- More Hua Hin videos/Video shows Buddhist procession accident/36 provinces warned of floods/Older phones look suddenly fashionable/Food deliveries surge
- ECONOMY: Isan poll rates government’s economic work/Shippers forecast 2026 exports to grow/Genuine foreign investment or nominees?/Prospects for Thai food exports
- TOURISM: In Thailand’s sex tourism hub/Thailand Tightens Airport Security/Thailand rides the longevity fitness trend/More security in south
- THAILAND EXPERIENCE: Kui Buri – Where the Wild still roams/Making Thai Milk Tea
- CLIMATE THAILAND: Land bridge project comes at environmental cost/Green manufacturing offers opportunity/ThaiBev bottles the sun/Thailand EV investment
- FOREIGNERS BEHAVING BADLY/HUA HIN TRANSPORT and LINKS
More Hua Hin videos:
Is Hua Hin Actually Worth It?
There’s a city by the beach in Thailand that’s rarely mentioned in popular travel guides… but for some reason, many foreigners are moving there – Hua Hin city. Learn what life is like in Hua Hin, where you can rent an apartment (condo), how much it costs, where to eat (restaurants and street food night markets) and what delicious things there are, and what a typical day is like in a place where people come… and stay because the cost of living is quite affordable and life by the beach in Thailand is just a dream! Video …
Hua Hin Food Guide: 10 Best Restaurants To Try
Embark on a culinary journey through Hua Hin with this ultimate food guide featuring the 10 best restaurants in the area. From hidden gems to popular street food spots, explore the authentic and exotic flavors that make Hua Hin a foodie’s paradise. Taste test must-try dishes and sharid top food recommendations.
Whether you’re a seasoned foodie or simply looking for a unique dining experience, this video is sure to satisfy your cravings for Thai cuisine and local eats. Explore the diverse culinary delights of Hua Hin and discover why it’s a haven for food lovers everywhere. Video …
Video shows moment 11-year-old drives pickup truck into Buddhist procession
CCTV footage captured the moment a vehicle driven by an 11-year-old crashed into a group of monks and worshippers during a religious procession in Mukdahan on Thursday. At least 10 people were killed and 10 others were injured, according to local hospital officials. Two of the injured remain in critical condition.
A group of 35 monks and five lay followers were walking along a roadside in Mukdahan province during a pilgrimage when a truck ploughed into them. Police said it was driven by an 11-year-old who had taken his parents’ vehicle without permission. Continued and video …
TMD warns 36 provinces of floods
Thailand has been placed on alert for heavy rain, flash floods and rough seas as Tropical Storm Maysak intensifies monsoon conditions across the country, despite the storm not being expected to move directly into Thailand.
Along the south’s eastern coast, thunderstorms are forecast over 60% of the region, with heavy rain in Phetchaburi and Prachuap Khiri Khan. Temperatures are forecast at 24-25C at the lowest and 32-35C at the highest. Continued …
Rising memory costs make older phones look suddenly fashionable
With memory prices surging and new gadgets becoming more expensive, the smartest smartphone buy in Thailand in 2026 may not be the newest flagship but last year’s premium model — still fast and polished and far less likely to make your credit card need a lie-down.
The timing could hardly be better. As the global economy remains uneven and smartphone makers face higher component costs, many buyers are thinking more carefully before upgrading. Continued …
Food deliveries surge under co-pay scheme
The government’s “Thais Help Thais Plus” co-payment scheme has helped to revive the economy and stimulate spending in the food and beverage sector, according to two online food delivery operators.
GrabFood said orders from participating merchants exceeded 500 million baht within two weeks of the scheme being extended to food delivery services on June 15. Of the company’s total food delivery orders placed under the scheme from June 15-30, 55% were valued at 100-250 baht, while 25% were worth less than 100 baht. Continued …
Isan poll rates government’s economic work as dismal
Households in the northeast are still struggling, and confidence in the economy remains weak, according to a new poll that gave the government’s economic performance low marks.
The poll, conducted by the Faculty of Economics at Khon Kaen University, surveyed 1,058 people across 20 northeastern provinces on the household-level economy in the second quarter and their expectations for the third quarter of 2026. Continued …
Shippers forecast 2026 exports to grow by at least 8%-10% despite headwinds
Dhanakorn Kasetrsuwan, chairman of the Thai National Shippers’ Council (TNSC), said yesterday that Thailand’s exports in May were worth US$34.333 billion, up 10.6% and expanding for a 23rd consecutive month.
Imports were worth US$40.0445 billion, up 35.1%, resulting in a trade deficit of US$5.7114 billion. Excluding oil-related products, gold and strategic goods, exports grew by 8.6%. For the first five months of 2026, exports were worth US$162.0859 billion, up 17% from the same period of the previous year. Continued …
Genuine foreign investment or nominees?
Chinese-language delivery apps in Thailand are under scrutiny after a viral post raised questions about riders, ownership and legal compliance. Authorities are now checking whether platforms such as GOKOO, E-Gets and Feixiang fully comply with Thai laws on foreign investment. Video …
Dubai investment plan raises prospects for Thai food exports
Dubai’s image as a city of luxury, skyscrapers and world-class tourism is set to receive a major economic boost, with more than 22 billion baht earmarked to support tourism, retail and services in the second half of 2026, as the emirate seeks to maintain economic momentum and cushion the impact of developments in the Middle East.
Thailand’s Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP), under the Commerce Ministry, expects Dubai’s push to stimulate tourism, retail and services to support demand for food imports, creating opportunities for Thai products such as rice, seafood, processed food and seasonings to expand further in the United Arab Emirates market. Continued …
In Thailand’s sex tourism hub, bright lights flash, loud music blares – and underage girls are exploited
Sky Kanyarat was playing pool in the early hours of the morning in one of Thailand’s most famous red light districts when a middle-aged foreigner with a heavy gait approached her. She had often seen him walking past the bar where she worked in Pattaya, a city about a two-hour drive from Bangkok. But this was the first time Kanyarat had seen him come in.
As he passed under the bunting of flags from around the world, it appeared “he was drunk from somewhere else because he walked wobbly,” says Kanyarat, who identifies as a ladyboy, a term commonly used in Thailand’s transgender community. Continued …
Thailand Tightens Airport Security Nationwide
Thailand will introduce tougher airport security measures based on a zero trust approach after a Thai airline cabin crew member was detained in Australia over alleged involvement in drug trafficking. The government said the case should not be viewed as an isolated incident but as a catalyst to strengthen aviation security across the entire air travel system.
Under the new policy, all flight crew, pilots, airline staff and other personnel will be subject to the same security screening standards as passengers, with no exceptions. Authorities will also increase the use of K9 detection dogs on both arriving and departing flights, particularly on higher-risk routes and at higher-risk times. Continued …
Thailand rides the longevity fitness trend to grow sportainment tourism
Thailand is moving to strengthen its role as a sportainment destination as interest in fitness travel grows alongside the longevity trend, which is reshaping exercise from a lifestyle choice into part of long-term health and travel planning.
One of the clearest examples is HYROX, the global fitness race that has helped turn gym-based training into a competitive, social and highly marketable event. The format combines a one-kilometer run with eight workout stations, using the same structure worldwide so participants can compare their performance with others across countries. Continued …
Tourism firms call for more security in south
Tourism operators in the south have urged the government to strengthen security measures after Malaysian tourists were injured in a roadside bomb attack in Tak Bai, although the incident has affected only a limited number of tour groups traveling to Hat Yai this weekend.
Sitthipong Sitthiphataraprabha, president of the Hat Yai Songkhla Hotels Assn., said cancellations included a group of four buses that planned trips from Kelantan to Pattani and Hat Yai through the Sungai Kolok checkpoint. Continued …
Kui Buri – Where the Wild still roams
As the afternoon heat eases across the grasslands of Kui Buri National Park, voices in the open-backed pickup truck soften to whispers. Binoculars lift. Cameras are made steady. All eyes turn toward the forest’s edge.
A gray shape emerges from the tree line, followed by another. Within seconds, a small herd of wild elephant steps into the open meadow. A baby elephant stays close to its mother, swinging its trunk clumsily as it follows the others toward the grasslands. Continued …
Making Thai Milk Tea in Bangkok
Land bridge project comes at environmental cost
Scientists and environmental groups warn the land bridge project could threaten fragile marine ecosystems and coastal communities in southern Thailand, while the government promises economic growth. Video …
Green manufacturing offers opportunity
Thailand is intensifying its efforts to combat global warming by steering investment toward green manufacturing. At the center of this strategy is the bio-, circular and green (BCG) economic model — a framework that aims to balance growth with sustainability.
Though it no longer commands the same spotlight it did when first introduced several years ago, BCG remains crucial to Thailand’s ambition of achieving a net-zero target by 2050, 15 years earlier than its original target. Continued …
ThaiBev bottles the sun in Thailand’s green industry push
Sustainability has moved beyond the language of annual reports. In Thailand, it is becoming something far more tangible: solar panels on factory roofs, biogas from production by-products, lighter packaging, smarter energy systems and industrial discipline that can be measured in tons of avoided carbon.
Thai Beverage, or ThaiBev, offers a polished example of this shift. The regional beverage group is using Thailand’s abundant sunlight and agricultural-industrial base to reimagine how high-volume manufacturing can operate in a low-carbon age. Continued …
Thailand EV investment tops 137-billion baht
Thailand’s ambition to become a leading electric vehicle production hub in ASEAN has gained further momentum, with investment promotion approvals in the EV industry reaching 198 projects worth more than 137 billion baht as of May.
The approved projects cover the full EV ecosystem, from electric vehicle production, batteries and key components to charging stations and battery-swapping facilities, according to Narit Therdsteerasukdi, secretary-general of the Board of Investment (BOI) and secretary of the National Electric Vehicle Policy Committee, known as the EV Board. Continued …
Chonburi Raids Target Pattaya Villa Nominee Network
Chonburi authorities launched coordinated raids across six locations in Pattaya yesterday as part of an investigation into suspected foreign nominee businesses, uncovering an unlicensed luxury pool villa operation and seizing 20 cylinders of nitrous oxide, commonly known as laughing gas. Continued …
-
African-led transnational drug ring busted – Continued …
-
Police Detain 4 Chinese Nationals on Bus in Chumphon – Continued …
-
South Korean Scammers Arrested in Bangkok – 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 will mark Pride Month 2026 with the LGBTQ+ Festival Thailand and Hua Hin Pride Parade on Thursday, June 4. The celebration will begin at Market Village Hua Hin, with activities from 3 pm before the parade sets off at 5:30 pm and makes its way to Amari Hua Hin.
Smoking is linked to at least 15 types of cancer, while e-cigarettes are no safe alternative, a Chiang Mai cancer specialist warned on World No Tobacco Day yesterday. Dr. Thanika Ketpueak of Chiang Mai University’s Faculty of Medicine said many people still mistakenly associate smoking primarily with lung cancer.
Thailand is considering a Nicotine-free generation law that would prevent children and young people born after a specified year, or within a specified age group when the law takes effect, from ever legally buying cigarettes, e-cigarettes, or nicotine products, as the government seeks to cut off new smokers at the source.
Thailand’s restaurant industry is facing a difficult year, as rising costs, weaker consumer purchasing power, and fierce price competition put pressure on both major chains and smaller operators. Several large restaurant groups reported weaker first-quarter earnings, with net profits falling sharply despite their strong brand positions.
Thailand’s economic planning agency has warned that higher global oil prices could further weaken the ability of households and businesses to repay debt, adding pressure to an already fragile credit environment.
More than 39.2 million people will receive 1,000 baht in government support from today as the Thais Help Thais Plus co-payment scheme officially begins, says the Finance Ministry.
Taste alone no longer sells food in Asia. That is the central takeaway from the Top F&B Trends in Asia 2026 report by Netherlands-based research firm Innova Market Insights, unveiled at THAIFEX – Anuga Asia 2026, the continent’s premier food and beverage trade forum.
PowerChina has expressed confidence in Thailand’s potential and is preparing to establish PowerChina (Thailand) Co. to support full-scale investment in the country’s transport infrastructure.
Thailand’s seafood export market has been shaken after Malaysia announced strict new measures from today, affecting Thai sea bass and five shrimp species and raising the risk of domestic oversupply.
Australia, Belgium, and Norway are using THAIFEX-Anuga Asia 2026, one of Asia’s largest food trade shows, as a key platform to promote their premium and quality food and beverage exports in Bangkok, strategically positioning Thailand as one of Southeast Asia’s competitive markets.
Phuket Airport denied rumors of money being extorted from passengers to quickly get them through Immigration when the arrival terminal is packed with tourists waiting to enter the popular resort island.
Every country has its landmarks. Thailand, according to some travelers on social media, has one that is a little less glamorous than most: the “Depresscalator.” The nickname refers to the long moving staircase that carries departing passengers from the international check-in area toward security screening at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport.
Is Bangkok a good place to live?
50-Year-Old Bangkok Stall Perfectly Preps the Most Iconic Thai Comfort Food
Chiang Mai has earned a place among the world’s top eight destinations for digital nomads and creators, after Forbes magazine included the northern Thai city in its 2026 ranking. The city joins Medellín, Cape Town, Lisbon, Bali, Mexico City, Tokyo, and Berlin on the list.
Thailand is accelerating its transition toward cleaner transport, with commercial electric vehicles (EVs) emerging as a centerpiece of the country’s sustainability drive.
The government has added bottled drinking water and seasoning sauces to its price-control list, along with plastic pellets, in order to prevent undue price increases in light of cost pressures arising from the Middle East war.
The Fuel Fund Board has approved an increase in diesel prices, with the retail price of B7 diesel rising to 50.54 baht per liter and B20 diesel to 45.54 baht per liter, effective yesterday. The decision follows a reduction in subsidy rates aimed at easing the financial burden on the state Oil Fuel Fund. The adjustment will have an immediate impact on transport costs and the wider economy.
The Energy Policy and Planning Office has announced updated petrol prices effective from yesterday. This report details current prices at five major service stations: PTT, Bangchak, PT, Caltex, and Shell, providing an overview of costs per liter for various fuel types.
The 15th edition of the Princess Pa’s Cup InterContinental–B.Grimm Beach Polo Hua Hin took place on Saturday, bringing a blend of sport, society, and seaside elegance to the beachfront of InterContinental Hua Hin Resort.
Hazardous levels of ultrafine dust covered Bangkok and 58 of Thailand’s 76 provinces yesterday afternoon, with air quality reaching levels considered harmful to health.
Chiang Mai, Lamphun, and Phayao have been declared emergency disaster zones, as persistent hazardous air quality continues to grip northern Thailand, unlocking emergency funds for provincial governors to deploy relief efforts.
Thailand is set to experience widespread hot to extremely hot conditions through April 11, with temperatures in some areas expected to exceed 42°C, according to the Thai Meteorological Department.
Inspectors from the Department of Internal Trade (DIT), under the Commerce Ministry, have been conducting random inspections of outlets selling LPG cooking gas and gas-filling facilities to ensure they are not cheating customers by selling less gas than the tanks’ stated capacity.
The palm-fringed beaches of Phuket and the neon-lit streets of Bangkok feel worlds away from the geopolitical tremors of the Middle East. However, in our interconnected world, a shadow cast in Tehran is quickly felt in Thailand.
The war in the Middle East, now dragging on for more than a month, is casting a shadow over travel during the Songkran festival, a global event for Thailand. Hotel, retail, and event operators largely see Songkran tourism in 2026 as either weaker or flat compared with last year, even as the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) estimates domestic spending at 30.35 billion baht, up 6%.
Oil prices opened higher today as the US-Israeli war with Iran continued to disrupt global supply, reinforcing concerns over one of the most severe energy shocks in years, according to Reuters.
The conflict in the Middle East that erupted on Feb. 28, has sent the biggest shock through global energy markets in history. Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, which normally carries more than 20 million barrels a day of crude oil and oil products, or around 20% of global oil consumption, has almost ground to a halt.
The war in the Middle East, now in its second month, is hitting global trade, as shipping costs climb in line with higher oil prices, while freight rates have also risen sharply.
Thailand’s rising cost of living is becoming increasingly hard for households to bear, with a new survey showing that most people are already feeling the strain as Songkran approaches.
Restaurants are bracing for less vibrant sales during the Songkran holiday this year, which runs from April 11-15, according to the Thai Restaurant Assn. With the Middle East war driving up the cost of living and reducing consumer purchasing power, Thaniwan Kulmongkol, president of the association, said food is often the first thing people cut from their budgets.
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul told shoppers while inspecting prices of goods on sale at a shopping mall in Bangkapi area of Bangkok Saturday that a round of 50:50 co-payment scheme will be implemented after April 30.
Thai manufacturers have been further hit with a double whammy as a severe shortage of microchips has thrown this market into turmoil, while prices of all types of steel products are initially rising by 10%-15% this month.
Thailand is pushing for regulations that would require international tourists to obtain accident insurance before entering the country, as rising unpaid medical bills and accident risks place a mounting strain on public healthcare.
Tourist numbers along Jomtien Beach have dropped noticeably in recent days, leaving normally busy beachfront areas unusually quiet and raising concerns among local operators. A survey of the area found a clear decline in visitors, with long stretches of beach appearing sparse compared to the typically lively atmosphere Pattaya is known for.
Thailand’s aviation sector is starting to show clearer signs of strain from the worsening oil crisis, with Thai AirAsia and Thai AirAsia X suspending selected routes during the 2026 summer schedule as surging fuel costs weigh more heavily on operations. The move comes as energy tensions linked to the Middle East conflict continue to push up aviation costs globally.
On the right track along Bangkok’s rail lines
The MICE (meetings, incentives, conventions, and exhibitions) sector includes business activities at event venues, as well as the entire supply chain, including catering companies, organizers, and transport providers.
Organic farming becomes a new pillar in the global food trade
Grab Thailand is accelerating its Grab EV program in response to the ongoing energy crisis by announcing strategic partnerships with nine new partners, including EV manufacturers and distributors, as well as taxi cooperatives.
For the first time in more than half a century, astronauts will fly around the Moon today, marking the high point of the Artemis 2’s lunar mission. The flyby will last around seven hours, starting today around 2:45 p.m. eastern US time (1845 GMT) and ending around 9:20 p.m. (0120 GMT). 
Waghor Super Mini Marathon set for Nov 23
Hua Hin holds health festival
Thai police use rubber bullets, tear gas against Cambodians on border
Thai consumers prioritize health, embrace food tech
Thai industrial sentiment hits 3-year low
Thai AirAsia X Launches Three New Routes
‘This tiny island airport is one of the best I’ve ever been to’
US Fed makes first rate cut of 2025 on employment risks
10 Northeast provinces at risk of severe drought in next 10 years
Thaksin Tells Pheu Thai to Abandon Digital Wallet Plan
What is the truth? Pheu Thai says it will stick to digital wallet plan
Thai unemployment drops, except in Bangkok
Institute predicts 8.8% jump in food exports to Bt1.6 trillion
AirAsia launches new route from Bangkok to Kathmandu
Sugar substitute Xylitol linked to increased heart attack and stroke risk
Jetstar Resumes Brisbane-Bangkok Direct Flights After Four-Year Hiatus
Austrian Airlines to operate more flights to Bangkok
