Editor: Expat News will be traveling next week, July 12-16. We wil try to keep you up to date on the news during this time, but our reports may be fewer and at a different time. We will return to full service next Friday, July 17.
- Our new sponsor: Pollitos Restaurant and Pizzeria/Hua Hin coffee shop seeks return of mug/Hua Hin videos/Worker killed on Rama II/Red Bull family Thailand’s richest/Phuket girl wows America’s Got Talent/Ayutthaya elephants waiting at red light
- ECONOMY: Five gains for Anutin government/Thai retail confidence strengthens/Thailand, Malaysia resolve seafood dispute/Nestlé unveils new production hub/Gems and jewelry exports higher
- TOURISM: Reporting rule for foreign visitors/Israeli tourist arrivals/The ticket mafia
- THAILAND EXPERIENCE: Chiang Mai Ranked Third-Best/Thailand’s Most Soulful City/Amazing Melon Cutting Skills
- CLIMATE THAILAND: Forest preservation rewards communities/Line Man Ride targets 3,000 EV drivers/Bottles into School Backpacks
- FOREIGNERS BEHAVING BADLY/HUA HIN TRANSPORT and LINKS
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Hua Hin coffee shop seeks return of mug, saucer stolen by foreign customer
An owner of a coffee shop in Hua Hin exposed a foreign woman for allegedly attempting to obtain free milk and stealing a coffee mug and saucer on Wednesday.
Piyanun, who owns an Amazon coffee franchise store on Soi Hua Hin 61, shared photographs of the foreign customer on her Facebook account and in local Facebook groups, asking anyone who recognized the woman to encourage her to return the stolen items. Continued …
Patio Old Town Market Hua Hin
Check out a beautifully tucked-away hidden gem called Patio Old Town Market. This cozy, vintage-style outdoor food court is packed with incredible local charm, amazing live music, and a massive variety of street food stalls — including traditional Thai Aharn Tam Sang (made-to-order dishes), authentic Isan sausage, salt-crusted grilled fish (Miang Pla Pao), and dairy-free Thai coconut ice cream. Video …
Hua Hin – What I really think of this place?
Soi 94 Walk and The Best Burger in Hua Hin
Take a walk down Soi 94 in Hua Hin, one of the busiest streets in town for food, bars, and nightlife. This walk around the area shows you the atmosphere on a Friday night, the bars, restaurants and overall vibe. Video … https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n1a–67_8nE
Another worker killed in Rama II road work
A construction pile driving crane rig collapsed and fatally crushed a worker on Rama II Road, forcing authorities to completely close traffic in the affected area while emergency crews responded and began recovery operations.
The incident happened yesterday at a road construction site on the outbound parallel carriageway of Rama II Road. The collapse occurred near the Khlong Luang bridge U-turn. According to reports, the crane fell onto workers below, killing one male worker at the scene. Continued …
Red Bull family Thailand’s richest for third straight year
The Yoovidhya family of Red Bull fame have retained the top spot as the richest in Thailand for the third consecutive year with a net worth of $47 billion, followed by the CP Group’s Chearavanont brothers with $36.6 billion, according to Forbes magazine.
The combined wealth of Thailand’s richest tycoons on the 2026 Forbes list has expanded 10% to $187 billion from $170.5 billion, boosted by a surging market, the magazine said. Continued …
Nene Royal goes from Phuket night market to America’s Got Talent
A 16-year-old girl from Phuket earned four yes votes from the judges on America’s Got Talent (AGT), taking another step toward her dream of becoming a world-class artist.
Rattikarn “Praew” Amloy, better known by her stage name Nene Royal, has built a reputation as a street performer in Phuket. She regularly performs with her band, Ozone, at Naka Night Market, where the group plays rock music for both Thai and international visitors. Continued …
Ayutthaya elephants win praise for waiting at red light
A convoy of elephants from the Ayutthaya Elephant Palace & Royal Kraal has won widespread praise online after a video showed the animals patiently waiting at a red traffic light alongside motorists, offering a striking reminder of the importance of road safety.
The footage shows several elephants, each accompanied by a mahout, stopping calmly when the traffic signal turned red. The animals waited in line beside cars and motorcycles without crossing the intersection until the light turned green. Continued …
Five gains for Anutin government after B400-billion loan decree clears court
The Constitutional Court’s ruling yesterday that the emergency decree authorizing the Finance Ministry to borrow 400 billion baht to tackle the impact of the energy crisis and support Thailand’s energy transition does not violate Section 172 of the Constitution has done more than unlock the government’s borrowing plan.
Although the opposition can still scrutinize the details of spending under each project, the ruling has eased political pressure on the government and opened space for the administration to move ahead fully with key policies. Continued …
Thai retail confidence strengthens amid subdued economic prospects
The June 2026 Retail Sentiment Index (RSI) survey pointed to a narrow-based recovery in Thailand’s economy after government measures provided short-term support to purchasing power.
The spending-per-bill index rose 15.5 points, while confidence for the next three months remained low at 47–50 points, reflecting concerns that purchasing power had yet to recover fully and that risks persisted on several fronts. Continued …
Thailand, Malaysia resolve seafood trade dispute
Thailand and Malaysia have agreed to swiftly resolve a recent fisheries trade dispute that disrupted seafood exports between the two countries, with both governments aiming to reopen affected markets within a week.
The dispute flared earlier this year after Thailand suspended imports of Malaysian sea bass over concerns about chemical residues. Malaysia later imposed temporary restrictions on certain varieties of Thai shrimp, citing food safety controls. Continued …
Nestlé unveils 23-billion-baht Nescafé production hub in Thailand
Nestlé has announced plans to invest 23 billion baht in a new Nescafé factory in Thailand after terminating its joint-venture agreement with Quality Coffee Products Co. (QCP), the company that previously manufactured Nescafé products in the country. The 50:50 joint venture between Nestlé and the Mahagitsiri family ended on Dec. 31, 2024, leaving QCP without the right to continue producing Nescafé products.
Nikhil Chand, chairman and chief executive officer of Nestlé Indochina, said the new factory would be built in Samut Prakan province. The facility is intended to strengthen Nestlé’s Nescafé business in Thailand and support exports. Continued …
Gold demand drives Thailand’s gems and jewelry exports higher
Sumed Prasongpongchai, director-general of the Gem and Jewelry Institute of Thailand, or GIT, said exports of gems and jewelry excluding gold were worth US$860.73 million in May, up 1.8% and extending growth for a third consecutive month. Including gold, exports were worth US$2.27442 billion, up 29.7%.
In the first five months of 2026 (January-May), exports excluding gold totaled US$7.3719 billion, up 11.1%, while exports including gold totaled US$15.66388 billion, up 29.4%. Continued …
MPs slam reporting rule for foreign visitors
The proposed amendments to some sections of the Hotel Act and Immigration Act, which passed their first reading in parliament on Wednesday, aim to reduce duplicate reporting of foreigners’ temporary stays in Thailand, but may not address existing loopholes as illegal operators are excluded from enforcement.
The responsibility for reporting a foreigner’s stay primarily falls on the householder, owner of a dwelling or hotel manager, who must notify authorities within 24 hours via electronic channels. Foreigners are no longer required to make duplicate notifications themselves, except in cases deemed necessary for national security or public safety. Continued …
Israeli tourist arrivals in Thailand forecast to exceed 442,000
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) met Israeli diplomatic representatives in Bangkok this week to discuss attracting more high-spending Israeli tourists to Thailand under its “Value over Volume” tourism strategy ahead of the coming travel season.
TAT Gov. Thapanee Kiatphaibool and executive director for Europe Suladda Sarutilavan welcomed Israeli Ambassador to Thailand Alona Fisher-Kamm and Israeli Minister and Head of Consular Affairs Eli Sneh. Continued …
The ticket mafia is ruining concerts in Thailand
Thailand’s concert industry is growing rapidly, but so are complaints about ticket scalpers, scams, and organized groups buying up tickets before genuine fans have a chance.
With concerns on the rise, authorities, ticketing companies, and concert promoters are now taking action. But will it be enough to protect concertgoers? Video …
Chiang Mai Ranked Third-Best City Worldwide
Chiang Mai has been named the third-best city in the world in the Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards 2026, placing the northern Thai city among the highest-rated destinations globally. The result also saw Chiang Mai rank second in Asia, behind Kyoto, Japan, while moving ahead of Bangkok, Siem Reap in Cambodia and Tokyo.
This year’s survey received responses from more than 207,000 readers, who submitted over 661,000 votes covering more than 10,088 travel-related businesses and destinations worldwide. The categories included hotels, resorts, cities, islands, national parks, tour operators, safaris, airlines, airports, trains and other travel entities. Continued …
What 12 Trips to Chiang Mai Taught Me About Thailand’s Most Soulful City
Chiang Mai, northern Thailand’s largest city, presents enduring Lanna heritage across living temples, artisan quarters, and surrounding mountain landscapes, underscoring its cultural and historical significance.Viewers encounter Chiang Mai travel context through Lanna architecture, historic temples in the Old City, and daily practices such as alms rounds and evening chants.
Nearby forests and peaks offer hiking routes, scenic viewpoints, and visits to hill-tribe communities via responsible tourism programs.Seasonal shifts bring rice-field greenery in the rains and cooler, misted mountains later in the year, while artisan communities sustain silverwork, lacquerware, and textiles. Video …
Amazing Melon Cutting Skills at Bangkok Street Food
Why forest preservation begins with rewarding communities
Forests are often treated as distant landscapes: green backdrops beyond cities, farms and factories. Yet, the truth is far more urgent. They are not empty land waiting to be used, but living infrastructure that quietly holds together the systems that make human life possible.
They absorb carbon from economic activity, regulate water, shelter biodiversity and support communities that often have the fewest opportunities. When forests decline, the damage is not limited to trees. It spreads through rivers, farms, air quality, livelihoods, public health and the economy itself. Continued …
Line Man Ride targets 3,000 EV drivers as Thailand’s ride-hailing economics shift
Line Man Wongnai is stepping up its electric vehicle push in Thailand’s ride-hailing market, using a rental model to bring more drivers onto its Line Man Ride platform and piloting a new “Comfort” service for passengers seeking larger electric cars.
The company said it aims to have more than 3,000 EV driver-partners on Line Man Ride by the end of 2026. The plan centers on reducing drivers’ upfront costs through full-time rentals, minimum income guarantees for eligible drivers, help with public driving license applications, and a pathway to car ownership after a six-year lease period. Continued …
Thailand Converts 8 Tons of PET Bottles into 3,500 School Backpacks
What happens to a PET bottle after it leaves the consumer’s hand can determine whether it becomes accumulated waste or raw material for a new product. In Thailand, a program created by Indorama Ventures, in partnership with Amata Corp., uses this path to transform used plastic packaging into school backpacks intended for children from communities near industrial hubs.
The initiative, called “Re-No-Waste: Eco-friendly for Sustainable Future”, was launched in January 2025 with the goal of collecting 8 tons of post-consumer PET bottles in AMATA network factories. Continued …
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Indian Wildlife Smugglers Arrested in Bangkok – Continued …
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Thai customs arrest South African man with heroin hidden in coffee and tea bags – Continued …
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Lithuanian Faces Visa Revocation on Koh Pha Ngan – Continued …
Hua Hin Links and Transport
Calendar of events/Airport schedule/Bangkok airport bus schedule/Hua Hin-Pattaya bus schedule/Air pollution index map/90-day online report/driver’s license/Market Village and Bluport cinemas/Emergency numbers
Fuel prices across Thailand will fall from today, with diesel dropping by 4 baht to 44.4 baht per liter and benzine also reduced, providing immediate relief ahead of the Songkran holiday period.
What Is Songkran, the Thai New Year Festival, and Where to Enjoy It
Songkran Thailand: A Timeless Tradition of Splashing Through Generations
Due to the surge in fuel prices, many travelers are booking trains to their hometowns ahead of the Songkran holiday. Passenger numbers at Buri Ram Railway Station rose by 30% compared to previous festival periods.
As Thais gear up for the upcoming Songkran holiday, I can’t help but notice how this year’s highly anticipated days off and time off work have a bit more nuance to them than usual. Granted, people are still discussing rest, relaxation and how they will fully utilize their time away from the office, while the jetset crowd will undoubtedly make full use of flying overseas and avoiding Middle Eastern routes, but something feels a bit different this year.
The Thai Meteorological Department has forecast weather conditions for April 11-16, saying Thailand will generally see hot to very hot weather, with hazy conditions during the day and thunderstorms in some areas.
Natural gas remains a cornerstone of global power generation despite mounting concerns over liquefied natural gas (LNG) shortages linked to Middle East tensions, according to Gulf Developmentc, Thailand’s largest energy company by market value and a major telecoms operator.
Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas has rejected calls for an excise tax cut on refined oil products, saying that such a move would affect medical services and warning that the era of cheap oil prices is over, at least for the next two years, due to damage inflicted on oil infrastructure in the Middle East.
The reopening of the Strait of Hormuz with fee collection as proposed by Iran, together with high oil prices, is dampening the prospects for Thai exports and may push overseas shipments into contraction this year, economists say.
Thailand has not yet entered full-blown stagflation, but the country is moving closer to a point where weak growth and rising prices could collide in a far more damaging way.
Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas has recently stated that the current energy crisis could be Thailand’s last opportunity to restructure its economy and ensure long-term survival.
15-year-old girl collects bottles to support family
A major Thai manufacturer of plastic tanks and boats is set to close down after more than 50 years in business, as soaring costs and weakening demand finally pushed the company beyond its limit.
The Department of Medical Services recommends that anyone planning to visit countries where Meningococcal disease is prevalent be vaccinated first to prevent infection. Dr. Sakan Bunnag, the department’s deputy chief, said the disease is caused by the Neisseria meningitidis bacteria. It leads to meningitis and spinal cord infection, he said.
Elephants join in Songkran festivities in Ayutthaya
Phuket’s Songkran celebrations have long stood apart from the rest of Thailand’s travel experiences — not merely for the scale of the water fights, but for the particular alchemy of beach culture, Sino-Portuguese heritage, and deep Buddhist tradition that gives the island its distinct New Year character.
Need some inspiration for your next vacation? Consider a short getaway to nearby Thailand, which is brimming with some of the region’s most beautiful and luxurious resort destinations. Here’s what to see and do in the idyllic enclaves of Hua Hin, Krabi, Phuket, Samui, Chiang Rai, and Chiang Mai, and the best hotels to stay at.
Huay Nam Rin village is off the grid. Perched in the mountains about 45 kilometers from Chiang Mai in northern Thailand, the small Hmong farming community has long lived with minimal electricity. What little power it has comes from a handful of diesel generators and repurposed car batteries, charged with second-hand solar cells.
Industry Minister Varawut Silpa-archa has announced urgent measures to accelerate plastic recycling in Thailand, as the country grapples with a shortage of plastics caused by the ongoing Israel–US conflict with Iran. The initiative, he said, is not only aimed at easing immediate supply pressures but also at strengthening long-term environmental protection.
In 2020, Thai authorities announced that they would endeavour to make Thailand a regional electric vehicle (EV) hub in just five years. True enough, by 2025, Chinese EV manufacturing companies had made the country a solid base.
Humanity took a giant leap closer to the lunar surface last evening as the Artemis II Orion spacecraft, Integrity, successfully splashed down in the Pacific Ocean. The safe return of the four-person crew marks the conclusion of a historic 10-day mission and the first time humans have journeyed to the vicinity of the Moon in over half a century. 
New 24/7 Pet Channel targets China’s growing pet market