- Thailand Asia’s top retirement destination/Hua Hin videos//Buying a Pool Villa in Hua Hin/Why expats may soon trust their phones/Bangchak cuts premium fuel prices/Heavy rain to most of Thailand/Joy of the lottery/National streaming plan
- THE IRAN WAR: 10 Thai-linked vessels exit Strait/Threat Over Fertilizer Import Trap/Asian airlines’ Europe windfall fades
- ECONOMY: Thailand extends property fee cut/Branded residences uxury safe-haven/Manufacuring index decrease/Business registration fully digital
- TOURISM: PKK pushes wellness tourism/Most visited city doesn’t mean most loved/Europeans steer clear of Thailand
- THAILAND EXPERIENCE: Thai Towns Could Stretch Your Budget/Thailand’s Lesser-Known Gem
- CLIMATE THAILAND: Electric, hybrid and the road ahead
- FOREIGNERS BEHAVING BADLY/INTERNATIONAL/HUA HIN TRANSPORT and LINKS
Thailand named Asia’s top retirement destination
Thailand has been ranked the best country in Asia and ninth globally as a retirement destination in the Global Retirement Index 2026. Thailand was ranked ninth worldwide and first in Asia by International Living, a leading US media outlet specializing in overseas living and retirement.
The ranking evaluates seven key factors: housing, visas and retirement benefits, cost of living, development and governance, climate, healthcare, and overall lifestyle suitability. The assessment is based on input from experts, correspondents and expatriates living in each country. Continued …
New daily feature on Hua Hin Expat News – Hua Hin videos
Hua Hin: Is This Thailand’s Best Kept Secret for Expats?
Located in the heart of Thailand, Hua Hin offers a unique blend of traditional Thai culture and modern amenities, making it an attractive option for those looking to live in Thailand. From its stunning beaches to its vibrant nightlife, Hua Hin has something to offer for everyone.
If you’re considering moving to Thailand or retiring in Thailand, Hua Hin is definitely worth exploring. In this video, we’ll take you on a tour of Hua Hin, showcasing its beautiful beaches, delicious cuisine, and expat-friendly lifestyle. We’ll also provide you with valuable Thailand travel tips and insights into what it’s like to live in Hua Hin as an expat. Video …
Is Hua Hin only for old people?
Hua Hin has long been one of Thailand’s favorite beach getaways, known for its royal history, relaxed atmosphere, and easy access from the capital. But beyond the beach, the city has a lot more going on than you might expect.
Explore the lively Tamarind and Cicada Night Markets, sample the local atmosphere after dark, and see why Hua Hin remains such a popular weekend destination for Bangkokians, expats, and travelers alike. Video …
Buying a Pool Villa in Hua Hin
A private pool villa in Hua Hin costs far less than the same home would on Phuket or Samui, and for many buyers it delivers more: quiet, space, a real community, and Bangkok two and a half hours up the road.
The catch is that the result depends almost entirely on three choices — the area, the villa itself, and the builder behind it. Get those right and Hua Hin is hard to beat. Get them wrong and you inherit someone else’s mistakes. Continued …
Why expats may soon trust their phones more than their landlords
The most useful AI gadget for expatriates in Thailand may not be a robot, a smart speaker or a laptop priced like a small motorbike. It may be the smartphone already sitting beside their morning iced coffee, quietly judging their screen time while helping them translate Thai messages, plan trips, manage work calls, read banking alerts and understand condominium notices that seem to have been written by a committee in a hurry.
For years, smartphone makers sold progress by touting sharper cameras, brighter screens and processors with names that sounded like comic-book villains. Now the battle is moving toward something far more interesting: usefulness. Continued …
Bangchak cuts premium fuel prices by 5 baht
Bangchak Corp. (BCP) reduced the retail prices of two premium fuel products by 5 baht per liter from 5 am today. The price cut applies to:
Hi Premium Diesel Plus, now 49.25 baht per liter; Hi Premium Gasohol 98 Plus, now 48.44 baht per liter; and regular petrol, gasohol and diesel prices were unchanged. Continued …
Monsoon blast brings heavy rain to most of Thailand
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) has warned of heavy rain in parts of Thailand, with very heavy downpours possible in some areas of the east and the western side of the south today.
Thunderstorms in the south east coast area are expected in over 60% of the area, with heavy rain in some places. Heavy rain expected in Phetchaburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Chumphon and Surat Thani. Minimum temperature: 23-26°C. Maximum temperature: 32-35°C. From Surat Thani northward: southwesterly winds of 20-35 km/h; waves 1-2 meters high, rising above 2 meters offshore and during thunderstorms. Continued …
The joy of the lottery
Thais genuinely enjoy playing the lottery. Even though the chances of winning the grand prize are staggeringly low, only one in a million, they buy more and more tickets every day.
A 2021 survey by the Center for Gambling Studies at Chulalongkorn University revealed that more than 24 million Thais – about 45.4% of the Thai population – snapped up national lottery tickets in 2021. The figure showed an increase of 8.3% from an earlier survey in 2019. Continued …
Commission backs national streaming plan
The planned establishment of a national TV streaming platform is far more than the launch of another video application; it is intended to ensure that every Thai can conveniently access all free-to-air television channels through the internet, according to commissioner of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) Pirongrong Ramasoota.
Pirongrong, who oversees the broadcasting sector, said this would preserve the principle of universal access to public-interest content, including news, emergency alerts, educational programming, cultural content and nationally significant events. Continued …
Foreign Ministry says 10 Thai-linked vessels safely exit Strait of Hormuz
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said yesterday that 10 out of 11 Thai-flagged vessels and vessels chartered by Thai operators stranded in the Strait of Hormuz area after the closure announcement on Feb. 28, had now safely left the area.
Only one vessel operated by a Thai company remains in the area. It is currently waiting to take on cargo and is preparing to depart at the earliest opportunity. Continued …
Thai Agriculture Faces Existential Threat Over Fertilizer Import Trap
Thailand’s total dependence on imported fertilizer has left its 16 million farmers dangerously exposed to global geopolitical shocks, according to industry leaders, state officials, and academics who gathered for a roundtable yesterday.
The panel discussion, titled “Hormuz Shock: World Fertilizer Crisis, Survival for Thai Agriculture”, concluded that while the immediate supply chain crunch triggered by recent tensions in the Strait of Hormuz has begun to ease, the episode has exposed critical structural vulnerabilities that demand urgent, systemic reform. Continued …
Asian airlines’ Europe windfall fades as Gulf rivals rebound
Asian airlines that gained passengers and charged higher fares on European routes after the start of the Iran conflict are seeing those advantages erode as Gulf carriers restore flights and offer lower ticket prices, industry data shows.
The shift has been gradual, but it is raising doubts over whether carriers, including Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific Airways, Korean Air Lines and ANA Holdings, can retain much of the market share they gained during the disruption. Continued …
Thailand extends 0.01% property fee cut in one-year lifeline for homebuyers
Thailand’s Cabinet has extended ultra-low property transfer and mortgage registration fees for another year, keeping a key housing stimulus measure in place as the government seeks to ease costs for homebuyers and support a fragile real estate recovery.
The measure, approved yesterday, cuts both the property transfer registration fee and mortgage registration fee to 0.01 per cent, covering eligible residential property transactions until June 30, 2027, after publication in the Royal Gazette. The measure continues a similar 2025 scheme that was due to expire yesterday. Continued …
Thailand’s branded residences become luxury safe-haven
Thailand’s property market may be moving cautiously, but at the very top end developers are racing in the opposite direction. A new wave of branded residences — backed by global hotel, fashion, design and automotive names — is turning Bangkok, Phuket and resort destinations into a regional test ground for luxury homes sold not merely as places to live, but as managed, long-term collectible assets.
The shift comes as Thailand’s wider residential market faces a more selective buying environment. CBRE Thailand reported that Bangkok’s overall condominium market had a slow start to 2026, with only 12 new project launches in the first quarter, as buyers took longer to make decisions amid geopolitical risks, a weak local economy and elevated oil prices. Continued …
Slowdown in auto sector drives manufacuring index decrease
Thailand’s Manufacturing Production Index (MPI) decreased by 0.8% year-on-year to 101.18 points in May, due mainly to a slowdown in the domestic automotive sector, said the Office of Industrial Economics (OIE). The index increased from 92.76 points in April, however, when global conflicts and domestic challenges weighed on industrial activity.
Domestically, banks and car financing companies continued to tighten lending criteria, making it difficult for prospective buyers to get auto loans, while car exports bore the brunt of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz during the US-Israeli war with Iran. Continued …
Business registration becomes fully digital
New partnership and company registrations are now fully digitalized, improving convenience and speeding up the registration process, while reducing costs for both businesses and individuals, says the Department of Business Development (DBD).
Effective today, all new business registrations, including the establishment of partnerships and limited companies, must be completed online through the Digital Business Registration System (DBD Biz Regist), though amendments to existing registration information are excluded. Continued …
PKK pushes wellness tourism across all eight districts
Prachuap Khiri Khan is moving ahead with its wellness tourism strategy, with model communities selected across all eight districts as part of plans to develop the province as a wellness city. At a meeting yesterday at the Prachuap Khiri Khan Provincial Public Health Office, officials reviewed work being carried out in each district to strengthen health services and support sustainable wellness tourism.
The selected model health-conscious subdistricts are Hin Lek Fai in Hua Hin, Pak Nam Pran in Pranburi, Rai Kao in Sam Roi Yot, Kui Buri in Kui Buri, Ao Noi in Mueang Prachuap Khiri Khan, Na Hu Kwang and Thap Sakae in Thap Sakae, Ron Thong in Bang Saphan, and Pak Phraek in Bang Saphan Noi. Continued …
The most visited city doesn’t mean the most loved
Bangkok was named the world’s most visited city for 2025 by Euromonitor International, drawing an estimated 30.3 million international arrivals, ahead of Hong Kong, London, Macao, and Istanbul. Thailand expects that number to climb further in 2026, with 34.9 million foreign visitors forecast and tourism revenue projected at 1.63 trillion baht, an 8% increase year on year.
By any conventional measure, this is success, the kind of ranking tourism boards spend years chasing. What it does not measure is whether the city living underneath all those visitor numbers actually feels good about hosting them. Continued …
Europeans steer clear of Thailand amid heatwave
Europe’s most severe heatwave has yet to trigger a surge in tourists to Thailand, with Phuket hotels slashing low-season rates by 70%-80% compared with the high season, as surging airfares continue to deter both domestic and foreign visitors.
Somjai Tungkoo, vice president of the southern chapter of the Thai Hotels Assn., said summer holidays typically attract large numbers of European tourists, but demand this year has been weaker than expected, as many travelers seek to escape the heat by visiting cooler destinations within their region rather than taking long-haul trips. Continued …
These 3 Small Thai Towns Could Stretch Your Budget Further
Big-city life in Southeast Asia often gets the most attention — with Bangkok and Hanoi among many travelers’ favorite destinations — but some of the region’s best (and most affordable) long-term living can be found in smaller towns.
In a recent report, International Living tapped its global correspondents to share the towns in Southeast Asia that “combine charm, affordability, and a quality of life that larger cities often can’t match,” and three specific places stood out. Spoiler: They’re all in Thailand. Continued …
Experience Thailand’s Lesser-Known Gem With A Gorgeous Beach
Many people choose the Caribbean for its pristine beaches and abundance of islands. But a trip to this Southeast Asian paradise in the Andaman Sea is worth the jetlag for its own stunning beaches.
Similan Islands National Park features numerous islands, although some are restricted from visitors to protect wildlife. However, Donald Duck Bay features viewpoints, water activities, unique rocks shaped like Disney characters, and white-sanded beaches that rival the Caribbean. Continued …
Electric, hybrid and the road ahead: Mercedes-Benz CEO on the future of driving
“The future is fully electric,” the president and CEO of Mercedes-Benz (Thailand), Christian Schell, declared, expressing his confidence in the automobile’s future path. This was emphasized in the first half of 2026 by the oil crisis, when people turned to buying electric vehicles (EVs) in fear of fuel shortages.
Even so, there will be some who prefer cars that run on fossil fuel, and that is the current gap that car manufacturers need to bridge. In this episode of “The Road Ahead – What Will We Be Driving Next?”, two car enthusiasts discuss the past and the future of the vehicles we drive. Continued …
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Chinese Fugitive Arrested in Chiang Mai Over Loan Fraud – Continued …
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Finnish Fugitive Arrested in Bangkok Home by Immigration – Continued …
Global energy investment hits record as ASEAN power grids face strain
Global investment in the energy sector continued to expand, with total investment reaching US$3.3 trillion in 2025, the highest level on record. Of this, US$2.3 trillion went into clean energy, helping lift the share of renewables and nuclear power in global electricity generation to 42%. Continued …
‘I’m going to stay calm’: 48 hours under the rubble in Venezuela
Andrea Canonico focused on her breathing to stay calm as she lay trapped under a building that had crumbled during the two powerful earthquakes that struck Venezuela last week. Just 23 years old, Canonico spent almost 48 hours in the same position before being pulled out – alive. 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
Hua Hin Songkran schedule
Hua Hin City Municipality has begun discussions on new public transport routes as part of efforts to improve mobility and meet rising demand in the growing coastal city. Hua Hin has seen steady growth in recent years, driven by tourism, economic activity, and urban expansion. This has led to increased demand for more efficient and accessible public transport routes to support both residents and visitors.
Soero rolls back the years at Black Mountain Championship
Thailand Energy Minister Akanat Promphan announced plans to maintain electricity prices at 3.88 baht/unit from May through August, countering the Energy Regulatory Commission’s (ERC) suggestion to increase it to 3.95 baht/unit. This decision leverages a surplus of about 9 billion baht and a claw-back mechanism designed to stabilize prices amid rising fuel costs.
Diesel prices in Thailand will rise again today after the Oil Fuel Fund committee reduced subsidies for a second consecutive day, pushing retail costs higher and triggering increases in public transport fares.
The Thai government is preparing to cut domestic fuel prices by targeting what it describes as “unnecessary” cost components in the national pricing structure.
Thailand’s major retailers OR (PTT Oil and Retail Business) and Bangchak Corp. (BCP) raised petrol and gasohol (95/91, E85, E20) prices by 0.70 baht per liter today, while diesel rose 3.50 baht per liter and premium diesel rose 4 baht per liter.
Transport Company has announced its readiness to handle a 10% rise in passenger numbers during Thailand’s Songkran holiday from April 9-19. Despite rising fuel costs, the company will maintain current bus fares to ease travel for passengers.
Police have arrested a husband and wife accused of operating a child begging network that allegedly exploited minors for up to nine years, forcing them to wear school uniforms, meet daily cash targets or risk abuse.
In a leafy Tehran park yesterday, Iranians gathered for picnics on the final day of the Persian new year holidays, shrugging off US President Donald Trump’s threats to bomb Iran “back to the Stone Ages”.
Thanavath Phonvichai, chairman of the advisory board of the Center for Economic and Business Forecasting and president of the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC), said Thailand’s economy is now being affected by the war between the US and Iran through higher oil prices.
Surapol Suksupaet, an 82-year-old rice farmer in Pathum Thani province, warns that rising fuel costs and stagnant rice prices are pushing smallholders to the brink.
Thailand’s fishing industry has warned that soaring oil prices could force 70% of fishing boats to stop operating after Songkran, threatening domestic seafood supplies and affecting around 50,000 workers.
Thailand’s household debt climbed to 16.44 trillion baht in the fourth quarter of 2025, pushing the debt-to-GDP ratio up to 86.7% and reinforcing concerns that financial fragility in the household sector remains a serious drag on the broader economy.
Thailand’s retail sector is sending a clear signal that consumer spending power is under extreme strain, with shoppers increasingly thinking before they spend, and prioritizing value over brand loyalty, marking the end of broad-based growth across the board.
Passengers using Don Mueang International Airport in Bangkok during the Songkran holiday are advised to arrive at least two to three hours before their scheduled departures, with the peak travel day expected to be April 11.
Phuket ferry and speedboat fares for routes to Koh Phi Phi, along with boat tour prices, are set to increase from April 5 after operators received approval to raise charges in response to higher fuel costs.
Women driving Thailand’s travel economy
“Promoting a low-carbon society by announcing that Thailand will achieve the goal of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 (2050) to cope with international trade and climate change by promoting and supporting the use of clean energy such as solar energy in communities and government agencies, the use of electric vehicles and public transportation, as well as increasing energy efficiency, especially in the industrial sector.” (The prime minister delivers the Cabinet’s policy statement (Sept. 29, 2025 at the National Assembly)
The Kasikorn Research Center estimates that Thailand’s solar industry is facing mounting cost pressure after China scrapped value-added tax (VAT) export rebates for photovoltaic (PV) products, including solar panels, from April 1.
Three major road projects will be submitted to the new cabinet for consideration, with a combined investment exceeding 100 billion baht, according to the Department of Highways (DoH).
Thailand has introduced specific guidelines for alcohol vendors to assess customer intoxication before serving more drinks. This follows a regulation that prohibits the sale of alcohol to already intoxicated customers, as per Section 29 of the Alcohol Control Act.
The heat index could soar to a dangerous 60 degrees Celsius in early April, posing a major threat to vulnerable groups, the Digital Economy and Society (DES) Ministry warned yesterday. The heat index combines air temperature with relative humidity, reflecting what the body actually feels rather than the ambient temperature. High humidity significantly amplifies heat stress.
Chiang Mai is preparing to tighten controls on toxic PM2.5 pollution. Siwakorn Buapong, deputy governor of Chiang Mai Province, said PM2.5 levels in Mueang Na subdistrict, Chiang Dao District, have risen above 125 micrograms per cubic meter for four consecutive days.
US President Donald Trump has threatened to destroy Iran’s critical energy infrastructure, including oil fields, power plants, and Kharg Island, if Tehran does not immediately reopen the Strait of Hormuz and reach a peace agreement quickly.
Thailand’s retail fuel prices have risen sharply, with diesel climbing above 40 baht per liter following a late-night decision by the Oil Fuel Fund Management Committee (OFMC).
Thailand is considering cutting fuel excise taxes to ease rising living costs as global oil prices surge, but the move is raising concerns over long-term fiscal stability and government revenue losses.
Thai Manufacturers Absorb 20% Fuel Spike to Shield Consumers from Price Hikes
Parkorn Kosiyabong, chef at GOAT, which holds one Michelin star, said yesterday the oil price crisis and higher transport costs following the war in the Middle East had not only increased restaurant costs but had also affected bookings. During the first and second weeks of the war, the restaurant business was hit hard, with cancellations reaching as high as 70%.
Confidence among Thai business leaders has fallen sharply, with only 24% of CEOs expressing strong confidence in their organizations’ revenue growth this year, down from 47% in 2023 and the lowest level in three years.
Suphajee Suthumpun, minister of commerce, has instructed officials to inspect the readiness of modern trade retailers participating in the “Thai Help Thai” project, which is intended to help the public by easing the impact of higher living costs resulting from rising energy costs.
The rapid growth of large-scale data centers in Thailand is coming under closer scrutiny, amid questions over whether they could become more than just critical infrastructure for the digital economy and instead turn into a potential loophole for call center gangs, scammers, and gray capital to use as an operating base.
Thailand’s visa-free stay program has been a popular gateway for travelers, letting citizens from 93 countries enjoy up to 60 days in the country without a visa, with an optional 30-day extension. Originally introduced to fuel the tourism sector revival, the scheme has brought a surge of visitors. But government officials are now raising concerns that the policy may be too lenient, and some foreign nationals may be using it for purposes beyond sightseeing.
Relocating a family with two children to Thailand can significantly reduce day-to-day expenses compared with many Western countries, but actual costs vary widely by city, schooling choices, and lifestyle expectations. This briefing summarizes current evidence on typical monthly spending for a family of four, with a focus on the major expenditure categories that drive the cost of living in Thailand in 2026.
Civil society groups have warned that heavy metals – particularly arsenic – are gradually accumulating in sections of the Mekong River in northeastern Thailand.
Surging global oil prices driven by tensions in the Middle East are prompting a noticeable shift in consumer behavior in Pattaya, with electric motorbikes gaining rapid popularity as residents look to cut fuel costs. Dealers report a steady rise in demand, as more consumers turn to electric alternatives to reduce daily transportation expenses amid continued volatility in energy markets.
Korean Air will enter emergency management mode from April as rising oil prices driven by the war in the Middle East weigh on costs, a source with knowledge of the matter said today. The airline said that if high oil prices persist, itexpects significant disruption to its annual businesstargets, and will shift to an emergency operating system from April. 
Authorities from Thailand’s Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) raided a warehouse in Lam Luk Ka District, Pathum Thani, seizing more than 120,000 dried gecko carcasses and nearly 30 tons of protected timber allegedly prepared for export to China.
The Ministry of Commerce has stated that the ongoing unrest in the Middle East is expected to have limited direct effects on Thailand, as the country’s trade share with the countries involved in the conflict remains relatively small. The assessment followed a recent meeting led by Commerce Minister Suphajee Suthumpun to review potential economic consequences.
The auto industry could record sluggish car exports this year following the outbreak of war in the Middle East, which also raises inflation concerns if the conflict is prolonged, says Surapong Paisitpatanapong, vice chairman of the Federation of Thai Industries and spokesman for its Automotive Industry Club.
Weakening consumer confidence, rather than rising costs alone, has become the biggest threat to Thailand’s property market, as global uncertainty prompts buyers to delay major purchases, according to Pornnarit Chuanchaisit, president of the Thai Real Estate Assn.
The Commerce Ministry has launched a “Resilience” strategy aimed at protecting the country’s export sector from global risks, including geopolitical conflicts and trade polarization. The policy seeks to strengthen Thailand’s ability to maintain export growth while navigating an increasingly uncertain global trading environment.
Passengers intending to travel between Asia and Europe will need to plan their trips well in advance to secure reasonable ticket prices, as the Middle East conflict has driven significant demand for a limited number of direct flights, says the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT).
Songkran 2026 travel demand rises as Pattaya leads domestic destinations
For decades, Pattaya has been one of Thailand’s most talked-about tourist destinations. Known for its beaches, nightlife, and lively streets, the coastal city attracts millions of visitors each year. But as discussions on travel forums and social media show, opinions about Pattaya can vary dramatically depending on personal experiences.
The Hostel and Small Accommodation Assn. (Thailand) has urged the new government to continue pushing for a new accommodation act for small hotels, but strongly opposes allowing condo units to be registered as legal lodging.
Indonesia bans elephant riding
This is the story of a Garden of Eden, hidden deep within the jungles of Southeast Asia. A national park that’s home to an almost unimaginable variety of animals. Not only noteworthy for its countless species, Kui Buri National Park in southwestern Thailand is also known for its abundance of large animals, like Asian elephants and wild bovines. The scarce gaur lives here, the world’s largest bovine species, and it is also home to the smaller, ruddy banteng. 
Breathtaking Region Between Phuket And Krabi One Of The World’s Most Welcoming Destinations
Lingering In Chiang Mai: Temples, Tea, And Tranquillity In Northern Thailand
Thailand’s clean power supply and energy trade are poised for changes under the draft Power Development Plan (PDP), which will shape the country’s electricity landscape from 2026 to 2050. The new PDP seeks to accelerate renewable energy projects and introduce nuclear power into the mix, according to energy officials and executives.
Inflation in Venezuela soared to 475% in 2025, the highest in the world, driven by a tightening of US sanctions in the lead-up to the ouster of leader Nicolas Maduro. Full-year inflation far exceeded the International Monetary Fund’s forecast of 270%, figures released by the central bank showed on Friday. 
The Japanese government is moving to abolish the need for most foreign tourists to meet face-to-face with immigration officers to enter the country, as it seeks to streamline entry procedures amid the inbound tourism surge. The Immigration Services Agency said it would instead rely on visitor information collected through an online pre-travel screening system called Japan Electronic System for Travel Authorization, or JESTA, set to launch in fiscal 2028. 
Indonesia will restrict access to social media platforms for children under 16, its communications and digital ministry said on Friday, making it the latest country to install online guardrails to reduce the risks of addiction and cyberbullying.