Daddy Deli acquires Taboo/Severe drought may grip Thailand/Volunteer firefighters paying the price/End military-led approach in deep south
- THE IRAN WAR: Thailand Seeks New Partners as US Withholds Help
- ECONOMY: E-Commerce the ‘Backbone’ of Thai Retail/FPO cuts GDP forecast/Limited impact from co-pay scheme/Asian hub for global wealth/Japanese restaurants decline
- TOURISM: Thailand Welcomes Over 11 million/Travel agents slam B1,000 exit tax/Vietjet Launches Flight and Ferry Service/Thai Airways raises fuel surcharge
- THAILAND EXPERIENCE: LA Songkran Event Sets Guinness Record/How they produce coconut water
- CLIMATE THAILAND: Bangkok’s heat crisis
- FOREIGNERS BEHAVING BADLY/INTERNATIONAL/HUA HIN TRANSPORT and LINKS
Hua Hin’s Daddy Deli acquires Taboo restaurant
Daddy Deli has acquired the Taboo Tapas Wine & Lounge Bar in Hua Hin’s Smorprong area and is preparing to reopen the venue as a new gastro pub, marking the brand’s fourth location in town and continuing its steady expansion since launching in 2020.
The new venue, to be called Taboo by Daddy Deli, will build on the success of the existing restaurant while introducing a more relaxed, community-focused dining concept. The gastro pub is expected to open in May. – HHT
Severe drought may grip Thailand for next 3 years
Thai people are being advised to brace for a prolonged and possibly extreme drought, which may last for up to three years due to El Niño weather phenomenon, according to the Office of National Water Resources (ONWR) and Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA).
Paitoon Kengkarnchang, deputy secretary-general of the ONWR, said that Thailand will start to feel the impacts of El Niño in July, with the hot weather intensifying from November into early next year. Continued …
Volunteer firefighters paying the price
They die quietly, one by one, doing the forest officials’ job, rewarded with little more than praise that masks state hypocrisy. In early April, Boonma Phadaeng, 56, collapsed and died after days of fighting a forest fire in Mae Rim district, Chiang Mai province.
Days later, Decha Tathika lost his life under similar strain in Phrae. No insurance, hazard pay, or safety net for families left behind. They are not the only ones. Every year, poorly equipped volunteer firefighters die protecting their homes. Continued …
Government urged to end military-led approach in deep south
Critics have warned that the military-led approach to handling the conflict in Thailand’s southern border provinces may be prolonging unrest rather than resolving it. Since violence resumed in 2004, the conflict in Pattani, Yala, and Narathiwat remains entrenched, rooted in historical, identity, and religious differences involving separatist groups.
According to Deep South Watch, a local think tank, more than 7,000 people have been killed in the decades-long unrest in the region, which is home to a majority of the country’s Malay Muslim population. The violence has led to the imposition of a prolonged security framework, with martial law and emergency decrees remaining in place for over 20 years. Continued …
Thailand Seeks New Partners as US Withholds Help
Thailand has received no direct assistance from the United States as it struggles with the economic fallout of the American-Israeli war against Iran, Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow said in an interview Monday. The conflict has driven up fuel and fertilizer costs, placing significant strain on the Thai economy and its agricultural sector. In response, Thailand is turning to Russia and China for support.
Prices for urea fertilizer have nearly doubled, impacting more than 10 million Thai farmers, while diesel prices in Thailand reached historic highs. Efforts to secure supplies have included a visit by Thailand’s agriculture minister to Moscow and attempts to procure Russian crude, though concerns over US sanctions have slowed progress. Continued …
Digital Dominance: E-Commerce Now the ‘Backbone’ of Thai Retail
The Thai retail landscape has reached a historic tipping point, with e-commerce now established as the sector’s primary engine of growth. Recent data reveals the digital market has surpassed the 1 trillion baht ($30 billion) threshold, accounting for 30% of total national retail value.
The market is currently dominated by a trio of major players, though the hierarchy is shifting. Shopee remains the undisputed market leader with a 50% share, bolstered by its “Buy Now, Pay Later” financial services and proprietary logistics network, SPX Express. Continued …
FPO cuts Thailand’s 2026 GDP forecast to 1.6% on geopolitical risks
Thailand’s Fiscal Policy Office has cut its 2026 economic growth forecast to 1.6%, down from the 2.0% projection made in January, citing rising pressure from geopolitical conflicts, particularly in the Middle East.
Winit Wisetsuwannaphum, director-general of the FPO, said the conflicts had affected energy costs, travel, and volatility in the global trade system, forcing the agency to revise down its outlook. Continued …
Limited impact seen from co-pay scheme
Economists have played down the impact of the long-awaited second phase of the government’s latest co-payment plus scheme in propping up the subdued economy, citing a limited budget, while goods prices are expected to rise substantially from the second quarter due to elevated oil prices.
Under the Thai Help Thai Plus scheme, the flagship consumer spending stimulus of the Bhumjaithai-led government, the package could offer a 1,000 baht per month subsidy on consumption for four months. The program to “ease citizens’ financial burden” will feature a 60:40 split of approved spending by consumers, with the government paying 60%. Continued …
Thailand emerges as new Asian hub for global wealth and luxury
Thailand is emerging as one of Asia’s new wealth hubs as the global capital landscape shifts and ultra-high-net-worth individuals (UHNWIs) become increasingly mobile, creating fresh momentum for Thailand’s high-end property, investment, and luxury lifestyle sectors.
The Wealth Report 2026 by Knight Frank Chartered (Thailand) Co., says the number of Thai ultra-wealthy individuals is expected to increase by 26% between 2026 and 2031, one of the highest growth rates in Asia, reflecting Thailand’s potential as a new destination for global capital and an investment base for highly mobile wealthy groups. Continued …
Number of Japanese restaurants in Thailand declines
Despite a slowdown in the Japanese restaurant sector last year, new players continue to enter the Thai market this year, while existing brands expand their presence.
According to the Japan External Trade Organization’s Bangkok Office, there were 5,781 Japanese restaurants in Thailand in 2025, a 2.2% decline from 2024, marking the first dip since data collection began in 2007. Continued …
Thailand Welcomes Over 11 million Tourists, Down 3% for Year
Thailand saw 11,364,781 foreign tourist arrivals from Jan. 1 to April 26, representing a 3.4% year-on-year decline, according to the Ministry of Tourism and Sports. Despite the decrease, the country generated an estimated B555,631 million in tourism-related spending. The top source markets for this period were China, Malaysia, Russia, India, and South Korea.
Top Five Source Markets (Jan. 1-April 26, 2026): China: 1,836,916; Malaysia: 1,228,057; Russia: 849,367; India: 805,208; and South Korea: 465,702. Continued …
Travel agents slam B1,000 exit tax
The Thai Travel Agents Assn. (TTAA) strongly opposes the government’s plan to levy a 1,000-baht departure tax on Thai travelers, warning it will hamper two-way tourism and hurt the economy during a cost-of-living crisis.
Chotechuang Soorangura, vice-president of TTAA, said the goal to raise more revenue was understandable, but the principle behind the scheme was unacceptable. He said it remains unclear how much of the budget will be allocated to each type of stimulus, undermining transparency in how the fund will be managed. Continued …
Vietjet Launches Flight and Ferry Service to Thailand’s Islands
Vietjet Thailand has introduced its “Fly2Ferry” service, integrating air and sea travel between Bangkok and the southern islands of Thailand. This new service streamlines travel for passengers to popular destinations like Koh Samui, Koh Tao, and Koh Phangan by offering a single booking system that includes flight and ferry reservations. The service will be available from April 28.
According to Pinyot Pibulsonggram, vice president of commercial and customer service at Vietjet Thailand, this service represents a strategic move to elevate travel convenience to sought-after island destinations. The initiative aligns with the airline’s broader strategy to broaden its travel network and potentially expand flight connections to other islands. Continued …
Thai Airways raises fuel surcharge on international tickets
Thai Airways International has issued an important announcement on revisions to its fuel surcharge rates for tickets on international routes. The move comes under pressure from a “fuel crisis”, with global aviation fuel prices volatile and rising far beyond forecasts.
The main cause of the crisis is the intensifying conflict in the Middle East, which has pushed jet A-1 aviation fuel prices up by two to three times compared with levels before the conflict. Continued …
LA Songkran Event Sets Guinness Record with Pad Thai Sales
More than 1,300 Pad Thai dishes were sold within an hour during the Songkran Festival on Sunday in Los Angeles, setting a new Guinness World Record. The “2026 Thai New Year: Songkran Festival,” hosted along a three-kilometer stretch of Hollywood Boulevard, attracted over 200,000 attendees and is regarded as the largest Thai festival outside of Thailand.
The festival commenced with a parade showcasing Thai cultural elements, drawing large crowds to Hollywood Boulevard. Participants included Thai youth in traditional attire and contestants from the Miss Thai Town 2026 pageant. The highlight of the day was the Pad Thai sales challenge, where chefs from 48 restaurants collaborated to surpass the 1,200 dish target. By the end of the hour, 1,338 dishes were sold, securing the Guinness World Record. Continued …
This is how they produce coconut water in Thailand
Vilhelm Academy: Western qualifications for Hua Hin-based students
Vilhelm International Academy launched in March 2026 and has is campus at “The Hub” in Hin Lek Fai, less than 10 minutes from the center of town. They provide mentor-led academic supervision for students studying through accredited online school programs, whether independently enrolled or through integrated programs offered at Vilhelm. This means that students follow a fixed timetable, complete coursework under supervision, and receive ongoing progress monitoring. They can do this whist studying for their GCSE’s, A-Levels, NCAA approved US courses, or any other online school they choose to use.
Unlike more traditional options, at the academy children can learn at their own pace, not being forced forward before they are ready and also not being held back by the rest of the class. When they are ready to move on they do so. By coming to the academy each day, they are able to complement their studies with activities that develop leadership skills, community service (such as the recent helmet initiative), complemented by daily sports and physical activity to support a healthy, balanced lifestyle.
You can visit the website for more details, or you can book an appointment to meet with the academy co-ordinator to discuss what you are looking for and explain what they can offer. There is a completely free five-day trial period that can be taken advantage of by anyone interested in seeing if the academy is the right fit for them.
Website; Email: info@vilhelminternationalacademy.com; Phone: +66 065 991 5500; Facebook; Map location.
Bangkok’s heat crisis
Bangkok’s heat index has been sitting in the “danger” category since April 1, and as of today, that is nearly four weeks without a break. Actual air temperatures are running at 38 to 40 degrees celsius, with high humidity pushing the feels-like temperature significantly higher.
On the worst days earlier this month, the heat index hit 58.7 degrees celsius, at which point core body temperature can rise to 40 degrees within just 10 to 15 minutes of outdoor exposure. The reason April hits harder than any other month is structural: Thailand’s northeast monsoon ends around mid-February, the cooling rains of the southwest monsoon do not arrive until mid-May, and April sits right in the gap with no cloud cover, no rainfall, and heat building day after day with nowhere to go. Continued …
Sri Lankan monks’ Thailand trip goes up in smoke after cannabis bust
Twenty-two Sri Lankan Buddhist monks who had just returned from Thailand were arrested on April 25 at an airport in Colombo, Sri Lanka, after customs officers allegedly found cannabis hidden in their luggage. The monks were detained after officers found 110 kilograms of cannabis concealed in secret compartments inside their suitcases. Continued …
- Foreign Suspect Shot Dead in Cave, Chumphon – Continued …
- Police Arrest Australian Fugitive in Khon Kaen Raid – Continued …
- Police Arrest Nigerians and Thai in Scam Ring in Pattaya – Continued …
- Police face backlash for letting 2 foreigners walk naked on Phuket road – Continued …
- Foreign man steals from Krabi cannabis shop while staff sleeps – Continued …
UAE quits OPEC from May 1 in major shake-up for global oil market
The United Arab Emirates has confirmed it will withdraw from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and the wider OPEC+ alliance from May 1, ending more than five decades of membership and dealing a fresh blow to the producers’ group as the Iran war continues to disrupt global energy flows. Continued …
As Trump greets Charles, the White House calls them ‘Two Kings’
If the ancestors of Donald Trump and King Charles could see them today, the US president mused yesterday, they “would surely be filled with awe and pride that the Anglo-American revolution in human freedom” had survived to the present day. The White House captioned a photo of the moment, “TWO KINGS”. 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