Dusit Ajara Hua Hin opens/‘Blessing of the Fleet’ ceremony/Huay Mongkol Temple robing ceremony/Monsoon Valley ‘Vineyard Fest’/Thailand, Cambodia agree on ceasefire terms/Growing threat of drones/Mental health problems increasing/Scottish expat loses legs/Wild elephants roam for Thai produce/ECONOMY: Thai Inflation Dips/Global Recession Concerns/Illegal cigarette trade in Songkhla/TOURISM: Tourism players warn of a bad year/Forward bookings dip/Tourism Sector Loses 3 Billion Baht Monthly/Tomorrowland to attract 1 million visitors/Koh Larn’s Vehicle Chaos/THAILAND EXPERIENCE: A First-Time Visit To Thailand/Exploring Chiang Mai Temples/CLIMATE THAILAND: Transforming tangled waste/FOREIGNERS BEHAVING BADLY/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
Dusit Ajara Hua Hin opens in Cha-am
Dusit Thani has announced Dusit Ajara Hua Hin, an ultra-luxury residential development featuring over 60% green space. This is the second project by Dusit Thani as a property developer, following Dusit Residences and Dusit Parkside at Dusit Central Park.
Located at 1349 Petchkasem Road, Petchaburi, Cha-am, Dusit Ajara Hua Hin features leisure gardens, kids’ playgrounds, a wellness studio, and salt water pools. The project also embraces the multi-generational living concept, creating designed spaces and facilities for family members across all ages.
Standard services include 24-hour concierge service, housekeeping, bed linen laundry, private garden maintenance, emergency response service, property maintenance, and shuttle service within the development; cooking classes, art and craft workshops, yoga and tai chi classes; room service to personal chefs, catering, in-home party arrangements, hotel spa services, and hotel car services.
Hua Hin to host annual ‘Blessing of the Fleet’ ceremony
The annual ‘Blessing of the Fleet’ ceremony will return to Hua Hin on Sunday, Sept. 7, continuing a tradition that honors the town’s historic connection to the sea and its fishing community.
Held at the Chao Mae Tubtim Shrine, near the Hilton Hua Hin Resort & Spa, the ceremony is organized by members of the Hua Hin fishing and coastal communities. It serves as a moment to pay respect to ancestors, offer protection for local fishermen, and express gratitude for the ocean’s continued abundance. Continued …
Huay Mongkol Temple robing ceremony tomorrow, Saturday
Huay Mongkol Temple in Hua Hin will host the 12th “Robing of the Giant Luang Pu Thuat” ceremony on Aug. 8–9 to mark Mother’s Month and honor the 93rd birthday of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit The Queen Mother.
The event, organized in collaboration with the Tourism Authority of Thailand’s Central Region, will begin on the evening of Aug. 8 with a blessing ceremony at the plaza in front of the giant Luang Pu Thuat statue. Continued …
Monsoon Valley ‘Vineyard Fest’ set this weekend
Monsoon Valley Hua Hin will hold its annual Vineyard Fest, a four-day event celebrating the release of its new 2025 vintages, from Aug. 9-12. The event offers a mix of wine tastings, outdoor dining, and relaxed afternoon entertainment set against the scenic backdrop of the vineyard.
The festival begins on Aug. 9 with the launch of Monsoon Valley’s latest vintages. Visitors can sample a selection of five wines served by the glass. Continued …
Thailand, Cambodia agree in principle to ceasefire terms
Secretariat-level discussions between Thailand and Cambodia, which took place over three days starting Monday, have reached a consensus in principle on key issues relating to the implementation of the ceasefire along their shared border.
Chief of Defense Force Gen. Tan Sri Mohd Nizam Jaffar said this included agreement on the terms of reference (TOR) for monitoring efforts by the interim ASEAN defense attaché observer team. Continued …
The growing threat of drones in the Thai-Cambodian conflict
The Thai Cabinet has recently approved the purchase of four Gripen fighter jets, a decision made during the ongoing conflict with Cambodia. This move seems unlikely to face opposition, especially after the Gripen jets significantly changed the dynamics of aerial combat by repeatedly targeting Cambodian military bases.
However, military professionals, experts, and security scholars are expressing concerns. One military expert specializing in drone warfare noted that while the Cabinet has approved the Gripen purchase, it has not authorized the acquisition of drones — despite the current issue of Cambodian or foreign drones causing disruption. Continued …
Mental health problems increasing in Thailand
Some 13.4 million Thais claim to have experienced mental health problems, with people aged 45–59, known as the pre-senior group, reporting the lowest happiness levels, according to the Thai Health Report 2025.
The report, compiled by the Thai Health Promotion Foundation (ThaiHealth) and Mahidol University’s Institute for Population and Social Research, and released on Monday, comprises four sections, including mental health and major public health issues. Continued …
Scottish expat loses legs in Bangkok lorry crash
A Scottish man living in Thailand had both legs amputated after a motorbike crash with a lorry in Bangkok.
Willie Braid, a 54-year-old expat from Scotland, was hit while riding his motorbike in the capital on July 27. The driver of the lorry is alleged to have fled the scene in what appears to be a hit-and-run incident. Continued …
Wild elephants roam 30 kilometers for Thai produce
The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation has reported that wild elephants are straying beyond their forest habitats in eastern Thailand, traveling over 30 kilometers in search of food.
Atthapol Charoenchansa, the department’s director-general, stated that elephants are attracted to the taste of local produce such as durians, mangosteens, bananas, and sugarcane, which are more appealing than their usual forest diet. Continued …
Thai Inflation Dips for Fourth Consecutive Month, Deflation Fears Dismissed
T ailand’s headline inflation fell for the fourth consecutive month in July, reaching -0.70%, according to the Ministry of Commerce. The decline was primarily attributed to cheaper energy and fresh food prices, though officials were quick to dismiss concerns of the economy entering a deflationary period.
The Trade Policy and Strategy Office (TPSO) revealed that lower global oil prices and a government-led reduction in electricity tariffs were key contributors to the drop. Continued …
Trump’s Tariff Strategy Sparks Global Recession Concerns
U.S. President Donald Trump’s sweeping new tariff proposal is rattling global markets and intensifying fears of a broader economic slowdown in the second half of 2025.
The move, which targets key trade partners including the European Union, China, and ASEAN nations, is poised to stoke inflationary pressures at home while threatening already fragile recoveries abroad. Continued …
Illegal cigarette trade in Songkhla cripples local businesses
The Thai Tobacco Trade Assn. has raised alarms over the rampant distribution of illicit cigarettes in Songkhla province, which has impacted over 4,000 legal tobacco retailers and forced the closure of about 200 small shops.
Thanyasaran Sangthong, the association’s executive director, revealed that Songkhla ranks second in the country for illegal cigarette infiltration, severely affecting local tax revenue. Continued …
Thai foreign tourism players warn of a bad year
The Thai-Cambodian border clash in late July dealt a brutal blow to Thailand’s already crumbling foreign tourism industry in 2025, coming just months after a damaging earthquake shook Bangkok. These events, alongside a January scandal involving the abduction of Chinese nationals by scam gangs in Myanmar, have created relentless negative headlines that drive tourists away.
Latest figures show tourist arrivals have plunged 6.56% compared to last year, while vital cross-border trade with Cambodia — lifeblood for many struggling local traders — has ground to a halt, deepening economic strain. Tourism operators are now demanding one thing from the government: stability. Continued …
Forward bookings dip amid border row
Foreign forward bookings for Thailand have started to feel the pinch due to the Thai-Cambodian border tensions, according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), while Chanthaburi tourism operators reported cancellations from foreign tourists for the remainder of the year.
Tourism operators urged the government to offer relief measures for affected businesses in the seven border provinces, such as tax reductions. Continued …
Thailand’s Tourism Sector Loses 3 Billion Baht Monthly
The fierce clashes at the Thai-Cambodian border have severely impacted Thailand’s booming tourism sector, resulting in a monthly loss of 3 billion baht (US $83M). Since hostilities flared last month, the once-bustling border provinces have turned eerily silent, with tourists cancelling over 5,000 hotel bookings.
Sorawong Thienthong, the minister of tourism and sports, revealed that the spiraling cancellations of hotel reservations by foreign visitors are largely responsible for the losses. The fallout is most severe in the seven provinces along the fracture line of the Thai-Cambodian border, where apprehension is rife and rooms lie empty. Continued …
Tomorrowland to attract 1 million visitors in 5 years, says TAT
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) confirms that organizing the ‘Tomorrowland’ electronic dance music (EDM) festival in Thailand will be worthwhile.
It is expected to generate a total economic impact of over 21 billion baht from tourists and attendees, with more than 1 million people participating in the first five years. Continued …
Pattaya Cracks Down on Koh Larn’s Vehicle Chaos
Koh Larn’s chaotic transport scene is about to be tamed with a fresh initiative from Pattaya officials employing bright stickers to control the island’s vehicle frenzy. Over 3,500 vehicles, including motorbikes, taxis, and golf carts, will be sorted, monitored, and regulated as part of a new system designed to enhance safety, transparency, and tourist satisfaction.
This initiative introduces nine vehicle categories to address long-standing issues like overcrowding and unregulated operators disrupting the island’s narrow paths. Continued …
A First-Time Visit To Tantalizing Thailand
It was only my second day in Thailand, but I knew then I’d want to return someday for more of its vibrant street life — a multisensory medley of hole-in the-wall shops, markets brimming with exotic fruits, and outdoor cooking stalls tucked under canopies of plastic tarps, oversized umbrellas, and corrugated metal roofs.
From morning to night, the roads are abuzz with motorcycles, motor scooters and Thailand’s iconic tuk-tuks, those three-wheeled vehicles with a bench in back for passengers or a side cart for hauling things. Continued …
Exploring Chiang Mai Temples
Thailand ranks at the top of many people’s dream destination lists, and rightly so. Of the more than 100 countries I’ve traveled to, Thailand is the one that offers something to everyone who visits. However, many travelers visit Bangkok and the southern islands and tend to miss out on the northern part of the country, which I consider one of its best parts.
Chiang Mai, Thailand’s second biggest city behind Bangkok, is the central hub for exploring northern Thailand. The city features hundreds of ancient temples, a fantastic and unique food scene, and an incredible natural scene, as it is surrounded by mountains. Continued …
Transforming tangled waste into tangible rewards
Thailand’s retail giant Central Group has launched a forward-looking sustainability initiative, “Love the Earth: Zero Waste,” in response to the escalating triple planetary crises of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution, as highlighted by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP).
The campaign has been rolled out in key tourism-dependent provinces such as Samui, Chanthaburi, and Surat Thani – destinations known for their economic vitality but increasingly strained by mounting volumes of food and plastic waste. Continued …
- British Man Busted After iPhone Theft, 2-Year Overstay – Continued …
- 2 Nigerian Men Caught Crossing into Thailand from Cambodia – Continued …
Foreign man arrested for running illegal motorcycle rental in Phuket – Continued …
Bus service between Hua Hin, Don Mueang Airport in Bangkok
The first-class bus service between Don Mueang Airport and Hua Hin offers two round trips daily. The fare is 200 baht each way and takes three-and-a-half hours. The Hua Hin departure is from the current Transport Co. terminal just north of Hua Hin Airport.(We recommend checking with the bus company about this schedule, as it changes without notice.)
Starting May 1, the Don Mueang-Hua Hin route will offer two round trips per day. The two outbound trips from Don Mueang Airport will depart at 8 am and 3 pm. The bus will stop at eight locations, including the Service Hall at Don Mueang, Mo Chit 2 Bus Terminal in Bangkok, Mahachai, Phetchaburi Big C, Phetchaburi Bus Station, Cha Am PTT Petrol Station, Bluport Hua Hin Resort Mall, and the Hua Hin Bus Station.
For the return trips from Hua Hin, buses will depart at 9 am and 3:30 pm, stopping at seven locations, including the Hua Hin Bus Station, Bluport Hua Hin Resort Mall, Cha Am PTT Petrol Station, Phetchaburi Bus Station, Mahachai, Mo Chit 2 Bus Terminal, and Don Mueang Airport.
Online Booking and Customer Service: Facebook Page: BorKorSor; LINE ID: @TCL99; Website: TCL99 Transport.
Hua Hin-Chiang Mai flight schedule
Thai Airasia has updated its flight schedule between Hua Hin and Chiang Mai (Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Friday):
(We recommend checking with the airline about this schedule, as it changes without notice.)
Hua Hin to Chiang Mai: Departure 12:10 pm
Chiang Mai to Hua Hin: Departure 10:20 am
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:
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- 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
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