Thai Life
Thailand guides, travel tips, cultural insights, and essential local information—discover everything you need to know about living, visiting, and experiencing the Land of Smiles. Get the latest from The Thaiger, your trusted source for Thailand guides.
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Is family health insurance in Thailand worth it?
A family’s day in Thailand can change in an instant when an accident sends a child to the emergency room, with medical bills rising beyond USD 10,000 within hours. While Thailand appeals to many expat families for its safety, lifestyle, and education options, healthcare costs can be high, especially at private hospitals. For families living in Thailand long-term or meeting…
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Chinese New Year in Thailand: History, tradition, and celebrations
For most Thai-Chinese families, the real Chinese New Year typically happens at home. Celebrations centre around the family table, at the home altar, and perhaps in kitchens, where generations gather to prepare dishes together. Wander to Yaowarat during Chinese New Year, and you’ll understand immediately why this tradition matters. It gets really busy during this time, but the public festivities…
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LINION brought Neo-Soul to Bangkok Music City and is teaching Asia to feel the groove
The golden hour light spilt across the Singha Live stage as LINION gripped his bass, the sun setting over Bangkok Music City 2026. It was 6.20pm, that perfect twilight moment when day surrenders to night, and for the next hour, the Taiwanese Neo-Soul artist would guide the crowd through that transition with nothing but groove, his voice, and a philosophy…
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Ex-cop neighbour allegedly pulls gun over footsteps and coughing
A woman renting a new home in Thailand claims her neighbour, a self-proclaimed retired police officer, has been persistently intimidating her over minor noises and has allegedly pulled out a gun during a confrontation. According to a post by the Facebook page เจ๊ม้อย v+, the tenant, referred to as Bua, had recently moved into the property despite warnings from others…
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Thailand’s love for urban gardening
Walk down nearly any street in Bangkok, and you’ll notice something that doesn’t quite match the usual portrait of a Southeast Asian megacity. Between the concrete shophouses and glass towers, beneath the elevated train tracks and along the motorcycle-clogged pavements, plants are everywhere. Not manicured landscaping or municipal flower beds, but an unruly profusion of potted trees, herbs in plastic…
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Thailand reforms business, visa, and social laws to attract global expats
Thailand is undertaking its most comprehensive expatriate policy overhaul in decades, introducing reforms across business law, visa regulations, property ownership, and civil rights that collectively aim to position the country as Southeast Asia’s premier destination for foreign residents and investors. Announced progressively throughout 2024 and early 2025, these reforms respond to regional competition for foreign talent and investment, particularly as…
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The quick history of Valentine’s Day in Thailand from the 1980s to now
Valentine’s Day in Thailand bears little resemblance to its Western origins. What arrived as a foreign novelty in the 1980s has evolved into a distinctively Thai institution, one that blends bureaucratic ritual, spiritual intervention, commercial spectacle, and most recently, historic civil rights milestones into a celebration that reveals as much about Thai society as it does about romance. On this…
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When is the Chinese New Year in 2026 and what is the Fire Horse?
As the sound of firecrackers from the international New Year celebrations begins to fade, the atmosphere of the most important festival for Thai people of Chinese descent is drawing near. The year 2569 BE, or the Chinese zodiac Year of the Horse, carries special significance. According to Chinese astrology, it is a Fire element year, known as the “Fire Horse,”…
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Inside Thailand’s underground motorcycle racing culture
On certain stretches of Bangkok’s Sukhumvit Road, after midnight, you can hear them before you see them. The sound starts as a distant whine, rising in pitch, then suddenly a cluster of motorcycles appears, weaving through sparse traffic at speeds that make the riders look almost horizontal. They lean into turns, engines screaming, exhausts popping. In seconds, they’re gone, leaving…
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How popular is badminton in Thailand and where can you play it?
Badminton has been one of Thailand’s most beloved sports for generations, sitting alongside football and Muay Thai in the national consciousness. For over 70 years, Thais have grown up with rackets in hand, playing in parks, backyards, school gyms, and makeshift courts wherever space allowed. Walk through any Bangkok park at dawn or any provincial sports hall in the evening,…
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Fallen Thai soldier saves lives through organ donation
A 24 year old Thai soldier who was declared dead following a tragic accident was honoured by the Thai Red Cross Society today, January 20, after his family decided to donate his organs, offering a second chance at life to patients in need. The Thai Red Cross Society shared the story of Sergeant Chuangwit Srikham, also known as “Sergeant New,”…
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Time to talk about ‘Thai time’
Ask any foreigner in Thailand what confused them first, and you’ll hear the same answer: Time. Or more specifically, why nobody seems to be in a rush to meet it. In the West, being late is personal. It feels like disrespect, a failure, a small moral crime, and you receive a stigma as being lazy or unorganised. But in Thailand,…
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9 things you must do to protect yourself from Bangkok’s hazardous PM2.5 levels in 2026
Bangkok woke up to a grey shroud on January 14, with Bangkok PM2.5 levels hitting hazardous territory, readings between 79 and 108 µg/m³ across the capital, nearly triple Thailand’s safety threshold. Fifty-four provinces are under health warnings as smoke from agricultural fires in Cambodia and eastern Thailand has drifted into central regions, where stagnant weather has trapped it. Add in…
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Muay Thai fight promotions that go beyond traditional martial art
Muay Thai has long been Thailand’s national sport, but today, it’s more than a martial art. It’s a social ladder, a second chance, a cultural export, and a fight for recognition. While elite promotions like ONE Championship and the historic Rajadamnern Stadium keep Muay Thai in the spotlight. There are parallel fight cultures that thrive in alleyways, fight clubs and…
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How does Thailand celebrate Teacher’s Day?
In Thailand, few roles are held in higher regard than that of a teacher. Each year on January 16, the country pauses to observe Teacher’s Day, an annual national occasion dedicated to recognising the people who guide, educate, and inspire future generations. The Thai saying “Kru kue mae-pim kawng chad,” meaning “Teachers mould the nation,” captures the spirit of the occasion.…
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Public holidays and observances in Thailand (2026)
As we step into 2026, now’s the perfect time to plan your year in Thailand. From nationwide festivals to regional celebrations, these public holidays shape everything from travel schedules to business operations and social gatherings. Here are our key dates for Thailand’s holidays and observances for 2026. Thailand holidays for January 2026 January 1 (Thursday) – New Year’s Day: A…
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A simple guide to renting in Thailand (plus a bonus tip)
Renting in Thailand is generally straightforward, but a little preparation goes a long way. Whether you’re looking to relocate or planning an extended stay, being familiar with local rental practices, from deposits and documents to pricing and property standards, will make the process much smoother. This guide outlines the key steps to renting in Thailand, from choosing the right location…
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