smoothie | Thaiger

    Thai man slams restaurant for blending green chicken curry in smoothie

    A Thai man condemned a restaurant owner for disrespecting customers after his smoothie order was blended with green chicken curry instead of avocado. Thitiwat Koosakul took to Facebook to share his bizarre experience with a food delivery service. He explained that he carefully considered and decided to post the story because the restaurant owner failed to take any responsibility for…

  • Thai municipality official dies in road collapse in Chiang Mai | Thaiger

    Thai municipality official dies in road collapse in Chiang Mai

    A municipality official died in a road collapse while on duty, inspecting a drainage pipe under a road in the Mae Rim district of Chiang Mai province yesterday, September 10.   View this post on Instagram   A post shared by The Thaiger (@thethaigerofficial) The 56 year old head of the Construction Department of Mueang Don Kaew Municipality Office, Prasert,…

  • Autopsy: Bangkok zookeeper suffered broken neck in lion mauling (video) | Thaiger

    Autopsy: Bangkok zookeeper suffered broken neck in lion mauling (video)

    An autopsy has confirmed how a zookeeper was killed after a lion attack in Bangkok, revealing severe injuries that left him unable to move or call for help. At 11am today, September 11, Police Major General Wirun Supasingsiripreecha, commander of the Institute of Forensic Medicine at Police General Hospital, briefed reporters after examining the body of 58 year old zookeeper…

  • British YouTuber’s Thailand trip derailed by Nepal riot chaos (video) | Thaiger

    British YouTuber’s Thailand trip derailed by Nepal riot chaos (video)

    A British YouTuber travelling from Thailand to the UK by motorbike was caught filming violent protests in Nepal, with his video going viral worldwide.   View this post on Instagram   A post shared by The Thaiger (@thethaigerofficial) Harry’s video racked up more than 4 million views in just one day. Best known for his channel We Hate The Cold,…

  • Teen gang attacks Bolt driver in late-night Pattaya ambush | Thaiger

    Teen gang attacks Bolt driver in late-night Pattaya ambush

    A group of teenagers armed with knives and bats attacked two young men near a Pattaya housing estate at night, prompting a police investigation. The attack happened at around 10.30pm yesterday, September 10, near Thepprasit Community Housing, when a group of seven to eight teenagers targeted 25 year old Bolt driver Suthat Suebsakul and his friend, 20 year old Supachok…

  • Thailand lifts afternoon booze ban to boost restaurants | Thaiger

    Thailand lifts afternoon booze ban to boost restaurants

    Thailand has lifted its decades-old afternoon alcohol ban, a move welcomed by restaurants that expect higher sales and a boost to tourism and the economy. Today, September 11, Sorathep Rojpojchanarat, president of the Restaurant Business Association and honorary adviser to the Thailand Hostel Association, praised the move and thanked both the former administration and opposition parties for “listening to the…

  • Indian man caught masturbating in front of Thai woman in Phuket | Thaiger

    Indian man caught masturbating in front of Thai woman in Phuket

    An Indian man allegedly stalked a Thai woman in the Kamala district of Phuket and masturbated in front of her, leading local administrative officers to send him to the police.   View this post on Instagram   A post shared by The Thaiger (@thethaigerofficial) The news Facebook page เจ๊ม้อย v+ (Jmoi v+) shared video footage of the incident along with…

  • Thai serial burglar arrested behind 50 million baht theft cases nationwide | Thaiger

    Thai serial burglar arrested behind 50 million baht theft cases nationwide

    Police yesterday, September 10, arrested a Thai serial burglar in the central province of Phetchaburi in connection with at least 30 theft cases that caused damages exceeding 50 million baht. Prachuap Khiri Khan Provincial Police officers sought cooperation from local police in Phetchaburi to track down a black Honda City ZX sedan driven by the suspected ringleader, later identified as…

  • Safari World shuts lion zone after deadly keeper mauling (video) | Thaiger

    Safari World shuts lion zone after deadly keeper mauling (video)

    A zookeeper was killed in a lion attack at a Bangkok safari zoo, leading officials to suspend operations and order stricter safety measures nationwide. Atthaphon Charoenchansa, director-general of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP), announced today, September 11, the immediate suspension of Safari World’s wild animal safari zone following the fatal attack. Atthaphon confirmed the department…

  • Russian man reunited with lost bag after Phuket beach wave mishap | Thaiger

    Russian man reunited with lost bag after Phuket beach wave mishap

    A Russian man recovered his belongings, which were swept away by a wave on Mai Khao Beach in Phuket, thanks to the help of Belgian and Spanish nationals. The man filed a complaint with officers at Sakhu Police Station at 1.30pm yesterday, September 10, after losing his bag. He reported that he had been staying at a hotel along Mai…

  • British tourist left bleeding after Pattaya bust-up with pal | Thaiger

    British tourist left bleeding after Pattaya bust-up with pal

    A British man was injured with a badly cut ear in a late-night fight with a friend on Pattaya’s Beach Road, prompting a police response and emergency medical treatment. At 11.30pm yesterday, September 10, Pattaya City Police were alerted to a disturbance near the Dongtan Police Substation on Jomtien Beach Road. The clash, which broke out outside a restaurant, quickly…