Expat News will be traveling from July 11-17. We will try to post the news whenever possible while we are gone, but it may arrive at different times of the day or not at all on some days. We will return to daily coverage on July 18.
Easy Airline To Launch Flights From Hua Hin/How can foreigners get a driver’s license?/Speed Bumps Spark Public Outcry/Temple scandals explode/ECONOMY: Early effects of US tariffs/No extension on tariff deadline/Thailand’s Economy Faces 1.1% GDP Contraction/Thailand confident of securing lower US tariff/Analysts warn of ‘tariff shock’/Thai Exports Brace for Impact/Knight Frank points to vulnerable sectors/Thai pig farmers raise alarm/Xi warned Paetongtarn: drop casino bill/Cannabis law will shutter 16,000 businesses/Thai coconuts go cruelty-free/TOURISM: High-spending tourists/Short-haul bookings weak/Global Hub for Hair Transplant Surgery/Tour bus accident in Phetchaburi/Herbal Shop Accused of Scamming Tourists/Phuket Airport Deploys K-9 Units/Phitsanulok, Krabi airports certified/THAILAND EXPERIENCE: Chiang Mai’s Street Food/Spotlight on village tourism/CLIMATE THAILAND: Arsenic contamination in Chiang Mai children/Saha Farms installs solar power/INTERNATIONAL/LINKS: 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
Easy Airline to Launch Flights Linking Hua Hin, Surat Thani, Phuket & Hat Yai
Easy Airline is set to expand its aviation operations with a new regional service connecting Hua Hin to key southern destinations: Surat Thani, Phuket and Hat Yai. The airline has taken delivery of a new aircraft from the United States, signaling a move to promote tourism and improve regional connectivity. Initial operations will begin as charter flights this September.
The newly acquired aircraft, a 12-seat Cessna 208B Grand Caravan EX, recently landed at Hua Hin Airport. According to Rattaphon Charoenphon, acting director of Hua Hin Airport , Hua Hin Airport is fully prepared to support the incoming operations, with well-equipped runways, parking bays, passenger facilities and security systems. Continued …
How can foreigners get a driver’s license in Thailand?
Foreign nationals residing or working in Thailand can legally obtain a driver’s license, depending on their visa and the type of license they require. There are two main options available:
- Use an International Driving Permit (IDP). Foreigners holding an International Driving Permit (IDP) can legally drive in Thailand as long as they carry it with their valid driver’s license from their home country. Continued …
Over 20 Speed Bumps Spark Public Outcry in Ratchaburi Village
Residents of Nakhon Chum subdistrict in Ban Pong District, Ratchaburi Province, are calling on local authorities to remove some of the more than 20 closely spaced speed bumps recently installed throughout their village, citing damage to vehicles and potential safety risks, especially at night.
The speed bumps were installed as part of a campaign by the Nakhon Chum Subdistrict Administrative Organization (SAO) to reduce traffic accidents in high-risk areas, including near Wat Mai Nakhon Chum, a busy intersection frequented by worshippers and local shoppers. Continued …
Thailand plans ‘Buddhist bank’ as temple scandals explode
Thailand’s temples are facing their biggest credibility crisis in decades, with lurid scandals and financial misconduct battering public faith. Now, a senior minister has unveiled a bold plan to clean up the mess — by setting up a Buddhist bank to keep temples’ money in check.
Speaking on his first day in office Monday, Suchart Tancharoen, minister attached to the prime minister’s office, said it was time to draw a clear line between monks’ personal funds and temple property. Continued …
Early effects of US tariffs outlined
The U.S. plans to impose a 36% tariff on Thai goods if no agreement is reached by Aug. 1. Meanwhile, Vietnam secured a deal reducing its tariff to 20% from 46%.
These “reciprocal tariffs” have severely disrupted bilateral trade. For example, U.S. imports from China by sea fell 28.5% in May compared to the previous year — the sharpest drop since the Covid-19 pandemic — after the U.S. imposed tariffs as high as 145%. U.S. container imports dropped 7.2% in May to 2.18 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), with major West Coast ports like Long Beach and Los Angeles were hit hardest, seeing Chinese imports fall by over 30%. Continued …
Trump confirms no extension on tariff deadline, threatens 200% tax on drug imports
U.S. President Donald Trump has confirmed that he will not extend the tariff deadline further and will proceed with the stringent customs tariffs set for early August. Trump has also warned of a potential 200% import tax on copper and pharmaceutical products if manufacturing is not moved to the United States.
According to Bloomberg, Trump stated via social media and during a Cabinet meeting yesterday that he would not delay the imposition of the “countermeasure” tariffs. These tariffs are scheduled to begin in early August, and Trump indicated that new tariffs may be introduced for imports of copper and pharmaceutical products. Continued …
Thailand’s Economy Faces 1.1% GDP Contraction as US Tariff Threat Looms
Thailand’s gross domestic product could contract by 1.1% this year if the United States proceeds with imposing 36% tariffs on Thai imports from Aug. 1, according to leading economists who are urging the government to implement emergency monetary and fiscal measures.
The stark warning comes after President Donald Trump sent a letter to Thailand indicating the end of a 90-day suspension period, with tariffs reverting to their original 36% level. The move has sparked concerns among Thailand’s economic community about the nation’s competitiveness and investment attractiveness. Continued …
Thailand confident of securing lower US tariff with trade offers
Thailand remains optimistic about securing a lower tariff rate than the 36% levy announced by U.S. President Donald Trump based on an offer to bring down import tax on most U.S. goods to zero, according to Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira.
The Southeast Asian nation expects to wrap up trade negotiations before the Aug. 1 deadline set by the U.S., Pichai said yesterday. Trump has set the levy on Thailand without taking into account its revised proposals to increase market access by removing tariff and non-tariff barriers on a number of goods, he said. Continued …
Analysts warn of ‘tariff shock’ if talks fail
Th x could fall below 1,000 points and the country’s GDP growth to less than 1% if the Thai negotiating team led by Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira cannot convince the U.S. to lower its reciprocal tariff from 36%, analysts said yesterday.
Bualuang Securities (BLS) said the worst-case scenario would be a 36% tariff on U.S. imports of Thai shipments, which would cause Thai GDP growth to plunge to 0.9%, while the SET index could fall to 980 points. It was 1,115.65 at the close yesterday. Continued …
Thai Exports Brace for Impact as US Imposes 36% Tariff
Thailand’s export sector is facing a severe blow after the United States officially announced it would implement a substantial 36% import tariff on all Thai goods, effective Aug. 1.
This duty is considerably higher than private sector predictions and exceeds the rates imposed on regional rivals like Vietnam (20%), Indonesia (32%), and Malaysia (25%), highlighting Thailand’s increasingly disadvantageous competitive position. Continued …
Knight Frank points to vulnerable sectors
The notification by letter stating that the U.S. plans to maintain a 36% import duty on Thai goods is expected to affect manufacturing, logistics, and industrial real estate, as Thailand risks losing its appeal to foreign investors, according to property consultancy Knight Frank Thailand.
Managing Director Nattha Kahapana said the 36% levy, which is expected to be implemented and is scheduled to take effect on Aug. 1, might intensify structural pressures already facing Thailand’s economy. Continued …
Thai pig farmers raise alarm about possible US imports
Thailand’s pig farmers have warned the government against opening the pork market as a trade concession to secure tariff reductions from the United States, adding that even imports for animal feed production pose significant risks.
With the U.S. announcing a 36% import tariff on Thai goods effective from Aug. 1, renewed negotiations are inevitable, said Sittiphan Thanakiatpinyo, president of the The Swine Raisers Association of Thailand. However, he stressed that any government concession allowing U.S. pork, parts, and offal imports would devastate domestic pig farmers and the entire supply chain. Continued …
Xi warned Paetongtarn: drop casino bill or face consequences – Anutin
China’s President Xi Jinping urged Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra to drop Pheu Thai’s flagship “casino bill”, or to expect negative repercussions on tourism and bilateral trade, former interior minister Anutin Charnvirakul has revealed. Anutin claimed that Xi raised the issue during a high-level meeting in Beijing.
“The Chinese president made the suggestion to Paetongtarn on three separate occasions during the meeting, which I also attended as interior minister,” Anutin said, adding that he had taken detailed notes, because it involved his ministry. Continued …
Cannabis law change will shutter 16,000 businesses
Only 2,000 of the estimated 18,000 cannabis shops in Thailand will be left once authorities complete their plan to convert dispensaries to clinics with resident doctors, a Ministry of Public Health official said yesterday.
Most of the shops now operating in the country will not be able to meet the strict new requirements, said Dr. Somlerk Jeungsmarn, chief of the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine. Continued …
Monkey business banned: Thai coconuts go cruelty-free
Thailand’s coconut industry is cracking down on a controversial practice that has tarnished its reputation worldwide: using monkeys to harvest coconuts. In a move to rescue its image and secure farmers’ livelihoods, the Thai Coconut Industry Group has joined forces with the Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand (WFFT) to ban monkey labor once and for all.
The country’s coconut sector rakes in over 25 billion baht each year and supports more than 300,000 farming households. But behind the booming trade, troubling stories of monkeys being trained to climb trees and collect coconuts have sparked outrage. Continued …
High-spending tourists generate 1.74-trillion baht for Thai economy
High-spending tourists help support Thailand’s tourism revenue, compensating for the decline in Chinese visitors, generating approximately 1.74-trillion baht for the Thai economy, according to Krungthai COMPASS research center.
The center’s senior analyst, Supree Srisamran, stated that the past one to two years have been challenging for Thailand’s tourism sector, as it has faced structural changes due to a significant reduction in Chinese tourists, who previously formed the core of tourism revenue. He says that the number of Chinese tourists may recover to around 50%-65% of pre-COVID levels. Continued …
Short-haul bookings remain weak
Airlines report forward bookings for short-haul markets for the remainder of this year are weak, in contrast to the long-haul segment, while some carriers expressed interest in joining the Tourism Authority of Thailand’s (TAT) stimulus campaign.
Forward bookings for flights across all short-haul markets between June and December have been reduced year-on-year, according to Forwardkeys, an air traffic data company. Continued …
Thailand Sets Sights on Becoming Global Hub for Hair Transplant Surgery
Thailand is stepping into the spotlight as a leader in hair transplant surgery, backed by the Asian Association of Hair Restoration Surgeons (AAHRS). The nation aims to boost its status as a global health tourism center, with the 9th AAHRS scientific meeting paving the way for this ambition.
Thailand’s growing appeal in health tourism is underscored by key advancements in hair restoration discussed at the event. Innovations such as stem cell injections, laser stimulation, and robotic transplants were highlighted as pivotal in advancing patient care and treatment effectiveness. Continued …
Tour bus accident in Phetchaburi injures 9
Yesterday at approximately 8 p.m., a tour bus lost control and skidded off the road near a sharp curve on Phetkasem Road (southbound) at kilometer 151-560, in the Huasaphan area, Phetchaburi Province. Fortunately, all 28 passengers and two crew members managed to exit the vehicle safely. Nine people sustained minor injuries.
Four foreign tourists, who wished to stay overnight before continuing their journey the next morning, were provided with accommodation, food, and drinking water by Phetchaburi authorities, ensuring that they were fully supported during the situation. Continued …
Pattaya Tourist Police Raid Herbal Shop Accused of Scamming Foreign Tourists
Pattaya Tourist Police and local investigators have raided a herbal remedy shop accused of deceiving a foreign tourist with overpriced products. The operation led to the discovery of unlicensed herbal goods and foreign nationals working illegally.
The investigation began after an Indian tourist filed a complaint at Pattaya City Police Station, stating that three foreign men had approached him on the street, claiming to have a miraculous herbal remedy that could stimulate hair regrowth. The men invited him to a shop located in the Baywalk Hotel area, where they sold him three bottles of an unknown herbal mixture blended with coconut water and four bars of soap. Continued …
Phuket Airport Deploys K-9 Units Ahead of Holiday Travel Surge
In preparation for an influx of visitors, Phuket International Airport is ramping up security measures with the deployment of K-9 units “Donut” and “Omo.” The duo, from the Srinagarindra Camp’s Border Patrol Police, began patroling on Monday and will remain vigilant until July 16. This step aims to provide extra safety for passengers over the anticipated busy four-day weekend.
The long weekend, from Thursday to Sunday, includes Asarnha Bucha Day and Buddhist Lent Day, prompting a significant increase in arrivals. The K-9 units, along with their handlers, have journeyed from Thung Song district to ensure enhanced security. Continued …
Phitsanulok, Krabi airports certified to elevate regional air travel
The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) has granted official certification for public operations to Phitsanulok and Krabi airports, affirming their status as vital regional aviation hubs.
The Department of Airports (DOA) secured certification for Phitsanulok Airport on July 1 and for Krabi Airport on July 4, making them the fourth and fifth DOA-managed airports to meet the regulatory requirements. Continued …
Exploring Chiang Mai’s Street Food and Markets
Join us on a vibrant journey through Chiang Mai, the cultural heart of northern Thailand, as we explore its bustling street food scene and colorful local markets. From sizzling Pad Thai and coconut ice cream to handcrafted goods and night bazaars, Chiang Mai offers a sensory overload of flavor, color, and culture. Watch as we dive into authentic tastes, local interactions, and unforgettable experiences in the lanes of this Thai gem. Video …
Thailand casts spotlight on village tourism
Village tourism and Thailand’s sustainable agenda took center stage as the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET), and private sector partners launched their collective project Village to the World. This initiative seeks to turn local communities into living, breathing examples of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) in action.
According to TAT Gov. Thapanee Kiatphaibool: “Village to the World is more than a tourism project. It is a new blueprint for Thailand’s sustainable development, one powered by community, backed by business, and measured by real impact.” Continued …
Arsenic contamination in Chiang Mai children linked to river fish
An alarming discovery was made in Mae Ai district, Chiang Mai province, where arsenic levels in two young children were found to exceed normal standards. This was believed to be linked to fish consumption from the Kok River, which flows from Shan State, Myanmar, into Thailand.
The Chiang Mai Provincial Public Health Office conducted tests Monday on four residents from Kaeng Sai Mun village, Mae Ai district, with urine samples collected on May 19. The results indicated that two children, a 2-year-old and a 6-year-old, had abnormal levels of arsenic in their bodies. The children reportedly consumed fish from the Kok River regularly. Despite these findings, the health office hesitated to disclose the information, citing concerns about causing public panic. Continued …
WHAUP supplying Saha Farms with solar power
WHA Utilities and Power (WHAUP), an arm of WHA Corp., an industrial land developer and operator, has expanded its renewable energy business outside industrial estates by supplying multi-platform solar power to Saha Farms Group, a Thai agricultural manufacturer.
Electricity is generated from 14 projects with diverse solar generation sources, including ground-mounted solar farms, floating solar farms, and rooftop solar panels. They have a combined capacity of 46.5 megawatts. Continued …
Indonesia signs energy, grain deals with US
Indonesia’s state oil company and agricultural firms have signed deals to increase their purchases of United States goods, the country’s chief economic minister said today, as Jakarta lays the groundwork to avoid the worst of President Donald Trump’s tariffs. Continued …
June was hottest on record in western Europe
Western Europe sweltered through its hottest June on record last month, as “extreme” temperatures blasted the region in punishing back-to-back heatwaves, the EU climate monitor Copernicus said today. Continued …
Bus service between Hua Hin, Don Mueang Airport in BangkokThe first-class bus service between Don Mueang Airport and Hua Hin offers two round trips daily. The fare is 200 baht each way and takes three-and-a-half hours. The Hua Hin departure is from the current Transport Co. terminal just north of Hua Hin Airport.
(We recommend checking with the bus company about this schedule, as it changes without notice.)
Starting May 1, the Don Mueang-Hua Hin route will offer two round trips per day. The two outbound trips from Don Mueang Airport will depart at 8 am and 3 pm. The bus will stop at eight locations, including the Service Hall at Don Mueang, Mo Chit 2 Bus Terminal in Bangkok, Mahachai, Phetchaburi Big C, Phetchaburi Bus Station, Cha Am PTT Petrol Station, Bluport Hua Hin Resort Mall, and the Hua Hin Bus Station.
For the return trips from Hua Hin, buses will depart at 9 am and 3:30 pm, stopping at seven locations, including the Hua Hin Bus Station, Bluport Hua Hin Resort Mall, Cha Am PTT Petrol Station, Phetchaburi Bus Station, Mahachai, Mo Chit 2 Bus Terminal, and Don Mueang Airport.
Online Booking and Customer Service: Facebook Page: BorKorSor; LINE ID: @TCL99; Website: TCL99 Transport.
New Hua Hin-Chiang Mai flight schedule
Thai Airasia has updated its flight schedule between Hua Hin and Chiang Mai (Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Friday):
(We recommend checking with the airline about this schedule, as it changes without notice.)
Hua Hin to Chiang Mai: Departure 12:10 pm
Chiang Mai to Hua Hin: Departure 10:20 am
Hua Hin train schedule
Van/minibus service at Market Village
Vans and minibuses provide services to the following destinations:
- Hua Hin – Mo Chit (089-919-8055) starts service at 03:50
- Hua Hin – Kanchanaburi (085-822-6063)
- Hua Hin – New southern line service starts at 5:40
- Hua Hin – Rangsit (090-138-0427) service starts at 05:40
- Hua Hin – Nakhon Pathom (088-709-2364)
The last service departs at 6pm. Departures every 25 – 40 minutes. For inquiries or reservations, call 089-9198055,090-1380427.
90-day online reporting 
Emergency hotline numbers:
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- Emergency hotline – 191
- Emergency medical services – 1554
- Water accident – 1196
- Motorway hotline – 1586
- Emergency medical – 1669
- Highway police – 1193
- Tourist police – 1155
- Bus ticket – 1490
- Department of Highways – 1586
- State Railway – 1590
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