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

    The hidden costs of ignoring pre-existing conditions in Thailand

    The Thaiger key takeaways Not declaring pre-existing conditions can result in denied claims, high costs, or visa problems. Cigna provides coverage for common chronic conditions like diabetes and arthritis with high limits and direct billing. Honest disclosure ensures proper coverage,...

  • Thailand video news | Naked foreigner disrupts traffic at Pattaya intersection, Expats slammed for reckless road stunt in Phuket | Thaiger

    Thailand video news | Naked foreigner disrupts traffic at Pattaya intersection, Expats slammed for reckless road stunt in Phuket

    In Thailand Video News, Alex and Jay cover the latest stories from across Thailand and Southeast Asia. This episode features a string of incidents involving foreigners misbehaving in Phuket, Pattaya, and Bangkok, a deadly tropical storm battering the Philippines, and, later on, highlights from a major Formula 1 STEM racing event that recently concluded at a Bangkok hotel. Naked Foreigner…

  • Krabi pickup driver claims blocking ambulance due to concerns about mother’s illness | Thaiger

    Krabi pickup driver claims blocking ambulance due to concerns about mother’s illness

    A Thai pickup truck driver blocked an ambulance at Plai Phraya Hospital in the southern province of Krabi, resulting in the death of a 69 year old heart attack patient. The patient, identified as Somkuan, was admitted to Plai Phraya Hospital with respiratory failure at around 11.10pm on October 16. His condition deteriorated, prompting the medical team to arrange for…

  • Myanmar crewman dies in boat accident off Phuket coast | Thaiger

    Myanmar crewman dies in boat accident off Phuket coast

    A 36 year old Myanmar national has died after suffering a fatal head injury while working aboard a fishing vessel caught in rough seas off Koh Racha Yai. The tragic accident occurred yesterday morning, October 20, while the crewman, identified as Tin Maung Htwe, was on duty as a mechanic aboard the Kiang Chai 3 fishing boat. He reportedly slipped…

  • British ex-consul killed by speeding bike in Pattaya crash | Thaiger

    British ex-consul killed by speeding bike in Pattaya crash

    A retired British author and former honorary consul has died after being hit by a speeding motorbike while crossing a busy road in Pattaya. Barry Kenyon from Lancashire was on his way to meet friends for dinner on Saturday evening, October 18, when he was struck by a motorbike while walking across Thappraya Road, near the Pattaya intersection. Kenyon had…

  • Phuket’s 2.3 billion baht underpass shelved over flood, chaos fears | Thaiger

    Phuket’s 2.3 billion baht underpass shelved over flood, chaos fears

    A major underpass project in Phuket has been scrapped after residents raised concerns about traffic disruption and flooding during construction. The Department of Highways has scrapped its 2.38-billion baht bidding process for the Heroines Monument underpass project in Thalang, following growing concerns about its impact on traffic and the potential for worsening flooding. The decision comes after strong local opposition,…

  • Cool winds up north, flash floods lash Thailand’s south | Thaiger

    Cool winds up north, flash floods lash Thailand’s south

    Thailand braces for shifting weather as cool winds sweep northern Thailand and storms pound the southern regions, prompting flood and marine warnings. A high-pressure system from China is sweeping across upper Vietnam and is expected to reach Laos and northeastern Thailand today. This will bring cooler mornings and strong winds to the north and northeast, with a slight dip in…

  • Foreign man criticised for dangerously filming video on Phuket road | Thaiger

    Foreign man criticised for dangerously filming video on Phuket road

    Thai netizens questioned a foreign driver’s awareness of Thai traffic laws after a man was caught on a viral TikTok video performing push-ups in the middle of a Phuket road. The Thai TikToker shared the video on his account, @abudawut, yesterday, October 19, with a caption reading, “Everybody is crazy. A thousand strange things are possible in Phuket.” In the…

  • Foreign driver sparks outrage with dangerous speeding on Phuket road | Thaiger

    Foreign driver sparks outrage with dangerous speeding on Phuket road

    A foreign man was caught on a viral video driving his luxury car dangerously on a crowded road in Phuket on Saturday, October 18. The video circulated on Thai social media yesterday, October 19, after a local motorist witnessed the incident and shared it with news agencies. The road in the video was reported to be located in the Patong…

  • Danish boxer stopped from jumping off Phuket building | Thaiger

    Danish boxer stopped from jumping off Phuket building

    Police intervened to prevent a Danish boxer from jumping off the roof of an accommodation building in the Kata area of Phuket on Saturday, October 18. Several local media outlets shared pictures and videos of the foreign man, later identified as a Danish national. The man was seen on the roof of a building in Soi Green Drinking Water, Kata,…

  • Nigerian man arrested for drug dealing in Bangkok nightclub raid | Thaiger

    Nigerian man arrested for drug dealing in Bangkok nightclub raid

    Police raided a nightclub in the Ratchaprarop area of Bangkok early on Saturday, October 18, and arrested a Nigerian man on charges of drug dealing. Twenty-two partygoers later tested positive for drugs. At around 5am, officials from the Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) and the Insee 19-69 unit inspected the entertainment venue in the Ratchathewi district. The operation…

  • 3 Indian men arrested for jealous attack on fellow countryman in Pattaya | Thaiger

    3 Indian men arrested for jealous attack on fellow countryman in Pattaya

    Police arrested three Indian men at a rented room in Pattaya on Saturday, October 18, following a gang attack on a fellow countryman over jealousy. Another suspect remains at large. The victim, Narendra Tamta, filed a complaint with the Chon Buri Provincial Immigration Bureau on October 17 after suffering a serious head injury during the assault by four suspects. The…

  • Chinese man stabs Pattaya officer with pen during roadside rampage | Thaiger

    Chinese man stabs Pattaya officer with pen during roadside rampage

    A Chinese man stabbed an officer from the Pattaya City Law Enforcement with a pen on a roadside on Saturday, October 18, when officials attempted to calm him down following his rampage. Pattaya City Law Enforcement officials responded to a complaint from locals and approached the suspect, a Chinese man aged between 35 and 40, in order to take him…

  • Thailand video news | Phuket moves to rein in cannabis use, Israeli man caught stealing temple donation envelope | Thaiger

    Thailand video news | Phuket moves to rein in cannabis use, Israeli man caught stealing temple donation envelope

    In this episode of Thailand Video News, Alex and Jay cover the latest stories from across Thailand and Southeast Asia — from tighter cannabis regulations in Phuket and upcoming rush-hour taxi surcharges set for December, to foreigners making headlines for their drunken and bizarre behaviour. Phuket Moves to Rein in Cannabis Use to Safeguard Tourist Appeal Officials in the resort…

  • Navy officer jumps off dormitory to escape alleged rape attempt by senior officer | Thaiger

    Navy officer jumps off dormitory to escape alleged rape attempt by senior officer

    A young navy officer jumped from the fourth floor of a dormitory in the Sattahip district of Chon Buri, claiming he was escaping a rape attempt by a senior officer. Rescuers from the Sawang Rojanathamsathan Sattahip Foundation were alerted to a serious fall at a dormitory within the Royal Thai Navy (RTN) premises in Sattahip, Chon Buri, at about 3am…

  • Body of Thai hostage killed in Israel-Hamas conflict identified and returned | Thaiger

    Body of Thai hostage killed in Israel-Hamas conflict identified and returned

    Israeli officials confirmed that one of the bodies returned by Hamas on Saturday, October 18, is that of a Thai hostage who was abducted and killed last year. Israel’s local media outlet, i24News, reported that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced yesterday, October 19, that one of the bodies handed over by Hamas the previous night was identified as a…

  • Nakhon Ratchasima landlord seeks tenant after rental mess | Thaiger

    Nakhon Ratchasima landlord seeks tenant after rental mess

    A Facebook user recently shared images online to caution landlords about a tenant who left a rental property in a deplorable state. The tenant, a 42 year old woman, rented the house in a housing project in Mueang district, Nakhon Ratchasima province, for approximately one year. The photos reveal a shocking mess of rotting garbage scattered throughout the house, emitting…

  • Police seize 4.4 million meth pills at Thailand-Myanmar border | Thaiger

    Police seize 4.4 million meth pills at Thailand-Myanmar border

    Police have confiscated 4.4 million methamphetamine pills and detained two individuals suspected of smuggling the drugs near the border between Chiang Rai and Myanmar. According to officials on Saturday, the suspects 41 year old Sira and 34 year old Seri are residents of Mae Fah Luang district in Chiang Rai province. Authorities revealed that the arrest followed intelligence reports indicating that…

  • Phuket pushes for stricter cannabis rules to protect tourism image | Thaiger

    Phuket pushes for stricter cannabis rules to protect tourism image

    Phuket’s authorities are advocating for more stringent cannabis regulations after a rise in incidents involving foreign tourists displaying erratic behaviour has negatively impacted the island’s tourism image. Sarayut Mallum, vice-president of the Phuket Tourism Association, highlighted that many instances of foreign visitors behaving unusually have been linked to excessive cannabis consumption. He noted, ‘Some tourists smoked multiple joints consecutively, resulting…

  • Tragic delay: blocked ambulance leads to patient’s death in Krabi | Thaiger

    Tragic delay: blocked ambulance leads to patient’s death in Krabi

    A hospital in Plai Phraya, Krabi, issued a statement addressing an incident where a pickup truck obstructed an ambulance, preventing the transfer of a critically ill patient who later died yesterday, on October 18. The hospital expressed deep condolences to the family of the deceased, who suffered from acute myocardial infarction and respiratory failure. The patient was admitted to the…

  • Boy with ADHD taken to police after toy gun incident | Thaiger

    Boy with ADHD taken to police after toy gun incident

    An 11 year old boy, who aimed a toy gun at a shop owner, was taken to Hat Yai police by his mother, who revealed that he suffers from severe attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and has short-term memory loss. The mother has decided to stop allowing him to sell boiled peanuts. This incident gained attention after a Facebook user…

  • Taiwanese trio busted at Bangkok airport with rare wildlife | Thaiger

    Taiwanese trio busted at Bangkok airport with rare wildlife

    Three Taiwanese nationals were arrested at Don Mueang Airport after officials uncovered a bizarre and cruel attempt to smuggle dozens of protected animals out of Thailand by hiding them under clothing. The suspects, identified as 53 year old Hsu Ching Chung, 40 year old Hong Zhi-Xian, and 36 year old Yang Tsung-Ju, were stopped by police from the Natural Resources…

  • Bogus doctor arrested in Pattaya clinic raid after repeat offences | Thaiger

    Bogus doctor arrested in Pattaya clinic raid after repeat offences

    Officers raided an unlicensed clinic in Pattaya after receiving reports of illegal medical services being provided without certified professionals. The operation, carried out yesterday, October 17, by the Crime Suppression Division (CSD) Region 2 in coordination with the Chon Buri Provincial Public Health Office (PPO), targeted a well-known clinic on Soi Chaiyapreuk 2 that had previously come under scrutiny. The…

  • Thailand rolls out free dialysis as kidney disease cases soar | Thaiger

    Thailand rolls out free dialysis as kidney disease cases soar

    Thailand’s public health ministry has launched a free dialysis campaign to tackle rising chronic kidney disease cases and promote early prevention nationwide. Public Health Minister Pattana Promphat announced a nationwide campaign to provide free dialysis and promote early screening for chronic kidney disease (CKD). The campaign aims to raise awareness, expand access to treatment and encourage lifestyle changes to prevent…

  • Monk saves debt-ridden couple in South Thailand bridge rescue | Thaiger

    Monk saves debt-ridden couple in South Thailand bridge rescue

    A monk in South Thailand helped rescue a couple who attempted to jump from a bridge in a joint suicide bid after struggling with heavy debt. A couple in Songkhla province narrowly escaped death after attempting to end their lives by jumping from a bridge while tied together with a traditional Thai cloth. The shocking incident, reportedly driven by crushing…

  • Water woes: Phuket MP calls for urgent fix as crisis worsens | Thaiger

    Water woes: Phuket MP calls for urgent fix as crisis worsens

    Phuket MP Chalermpong Sangdee has called on the government to urgently tackle the island’s chronic water shortage, warning that the issue could spiral out of control during the upcoming High Season if action isn’t taken immediately. Speaking in Parliament, Chalermpong, who represents Phuket District 2, said water demand has surged due to a booming tourism industry and a population now…

  • 9 Thais arrested for illegal border crossing from Cambodia | Thaiger

    9 Thais arrested for illegal border crossing from Cambodia

    Nine Thai nationals were arrested in Sa Kaeo after illegally crossing the border on foot from Cambodia, where they had worked in an online scam operation. The group, five men and four women, were intercepted by the Burapha Forces and Aranyaprathet Special Task Force during a surveillance operation in Sa Kaeo province. Officers caught them trekking through a sugarcane field…

  • Southern drug kingpin arrested hiding out in Bangkok condo | Thaiger

    Southern drug kingpin arrested hiding out in Bangkok condo

    A southern drug leader was arrested in Bangkok after police tracked him to a luxury condo, ending his months-long escape. The 37 year old suspect, identified as Suriya “Phueak Sraphleng,” was detained at a luxury condominium by officers from the Crime Suppression Division following a series of warrants issued earlier this year. Suriya, a key figure in one of southern…

  • Stoned shopkeeper arrested after knife rampage in Chon Buri | Thaiger

    Stoned shopkeeper arrested after knife rampage in Chon Buri

    A grocery shop owner in Chon Buri was arrested after allegedly using cannabis and threatening residents with a knife while wearing a belt of ammunition. The bizarre incident unfolded around 9pm on Thursday, October 16, in Soi Thung Klon Tal Man 14, Nong Prue subdistrict. Bang Lamung District Chief Patcharapat Sritanyanon was alerted after panicked residents called in reports of…

  • Storm topples giant tree, crushes police cars in Ayutthaya | Thaiger

    Storm topples giant tree, crushes police cars in Ayutthaya

    A powerful storm in Ayutthaya brought down a giant tree onto a police car park, damaging several vehicles and triggering a major emergency response. A fierce storm swept through Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya province, toppling a massive rain tree over 50 years old onto a police car park, damaging 12 vehicles and sparking chaos in the Wang Noi district. The…

  • Drunken Brit torches wife’s designer gear in Pattaya rampage | Thaiger

    Drunken Brit torches wife’s designer gear in Pattaya rampage

    A 59 year old British man allegedly caused chaos in central Pattaya after a drunken outburst saw him vandalise a beer bar, attempt to assault his Thai brother-in-law, and later set fire to his wife’s luxury clothing. The incident took place at around 6.33pm yesterday, October 17, on Soi Buakhao, where the man, identified only as Ary, was caught on…