Bangkok News

Bangkok news, politics, business, crime, and nightlife—stay updated with breaking stories, events, and expat updates from Thailand’s capital. Get the latest from The Thaiger, your trusted Bangkok news source.

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    Do foreigners get free healthcare in Thailand?

    Thailand’s healthcare system is well-regarded across Southeast Asia, with options ranging from public hospitals to world-class private facilities. But when it comes to foreign residents or tourists, healthcare access isn’t as straightforward. So, do foreigners get free healthcare in Thailand?...

  • Bus hits overpass injuring student footballers aboard

    Bus hits overpass injuring student footballers aboard

    A school football team and their coaches were left reeling after their bus met with a shocking accident while transporting them from the Nong Chok district of Bangkok to a field in the Bang Sao Thong district, Samut Prakan. The bus slammed into the top of a motorway overpass, causing the roof to cave in and injuring 13 of the…

  • Bangkok kids suffer food poisoning after eating free noodles for Children’s Day

    Bangkok kids suffer food poisoning after eating free noodles for Children’s Day

    Bangkok kids suffered food poisoning, photo by Amarin TV. A group of Bangkok kids suffered food poisoning after eating free noodles on Friday for Children’s Day. Over 10 ambulances rushed to Wat Naknimit School on Soi Suksawat 14, Suksawat road, to help the 30 kids. Reports said the children suffered nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, and headaches. One female student said someone…

  • Potential homeowners need to show some financial frugality this year, says Bangkok property platform

    Potential homeowners need to show some financial frugality this year, says Bangkok property platform

    One of Bangkok‘s largest property platforms is urging potential homeowners to show some financial frugality this year if they’re planning to invest in the real estate market. DDproperty.com pointed out that property prices and interest rates are rising and warned buyers to show some due diligence. DDproperty.com General Manager Wittaya Apirakviriya reckons residential prices will increase by 5-10%, in line…

  • Chinese business leaders to gather in Bangkok

    Chinese business leaders to gather in Bangkok

    Around 4,000 Chinese business leaders are set to gather in Bangkok in June to meet entrepreneurs from around the globe at the first World Chinese Entrepreneurs Convention since the pandemic and the 16th since it was launched in 1991. Today, WCEC is the biggest forum for connecting Chinese entrepreneurs with international partners. Narongsak Putthapornmongkol, president of the Thai-Chinese Chamber of…

  • Bentley driver’s blood test reveals methamphetamine use

    Bentley driver’s blood test reveals methamphetamine use

    Police today revealed that the Bentley driver who caused a three-car crash was not only under the influence of alcohol but drugs were also found in his system. Police confirmed to the media that a drug test discovered methamphetamine and another unidentified narcotic in his blood system. More updates are expected to be announced this evening. The Bentley driver, Suthat…

  • Bangkok taxi fare increase effective today

    Bangkok taxi fare increase effective today

    Bangkok taxi fares will increase to a minimum fare of 40 baht today after staying at 35 baht for 30 years. The increased fare, which applies to Bangkok registered taxis with no more than seven seats, is effective today according to its announcement in the Royal Gazette yesterday. However, passengers may not notice a rise in fares straight away as…

  • 85% of restaurants at Suvarnabhumi Airport are ‘Clean Food, Good Taste’ certified

    85% of restaurants at Suvarnabhumi Airport are ‘Clean Food, Good Taste’ certified

    Thailand‘s Department of Health certified 85% of restaurants in the passenger terminal at Suvarnabhumi Airport as having “Clean Food, Good Taste,” according to the department’s director-general Suwanchai Wattana. Suwanchai congratulated the operators of 58 restaurants (85.29% of restaurants in the terminal) who passed the health and safety standard with flying colours at an award ceremony yesterday. Any hungry passengers waiting…

  • Bentley driver charged with drunk driving granted bail at 100,000 baht

    Bentley driver charged with drunk driving granted bail at 100,000 baht

    Under pressure police finally charged a Bentley driver with drunk driving for causing a three-car crash. After much public criticism and deliberation, police charged the driver because he refused to take a breathalyser test in the first place. The driver was reported to have been granted bail of 100,000 baht yesterday. Suthat Siwapiromrat, the millionaire Bentley driver who caused the…

  • 11 victims injured in collision after car drives against traffic flow

    11 victims injured in collision after car drives against traffic flow

    A 21 year old man caused a six-car collision on a road in Bangkok by driving his Volvo hatchback against the flow of traffic and crashing into a pickup on Christmas Day. Eleven people were injured as a result of his actions. The result of the suspect’s alcohol and drug test has not been made public. Pattheera Datepae, a relative…

  • Thais pay respect to albino buffalo sculpture toppled by drunken Englishman

    Thais pay respect to albino buffalo sculpture toppled by drunken Englishman

    The atmosphere is sombre outside Samyan Mitrtown in Bangkok where buffalo enthusiasts and art lovers laid bouquets of flowers to pay their respects to the toppled albino buffalo sculpture which was ruined by a drunk English tourist who attempted to mount it on the weekend. “Kwai: Calm” (buffalo: calm) the fibreglass albino buffalo remains in a sorry state on its…

  • MOPH to open vaccination centre for foreigners

    MOPH to open vaccination centre for foreigners

    The Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) plans to offer Covid-19 vaccines for foreigners at Bang Rak Medical Centre in Bangkok for about 1,000 baht. The Minister of Tourism and Sports, Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn announced on Wednesday, December 28 that he planned to give free booster shots to foreigners but added it would need Cabinet approval in January. The proposal was seen…

  • Bangkok’s controversial Bang Sue Grand Station name change on hold

    Bangkok’s controversial Bang Sue Grand Station name change on hold

    Bangkok’s controversial Bang Sue Grand Station name change is on hold after it received heavy backlash for its US$1 million price tag. When His Majesty the King renamed Bang Sue Grand Station, “Krung Thep Abhiwat Central Terminal,” in September, some questioned the need to spend such an amount in taxpayers’ money. Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and Transport Minister Saksayam…

  • Bangkok City Hall assesses Covid readiness

    Bangkok City Hall assesses Covid readiness

    With travel increases to Thailand, and with the reopening of China, comes the risk of spreading Covid-19. Bangkok City Hall is taking steps to ensure that visitors can enjoy their stay while keeping themselves and others safe as they brace for an influx of tourists. Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt tasked his deputy governors with conducting a full assessment of the…

  • Fans boo Thai royal anthem at Blackpink concert

    Fans boo Thai royal anthem at Blackpink concert

    K-pop band Blackpink kicked off their world tour in Bangkok on Saturday to a chorus of boos. Thai media reported video clips released on social media shows fans booing as the Thai royal anthem played on stage as the words “Please pay your respects to His Majesty the King” appeared on the screen before the band took to the stage. Prachatai English…

  • 6 victims injured after Bentley crashes into two cars

    6 victims injured after Bentley crashes into two cars

    A millionaire driver crashed his luxury Bentley car into an SUV and a fire rescue pickup on the Chalerm Maha Nakhon Expressway in Bangkok in the early hours of Sunday, which left six victims injured. The driver fled from the scene and refused to take an alcohol test. A 53 year old businessman, Suthat Siwapiromrat, crashed his grey Bentley sedan…

  • Drunk British tourist allegedly destroys prized albino buffalo sculpture in Bangkok

    Drunk British tourist allegedly destroys prized albino buffalo sculpture in Bangkok

    A drunk, British tourist allegedly destroyed a giant albino buffalo sculpture exhibited in the Sam Yan area of Bangkok at the weekend. At 2am on Saturday, a group of drunk British and German tourists passed by the Bangkok Art Biennale 2022 art exhibition outside Samyan Mitrtown in Bangkok. This year, the concept of the exhibition is “CHAOS: CALM” and features…

  • Volvo solar charging stations, charging free of charge

    Volvo solar charging stations, charging free of charge

    Volvo solar charging stations have been installed at four Volvo Car Thailand dealerships, where customers can charge their cars for free. As the number of electric vehicles (EVs) in Thailand is rising, however slowly, the demand for electricity from charging stations is growing along with it. More EVs means more power generation, which usually involves other fossil fuels that create…

  • Bangkok mother claims murder, dismisses ‘playing Russian roulette’

    Bangkok mother claims murder, dismisses ‘playing Russian roulette’

    The Bangkok mother of the 16 year old boy who died “playing Russian roulette” last week has spoken out, claiming that her son may have been murdered. Waraporn Tumgen dismissed testimony given by six teens who witnessed her son’s death. Waraporn said… “Our family would like the police to consider all options, and not rule anything out.” Wongsatorn “Bee” Tumgen…

  • Alibaba’s Jack Ma enjoys a visit to Bangkok

    Alibaba’s Jack Ma enjoys a visit to Bangkok

    Billionaire Jack Ma, the co-founder of Alibaba and Yunfeng Capital, has been enjoying his time in Thailand, visiting popular tourist attractions in the capital city of Bangkok. He was recently seen at the famous Michelin star Jay Fai street food and the Rajadamnern Boxing Stadium. The Chinese businessman ate at Thailand’s most famous street food stall and stopped to take…

  • Monk accused of raping his daughter

    Monk accused of raping his daughter

    A 42 year old monk in Samut Prakan has been arrested for raping his daughter after visiting her for New Year blessings. On December 28, Naen, a 14 year old girl from a family with a history of sexual abuse, was violently raped by her father, Wirachai, a monk at a temple in the Greater Bangkok area province of Samut…

  • Sign of corruption? Bangkok station’s US-million name change

    Sign of corruption? Bangkok station’s US$1-million name change

    When His Majesty the King renamed Bang Sue Grand Station, “Krung Thep Abhiwat Central Terminal,” in September, some quiet questions were asked if the Bangkok station’s US$1-million name change was really necessary. Yesterday, Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob has been obliged to assure a puzzled public that an investigation into the 33 million baht (US$1 million) cost of the new nameplate…

  • Thailand’s long-distance trains to relocate to new Bangkok rail hub from January 19

    Thailand’s long-distance trains to relocate to new Bangkok rail hub from January 19

    The State Railway of Thailand is relocating 52 train services from Hua Lampong Station to Bangkok‘s new central rail hub – Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal (formerly Bang Sue Junction) – from January 19. Passengers catching long-distance, rapid and express train services will depart from Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal in Bangkok’s Chatuchak district from this date onward. Inbound trains…

  • Man attacked by teenagers on Airport Rail Link train

    Man attacked by teenagers on Airport Rail Link train

    A man was attacked by a group of teenagers while travelling on an Airport Rail Link train last night. The victim insisted that he did not know the offenders. A woman who witnessed the assault recorded a video of the incident and shared it on the local news Facebook page, Let Me Know If You Wanna Be Famous, Return Ver.…

  • Video of alleged Chinese Triad drug raid in October released

    Video of alleged Chinese Triad drug raid in October released

    A new video has surfaced of a drug raid at Jinling nightclub in Bangkok from October that was part of a crackdown on illegal Chinese triad activity. The video was released by controversial politician and soapy massage pioneer Chuwit Kamolvisit who has been active in efforts to curb Chinese gang activity in Bangkok. The raid in October nabbed 104 people…

  • Thailand records a drop in the sale of used homes

    Thailand records a drop in the sale of used homes

    A survey by Thailand’s Real Estate Information Center (REIC) revealed there was a drop in the sales of used homes throughout the kingdom in the third quarter of last year. REIC acting director-general Vichai Viratkapan reckons the decrease is down to the cut in transfer and mortgage fees, the easing of loan-to-value (LTV) limits, and an increase in second-hand home…

  • Furious passengers on Thai Smile Airways flight grounded for 2 hours

    Furious passengers on Thai Smile Airways flight grounded for 2 hours

    Furious Thai Smile Airways passengers filed a complaint with the Airport of Thailand (AOT) after they were made to wait on a plane at Suvarnabhumi Airport for two hours because of a lack of shuttle buses and drivers. One of the passengers, Amornrat Viriyaroj, shared her experience on Facebook. On Monday, Amornrat travelled from Chaing Rai to Bangkok with Thai Smile…

  • 33 million baht budget for Bangkok train station sign smells like corruption

    33 million baht budget for Bangkok train station sign smells like corruption

    Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob smells corruption coming from a 33 million baht budget for a new sign at Bangkok‘s central train station, whose name is changing from “Bang Sue Junction” to “Bangkok Apiwat Central Station.” The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) allegedly signed a contract approving a budget of 33,169,726.39 baht for a new sign to reflect the train station’s…

  • 16 year old boy dies after playing Russian roulette

    16 year old boy dies after playing Russian roulette

    A 16 year old boy was found dead at an abandoned house in the Nong Chok district of Bangkok. The teenage boy’s two friends said they were playing Russian roulette and he shot himself. Officers from Lam Hin Police Station and a rescue team were notified about the shooting at 10.40pm last night and rushed to the abandoned house situated…

  • Man arrested for stealing Royal Thai Armed Forces bus

    Man arrested for stealing Royal Thai Armed Forces bus

    Police arrested a man for stealing a Royal Thai Armed Forces (RTARF) bus and driving it to Don Mueang and Suvarnabhumi Airports to pick up some imaginary diplomats. Police reported the thief has a criminal history of drugs but did not reveal the result of his drug test. An officer from the Support Services Department under the RTARF filed a complaint…

  • Free electric buses to Bangkok attractions from today

    Free electric buses to Bangkok attractions from today

    In a bid to boost visits to tourist attractions in Bangkok, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration created a program to run free electric buses to the floating markets on weekends, starting today. The plan was created to connect the main public transportation lines across Bangkok with nearby tourist attractions. The BMA announced yesterday the new, eco-friendly service that will feed from…