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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    9 most common health issues covered by insurance for expats in Thailand

    Thailand is a popular destination for expats due to its affordable lifestyle and excellent healthcare system. However, settling in a new country often brings health concerns. To ensure you’re covered for the most common medical needs, understanding what expat health...

  • Spielberg’s ‘Terminal’ man departs CDG forever | Thaiger

    Spielberg’s ‘Terminal’ man departs CDG forever

    The man who lived in Paris’s Charles de Gaulle airport for 18 years and was the inspiration for Steven Spielberg’s film The Terminal died yesterday in his “beloved” airport. Merhan Karimi Nasseri suffered a heart attack at the airport around midday. Police and a medical team were quickly on the scene but could do nothing to save him. Karimi Nasseri was…

  • Disturbing video of Myanmar junta allegedly torturing victim goes viral | Thaiger

    Disturbing video of Myanmar junta allegedly torturing victim goes viral

    A disturbing video featuring an alleged Myanmar junta military member torturing a man has caused an uproar after going viral. The video was retrieved from a phone that was found on November 6 in the Moe Bye township in Kayah state by members of the Karenni Nationalities Defense Force. The group is one of many who are fighting the junta…

  • Low-Rise House Key Driver In Property Revenue Hits New Heights | Thaiger

    Low-Rise House Key Driver In Property Revenue Hits New Heights

    The third-quarter presales and revenue of major SET-listed property developers reached a record high thanks to an economic resurgence fueled by tourists’ in the second half of this year. Key SET-listed developers in Thailand, such as Supalai Plc, Sansiri, Noble, and AP development revenues, hit new heights in the third quarter of 2022. The third quarter of 2022 saw Supalai…

  • 2022 World Cup for free on Thai TV fiasco rages on | Thaiger

    2022 World Cup for free on Thai TV fiasco rages on

    Will footie fans or won’t footie fans get to see the 2022 World Cup for free? That is the question while the fiasco rages on. The clock is ticking on whether football fans in Thailand will be able to watch the World Cup for free. Last week the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC), blamed the Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT)…

  • Hollywood star’s bizarre Oscar gesture to Zelensky ridiculed | Thaiger

    Hollywood star’s bizarre Oscar gesture to Zelensky ridiculed

    Oscar-winning actor Sean Penn loaned Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky one of his Academy awards in a scene which brought much mirth, merriment, and ridicule. The Hollywood star visited the Ukraine president yesterday and in a show of ostentation handed over one of his precious Oscars and said… “It is just a symbolic, silly thing but if I know this is…

  • New foreign land ownership law in Thailand can be scrapped if Thais don’t agree | Thaiger

    New foreign land ownership law in Thailand can be scrapped if Thais don’t agree

    If Thai people aren’t happy with the newly proposed foreign land ownership law in Thailand, the whole plan can be scrapped, said Minister of Interior General Anupong Paochinda in Parliament yesterday. “We can improve the regulation, such as by increasing the investment to 100 million baht. The plan can be scrapped if people have serious concerns. We won’t see it as…

  • Top 10 nationalities buying condos in Thailand | Thaiger

    Top 10 nationalities buying condos in Thailand

    Thailand’s Real Estate Information Centre (REIC) revealed the top 10 nationalities buying condos in Thailand in the first six months of 2022, with Chinese and Russian investors leading the way. In Thailand, foreigners are permitted to own 49% of the units in any condominium building. The remaining 51% must have Thai ownership. The Inspector-General of the Government Housing Bank and…

  • Thailand is not ‘selling off’ the country by letting foreigners buy land, says govt | Thaiger

    Thailand is not ‘selling off’ the country by letting foreigners buy land, says govt

    The Thai government is defending its plan to allow foreign investors to buy up to one rai of land after an opposition party claimed that they are “selling off” the country. Foreign land ownership in Thailand comes with strict conditions and the plan will benefit the country’s economy, a government spokesperson said yesterday. The Cabinet recently voted to allow four…

  • Best land plots and villas with gorgeous sea views in Kamala, Phuket | Thaiger

    Best land plots and villas with gorgeous sea views in Kamala, Phuket

    Sponsored So you’ve finally decided to have your own slice of heaven in Phuket? Whether you plan to buy a luxury beach villa to rent out or a piece of land to build your dream holiday home, almost any property investment on this island is a good idea. Phuket is not only a blissful place to live, renting out a…

  • Jack White strikes a chord in Bangkok for the first time | Thaiger

    Jack White strikes a chord in Bangkok for the first time

    Former White Stripes frontman Jack White plans to strike a chord in the capital early next month with rock and roll enthusiasts. The US indie rock star is in Bangkok for the first time on the Pacific Rim Leg of The Supply Chain Issues Tour. White also visits Manila, Seoul, Ho Chi Minh City, Singapore, and Kuala Lumpur. The 47…

  • Cabinet agrees to let foreigners buy land and houses in Thailand | Thaiger

    Cabinet agrees to let foreigners buy land and houses in Thailand

    A major decision was made today by Thailand’s Cabinet which will allow foreigners to buy houses and land in Thailand. The foreigner will be eligible to buy houses and land if they invest at least 40 million baht in Thailand and can maintain the investment over three years, according to Bangkok Biz News. The land purchased cannot be bigger than…

  • 1-billion-baht tourism stimulus back on track | Thaiger

    1-billion-baht tourism stimulus back on track

    While debate continues around Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha’s return to office, one thing has become clear: the Tourism and Sports Ministry is moving ahead with a package of measures delayed while General Prayut was suspended pending the Constitutional Court’s ruling. One proposal will allow entertainment venues to remain open until 4am. It’s estimated that Thailand loses roughly 70 million baht (US$2…

  • The truth behind ‘rental guaranteed returns’ in Thailand | Thaiger

    The truth behind ‘rental guaranteed returns’ in Thailand

    Guaranteed rental return is one of the latest schemes that is taking the property market in Thailand by storm. It’s easy to see why many people are tempted by the idea of this scheme. After all, who doesn’t like certainty? But a lot of people are also in doubt and left with questions — is guaranteed rental return something you…

  • Tears in Hogwarts – Hagrid is dead | Thaiger

    Tears in Hogwarts – Hagrid is dead

    Robbie Coltrane, probably best known for his role as Hagrid in the Harry Potter movies, has died aged 72. Born Anthony Robert McMillan in Glasgow, Coltrane went to Glasgow School of Art until he had second thoughts about talent, and switched to acting in and doing standup, taking his name from jazz musician John Coltrane. Coltrane started out with small…

  • Prepare to be spirited away by Ghilbi theme park | Thaiger

    Prepare to be spirited away by Ghilbi theme park

    With only a few weeks left before the first Ghibli theme park opens on November 1, the world’s press has been allowed to take a look around. True to the Miyazaki vibe, the park in Nagakute has little of the razzamatazz or carnival atmosphere of Disney World. This is a much more quiet, low-key affair. Darker than Disney. There are…

  • Honouring the 6th anniversary of King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s death | Thaiger

    Honouring the 6th anniversary of King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s death

    Today marks the sixth anniversary of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s death. Known as King Rama IX, his passing on October 13, 2016, is now celebrated as a national holiday. People recall his lasting legacy and pay tribute to the beloved king who reigned over Thailand for 70 years. The anniversary of his death is a public holiday. Though there…

  • 10 things foreigners may find strange in Thailand | Thaiger

    10 things foreigners may find strange in Thailand

    As a foreigner living in Thailand, you might notice some strange things and habits that are so far from what you know at home. From cultural quirks to monitor lizards wandering into convenience stores, here are things that most foreigners find surprising and strange in Thailand. Eating raw instant noodles Did you know that instant noodles can make a tasty…

  • Son of a gun! Hunter Biden caught lying on pistol application | Thaiger

    Son of a gun! Hunter Biden caught lying on pistol application

    The hard drive that Hunter Biden abandoned at a Delaware computer repair shop is the gift to tabloid media that just keeps on giving. The New York Post yesterday claimed to have found a 4-minute, 30-second recording on a copy of the drive that has the United States President Joe Biden’s son begging his sister-in-law-turned-lover Hallie Biden for cash to…

  • Ring craft – Muay Thai referees saving fighters from themselves | Thaiger

    Ring craft – Muay Thai referees saving fighters from themselves

    Muay Thai has some amazing referees, lots of them being former fighters themselves. One referee has recently been showered with praise for his quick reaction that saved a fighter from a “kill shot,” an aptly-named illegal kick to the head. Refereeing can be an unappreciated task – especially in combat sports. As well as risking injury yourself, you’re never going…

  • ‘The Trapped 13’ lets Wild Boars speak for themselves | Thaiger

    ‘The Trapped 13’ lets Wild Boars speak for themselves

    We’re probably all too familiar with the uplifting tragedy of the Wild Boars football team. We know almost every detail of their time underground, their escape to the light and subsequent international celebrity. But still, the screen adaptations come, three in the last year alone. This time, it’s Netflix The Trapped 13: How We Survived the Thai Cave. The Trapped 13…

  • “One For the Road” film is Thailand’s 25th Oscar attempt | Thaiger

    “One For the Road” film is Thailand’s 25th Oscar attempt

    Thailand is hoping that next year will be the year when the country finally brings home an Oscar. The kingdom has previously entered 24 films for consideration in the Best International Film category but has yet to have a single movie accepted. One for The Road is hoping to break that losing streak and be the first Thai film nominated…

  • Hot tip – Don’t pay hot tips! | Thaiger

    Hot tip – Don’t pay hot tips!

    To tip or not tip is becoming a hot issue among Thailand’s restaurant goers and waiting staff. For foreigners, tipping can be problematic in this part of Asia with expectations ranging from Chinese-style (no tips ever, anywhere, for anything) to Filipino (tips with everything). No matter what your situation is though, according to the law, 10% is enough. On Tuesday,…

  • Thailand’s monsoon baht debacle lights fire to Phuket real estate sector | Thaiger

    Thailand’s monsoon baht debacle lights fire to Phuket real estate sector

    As Thailand’s monsoon season continues with what seems to be an endless line-up of thunderstorms and massive rain showers, the real story in Thai real estate is the baht. The Thai currency is precariously sitting at a 16-year low against the US dollar and has depreciated by nearly twelve per cent this year. As the exchange rate hovers near the…

  • What $100,000 buys you for a condo in Bangkok, Phuket, Pattaya, Koh Samui and Hua Hin | Thaiger

    What $100,000 buys you for a condo in Bangkok, Phuket, Pattaya, Koh Samui and Hua Hin

    With a $100,000 price tag, the type of condo you’ll get in Thailand will differ from one city to another. You could buy a 2-bedroom ocean view condo on the coast or a tiny but charming 1-bedroom condo in a shiny glass building in the heart of the capital. Still, condos within this kind of budget are generally well-designed and…

  • Top 10 studio condos in Phuket (2022) | Thaiger

    Top 10 studio condos in Phuket (2022)

    If you have a limited budget but don’t want to compromise on location in Phuket, a studio condo can be the right choice for you. Many studio condos sacrifice style in favour of practicality and efficiency. Still, plenty of studio condos on the island are tastefully designed. Therefore, they’re not only practical and livable but also very stylish. Moreover, some…

  • Phuket real estate shifts tide in wake of urban flight | Thaiger

    Phuket real estate shifts tide in wake of urban flight

    Urban flight and a continuous stream of incoming lifestyle residents to Phuket are dramatically shifting Southeast Asia’s leading resort real estate market landscape. The new island property mantra is dominated by surging demand for single-family homes and larger condominiums. Phuket has witnessed a sharp change from 2019 when over 9 million tourists sought a place in the sun, highlighted by…

  • Wallaya Villas is back with its new pool villas in Phuket | Thaiger

    Wallaya Villas is back with its new pool villas in Phuket

    The first established real estate developer in Phuket’s Kamala neighbourhood is Wallaya Villas. They have more than 17 years of experience in the local real estate industry. They have worked on a variety of projects, including The Nest and The Harmony Phase II, as well as in hotels, commercials, and residential properties. As a result, Wallaya Villas is one of…

  • Controversial British street artist Banksy in Bangkok | Thaiger

    Controversial British street artist Banksy in Bangkok

    An art exhibition by the controversial British street artist Banksy is coming to the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) in Bangkok next month. Under the banner of The Art of Banksy: Without Limits, the exhibit will display over 150 works by the anarchic graffiti artist on October 26 until the end of the year. The exhibit will showcase a number…

  • Condos in Phuket offering the biggest price reduction (September 2022) | Thaiger

    Condos in Phuket offering the biggest price reduction (September 2022)

    Discounts are a big deal on an island as popular as Phuket. As the island is making a post-pandemic rebound, it’s finally shifting back into a seller’s market. And thus, good deals are becoming more and more challenging to find. That’s why we comb through Thaiger Property listings to help you find the best Phuket condo with a major price…

  • Serviced Apartments in Central Bangkok providing home-away-from-home experience | Thaiger

    Serviced Apartments in Central Bangkok providing home-away-from-home experience

    Serviced apartments are fast becoming a popular choice for leisure and business for people visiting Bangkok. Whether you’re looking for a luxury place to call home for 4 nights or 4 months, a serviced apartment in Bangkok can be an ideal option. Unlike your average hotel room, serviced apartments are a lot more than just a place to sleep. It…