- Breakfast at Anantasila/Hua Hin beacfront owners request delay/Sivana Hills debuts new pool villas/Heavy rain, flood warning/Surat Thani floods shut Highway 401/Deadly night of violence in Yala/533-million-baht cannabis shipment/Delivery driver pay/Man dies trying to save newborn puppies
- THE IRAN WAR: US-Iran conflict raises Thai shipping cost risks
- ECONOMY: US tariff deal ‘taking shape’/Co-payment scheme spending
- TOURISM: Thailand Opens E-Gate Immigration/Songkhla woman dies at Pha Taem falls/Thai Airways higher in global rankings
- THAILAND EXPERIENCE: 7-Eleven Thailand Guide/Python blamed for disappearance of 25 roosters/Kaeng I Khiao in Ubon Ratchathani/Unprecedented El Niño/Data-center boom raises clean-power challenge/Coffee market moves toward sustainability
- FOREIGNERS BEHAVING BADLY/INTERNATIONAL/HUA HIN TRANSPORT and LINKS
Breakfast at the Anantasila Beach Restaurant
What a way to start a day! Watching the sun rise over the Gulf of Thailand, cool ocean breezes, with a gentle sea lapping at the white sand beach. And behind you is breakfast, served by the attentive staff of the Anantasila Beach Reataurant in Khao Takiab. Hendrik van den Heuvel is the executive food and beverage manager.
Expat News had the opportunity recently to sample the restaurant’s morning buffet, and was not disappointed. So much delicious food to choose from – made-to-order eggs (we tried the salmon omelette), breads and Danish made fresh on site, fruits of all kinds, and a variety of Thai dishes.
And don’t forget the coffee, made fresh from beans in a variety of styles. We tried the Americano and Caffe Latte, among the many options offered.
The menu is changed regularly, but on our visit waiting for hungry diners was fish rice soup (a Thai breakfast staple), Jasmine and white rice, egg Thai fried rice, stir-fried noodles with chicken, bell pepper with beef, pork red curry, baked beans, grilled tomato, hash browns, sausages, cold cuts, cheese, juices, and waffles with real maple syrup.
The beach bar and restaurant veranda give access to beautiful, unobstructed views of the sea and Khao Takiab shoreline. The restaurant’s tree-canopied outdoor dining area offers a casual yet sophisticated dining experience.
The restaurant is open seven days a week from 7 am-11 pm. and welcomes all residents and non-residents. For reservation, Tel : +66 32 527 638; Email : fb@anantasila.com; Web.
Hua Hin beacfront building owners request demolition delay
Building owners have petitioned Hua Hin City Municipality to postpone waterfront demolition scheduled to begin on , Friday, citing a pending appeal over their claimed land rights.
The petition concerns 15 buildings between the fishing pier and Chao Mae Thap Thim Shrine that the municipality plans to remove from public land following court rulings. Continued …
Sivana Hills debuts new pool villas in Khao Tao
Sivana Hills held an open house on Saturday showcasing its new pool villa development on Soi 126 in Hua Hin’s Khao Tao area.
The 56-villa project offers four layouts, each with three bedrooms, three bathrooms and a private swimming pool. Prices start from 12.5 million baht. Continued …
Heavy rain, flood warning for Hua Hin, PKK
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) warned of heavy rain across Thailand today, naming 55 provinces in its regional forecasts and also warning Bangkok and surrounding areas.
Thunderstorms will cover 70% of the south, east coast, region during Sept. 21–22, according to the TMD, with isolated heavy rain in Phetchaburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Chumphon, Phatthalung, Songkhla, Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat. Continued …
Surat Thani floods shut Highway 401, tourists evacuated
Heavy rain flooded part of Highway 401 in Surat Thani on Saturday, leaving the route impassable to small vehicles and leading officials to evacuate Thai and foreign tourists from the affected area.
The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) sent officers to Khlong Sok subdistrict, where floodwater made travel difficult. The area is on a key road corridor used by travelers heading between Surat Thani and Thailand’s Andaman coast. Continued …
Deadly night of violence in Yala
A deadly night of violence hit Yala’s Bannang Sata district before security forces moved in yesterday. Assistant village headman Hamdee Jehsoh, 42, was shot dead in a roadside ambush. Hours later, attackers struck Highway 410, burning tires, scattering road spikes and leaving a suspicious wired object.
CCTV cameras were destroyed, construction machinery torched and a civilian vehicle burned. Gov. Kongsakul Chantharat tightened security and ordered increased patrols. Meanwhile, police launched separate investigations into the murder and overnight attacks, with no link yet confirmed. Continued …
Hong Kong seizes 533-million-baht cannabis shipment from Thailand
Hong Kong customs has made its largest-ever drug seizure from a sea shipment, finding cannabis worth HK$125 million, or about 530 million baht, in a 40-foot container declared as arriving from Thailand.
The Customs and Excise Department said the container was examined at the Kwai Chung Customhouse Cargo Examination Compound earlier this month after a risk assessment and intelligence analysis. It had been declared as carrying insulated boxes. Continued …
Ministry makes headway on delivery driver pay
Thailand is developing a driver payment framework to establish a fair minimum payment standard and serve as a common reference for the delivery industry. The initiative aims to create a structure that reflects actual costs, such as vehicle types, distance, and working time, while providing a foundation for future regulations to protect platform workers.
The Digital Economy and Society (DES) Ministry and the Electronic Transactions Development Agency (ETDA) are working to address growing concerns from drivers regarding insufficient earnings and unfair service cuts. Beyond pay, the framework seeks to address issues like lack of welfare, transparency in algorithmic decisions, and the need for better compensation for vehicle maintenance and insurance. Currently, the ETDA has proposed a preliminary benchmark of 5 baht per kilometer to help determine a fair compensation point for delivery riders. – Bangkok Post
Chon Buri man dies trying to save newborn puppies from flood
A man has died inside a burrow in Chon Buri after going in to reach newborn puppies he feared would be flooded. Two of the puppies were found dead beside him.
Wanna Sae Li, 65, crawled into a burrow beside a drainage canal in Ban Bueng as the rain rose. Rescuers had to dig him out and found two newborn puppies at his fingertips. Continued …
Six-month US-Iran conflict raises Thai shipping cost risks
Disruption to Gulf shipping routes could raise transport costs and lengthen delivery times for Thai businesses, the Dubai office of the Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP) warned in a report.
The office urged companies to keep inventories and delivery arrangements flexible while retaining their presence in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Thailand’s largest export market in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). Continued …
US tariff deal ‘taking shape’
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has announced that Thailand has secured its desired tariff rate from the United States, though one final condition from Washington still needs to be finalized.
The specific numerical tariff rate secured has not been explicitly disclosed, but the prime minister indicated that the negotiations proceeded as expected. Previously, in July, the US had imposed a 12.5% tariff on Thai imports, an increase from the prior 10% rate, citing concerns over production capacity and labor practices. The Thai government has been working to ensure trade conditions remain competitive with regional rivals. – Bangkok Post
Over 161 billion baht spent under co-payment scheme
The cumulative spending under the government’s Thais Help Thais Plus 60/40 co-payment scheme has surpassed 161 billion baht. The Finance Ministry is expected to request a cabinet consideration to extend the program, which was designed to support the grassroots economy by easing household expenses and boosting purchasing power amidst rising living costs.
According to government figures, approximately people utilized their entitlements 326,040,623 times, with spending distributed among various sectors, including 43.551 billion baht for participating shops and 22.6 billion baht specifically for food delivery services. While the scheme has helped mitigate the impact of higher energy and living costs, officials are monitoring the potential for further measures if economic pressures persist. – Bangkok Post
Thailand Opens E-Gate Immigration To 33 Foreign Nationalities At Suvarnabhumi Airport
Following increased immigration traffic at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport, Thailand has now made the immigration eGates widely accessible. The immigration department at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport is now allowing citizens of 33 foreign countries to utilize the electronic gates in order to enter the country.
In addition to electronic entry for Thai citizens, roughly a year ago Thailand also opened the option for repeat visitors holding Singapore and Hong Kong passports to use the e-gates. Continued …
Songkhla woman dies after falling more than 10 meters at Pha Taem falls
A 48-year-old tourist slipped while photographing the second tier of Kwang Tone waterfall in Pha Taem National Park last Friday. Rescuers walked three kilometers of forest trail and took more than two hours to reach her.
Park staff and rescue volunteers found Wanwisa, who was 48 and from Songkhla province, with no vital signs. Officers gave CPR at the scene but could not revive her. Continued …
Thai Airways flies higher in global rankings
Thai Airways International has promised the best has yet to come after climbing up the global rankings and entering the top 20 best airlines list.
This year’s Skytrax World Airline Awards saw the Thai carrier moving up nine spots to 20th in the best airlines ranking, with Singapore Airlines regaining the top position after being surpassed last year by Qatar Airways. Continued …
7-Eleven Thailand Guide: What Tourists Should Eat, Buy and Try
For many Thai people, 7-Eleven is much more than a place to grab a quick snack. It has become part of everyday life, offering everything from morning coffee and ready-to-eat meals to drinks, beauty products, accessories and household essentials.
For travelers, 7-Eleven Thailand can also be an easy introduction to local daily life. Visitors can explore popular 7-Eleven Thailand food, discover products commonly bought by locals and pick up useful items while traveling around the country. Some branches even offer freshly prepared dishes or special experiences that are different from the standard store format. Continued …
Python blamed for disappearance of 25 roosters in Udon Thani
A three-meter python was captured after a homeowner in Udon Thani discovered it attacking chickens, solving the mystery of 25 fighting cocks that had disappeared over nearly two weeks.
Rescue workers from the Udon Thani Songserm Tham Foundation were called to a house on Udon Thani–Nong Samrong Road in Ban Bo Nam, Mu Mon subdistrict, on Saturday after the large snake was spotted in a pomelo tree. Continued …
Kaeng I Khiao in Ubon officially opens as new ecotourism destination
Protected Areas Regional Office 9 (Ubon Ratchathani) officially opened Kaeng I Khiao as a new natural attraction at Buntharik-Yot Mon Wildlife Sanctuary in Kho Laen subdistrict, Buntharik district, Ubon Ratchathani province, on Friday.
The opening is intended to promote ecotourism, stimulate the grassroots economy and generate sustainable income for communities bordering the forest. Continued …
UN Warns of Unprecedented “El Niño” Intensity
The United Nations has issued a top-level warning: the world is facing a “Super El Niño,” shattering all previous heat records. This is closer than you think. Why do vulnerable areas like northern Thailand need to prepare now? Find out in this report. Video …
Thailand data-center boom raises wider clean-power challenge
Thailand’s drive to attract data-center and artificial intelligence investment could bring major economic and technological opportunities, but speakers warned that growth must be matched by stronger water, energy and waste infrastructure, clear regulation and wider access to clean power.
Speaking during the roundtable discussion “Sustainable Thailand: No Choice Left — Ready to Stay in the Game?”, they highlighted the challenge of preventing large digital facilities from placing greater pressure on resources also needed by households, communities, manufacturers and smaller businesses, while ensuring the technology and infrastructure built around them create broader benefits for Thailand. Continued …
Thailand’s 65-billion-baht coffee market moves toward sustainability
Thailand’s 65- billion-baht coffee market is moving beyond the beverage business, as consumers increasingly prioritize quality, experience and sustainability.
This shift is reflected in the coffee market’s growth in 2025 and the expansion of specialty coffee, while businesses are paying greater attention to reducing their environmental impact throughout the supply chain. Continued …
Taiwanese man held over Thai woman’s body in freezer
Taiwanese police have detained a 43-year-old man surnamed Wu on suspicion of murdering his 36-year-old Thai girlfriend, identified as “Art”, and concealing her body in a freezer for six days at his workplace in Taichung. Continued …
Ukraine fires over 1,000 drones at Russia, including hundreds launched at Moscow
Ukrainian forces fired more than 1,000 drones at Russia overnight Saturday, including hundreds that were launched toward Moscow, officials said yesterday, as the Kremlin was wrapping up the third and last day of its parliamentary elections. Continued …
Macron, Carney pledge closer ties in Atlantic island meeting
The leaders of France and Canada yesterday pledged closer ties to grapple with rising geopolitical tensions, climate change and the erosion of democratic values, after they met in the French territory of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon off Canada’s Atlantic coast. Video …
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
Thailand’s nominee crackdown has widened to accounting firms in Prachuap Khiri Khan, as authorities investigate businesses suspected of using Thai nationals to hide foreign ownership.
OR has cut retail prices for selected premium fuels by B1.20-4.20 per liter, with the new prices taking effect from 5 am today.
According to Bain & Company’s fourth biennial Front Line of Healthcare report, drawing on surveys of 600 doctors and 6,300 consumers across nine markets, the region’s healthcare systems are caught in a compounding crisis of their own making: demand is surging, supply is crumbling, and the people meant to hold it all together are walking out the door. This is not a cyclical blip. It is a structural reckoning, and the window for decisive action is narrowing.
Bangkok commuters may finally be getting closer to something they have wanted for years: multiple trains, one ticket, and cheaper transportaion. Thailand’s Cabinet yesterday approved a cost-of-living measure to introduce a common fare system across urban rail transit lines, allowing passengers to travel for between 17 and 45 baht under a single-ticket scheme.
Crayfish on the loose in Phayao Lake
If is a big and most consequential word in the English language. The word connotes wishes, conditionality, and often aspirations. If also is one of the shortest words holding a very long explanatory meaning that embodies hope but just as easily signals fatalism.
An average of 76% of adults surveyed in 35 countries, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem, have no confidence in US President Donald Trump’s leadership of global affairs, with ratings for the United States negative in many places in Europe and Asia, an established research institute said yesterday.
The Thai economy is facing an uphill battle against a trio of deep-seated structural vulnerabilities, even as major economic research centers nudge short-term growth forecasts upward. In its latest economic outlook, the Siam Commercial Bank’s Economic Intelligence Center (SCB EIC) upgraded Thailand’s gross domestic product (GDP) growth forecast for this year to 2% from a previous estimate of 1.7%.
The cabinet has approved the expansion of the list of price-controled goods and services to 66. The list now includes 61 essential goods and five services, for which providers must seek prior approval for price changes.
The SCB Economic Intelligence Center (EIC), a research center under Siam Commercial Bank, expects energy costs will continue to propel inflation in the second half of the year, even as the Middle East war shows signs of de-escalation.
Thai Generation Z and millennials are experiencing greater concern about their financial future than their peers in many other countries, with housing affordability a particularly acute pressure point, a survey by Deloitte has found.
Among Bangkok’s prime land locations with strong potential and the most public discussion, few rival the Charoen Nakhon, Charoen Krung, and Khlong San areas across the Phra Nakhon and Thon Buri sides. The Chao Phraya River runs through the middle, drawing the two banks together.
Chinese investors are becoming a more powerful force in Thailand’s industrial-property market, with growing demand for factory land in the Eastern Economic Corridor pushing Chonburi and Rayong further into the spotlight.
Why travelers are saying “Thank you, Thailand” before they fly home
In the old language of travel, the final souvenir was something tucked into a suitcase: silk, spices, ceramics, perhaps a fridge magnet from Bangkok or Phuket. In 2026, Thailand’s most elegant keepsake may be something lighter, cheaper and far more powerful: a palms-pressed wai, a smile, and a sincere “kob khun”.
Tourism revival plans take shape
Thailand’s Tourism and Sports Ministry is preparing to revive a state-backed tourism co-payment scheme as part of a wider push to stimulate travel in the second half of 2026.
As summer 2026 gets underway, the global tourism industry is regaining strong momentum, and one metropolis drawing attention from travelers from around the world is “Bangkok”.
The sizzle of socialization: How Moo Kata makes Thailand’s table glow
In Bangkok, the dining room of the moment does not always arrive polished in marble and glass. It may sit behind a narrow frontage, up a steep old staircase, beside the roar of a wok, or inside a building that still carries the memory of trade, family, and neighborhood life.
Cutting Thailand’s Giant Jackfruit
Journey Through Wellness, Sustainability, and Authentic Thai Hospitality in Krabi and Koh Lanta
Ubon park put forward for UNESCO listing
Thailand must accelerate its shift away from fossil fuels or risk falling permanently behind its regional peers, the chief economist of SCB Economic Intelligence Center (EIC) warned this week, as the kingdom’s heavy dependence on imported energy leaves it acutely vulnerable to global volatility.
Waste management is one of the most essential public services a city can and must provide. When it breaks down – even briefly – thousands of tons of rubbish pile up fast. Foul odors spread across neighborhoods.
The top 10% of global consumers cause $5.7 trillion in annual environmental damage, as they drive global challenges evolving into systemic economic and financial risks requiring immediate collective action, according to a Leiden University study.
In the next few weeks, Britain’s ruling Labor Party will select a new leader to replace Keir Starmer. But this prospect has not inspired hope of a political or economic renewal. Among British media and, more importantly, global financial markets, the consensus is that any revisions to the failing Starmer government’s policies will only make things worse. 
As Australia moves to scrap key property investment tax breaks, some investors are taking a wait-and-see approach as the new policy takes shape. The shift, the biggest in decades, is seen by some as ending Australia’s long love affair with property investment. 
A proposal to support Hua Hin smart city development was presented to Hua Hin City Municipality yesterday, outlining a technology-led vision to improve transport, tourism services, and urban safety as the city plans its next stage of growth.
Transport Minister Suspends Elevated Road and Rail Projects
A construction crane for the high-speed rail project collapsed onto a passenger train near Sikhio district in Nakhon Ratchasima province, killing more than 30 people. Metal debris, fire and smoke replaced what had been an ordinary journey home and left families facing sudden loss.
The deadly Rama 2 Road: Why Thailand’s ‘Seven-Generation Road’ keeps claiming lives
Italian-Thai Development (ITD) has won 213 state projects worth 130 billion baht in 11 years. However, recent crane collapses involving ITD raise questions about safety.
Sihasak Phuangketkeow, minister of foreign affairs, addressed the recent announcement by the US Department of State to suspend the processing of immigrant visas (permanent visas) for 75 countries, including Thailand.
Thailand’s finance minister has outlined an economic restructuring program centered on fast-tracking stalled investments and developing new industrial sectors, as the government seeks to reverse declining growth potential that has dragged the economy to its weakest performance in decades.
China has shattered global records with a staggering trade surplus of approximately $1.2 trillion for 2025, fueled by a relentless export boom that has flooded international markets with everything from electronics to machinery. While this achievement underscores Beijing’s manufacturing prowess amid domestic headwinds, it poses both opportunities and significant challenges for Thailand, its largest trading partner in ASEAN.
Thailand was once the ultimate value-for-money destination. Cheap eats, affordable hotels, unforgettable experiences. That era is over. A soaring Thai baht is pushing travelers away — just as Thailand is fighting to revive its tourism-driven economy.
It’s been just over a year since I took the leap and made Thailand my home. Moving from regular visitor to someone who lives and works here has let me fully embrace what I love about the country — and given me a front-row seat to the same tourist mistakes playing out again and again.
Bangkok was named the third best city to visit in the world today in The New York Times’ 52 Places to Go in 2026 list, praised for its green spaces, vibrant art scene, and recent innovations in public transport.
Tourists and locals are raising alarms over the open sale of sex stimulants, sex toys, and illegal cigarettes along Pattaya Beach Road – without proper tax stamps.
PM2.5 fine dust pollution has surged this week nationwide, prompting the government to call for stricter controls and work-from-home arrangements. Deputy government spokeswoman Lalida Persvivatana warned that fine particulate matter (PM2.5) levels have risen sharply since Wednesday and are expected to also rise today.
The government has tightened controls on agricultural burning as part of a broader effort to address PM2.5 pollution, setting a nationwide target to reduce burned farmland by at least 15%. The measures prioritize major economic crops, for which reductions must be clearly demonstrated.
Thailand is stepping up efforts to support research and development in alternative energy, with officials preparing to allocate more financial resources to projects that advance clean technologies such as hydrogen.
Tech giants have blocked 4.7 million accounts under Australia’s world-first social media ban for under-16s, the country’s online safety watchdog said today. Initial figures showed platforms were taking meaningful action to remove underage users, Australia’s eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant said. 
New railcars on the way – but not until 2030
10 factors shaping Thailand’s travel industry
