Hua Hin water and electric cutoffs/137 restaurants earn Bib Gourmands/Michelin Guide revolutionizing Thai cuisine/Countries with the most Michelin-starred street food spots/Flood-weary south to see heavy rain/2 Miss Universe judges resign/Thailand’s long-lost goodwill elephants
- ECONOMY: Anutin rules out VAT hike/Restaurants Slam Plan to Hike VAT
- TOURISM: 97 Rescued off Trat ferry/Rudest Things You Can Do While Deplaning
- THAILAND EXPERIENCE: 5 Reasons You shouldn’t visit Thailand
- CLIMATE THAILAND: World nears climate tipping point/PTT ready to walk away from EV venture
- INTERNATIONAL/HUA HIN LINKS
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Hua Hin water and electric cutoffs Nov 26
Residents in parts of Hua Hin have been advised to expect disruption to electricity and tap water on Wednesday, Nov. 26, as works are carried out to upgrade high-voltage infrastructure near the Hua Hin municipality water reservoir.
The Provincial Electricity Authority said electricity will be shut off from 9 am to 4 pm to allow crews to demolish and install high-voltage poles and fit new equipment. The interruption to the power supply is expected to affect the operation of the municipal water system, resulting in low pressure or no running water in several areas. Continued …
Great flavors, modest prices: 137 restaurants earn the 2026 Bib Gourmand
As the countdown begins to the unveiling of the Michelin star recipients on Nov. 27, Michelin has released its list of Bib Gourmand restaurants for 2026, featuring 137 venues offering high-quality food at reasonable prices.
Among them are 13 first-time entrants to the MICHELIN Guide Thailand, spanning Bangkok and its vicinity (4), Ayutthaya (1), Chiang Mai (3), Nakhon Ratchasima (1), Udon Thani (1), Surat Thani (2) and Phang-nga (1). Continued …
How the Michelin Guide is revolutionizing Thai cuisine
The aroma of spices cooked in a wok and fresh herbs has long been synonymous with Thailand, a country whose street food culture is already legendary. But since the arrival of the Michelin Guide in 2017, Thai cuisine has undergone a discreet but profound transformation, transcending the sparkling facade of gastronomy.
In partnership with the Thai National Tourism Office (TAT), the guide was introduced not only to highlight the country’s best restaurants but also to officially establish Thailand as a world-class gastronomic destination. Continued …
The countries with the most Michelin-starred street food spots in the world
Gone are the days when street food was a hurried pit stop, the kind you visited without ever noting down the address. Across Asia, especially in Southeast Asia, family-run eateries that have stood firm for decades sit beside solo carts and newly sprouted stalls, all working toward the same thing: serving hyperlocal flavours shaped by regional produce, inherited recipes and the kind of quiet expertise you only get from repetition.
Number of Michelin-approved street food spots in Thailand: 33
Thailand’s street food landscape remains one of the most expressive in the world: fast-paced, flavor-packed and rooted in family traditions passed down like heirlooms. Bangkok holds the lion’s share of these stalls, but a generous scatter across Phuket, Chiang Mai, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, and Chon Buri ensures that a Michelin-approved bite is not too far away. Continued …
Flood-weary south to see heavy rain through Sunday
Torrential rain has caused flooding in the southern provinces of Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phatthalung, and Surat Thani and will continue in the south until Sunday, forecasters say.
In Nakhon Si Thammarat, all schools in Muang district were closed yesterday as floodwater was about one meter deep. Persistent rain over the past three days has also led to flooding in Phrommakhiri, Lan Saka, Sichon, Ron Phibun, Cha-uat, and Tha Sala districts. Continued …
2 Miss Universe judges resign amid scandal ahead of Bangkok final
Two judges resigned from the Miss Universe pageant in Bangkok, citing concerns over transparency just days before the winner was set to be crowned. Omar Harfouch, a Lebanese-French composer, shocked fans on Tuesday when he announced that he was stepping down from the judging panel of this year’s competition, accusing the organizers of running a “charade” lacking in transparency.
Harfouch’s most explosive claim was that a secret panel of judges had already determined which contestants would reach the final, without the official panel’s knowledge. Continued …
Meet Pratu Pha and Srinarong: Thailand’s long-lost goodwill elephants
The fate of two Thai elephants in Sri Lanka — Pratu Pha and Srinarong — has once again captured public attention. Decades after leaving their homeland as symbols of friendship, both remain in foreign temples under growing concerns over their welfare and declining health. Public campaigns and elephant-welfare groups in Thailand are now calling for the return of the remaining two goodwill elephants.
Elephants are deeply tied to Thai identity, and their long absence abroad has raised public concern. Thailand must now navigate delicate diplomacy to protect the animals’ welfare while preserving long-standing ties with Sri Lanka. Continued …
Anutin rules out VAT hike to 8.5%, insists rate will stay at 7% while economy recovers
Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has dismissed concerns over a planned rise in value-added tax (VAT) to 8.5%, insisting that the current 7% rate will remain unchanged while the country is still recovering.
He explained that, under Thai law, VAT should be collected at 10%. The long-standing rate of 7%, he said, has been possible only because successive governments have issued exemptions in response to economic and social conditions. Continued …
Thai Restaurants Slam Treasury Plan to Hike VAT, Warning of Severe Inflationary Impact
The Thai restaurant industry has voiced alarm over the government’s proposal to raise the value-added tax (VAT), warning that the move will place an excessive burden on businesses and fuel widespread inflation, severely impacting the public’s cost of living.
The government intends to gradually increase the VAT from the current 7% to 8.5% by 2028, and finally to 10% by 2030, as part of a medium-term fiscal restructuring plan designed to reduce the budget deficit to below 3% of GDP by fiscal year 2029. Continued …
Tour Boat Damaged by Heavy Waves, 97 Rescued off Trat
A tourist passenger boat returning from Koh Kood was struck by powerful waves yesterday, causing a hull breach and gradual flooding before rescue teams brought all 97 people on board to safety.
The incident occurred near Koh Kradad, where strong winds and high waves created hazardous conditions for the vessel, identified as the Suea Dam Gold. Despite the severity of the damage, all 92 tourists and five crew members were evacuated without injury. Continued …
The Rudest Things You Can Do While Deplaning
Air travel does not typically bring out the best in people. The stress of tight connections, long lines, cramped cabins, and general transit fatigue can push even the calmest travelers to their limits.
But that doesn’t mean you have to add to the unpleasantness. Indeed, there are many things passengers do that make the flight experience worse for their fellow travelers ― from the airport to boarding and even deplaning. Continued …
5 Reasons You shouldn’t visit Thailand
Let’s be honest. Thailand has a reputation. Depending on who you ask, it’s the ultimate backpacker’s paradise, a culinary wonderland, or the land of golden temples and turquoise waters. year after year, Thailand ranks among the most-visited countries on Earth.
Bangkok is on the top spot as the world’s most-visited city. Expats flock here in droves, retiring to Hua Hin or setting up remote offices in Chiang Mai. But here’s the hard truth that If you brows travel forums or speak to disillusioned tourists who cut their trips short. Sometimes they say, “Thailand is not for everyone”. Continued …
World nears climate tipping point
The consequences of climate tipping points are almost too big to imagine. The thought that, over the course of a few decades, the Amazon rainforest could become a savannah, or coral reefs could become extinct, seems like science fiction.
Given how many people have been lulled into a false sense of control over the environment, it is perhaps even harder to grasp that incremental changes in temperature and rainfall irreversibly reorganize planetary-scale systems. Continued …
PTT ready to walk away from EV venture
The Thai oil and gas conglomerate PTT Plc is considering offloading its stake in an electric vehicle (EV) joint venture as it seeks to improve cash flow and brace for a sluggish Thai and global economy next year.
“We plan to sell shares and assets to earn an additional 100 billion baht from the fourth quarter of this year to the end of 2026,” Chief Executive Kongkrapan Intarajang said on Wednesday. Continued …
Trump floats death penalty for ‘seditious’ Democrats
US President Donald Trump yesterday evoked the death penalty for Democratic lawmakers who urged the military to refuse illegal orders, calling them traitors and accusing them of “seditious behavior.” Continued …
Trump’s new Ukrainian plan gives Russia what it wants
A US plan backed by President Donald Trump to end Russia’s war in Ukraine is “good” for both sides, the White House said Thursday, rejecting concerns that it echoes many of Moscow’s demands. Continued …
Hua Hin 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
Is Thailand Still a Good Place to Retire? Tropical Dream or Bureaucratic Nightmare?
Dangerous honeycomb wax sweets trend sweeps social media in Thailand
Five children left with 40 baht daily rescued from shopping center life
Chinese Tiktoker fined over claims about Bangkok’s notorious Nana
Thailand to hit scorching 45.8C on Wednesday
Centara Hua Hin receives Traveler Review Award
Recession fears rise as growth projections are cut, exports continue decline
Inflation forecast lowered for 2023
Panel urges rethink of power tariff
Prime Road targets 1,800MW renewable power by 2027
Forbes: 3 Thais among world’s 150 richest people
Thailand’s cannabis future drags on in political limbo
Immigration Bureau to tighten screening of tourists entering with visa on arrival
Suvarnabhumi Prepares for 1 Million Songkran Tourists
Drunken Songkran antics spur plea for police action
Thailand’s air pollution threatens the health of residents and its tourism industry
Michelin Guide, TAT extend partnership through 2026
Next Michelin Guide edition includes unique flavors of Surat Thani and Koh Samui
Here’s Why You Should Visit Chiang Mai
