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Lifestyle
Welcome to summer school break: Family holidays and fun at Jungceylon Phuket
Summer school break has officially arrived, and that means it’s time to swap early morning alarms and lunchboxes for lazy mornings, beach trips, and quality time with the kids. If you’re in Phuket or planning a trip with the kids, Jungceylon in Patong is a great choice for a full day of entertainment, food, and shopping. You don’t need to…
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Thailand News
Man found dead in idling car at Udon Thani petrol station
Shoppers at a quiet Udon Thani petrol station were left reeling after a grim discovery early this morning: a man found dead inside his car, which had been running non-stop for nearly 17 hours. Emergency services rushed to the scene in Nong Han district after a stunned cleaner raised the alarm. “I came in at 7am and saw the same…
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Bangkok News
Mae Manee Ponzi scheme leader arrested at Suvarnabhumi Airport
The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) apprehended a key figure in the Mae Manee Ponzi scheme at Suvarnabhumi International Airport. The arrest, yesterday, July 3, occurred as Panhathai, also known as Narissara, was preparing to leave the country for a birthday celebration. Accused of deceiving over 1,000 victims into investments exceeding 200 million baht, she was detained based on an…
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Thailand News
Thailand and Bhutan join forces for sustainable tourism push
Thailand is rolling out the green carpet for Bhutan as the two nations team up to redefine what sustainable tourism can look like. In a landmark exchange last month, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) hosted a high-level delegation from Bhutan’s Department of Tourism and the Association of Bhutanese Tour Operators for four days of hands-on learning and collaboration. “This…
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Thailand News
App chaos: Half-Half travel scheme stalls, millions left stranded
Thailand’s Half-Half travel scheme descended into chaos after a failed registration rollout left travellers locked out and scrambling for subsidies. Tourism and Sports Minister Sorawong Thienthong faced the music today, July 4, admitting on the Inside Thailand programme that the Half-Half Thai Travel campaign was plagued with system failures from day one. “The problems began immediately,” Sorawong said. “Users couldn’t…
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Thailand News
Thai woman confronts stranger for sneaking clothes into her washing machine
A Thai woman took to social media to expose a female stranger at a self-service laundry who tried to save money by sneaking her clothes into the victim’s washing machine, ultimately forcing the victim to cover the cost. The TikTok user, @hesatopperformer, shared a video of a heated argument between the two women at a laundrette. The location and date…
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Phuket News
Andaman manhunt: Bomb suspects vanish, truck seized
Thailand’s tourist heartlands are still reeling after last month’s coordinated bomb attacks in Krabi, Phang Nga and Phuket and the manhunt to catch the suspects is far from over. Police have now arrested five of the 20 suspects believed to be behind the shocking explosions that sent locals and holidaymakers scrambling for cover in the Andaman coastal provinces. Fifteen suspects…
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Thailand News
Doll and chain: Randy pensioner duped in 50k silicone sex doll scam
A lonely 70 year old man from Udon Thani has been left red-faced and out of pocket after splashing 50,000 baht on what he thought was the love of his life, a high-end silicone sex doll he spotted online. But instead of romance, he got rinsed by scammers, and is now warning others not to fall for the same saucy…
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Sponsored
Hot Phuket property deal: Arise Vibe launches limited offer on select units, now from 2.55m baht
Phuket’s property market is full of big names and high prices, but some of the most exciting opportunities are happening just outside the spotlight. That’s where you’ll find Arise Vibe. Set in Si Sunthon, one of Phuket’s fastest-growing areas, this new residential project is turning heads for all the right reasons. It’s close to international schools, minutes from the airport,…
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Thailand Weather Updates
River on the rampage: Chiang Rai braces for dangerous floods
Chiang Rai residents were jolted awake by urgent phone alerts today as local officials warned the Sai River was set to burst its banks, threatening to inundate homes and businesses across four communities. The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) confirmed that water levels have been steadily climbing at monitoring stations in Myanmar’s Jotada and near Thailand’s 1st Friendship…
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Thailand News
HIV and let die: Over half a million infected in Thailand outbreak
Thailand’s HIV crisis is back in the spotlight after health chiefs revealed more than half a million people in the kingdom are living with the virus and over 13,000 new infections were recorded this year alone. The Department of Disease Control (DDC) confirmed on July 1 that a staggering 547,556 people in Thailand have tested positive for HIV to date,…
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Bangkok News
Thai man dies after seeking help with mysterious cut wounds in Bangkok
Mystery surrounds the death of a Thai man who sought help from locals in Bangkok’s Lat Krabang district, bearing several deep cut wounds, before tragically losing his life. Officers from Chorakhe Noi Police Station rushed to the side of Luang Phaeng–Chachoengsao Road in Lat Krabang on Wednesday, July 2, after being alerted about a seriously injured Thai man. Sadly, the…
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Guides
Bangkok in gold: Where to catch the sunset
Bangkok buzzes, blares, steams, and sings. The traffic never quite sleeps, the air hums with heat, and the Chao Phraya moves like a long, slow pulse through the heart of it all. Sunset doesn’t arrive quietly either. It spills. It drapes the rooftops, washes the river in amber, flares behind temple spires. It softens the edges of the day, surrendering…
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Phuket News
Phuket’s billion-baht bet: New cruise port promises tourism boom
To prove that it’s more than just one of Thailand’s most popular holiday hotspots, Phuket is poised to become Southeast Asia’s cruise capital. The island has unveiled its gleaming new cruise terminal at Ao Makham Port, a project officials believe will supercharge tourism and catapult Phuket onto the itineraries of the world’s biggest cruise lines. The facility, which opened its…
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Thailand News
Quake fake! Thailand tsunami terror just a cartoon cliffhanger
Holidaymakers were left rattled this week after a bizarre social media frenzy warned of a massive tsunami hitting southern Thailand tomorrow, July 5. But the country’s top weather experts have poured cold water on the scare, insisting the “quake prophecy” is nothing more than a comic book fantasy. The bogus warning claimed that deadly waves would smash into Chumphon and…
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Pattaya News
Tomorrowland hits Thailand: Chon Buri to host mega festival
Thailand is about to crank up the volume. The world’s most famous electronic dance festival, Tomorrowland, is finally coming to Asia — and Chon Buri is set to become the epicentre of a billion-baht party. Thapanee Kiatphaibool, Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), confirmed the blockbuster news this week. “Tomorrowland has decided to choose Chonburi Province, Thailand, for…
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Thailand News
Thai woman injured as iron rods fly off pickup on Khon Kaen road
A Thai woman sustained serious injuries and received eight stitches after iron rods slid off a pickup and pierced her head while she was riding a motorcycle in the northeastern province of Khon Kaen. Thai social media users widely shared dashcam footage of the incident, sparking panic among motorists, particularly motorcyclists. The video depicts the woman parking her motorcycle near…
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Thailand News
From pests to baht: Thailand’s monitor lizards set to make a killing
Monitor lizards, one of Thailand’s most fearsome protected reptiles, are set to go from wild pests to wallet-fillers, after the government announced plans to flog them for just 500 baht a pop. Officials confirmed that only licensed buyers will be allowed to buy the parent stock, which will be sold by the Department of National Parks (DNP) and come complete…
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Thailand News
Coup freeze or countdown? Thailand’s military walks tightrope
Thailand’s military top brass says the era of tanks rolling through Bangkok is over, at least for now. But as political chaos looms, sceptics wonder if history could yet repeat itself. After nine months steering the Defence Ministry, Phumtham Wechayachai insists the armed forces are shedding their old ways. “The mindset of military leadership has evolved,” he said. “They want…
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Pattaya News
Pattaya’s purge: Homeless camps cleared in sweeping crackdown
Pattaya’s shiny tourist image is taking a battering and city leaders are scrambling to clean it up. In a dramatic crackdown this week, police swept through beaches, bridges and backstreets, clearing homeless encampments, beggars, and suspected human trafficking victims in an attempt to reclaim public spaces. The operation, ordered by Mayor Poramet Ngampichet, brought together municipal police, the Social Welfare…
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Pattaya News
Bar from grace: British man gets 21 years for human trafficking
A British man has been reportedly sentenced to 21 years in prison after being found guilty of human trafficking at a notorious Pattaya bar, Bangkok Criminal Court heard. William Bilton originally from Barrow-in-Furness, was the manager of Flirt bar, a venue in Soi 6 of the seaside resort of Pattaya, when police raided it two years ago and hauled off dozens…
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Thailand News
New marine protection zones established around Koh Phayam
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has introduced new marine and coastal protection zones around Koh Phayam in Ranong. The initiative aims to safeguard the area’s rich biodiversity from the growing environmental challenges posed by tourism, fishing, and coastal development. Environment Minister Chalermchai Sri-on declared the implementation of a fresh ministerial regulation for the region. Published in the Royal…
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Thailand News
Thailand Video News | Thailand to require cannabis shops to become clinics under new law, Russian MMA fighter shocked during victory celebration at weed boxing event
Thailand is tightening cannabis laws, requiring dispensaries to register as medical clinics. Bhumjaithai leader Anutin Charnvirakul has dismissed interim PM rumours amid political uncertainty. Pattaya is promoting itself in Japan through the Osaka roadshow, while safety concerns arose after a Russian MMA fighter was electrocuted during a Weed Boxing Championship. A Thai sapodilla ice cream won top honours at the…
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Pattaya News
Foreign tourists slammed for urinating on Pattaya Beach
A Thai man publicly exposed foreign tourists, believed to be Indian nationals, by sharing a video on social media of them urinating on Pattaya Beach in the early hours of yesterday, July 3. The man posted the video to his Facebook account, แอ้นท์ สุรีศรี เรืองสุขสุด, with the caption, “For those who always spoil foreigners. See it for yourself. Free visa!”…
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Business News
Wage war: Hotels reel as 400-baht mandate hits hard
The government’s new minimum wage hike has sparked outrage among hoteliers already hanging by a thread. While Bangkok politicians celebrate, many in the provinces are calling it a death sentence for small businesses. On Tuesday, July 1, the Cabinet approved raising the daily minimum wage for hotel workers nationwide to 400 baht, with the decision fast-tracked into law via the…
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Thailand News
Thai massage slammed after tourist breaks out in pus-filled bumps
A US doctor has slammed Thailand’s backstreet rubdown scene after a tourist’s cheap Thai massage turned into a festering medical horror show. Dr Joe Whittington, an emergency physician from California, issued a stark warning to travellers after a man paid just US$5 (around 180 baht) for a leg massage in a grimy alleyway and woke up the next morning covered…
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Bangkok News
Casino bill meltdown: Government on brink amid public fury
Thailand’s controversial casino bill to legalise vast entertainment complexes could collapse, as ministers rush to ease public outrage and political divisions. The government is now widely expected to withdraw the Entertainment Complex Bill from the House agenda, just days before MPs are set to meet on July 9. Chousak Sirinil, Minister attached to the Prime Minister’s Office, revealed yesterday, July…
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Phuket News
Busted: Phuket grocery shop doubled as Yaba drug den
A quiet neighbourhood grocery shop in Phuket has been exposed as a brazen front for drug dealing, after stunned officials swooped in on a sting operation that netted hundreds of methamphetamine (meth) pills. The arrest unfolded on Wednesday evening, July 2, at around 6.30pm, in Baan Phru Samphan, Thepkrasattri subdistrict. Phuket Provincial Defence Officer Akkara Suwatthikul led the raid, backed…
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Thailand News
Blanket escape: Buriram prisoner climbs over wall with makeshift rope
The Buriram Provincial Administrative Office in northeastern Thailand is offering a reward of 50,000 baht for any tip-off leading to the capture of an escaped prisoner. Buriram Governor Piya Pijanam reported that 42 year old inmate Kowit escaped from Buriram Provincial Prison at approximately 1pm yesterday, July 3. According to the official, he tied several blankets together to create a…
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Lifestyle
Welcome to American expats in Thailand: A guide to understanding the Fourth of July abroad
Hello, non-American friends in Thailand. Congratulations! You’ve found yourself surrounded by American expats during the Fourth of July, America’s birthday. Or as locals affectionately call it, “Somehow they got louder.” In your hands is a helpful guide designed to walk you through this loud, confusing celebration of democracy, freedom, and processed meats. Pay attention, please, you’ll need this. 1. Fireworks:…
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Business News
Thai exports in firing line as Trump dumps trade talks for tariffs
Donald Trump has fired the starting gun on a global trade showdown, ditching complex negotiations in favour of one-size-fits-all tariffs that could hammer dozens of economies, including Thailand. From today, July 4, the US will begin sending formal letters to countries across the world, listing fixed tariffs on their exports into America. The blanket rates will range from 20% to…
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Business News
Siam Piwat and Huawei join forces to woo Chinese tourists
Thailand’s tourism industry is pulling out all the stops to win over high-spending visitors in an increasingly fierce global travel market. Now, a blockbuster partnership between Siam Piwat Group and tech titan Huawei promises to transform the way Chinese tourists experience the Land of Smiles. Siam Piwat, the powerhouse behind retail icons like Siam Paragon and ICONSIAM, has teamed up…
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What you get for $X
What foreign buyers are getting for US$80k in Phuket today
Phuket has always attracted those chasing the dream of living by the beach, but not every buyer comes with millions to spend. Fortunately, these days, foreign buyers can still secure a well-located condominium on the island with around US$80,000, or roughly 2.8 million baht, provided they know where to look. While beachfront villas may be well out of reach at…
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Bangkok News
Bangkok tailor arrested for stealing from unlocked cars
A tailor in Bangkok was arrested for allegedly stealing bags from unlocked cars to solve his debts, claiming unpaid tailoring jobs led to his actions. Three victims reported losses totalling over 130,000 baht. Yesterday, July 3, at 11pm, Police Major General Khomsit Rangsai of Bang Khun Thian Police Station led a press conference announcing the arrest of 48 year old…
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Thailand News
Grammar gaffe puts Thai deputy education minister in hot seat
Thailand’s freshly appointed deputy education minister has come under fire, not for policy blunders, but for her punctuation. Dr Ying Linthiporn Varinvacharoj, unveiled this week as part of the kingdom’s new Cabinet, found herself facing a grammar grilling after social media users spotted basic Thai language slip-ups in her old Facebook posts. A popular Thai-language Facebook page called her out…
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Bangkok News
Sri Lankan man caught smuggling snakes in underwear at Bangkok airport
Officials from the Thailand Wildlife Enforcement Network (Thailand WEN) arrested a Sri Lankan man at Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok for wildlife trafficking after discovering three snakes hidden in his underwear. Phonlawee Buchakiat, Director of the Wildlife Crime Intelligence Centre, reported the successful operation on the official Facebook page of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation yesterday,…
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Business News
Red Bull tycoon tops Thailand rich list with US$44.5 billion fortune
Red Bull really does give you wings—especially if your name is Chalerm Yoovidhya. The co-owner of the world-famous energy drink has officially been crowned Thailand’s richest man this year, boasting a staggering net worth of US$44.5 billion (1.4 trillion baht), according to Forbes magazine. Chalerm’s jaw-dropping fortune saw an eye-watering leap of US$8.5 billion, marking a 24% surge from the previous year.…
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