Feedback Re: New expat tax/Hua Hin property fraud/PKK Midnight Alms-Giving/Hua Hin has new statue/Pran Buri fishing community requests new pier/Reduce out-of-pocket medical expenses/Unsafe air in 15 provinces/Power supply cuts to Myanmar/Thai FDA assures public on Coca-Cola/King cobra found in bathroom/Why did the elephants cross the road?/Thailand awaits new pandas/Foreigners behaving badly/ECONOMY: 1.3% inflation in January/Digital wallet third phase/Thailand leads ASEAN in dairy exports/TOURISM: Thailand’s tourism challenges/Rising visa scams/Thai AirAsia to keep prices in check/Jurassic World theme park for Bangkok/CLIMATE THAILAND: 2°C climate goal ‘dead’/INTERNATIONAL/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
Re: New expat tax
“Re: your item of Feb. 5 entitled ‘Thailand’s expat tax filing deadline approaching’, and the second paragraph “If you’re filing yourself: Revenue offices will be busier as the deadline approaches. Many expats are filing for the first time, and local offices may not be familiar with returns involving foreign income. We have received reports of confusion in some locations.’ What have been people’s experiences at the Hua Hin Revenue Office this year? Especially those of us who cannot speak adequate Thai on this complex topic. Many thanks in advance.” – Jim
Expat News: Good question. However, we have not heard anything on this subject as yet. Perhaps you should ask your question of the Expat Tax Thailand experts who are actually helping people with this process – at LINK.
Meanwhile, if any of our readers have had any experience on this topic, we welcome your comments to aim@hhexpatnews.com.
American and Thai wife lose 15.2 million baht in Hua Hin property fraud
An American man and his Thai wife are pursuing justice after being duped by a real estate firm into buying two plots of land and a house in Hua Hin, amounting to 15.2 million baht. Despite their investment, they have been unable to gain ownership of the property.
Patrick Flippin revealed that he first arrived in Thailand in 2005. He worked and lived in the Sukhumvit area of Bangkok for five years before marrying Vipavanee Kaewmueangklang in 2017. He later returned to the United States for work, intending to retire in Thailand with Vipavanee. Vipavanee explained that she came across an advertisement for a real estate project on social media and became interested in purchasing a property because they were fond of Hua Hin. Continued …
PKK Midnight Alms-Giving ceremoney Feb 11
Hua Hin has new ‘man fighting shark’ statue
Pran Buri fishing community requests new pier
How to reduce out-of-pocket medical expenses in Thailand?
Managing medical expenses in Thailand is important as healthcare costs continue to rise. The country’s healthcare system includes both public and private options, but even with the Universal Coverage Scheme (UCS) for citizens, many still face high out-of-pocket medical expenses.
This guide offers practical tips to help reduce these expenses, such as choosing the right health insurance, focusing on preventive care, and using available resources. Whether you’re a long-term resident or new to Thailand, these strategies can make quality healthcare more affordable and easier to access. Continued …
Bangkok smog red lines, unsafe air in 15 provinces
Bangkok residents suffered yesterday, with smog levels at red hazardous-to-health levels, and unsafe levels of ultrafine dust recorded in 15 of the 76 provinces, according to the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA).
Fifteen provinces outside Bangkok faced orange levels (starting to affect health) of PM2.5 ranging from 37.7 to 64.4µg/m³, including Prachuap Khiri Khan. Continued …
Thailand’s power supply cuts to Myanmar affecting people, hospitals and schools
Thailand’s electricity supply withdrawal from the Tachileik border township in Myanmar is expected to affect about 7,500 homes, five hospitals, 45 schools, 65 temples and 15 army camps, said Natkhanet Charasveesirikul, manager of Provincial Electricity Authority’s (PEA) Mae Sai office.
He said that there are about 200 emergency patients in hospitals there who depend on ventilators, and it will take at least three days for Myanmar’s engineers to source an alternative supply from Laos. Continued …
Thai FDA assures public on Coca-Cola recall safety
The Thai Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clarified concerns regarding Coca-Cola’s recall of soft drinks in Europe due to excessive chlorate levels. The FDA assured that the affected batches from Belgium have not been imported into Thailand, with most imported soft drinks originating from ASEAN countries like Laos and Singapore, which are not involved in the recall.
Deputy Secretary-General of the FDA Lertchai Lertwut explained that chlorate contamination in food and beverages arises from using water treated with chlorine, chlorine dioxide, or hypochlorite for disinfection. Continued …
King cobra found in bathroom prompts urgent rescue in Thailand
A homeowner preparing to take a shower was startled to find a king cobra over 3 meters long lurking in the bathroom. The incident, which occurred Tuesday, prompted a swift call to emergency services for assistance.
The homeowner recounted spotting the large snake coiled inside the bathroom, causing them to dash out and shut the door to prevent the reptile from escaping further into the house. Upon arrival, the rescue team opened the bathroom door to discover the snake hiding in the corner of the bathtub. Using a forked stick, they carefully nudged the snake out of its hiding spot. Continued …
Why did the elephants cross the road?
Motorists in Prachin Buri province experienced a heart-stopping moment when two wild elephants wandered onto a public road, narrowly avoiding a collision with passing vehicles. The dramatic incident has reignited concerns over human-wildlife conflict in the region.
The elephants, which had strayed from Khao Ang Rue Nai Wildlife Sanctuary, were spotted near Ban Hua Sa School in Si Maha Phot district. Startled drivers were forced to slow down as the massive animals lumbered across the road, raising fears of potential accidents. Continued …
Thailand awaits new panda arrivals from China
Thailand will soon receive a new pair of giant pandas from China as goodwill ambassadors, marking the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two nations this year.
Reports about the new pandas have met with some opposition, mainly due to concerns over the expense of their care. China is only loaning the pair for about 10 years, and Thailand will have to cover the costs. Continued …
- Thai Police Arrest African Nationals in Two Major Fraud Cases – Continued …
- Human Trafficking Case Leads to Major Cannabis Bust in Bangkok – Continued …
- Tunisian tourist tries to outrun Karon cops, chase ends in arrest – Continued …
- 3 foreigners caught in Phuket for illegal motorcycle modifications – Continued …
- Cameroonian Man Arrested in Bangkok for Fake US Dollar Scam – Continued …
- Foreigner Sparks Outrage for Doing Thai-Only Job in Phuket – Continued …
- FBI-Wanted American Man Arrested in Nakhon Ratchasima for Overstaying Visa – Continued …
- Vietnamese workers arrested in Pattaya beauty salon raid – Continued …
Thailand reports 1.3% inflation in January
The headline consumer price index (CPI) in Thailand rose 1.32% in January from a year earlier, after an increase of 1.2% the month before, the Ministry of Commerce said today.
The figure was in line with a forecast rise of 1.3% in a Reuters poll and was inside the Bank of Thailand’s target range of 1% to 3% for the second consecutive month. Core CPI was up 0.83% in January from a year earlier. Continued …
Digital wallet third phase coming second quarter
The Ministry of Finance hopes to lift the economy via a new phase of the digital wallet program and additional stimulus measures. The first phase of the handout scheme was for welfare and disability cardholders, while the second focused on the elderly.
The first two phases did not actually involve a digital wallet, though the name has been widely used ever since the Pheu Thai Party introduced it as an election campaign promise in 2023. Continued …
Thailand leads ASEAN in dairy exports, hits $582M with 11.5% growth
Thailand has secured the top position as ASEAN’s leading exporter of dairy products, with exports surging by 11.5% in 2024, reaching a total value of US$582 million (19.623 billion baht), Deputy Minister of Commerce Suchart Chomklin announced yesterday.
The growth was particularly strong in six key markets: Malaysia saw a 64.3% increase, Vietnam 30.4%, Indonesia 27.1%, Singapore 20.1%, Philippines 19%, and Myanmar 14.6%. Continued …
Challenges Thailand faces in achieving its 2025 tourism targets
While Thailand has set an ambitious goal of attracting 39 million international visitors and generating 3 trillion baht in tourism revenue under the Amazing Thailand Grand Tourism and Sports Year 2025 campaign, several challenges could hinder these targets.
Global Economic Uncertainty: Economic downturns in key tourist markets, including China and Europe, could impact travel spending. Rising inflation and weakened consumer confidence might make long-haul travel to Thailand less affordable for many potential visitors. Continued …
Thai travelers warned of rising visa scams
With soaring outbound travel from Thailand, visa applications have hit record highs. Scammers pose as VFS Global staff, agents, or intermediaries, selling fake appointments, issuing false letters, or claiming to influence visa decisions to defraud applicants.
Given this context, VFS Global, a leading outsourcing and technology service specialist, shared anti-fraud and apply-in-advance advisories for visa applicants at an event held in Bangkok yesterday. Continued …
Thai AirAsia promises to keep prices in check
As the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) prepares to curb high airfares during the Songkran festival, Thai AirAsia said it would keep prices in check, though its average rate never exceeded the ceiling set by the regulator.
CAAT insisted this week a price ceiling would be the main mechanism to cap low-cost airline fares at 9.40 baht per kilometer, while for full-service airlines the fare ceiling is 13 baht per kilometer. Continued …
Bt1.2 billion Jurassic World theme park approved in Bangkok
The Board of Investment (BoI) has approved an investment project to build Jurassic World, a Bangkok-based theme park featuring animatronic dinosaurs, to promote tourism.
The 1.2-billion-baht project, spanning 4,000 square meters, is set to be located in Asiatique The Riverfront, an open-air mall on the banks of the Chao Phraya River. Continued …
Top climate scientists declare 2°C climate goal ‘dead’
Holding long-term global warming to two degrees Celsius – the fallback target of the Paris climate accord – is now “impossible,” according to a stark new analysis published by leading scientists. Continued …
Nissan calls off Honda merger talks
Nissan Motor Co. has called off merger talks with Japanese rival Honda, the Nikkei newspaper said, abandoning a tie-up that would have created the world’s third-largest automaker and raising questions about its ability to ride out a crisis on its own. Continued …
Trump’s mad, mad, mad, mad world — now with extra madness
It’s a mad, mad, mad, mad, world, about to get a whole lot madder under newly elected U.S. President Donald Trump. The 78-year-old alleged leader of the free world, not content with stirring a hornet’s nest by saying he plans to take over Greenland and make Canada a U.S. state, yesterday announced plans to build real estate on top of the blood and bones of the slaughtered Palestine men, women and child victims of Israel’s ethnic-cleansing program. Continued …
Panama May Sever Ties with Hong Kong Company
Panama is considering canceling its contract with Hong Kong-based Hutchison Ports PPC, which operates near the Panama Canal. This decision follows concerns that the company may have violated the terms of its agreement. Continued …
Hua Hin-Chiang Mai flight schedule from Oct 27
Thai Airasia has updated its flight schedule between Hua Hin and Chiang Mai (Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Friday):
Hua Hin to Chiang Mai: Departure 5:15pm, Arrival at 6:30pm
Chiang Mai to Hua Hin: Departure 3:25pm, arrival at 4:45pm
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:
- 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