Express Train Derails in Kui Buri/Chamber music series in Hua Hin/Heavy rains forecast/Lisa: The K-Pop Dynamo/China’s illegal activity flooding Thailand/ECONOMY: Industrial sector faces mounting pressure/TOURISM: Northern Thailand welcomes tourists/Tourism-related businesses on Koh Chang wary/Former Boxer Sets Fire to Tourists/Tourist Stabbed in Patong/THAILAND EXPERIENCE: Mother’s Day in Thailand/The elephant whisperer:Elephant Sanctuaries Revolutionizing Safari Tourism/CLIMATE THAILAND: Global green tourism summit/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
Express Train Derails in Kui Buri, Prachuap Khiri Khan
An express train traveling from Padang Besar to Bangkok Apiwat Station derailed this morning, leaving nine passengers injured, including a Buddhist monk and a young girl.
The incident occurred at around 5 amin Kui Buri district, Prachuap Khiri Khan province. According to local reports, the train, designated as Express No. 38, and three carriages left the tracks. Continued …
Chamber music series set for Hua Hin
Hua Hin Events and Elder Blossom Hua Hin will present “Serenade Hua Hin 2025”, a seven-concert chamber music series running from Aug. 23 to Sept. 13. The series, hosted at the Elder Blossom Theatre, aims to bring high-quality classical music to Hua Hin.
Organizer Patrick Franssen describes the event as “music for a town that listens,” with performances ranging from solo cello and classical guitar to operatic duets and brass ensembles. Continued …
Heavy rains forecast as monsoon strengthens over Thailand
Thailand to see more rains and isolated heavy showers Aug. 10–15 as a monsoon trough strengthens. Rough seas are expected, and ships are urged to proceed with caution.
South (east coast): Scattered thundershowers mostly in Prachuap Khiri Khan, Chumphon, Surat Thani, Songkhla, Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat; minimum 23-25°C, maximum 33-36°C. Continued …
Lisa: The K-Pop Dynamo Dominating Global Stages
The moment Lisa steps on stage, electricity fills the air. With razor-sharp dance moves that defy physics, a charismatic smirk that commands attention, and a stage presence that radiates pure star power, this Thai-born K-pop phenomenon isn’t just performing — she’s rewriting the rules of global pop culture.
From Bangkok schoolyards to sold-out stadiums worldwide, Lisa has shattered records, amassed armies of fans (affectionately called “Lilies”), and become a beacon of representation in an industry once dominated by rigid boundaries. Her journey transcends music — it’s a masterclass in perseverance, artistry, and the magnetic power of authenticity. Continued …
China’s tsunami of illegal activity flooding Thailand is undermining the country’s security and economy
Yesterday, a Chinese man armed with a Glock pistol caused panic at a Pattaya 7-Eleven, claiming ruthless Chinese gangs were hunting him. Hours later, in Chiang Rai, police arrested 18 Chinese nationals loitering without papers after illegally crossing from Myanmar.
These incidents expose a growing threat: China’s illegal networks are actively undermining Thailand’s security and economy. Undocumented Chinese and Myanmar workers fuel a shadow economy through secret factories, especially in eastern provinces. Continued …
Thai industrial sector faces mounting pressure
Thailand’s industrial sector is grappling with intensifying challenges, with official data showing that in June the number of factory closures equaled the number of newly opened factories — a rare and concerning signal for the economy.
Figures from the Department of Industrial Works (DIW) covering January to July reveal that while factories continue to open, closures remain persistently high, underscoring the sector’s fragility. The downturn is compounded by looming threats from new US import tariffs, which are expected to directly impact Thai exports in the near future, forcing businesses to adapt swiftly to mounting uncertainty. Continued …
Northern Thailand welcomes tourists again as travel reopens after floods
Tourism in northern Thailand is gradually returning to normal. Attractions in most provinces are open and accessible, with travel by air, rail, and road operating as usual.
Chiang Rai, Phayao, Phrae, Lampang, Lamphun, Mae Hong Son, and Uttaradit have largely returned to normal. The only exceptions are Phu Chi Fa National Park and Mae Fah Luang University Botanical Garden, both closed until Aug. 31. Continued …
Tourism-related businesses on Koh Chang wary despite Thai-Cambodian ceasefire
Despite a ceasefire agreement between Thailand and Cambodia, tourism operators and hoteliers on Koh Chang remain skeptical about the stability of the situation. Many operators experienced a sharp decline in tourism and a shortage of workers.
Saksit Mungkarn, former chairman of the Trat Tourism Industry Council and also a hotel operator on Koh Chang, said the ceasefire agreement has not restored confidence among the private sector due to political instability and uncertainty on both sides of the border. Continued …
Former Boxer Sets Fire to Two Malaysian Tourists Outside Mall
A former boxer doused two Malaysian tourists with thinner and set them on fire outside a major shopping mall in central Bangkok late Thursday. The assailant was quickly restrained by bystanders at the scene.
The victims, both Malaysian nationals, sustained burn injuries to their bodies and faces. They were rushed to Police General Hospital for treatment and are now reported to be in stable condition. Continued …
Tourist Stabbed in Patong Over 60-Baht Fruit Dispute
A disagreement over the price of fruit has left a foreign tourist in hospital with a serious stab wound after an incident in Patong in the early hours yesterday. Officers arrived to find the victim, from Azerbaijan, lying on the pavement with a deep abdominal wound. He was rushed to Patong Hospital for emergency treatment.
The suspect was found waiting at the scene and reportedly admitted to stabbing the tourist during an argument. According to police, the dispute began after the tourist ate fruit from a sidecar stall run by the suspect and his girlfriend and allegedly refused to pay the 60-baht charge. Continued …
Mother’s Day in Thailand: Nine temples to visit for blessings and good fortune
Mother’s Day in Thailand, celebrated on Aug. 12, is a time for people to express love and respect toward their mothers or those who play an important role in their lives. It is also considered an auspicious occasion to seek blessings and enhance one’s fortune by paying respects at temples, a tradition believed to bring prosperity and good luck.
Here are some of Bangkok’s most popular temples to visit for prayers and merit-making on this special day, along with the unique blessings each site is believed to bestow. Continued …
The elephant whisperer: one Thai woman’s lifelong quest to protect a rescued herd
Saengduean Lek Chailert was five years old when she saw an elephant for the first time. It was in chains, lumbering past her home in rural Thailand on its way to help loggers pull trees from the forest. Back then, she saw the giant mammals like everyone else – as animals that served humans. But that changed the day she heard a scream from the forest.
Chailert was 16 when she heard the terrible noise. She scrambled through the trees until she found the source: a bull elephant scrabbling in the mud as it tried and failed to drag a log out of a ditch. Every failed attempt was met with punishment from the loggers and mahout, the elephant keeper. Continued …
How Thailand’s Ethical Elephant Sanctuaries Are Revolutionizing Safari Tourism
Travelers are now more interested in connecting with nature in ways that are sustainable and humane. The shift in safari tourism that stands out the most is the growing interest in ethical wildlife sanctuaries. Wildlife sanctuaries allow tourism where visitors can mingle with animals in natural surroundings devoid of any form of exploitation, injuries, or cruelty.
An elephant sanctuary located in the hills near Chiang Rai, is an embodiment of this shift. Tatvani Elephant Sanctuary is a new landmark for elephant tourism, as it integrates conservation, respect, and sustainability. Continued …
Phuket prepares to host global green tourism summit
A high-level Phuket delegation has returned from Fiji after taking part in the Global Sustainable Tourism Conference (GSTC) 2025 — a key step in preparing the island to host the world-class event next year.
The four-day conference, organized by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council, ran on Aug. 5-8 at the Sheraton Fiji Golf & Beach Resort. It brought together industry leaders, government officials, and tourism professionals from across the globe to exchange ideas, showcase best practices, and promote the GSTC Criteria — internationally recognized standards for sustainable tourism. Continued …
Bus service between Hua Hin, Don Mueang Airport in Bangkok
The 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.
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.
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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Thai visitor arrivals stats prove link between tourism and peace
