- Oil prices rise across Thailand/Solar energy in Hua Hin/New Alcohol Rules/Thailand’s Healthcare Costs/Nominee Land Ownership/Very heavy rains predicted/World Cup broadcasting rights
- THE IRAN WAR: Thailand to diversify oil imports/Asia’s Plastic Crisis/Trump Calls Media Reports‘Virtual Treason’
- ECONOMY: Economy faces heightened risks/Confidence dips/Thai-Cambodia border trade/Auto groups seek 32% tax on imported EVs
- TOURISM: Operators criticize new taxes/Tourists Warned About Vaping
- CLIMATE THAILAND: What if we killed all mosquitoes?/20 billion baht for EV shift
- FOREIGNERS BEHAVING BADLY/HUA HIN TRANSPORT and LINKS
Oil prices rise across Thailand as diesel and petrol rates jump
Fuel prices across Thailand rose across all major categories today, with diesel increasing by 0.80 baht per liter and petrol and gasohol products rising by 0.90 baht per liter.
The latest adjustment applies nationwide following announcements by major oil retailers and reflects changes under the market pricing mechanism. The adjustment means motorists will pay more across almost all fuel categories from today, with the biggest common increases seen in diesel, petrol, and gasohol products. Continued …
Solar energy in Hua Hin: what homeowners should know
Solar energy in Hua Hin is becoming an increasingly practical option for homeowners and businesses looking to reduce electricity costs and improve energy efficiency. Solar energy systems have moved from being a niche technology to a mainstream solution for residential and commercial use.
As energy costs rise and environmental concerns increase, solar power offers a sustainable and cost-effective alternative that can be tailored to homes, offices, and industrial facilities. Understanding safety, system design, equipment choices, and future trends is essential for getting the best results. Continued …
Thailand Introduces New Alcohol Rules
Thailand has introduced eight new regulations governing the sale and consumption of alcohol, with the measures taking effect immediately following their publication in the Royal Gazette yesterday. The updated rules expand restrictions across transport hubs, public spaces, and government-controlled areas as authorities seek to modernize legislation first introduced in 2008.
Under the new regulations, the sale of alcoholic beverages is now banned on roads, on vehicles, and on vehicles located on roads. Alcohol sales are also prohibited at train stations and on trains, except during special events held inside the air-conditioned halls of Bangkok Station. Continued …
Why Thailand’s Healthcare Costs are Outpacing the World
While Thailand’s general economy grapples with near-zero inflation, its healthcare sector is battling a severe fever. “Medical inflation” — the rising cost of healthcare services — has surged to 10.8%, a rate that far outstrips the general cost of living and is now significantly higher than the global average of 10.3%.
According to a comprehensive report by Bnomics (Bangkok Bank Public Co.), this price hike is no longer a mere market fluctuation; it is a structural shift that is fundamentally altering how the public accesses care. Continued …
Thailand Tightens Nominee Land Ownership Checks
Thailand’s Department of Lands has stepped up efforts to crack down on illegal nominee landholding arrangements used by foreign nationals to acquire land through Thai citizens or company structures. Authorities warned that offenders could face imprisonment, fines, and compulsory land sales under existing laws.
The tougher measures include stricter checks before and after land registration, along with closer cooperation between government agencies to monitor suspicious transactions. Officials said the campaign is intended to protect national interests, ensure fairness in land ownership and prevent attempts to evade Thai property laws. Continued …
Vilhelm Academy: Western qualifications for Hua Hin-based students
Vilhelm International Academy launched in March 2026 and has is campus at “The Hub” in Hin Lek Fai, less than 10 minutes from the center of town. They provide mentor-led academic supervision for students studying through accredited online school programs, whether independently enrolled or through integrated programs offered at Vilhelm. This means that students follow a fixed timetable, complete coursework under supervision, and receive ongoing progress monitoring. They can do this whist studying for their GCSE’s, A-Levels, NCAA approved US courses, or any other online school they choose to use.
Unlike more traditional options, at the academy children can learn at their own pace, not being forced forward before they are ready and also not being held back by the rest of the class. When they are ready to move on they do so. By coming to the academy each day, they are able to complement their studies with activities that develop leadership skills, community service (such as the recent helmet initiative), complemented by daily sports and physical activity to support a healthy, balanced lifestyle.
You can visit the website for more details, or you can book an appointment to meet with the academy co-ordinator to discuss what you are looking for and explain what they can offer. There is a completely free five-day trial period that can be taken advantage of by anyone interested in seeing if the academy is the right fit for them.
Website; Email: info@vilhelminternationalacademy.com; Phone: +66 065 991 5500; Facebook; Map location.
Very heavy rains predicted in Thailand through Monday
There will be heavy to very heavy rains in Thailand from tomorrow to Monday next week, according to the Meteorological Department. Sugunyanee Yavinchan, director-general of the department, said there would be heavy to very heavy rains in the north, the central plains, the east, and the south.
Thundershowers are expected in 60% of the southern east coast area today, with isolated heavy rain in Prachuap Khiri Khan, Chumphon, Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Songkhla, Pattani, Yala, and Narathiwat. Continued …
1.3 billion baht okayed to buy World Cup broadcasting rights
A sum of 1.3 billion baht in initial budget was yesterday approved by the Bhumjaithai-led government for Thailand to buy broadcasting rights for World Cup 2026 football games from North America during a five-and-a-half-weeks period.
The cabinet approved the 1.3-billion-baht initial government fund for the World Cup 2026 football tournament to be jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada, where a total of 48 national teams will play a total of 104 matches during June 12 and July 20, and instructed the National Broadcasting & Telecommunications Commission and Public Relations Department to find potential private sponsors. Continued …
Thailand determined to diversify oil imports
Amid concerns as negotiations to end the conflict in Iran hit a roadblock, Thailand has oil reserves to cover 117 days of consumption, says the Energy Ministry, piling on pressure to secure oil from regions other than the Middle East.
“If the war is prolonged, oil purchased outside the Middle East may be insufficient and could become an issue,” said Veerapat Kiatfuengfoo, deputy energy permanent secretary. Continued …
Asia’s Plastic Crisis: How the Iran Oil Shock Disrupts Regional Supply Chains
Asia is in the grip of a deepening plastics emergency, as the Iran oil shock chokes off supplies of a critical petrochemical feedstock, sending packaging prices soaring and raising alarm across food, medical, and consumer goods industries from Indonesia to Japan.
At the heart of the crisis is naphtha, a petroleum derivative and essential building block for the polymers that underpin virtually all modern plastic packaging. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz following U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on Iran in late February has dramatically curtailed the region’s access to that raw material. Continued …
Trump Calls Media Reports on Iran ‘Virtual Treason’
President Donald Trump has accused parts of the US news media of committing “virtual treason” by suggesting that Iran is performing well in the ongoing war, saying such reports provide encouragement to an enemy of the United States.
In an online post yesterday, Trump said media outlets describing Iranian military success were spreading false information and undermining the country during wartime. Continued …
Thai economy faces heightened risks
Thailand’s economic growth outlook is facing heightening risks from the impacts of the Middle East war, requiring a coordinated policy mix, the minutes of the Bank of Thailand’s (BoT) April 29 policy meeting showed.
At the meeting, the central bank’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) unanimously voted to keep the one-day repurchase rate unchanged at 1.00% as it assessed the impact of higher oil prices driven by the war in the Middle East. Last week, Gov. Vitai Ratanakorn revised growth forecasts to 2.1% this year and 1.6% for next, from 1.5% and 2.0% previously at the policy review. Continued …
Confidence dips for second straight month in April
Business and consumer confidence indices dropped for the second consecutive month in April, primarily due to concerns about the Middle East conflict and oil shock disrupting various sectors, according to the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC).
The Thai Chamber of Commerce confidence index fell from 43.3 in March to 42.2 in April. Key factors weighing on confidence include concerns about the conflict, higher energy prices, rising production costs, decreasing prices of certain agricultural products, and the downgrade of Thai GDP growth. Continued …
Thai-Cambodia border trade losses hit B180 billion in nearly a year
The Thai-Cambodian border conflict and border-closure measures over the past year have had wide-ranging effects on border economies, trade, investment, and businesses in both countries, amid concerns that the prolonged situation has created more room for rival countries to replace Thai goods and businesses in Cambodia.
Voratat Tantimongkolsuk, chairman of the Thailand-Cambodia Business Council, said it could not be clearly determined which side had been more affected by the border situation, as each country had economic and strategic factors at play. Continued …
Thai auto groups seek 32% tax on imported EVs to protect local industry
A coalition of 10 automotive associations representing more than 1,500 operators will urge the government to raise the excise tax on fully imported electric vehicles to at least 32%, in a bid to protect Thai vehicle production and auto-parts suppliers from cheaper Chinese imports.
The Electric Vehicle Association of Thailand (EVAT), the Thai Auto-Parts Manufacturers Assn. (TAPMA), and allied industry groups are preparing to submit emergency proposals to the government tomorrow, calling for measures to stabilize Thailand’s automotive and auto-parts industries. Continued …
Tourism operators criticize new taxes
Tourism operators say plans to introduce or raise taxes on travel services in Thailand remain unjustified and inappropriate at this time, given the lack of clarity on how the revenue would be allocated for development.
Airports of Thailand (AoT) plans to raise the international passenger service charge from 730 baht to 1,120 baht from June 20 at its six airports nationwide. Meanwhile, the Finance Ministry is studying a proposal to reimpose a departure tax on Thai travelers taking overseas trips, while the long-delayed 300-baht tourism fee for international arrivals is still pending cabinet consideration. Continued …
Brit Warns Tourists Over Thailand Vape Fines
A British tourist has warned travelers heading to Thailand not to pack vapes in their luggage after her partner was fined 40,000 Thai baht during a family holiday. She and her partner were stopped twice by Thai police within three days for using electronic cigarettes on a beach.
Thai law bans all e-cigarettes and vaping products, including nicotine-free devices, and authorities can impose heavy penalties on those caught possessing or using them. Continued …
What if we killed all mosquitoes?
The deadliest animals are not lions, spiders, or snakes, but the tiny mosquitoes that suck our blood, make us itchy, and infect us with disease.
Mosquitoes kill around 760,000 people every year, according to research site Our World in Data, with humans ourselves coming a distant second. This is because mosquitoes account for 17% of all infectious diseases, including malaria, dengue, yellow fever, chikungunya, and Zika. Continued …
Transport Ministry seeks up to 20 billion baht from loan decree for EV shift
The Transport Ministry will ask the Finance Ministry to allocate 10-20 billion baht from the government’s 400-billion-baht borrowing decree to help public transport and freight operators replace aging vehicles with electric vehicles.
Deputy Transport Minister Siripong Angkasakulkiat said the ministry would hold talks with the Finance Ministry this week on measures to support operators in switching from internal combustion engine vehicles to EVs. The proposed support would build on the government’s “old car trade-in for new car” scheme, but could go further by helping operators buy or lease electric vehicles. Continued …
Thailand Launches Crackdown on Foreign Crime
Thai authorities have launched a nationwide crackdown on illegal activities involving foreign nationals, beginning with an immediate three-month campaign ordered by the Royal Thai Police (RTP). The measures target transnational crime, illegal immigration, nominee businesses, cybercrime, and other offenses seen as affecting public order and local livelihoods.
The immediate phase focuses on intensive inspections of foreigners across the country. Police units have been instructed to compile databases and identify groups linked to drug trafficking, economic crimes, customs and tax offenses, cybercrime, illegal immigration, prostitution, human trafficking, and violent activity. Continued …
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Chinese Arrested in Pattaya Vape Drug Raid – 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