- Nakhon Hua Hin Run/Rethinking Victory Monument/Koh Samui officials suspect corruption/Misbehaving Monks/
- THE IRAN WAR: Iran war jolts global markets/Iran talks denied by Tehran/Oil price spike threatens Thai growth/Power tariff could rise/Fuel running low/Late-night fuel queue/Oil shock hits transportation/Fishing boats may stop operating/Shortages spur fuel reserve cut/Costs Strain Energy-Intensive Sectors/Mideast conflict dents chip, auto manufacturing/Energy shock spreads to bottled water/Plan to manage medicines/American stays inside Suvarnabhumi for 10 days/One miscalculation after another
- ECONOMY: Thailand to Expand Price Controls
- TOURISM: ‘Worst Tourist Behavior’/Hotels slash rates/Thailand promotes wellness tourism/Steep airfares and ATM fees
- THAILAND EXPERIENCE: Must-See Thai Regions/Bangkok, Chaing Mai among ‘Best cities in Asia to Live in’ list/Got 3 days? Chiang Rai is it
- CLIMATE THAILAND: Asia-Pacific’s Energy Paradox
- HUA HIN TRANSPORT and LINKS
Nakhon Hua Hin Run 2026 to take place Sunday in Khao Tao
The “Nakhon Hua Hin Run 2026” event in Hua Hin will take place on Sunday, March 29, at the Khao Tao Reservoir area.
The event will feature several race categories, including a VIP category for distinguished guests and heads of government agencies over a distance of 3 km, and general categories for men and women covering distances of 5 km and 10.5 km. Continued …
Rethinking Victory Monument: Bangkok’s busiest bus hub
As one of the capital’s busiest roundabouts, Victory Monument has long functioned less as a designed transport hub than as a living organism.
Every day, thousands of commuters spill out of the BTS Skytrain and descend to four crowded islands, navigating a maze of bus stops, van queues, motorcycle taxis, and improvised waiting areas that have taken shape over decades. Continued …
Top Koh Samui officials suspect corruption network within municipal office
A scandal has erupted on Koh Samui involving the island’s local government and municipal authority. The probe has already led to the suspension of a clerical officer linked to forged building permits and documents. These forgeries involve at least 10 luxury villa developments, where demand is high from wealthy international tourists.
Koh Samui officials are set to file a formal complaint with police next Sunday. Meanwhile, systematic audits are underway and are expected to reveal additional cases and at least one senior official, a key suspect in the affair. Continued …
Misbehaving Monks Are Causing an Uproar in Thailand
Last month, a prominent Buddhist abbot in Thailand was defrocked after a video of two women physically fighting over him outside his temple went viral. Soon after, investigators divulged that the abbot of the ancient Wat Bua Kwan temple near Bangkok had maintained long-term relationships with at least six women, regularly sending them explicit messages and spending lavishly on them – for example, paying for their expensive plastic surgeries. Officials are now investigating whether those funds were stolen from his temple.
That incident followed one in late January, when Thai police raided the Phrom Sunthon Monastery in Chonburi province on Thailand’s Gulf coast following complaints that the monks were in possession of drugs and guns. Police found at least one firearm, but also a stash of porn, sex toys, and a list of contact details for prostitutes. Continued …
Iran war jolts global markets as Thai stocks, gold, bonds, and baht tumble
Global financial markets were thrown into fresh turmoil as the protracted Iran war triggered broad-based selling across asset classes, sending Thai stocks, gold, and bonds sharply lower, while the baht weakened to its softest level in 10 months.
The market volatility underscored growing fragility in financial sentiment, with investors reacting to intensifying conflict fears, shifting expectations over US interest rates, and mounting uncertainty over global capital flows. Continued …
Trump announces ‘very good’ Iran talks denied by Tehran
US President Donald Trump yesterday hailed “very good” talks with an unidentified Iranian official after abruptly shelving plans for fresh attacks, even as Washington’s ally Israel vowed to keep up strikes on the Islamic republic.
The surprise disclosure – denied by Tehran, which accused Trump of manipulating energy markets – came ahead of a Monday night deadline imposed by Trump for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz shipping lane or see the US “obliterate” its power plants. Continued …
Oil price spike threatens to cut Thai GDP growth, raise inflation
A rise in global oil prices poses a growing risk to Thailand’s economic outlook, with Tisco Financial Group warning that a 10% increase in crude from a baseline of US$72 per barrel could trim GDP growth by 0.3-0.4 percentage points, while lifting inflation by about 0.8%.
Sakchai Peechapat, group chief executive, said the company is closely monitoring the situation through its risk management and enterprise risk teams as geopolitical tensions intensify, particularly in the Middle East. Continued …
Power tariff could rise as high as B4.59 per unit
The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) is set to review electricity tariffs for the May–August billing period amid a sharp rise in liquefied natural gas (LNG) costs driven by Middle East tensions.
Worawit Srianantaraksa, a member of the ERC, said yesterday the the new tariff structure will be considered at regulator’s board meeting tomorrow. Continued …
Fuel running low across provinces
The government has stepped up efforts to tackle fuel shortages, but residents across several provinces continued to queue for diesel yesterday amid persistent supply constraints.
In Nakhon Ratchasima, particularly in Dan Khun Thot district, motorists queued in long lines that stretched beyond petrol stations. Diesel purchases were limited to 500 baht per vehicle, while filling containers was prohibited. Petrol, including 91, 95 and Gasohol E20, remained available without restrictions and with shorter queues. Continued …
Late-night fuel queue in Nakhon Phanom stretches beyond 3 kilometers
The outbound side of the highway in Na Kae district, Nakhon Phanom, heading toward Sakon Nakhon and opposite Na Kae Hospital, had residents parking their vehicles in a long queue along the roadside while waiting to refuel at a PTT station in Na Kae district. The queue stretched for more than 3 kilometers after word spread that fuel was available.
Some drivers did not know when they would be able to refuel, but said they had to wait in line first because fuel was hard to find. Each vehicle was allowed to buy up to 1,000 baht worth of either diesel or petrol. Continued …
Oil shock hits transportation in the south
The petrol shortage is causing headaches for Mother Marketing, the operator of the Mother Supermarket chain in southern Thailand, prompting the company to urge the government to resolve the issue urgently.
Ekkapong Chokchaiwitut, chief executive of Mother Marketing, said the petrol shortage in southern Thailand has intensified. Last week, some petrol stations capped refueling at 500-1,000 baht per vehicle. Currently, the company’s vehicles must visit multiple stations to refuel, as some limit purchases to 500 baht per visit, while others have run out of fuel. Continued …
Fishing boats may stop operating at month’s end
The oil crisis has so badly hit the fishing industry that leaders of this sector in Samut Sakhon province, better known as Mahachai,yesterday warned that fishing boats may cease operation nationwide at the end of this month, leading to hundreds of thousands of job losses unless the government reins in soaring oil prices.
During a press conference at Mahachai Fisheries Development Cooperative (Thai Seafood Market) attended by representatives from Samut Sakhon Chamber of Commerce and Thai Fisheries Assn., the government was warned that fishing vessels are now in a state of “extreme crisis.” Continued …
Shortages spur fuel reserve cut
The government has decided to lower the proportion of oil reserves to 1% in a bid to ease fuel shortages, while expressing confidence that the fuel situation will stabilize within a week.
Deputy Prime Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, in his capacity as chairman of the Joint Management and Monitoring Center for the Situation in the Middle East, said yesterday that Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul signed an order on Saturday to suspend the reserve requirement of 3% to increase the volume of fuel circulating in the market. Continued …
Rising Petrochemical Costs Strain Energy-Intensive Sectors
The ongoing conflict in the Middle East is significantly affecting global supply chains. Shipments of crude oil and petrochemicals through the Strait of Hormuz have been disrupted, leading to halted operations at some plants and a surge in crude prices. Notably, SCC’s Rayong Olefins (ROC) plant in Thailand has suspended operations due to naphtha and propane shortages.
The crisis has led to a sharp increase in plastic resin prices, rising by 30%-40%, impacting the frozen food and consumer goods industries. Kriengkrai Thiennukul, chairman of the Federation of Thai Industries, emphasized the urgent need for the Thai government to secure alternative petrochemical feedstocks to prevent further disruptions. Continued …
Mideast conflict dents chip, auto manufacturing
The United States and Israeli military operations against Iran are disrupting global supply chains, hitting semiconductor manufacturing hard and reverberating through chip-dependent industries, particularly the automotive sector, which is watching developments closely.
Wallop Chalermvongsavej, managing director of Hyundai Mobility Thailand, said yesterday the shortage of chips could slow production and push up costs. “The chip shortage will affect car production, leading to manufacturing slowdowns and higher operating costs amid oil price volatility. Cars will eventually become more expensive,” he warned. Continued …
Costly Songkran ahead as energy shock spreads to bottled water across Thailand
Thailand’s tightening energy supply and rising oil prices are beginning to ripple through everyday life, pushing up the cost of basic necessities – including something as simple as bottled drinking water.
The price pressure comes at a sensitive time, as the Songkran holiday season stretches across much of April, bringing festivals, travel, and water celebrations nationwide. At the same time, schools across Thailand close for the long summer break, sending families on holiday and increasing domestic tourism. With temperatures soaring and millions expected to travel, demand for drinking water typically rises sharply during this period. Continued …
Public Health Ministry rolls out three-phase plan to manage medicines
Thailand’s Public Health Ministry is rolling out a three-phase plan to manage medicine supplies and healthcare services as the conflict in the Middle East shows signs of dragging on, with officials warning that drug prices are likely to rise.
Speaking at the ministry yesterday, Permanent Secretary for Public Health Somruek Chungsaman said authorities had assessed the medium-term impact on medicines and medical supplies. The Food and Drug Administration has already consulted pharmaceutical companies, which confirmed that current stock levels remain sufficient for about three to four months. Continued …
American stays inside Suvarnabhumi for 10 days, cites airfare rise
An American man who posted videos claiming he had been staying inside Suvarnabhumi Airport for 10 days has drawn widespread attention online, after saying higher airfares linked to war left him unable to travel onward.
He documented his routine at the airport by posting compilations of him watching movies, reading, sleeping, and eating. He reportedly also called on an airline to cover his costs and said that if the ticket was not paid for, he would continue staying inside the airport and would not go elsewhere. Continued …
Iran war: One miscalculation after another
Still not four full weeks into the war, and already Donald Trump’s “short-term excursion” – decapitate the Iranian regime with a surprise attack and impose harsh terms on the defeated survivors – has morphed into a global economic crisis and a region-wide war that could destroy the wealth of all the countries on both sides of the Gulf. At the very least.
Back in January, Trump was high on his success in changing the regime in Venezuela (just a bit), so he was an easy mark for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s suggestion that he could do the same to Iran. Netanyahu probably knew better than that himself, but his life’s goal has been to inveigle the United States into a joint attack on Israel’s greatest enemy. Continued …
Thailand to Expand Price Controls With 12 New Items
The Commerce Ministry is preparing to expand its list of price-controlled goods by 12 items, increasing the total from 59 to 71, in a move aimed at easing cost-of-living pressures. The Department of Internal Trade (DIT) will submit the proposal to the Committee on the Price of Goods and Services tomorrow.
The new additions are expected to focus mainly on everyday essentials to strengthen oversight amid fluctuating input costs. Of the existing 59 controlled items, eight require prior approval before any price increase, while 22 require businesses to notify authorities of price changes, with some also subject to transport reporting requirements. Continued …
Phuket Staff Expose ‘Worst Tourist Behavior’
A social media post has sparked debate in Phuket after highlighting complaints by hotel and restaurant workers about tourists from three nationalities, with immediate attention drawn to alleged problematic behavior in the province’s hospitality sector.
The Facebook page “Phuket Times ภูเก็ตไทม์” published a poll described as reflecting views from service industry staff in Phuket, asking which nationalities were considered the most difficult in hotels and restaurants. The post claimed that Israeli tourists ranked highest, followed by Indian, and Russian visitors, based on reported behavior from operators. Continued …
Hotels slash rates to lure Songkran market
Concerned by a nosedive in European arrivals and low confidence due to fuel shortages among local travelers, hotel operators have started to offer discounts of 20%-40% to attract tourists during the upcoming Songkran holiday.
Paisarn Sukjarean, president of the Upper Northern Chapter of the Thai Hotels Assn., said European guests, who normally account for 30% of all visitors to Chiang Mai at this time of year, continue to cancel their bookings for April as they are unable to catch flights to Thailand. Continued …
Thailand promotes wellness tourism to attract affluent international travelers
Thailand is making significant strides in promoting wellness tourism by fostering collaboration between its private and public sectors. This initiative aims to attract affluent foreign tourists who are looking for comprehensive services that blend medical care, beauty treatments, and travel experiences.
The focus is on enhancing the core tourism sector, which is essential for the country’s economic growth. By leveraging the expertise of businesses, such as Bangkok Dusit Medical Services (BDMS) that manages 60 hospitals, the government seeks to create a robust infrastructure for wellness tourism. Continued …
Pattaya tourists hit by steep airfares and ATM fees
For many foreigners heading to Thailand, the vacation or expat life is starting before they even step off the plane – and not in a good way. Online forum users have been voicing frustration over high airfares from Europe, punishing ATM fees, and the widening gap between official exchange rates and what travelers actually receive.
“I just paid £1,000 for a return flight from the UK,” one reader complained, highlighting how soaring airline costs are cutting into holiday budgets. Others noted that even the supposedly “convenient” ATMs are taking a hefty toll. Continued …
A First-Timer’s Guide to the Must-See Thai Regions
The best thing about Thailand is that each region of the country feels completely different. The worst thing about Thailand is realizing exactly that, and accepting that you’ll be returning again and again to soak each of them up individually, or extending your trip to see as much as you can in one go.
Of course, a country spanning more than 500,000 square kilometers and 76 provinces is virtually impossible to cover in its entirety. So, having spent a good few years exploring, we’ve pulled together the ultimate guide to Thailand’s best spots. Continued …
Bangkok, Chaing Mai make ‘Best cities in Asia to Live in’ list
In 2026, travel trends are shifting back toward cities that are not only great to visit, but genuinely easy to live in — places where heritage and everyday lifestyle click together effortlessly. That is the spirit behind Time Out’s Best Cities 2026, which draws on thousands of survey responses and input from city experts.
From Time Out’s global top 50, 11 cities in Asia stand out — each offering its own mix of culture, creativity, food, and modern energy. Continued …
Got 3 days? Chiang Rai is worth every one of them
Chiang Rai is often reduced to a quick temple stop from Chiang Mai. Stay a little longer and the province reveals something much more compelling. This is one of Thailand’s most agricultural regions, where rice fields stretch across broad valleys, tea plantations climb the hillsides and small hilltribe villages sit between long mountain ridges. It’s expansive, lightly populated and best explored by car.
That connection to the land feeds directly into the food. Chefs here are working with an exceptional range of local ingredients, from rare mountain herbs and fermented vegetables to forest produce and tea grown just down the road. The result is a foodie scene that feels grounded, inventive, and increasingly worth the drive. Continued …
Asia-Pacific’s Energy Paradox: Record Renewables Against Growing Coal Infrastructure
Asia-Pacific simultaneously holds 64% of the world’s solar capacity and the distinction of being the only region on Earth still expanding its coal infrastructure, a contradiction that a major new HSBC research report warns could determine the fate of global climate targets.
The findings, published in March by HSBC Global Investment Research analysts as part of the bank’s Net-Zero Navigator series, paint a region defined by competing imperatives: record-breaking clean energy deployment on one hand, and deepening fossil fuel dependency on the other. 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
As the Thai New Year approaches, the Brahmanical Astrology Division of the Royal Ceremonial Bureau and the Department of Cultural Promotion have officially unveiled the prophecy for Songkran 2026.
The Department of Disease Control has warned the public to take extra care of their health during periods of extreme heat, which is a major factor allowing many kinds of germs to thrive, particularly those causing food- and water-borne illnesses.
After a trial at 10 schools showed controling use of digital devices improved student concentration and increased parental satisfaction, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is gearing up to expand the clampdown at all its schools from the next academic year.
Thailand’s Public Health Ministry is preparing to draft the country’s first Cancer Act, as officials seek to respond to a continuing rise in the number of patients, with around 140,000 new cancer cases and 86,000 deaths recorded each year.
US-Israeli strikes killed Iran’s leader but have not toppled the government, which now, from its perch on the Strait of Hormuz, has put the entire world economy on the frontlines of the war.
A worst-case scenario for the Middle East conflict, which is war dragging on without a clear end, would reduce Thai GDP by 2.31 percentage points, according to the Center for Economic and Business Forecasting at the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC).
Thailand’s oil refiners have sought to allay public concerns by confirming that the country’s oil reserves remain sufficient despite reports of motorists rushing to filling stations in provincial areas.
Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health has signaled readiness to manage potential medicine price increases stemming from rising transport costs, and has asked pharmaceutical manufacturers to temporarily slow or stop exports so domestic needs are met first amid uncertainty linked to the Iran conflict and the Strait of Hormuz.
Cambodia is bracing for fuel supply disruptions, with plans to temporarily close around 2,000 of its 6,300 petrol stations amid an energy shortage linked to ongoing Middle Eastern conflicts, commerce minister Cham Nimol announced yesterday.
Thailand’s condominium sector is facing a potential liquidity crisis, as nearly 150-billion-baht worth of new units are scheduled for transfer in 2026, coinciding with more than 180 billion baht in corporate bonds that property developers must repay within the same year.
The real estate market in Thailand continues to attract strong interest from foreign buyers. While Chinese buyers still dominate the market, accounting for approximately 31% of the foreign ownership transfer value in 2025, the overall buyer demographic is becoming more diverse.
Thailand could face a period of stagflation if energy prices surge sharply amid escalating tensions in the Middle East, according to an economist at Siam Commercial Bank’s Economic Intelligence Center (EIC).
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is joining forces with the private sector to set up a war room to manage the impact of the Middle East crisis, while also preparing to propose the revival of a buy-one-get-one campaign to stimulate foreign arrivals.
Luxury travel has evolved, and Thailand’s “Healing is the New Luxury” campaign invites you to experience the country in a way that nurtures your soul and spirit. Through its new Thailand Co-Creator initiative, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) presents five carefully curated travel routes, each designed to rejuvenate, heal, and connect visitors with authentic experiences across the kingdom.
Ayutthaya marks Thai Elephant Day with feast for 70 elephants
Chiang Mai Zoo marks Thai National Elephant Day with feast and parade
The ITB Berlin 2026 event recognized community-based environmental achievements of Thailand, which created new attractions for eco-friendly travelers to discover Thailand’s three destinations of Ko Lanta, Chiang Khan, and Uthai Thani.
The Indonesian government is preparing to enforce a landmark law banning children under the age of 16 from using social media, joining a growing global movement to shield minors from digital harms. Under the new regulations, platforms will begin shutting down accounts held by users under the age of 16 starting on March 28. The crackdown targets tech giants including YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and the gaming platform Roblox. 
