Editor: Our report yesterday about Hua Hin Today starting a newsletter like this one was incorrect. Hua Hin Today was just marketing for the entity that did start the newsletter. We regret the misunderstanding, however, the article in question did not name an owner of the newsletter and read like it was a Hua Hin Today production, so we misunderstood.
- Feedback/Hua Hin 100K Ultra Marathon/Community dance event Saturday/60-day visa end submitted to Cabinet/Fuel costs climb/Thailand weighs skipping World Cup rights/Fatal rail crash exposes safety failures/Thailand braces for monsoon rain/Thai Gangs Recruit ‘Dumb’ Brits
- THE IRAN WAR: Trump calls off Iran strikes
- ECONOMY: Thai consumer confidence falls/Thailand eyes oil reserves/Thailand hits back at US trade allegations/Thailand Enlists Celebrity Influencers
- TOURISM: Crackdown on Illegal Foreign Proxy Networks/Hotels expect foreign numbers to decline/High season visitors expected to be strong/Suvarnabhumi fast track claim/Extended Schengen Visas for Thais
- THAILAND EXPERIENCE: Chiang Mai On A Budget
- CLIMATE THAILAND: Thailand ASEAN’s Leading EV Market
- HUA HIN TRANSPORT and LINKS
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.
Re: Bangkok train/bus collision
“Train collision was a terrible tragedy. Sadly, anyone who’s ever been at that junction/walked over the bridge from Makkasan to Phetchaburi MRT will have heard the train approaching alarm going off, seen vehicles ignoring it and continuing to cross the rail line, and observed the barriers unable to be lowered. A tragic accident was inevitable.” – AS
Hua Hin 100K Ultra Marathon set for Saturday
The Hua Hin 100K Ultra Marathon 2026 has been officially launched, with organizers aiming to strengthen the town’s reputation as a sports tourism destination while inviting runners to sign up for the endurance event.
Scheduled to take place on May 23 at Rajabhakti Park, the Hua Hin 100K Ultra Marathon will feature four race distances of 10, 25, 50, and 100 kilometers. Officials say the event is expected to attract Thai and international participants, along with supporters traveling to the area, helping to stimulate activity in Hua Hin and Cha Am’s tourism and service sectors. Continued …
Community dance event planned Saturday at Hua Hin railway station
The Beat on Track Zumba event will be held at Hua Hin Railway Station on Saturday, with Hua Hin City Municipality planning a large outdoor exercise activity. The event, officially titled “Beat on Track: Dance Fun on the Rails”, will take place at 5 pm.
The municipality said the event follows the growing popularity of aerobic dancing and other dance-based exercise activities across Thailand. The activity is intended to bring together exercise groups from across the city and encourage more people to take part in group fitness. Continued …
60-day visa end, other changes, submitted to Cabinet for approval
Tourism and Sports Minister Surasak Phancharoenworakul said the Foreign Ministry would today submit to the Cabinet a proposal to cancel the 60-day visa-free measure, known as P.60, and revise the 30-day visa-free measure, known as P.30.
The 60-day visa-free measure, or P.60, has applied to nationals of 93 countries since 2024. The revised 30-day visa-free measure, or P.30, would grant visa-free entry to nationals of 54 countries and territories. Continued …
Fuel costs climb — PTT and Bangchak raise prices again
PTT Oil and Retail Business (OR) and Bangchak Corp. (BCP) have raised retail fuel prices in Bangkok, effective today.
Diesel B7 and diesel B20 prices were increased by 75 satang per liter, while benzine, gasohol 95, gasohol 91, E20 and E85 rose by 85 satang per liter. The latest retail prices in Bangkok, excluding local maintenance tax, are as follows: Continued …
Thailand weighs skipping B1.3-billion 2026 World Cup rights
Thailand has yet to decide whether to buy the broadcast rights for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, as the asking price of at least 1.3 billion baht is far above the 600-million-baht framework previously used by the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission, while unfavorable match times in Thailand may reduce viewership, advertising revenue, and wider economic benefits.
A source at the Office of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission, or NBTC Office, said there was still no official conclusion on whether Thailand would acquire the live broadcast rights for the tournament. Continued ….
Too late to stop — fatal rail crash exposes safety failures
The deadly collision between a freight train and a public bus at Bangkok’s busy Asok-Makkasan intersection has intensified scrutiny of Thailand’s rail safety system after investigators uncovered a series of alleged operational failures behind the disaster.
The crash, which occurred on May 16, left eight people dead and more than 30 injured after freight train No. 2126, traveling from Laem Chabang to Bang Sue, slammed into the bus before flames engulfed the vehicle. Continued …
Thailand braces for monsoon rain, flash floods and high waves
The Thai Meteorological Department forecast heavy rain in parts of upper Thailand over the next 24 hours, covering the north, northeast, central region, Bangkok, and surrounding provinces, today.
Thunderstorms are forecast in 60% of the southern east coast area, with isolated heavy rain. Heavy rain is expected in Phetchaburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Chumphon, Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phatthalung, and Songkhla. Continued …
Thai Gangs Recruit ‘Dumb’ Brits to Smuggle Drugs
A UK Channel 4 documentary has revealed how criminal gangs in Thailand recruit young “dumb” Britons to smuggle cannabis into the UK, using free holidays, cash incentives, and violent threats to pressure them into carrying drugs through airports.
In a clip from “Untold: Inside Thailand’s British Drug Gangs”, a female recruiter known as “Zee” described how her network targets “young and dumb” people with little money. She told investigative journalist Tir Dhondy that recruits are often persuaded after hearing friends had successfully completed similar trips. Continued …
Trump calls off Iran strikes, cites pending deal
President Donald Trump yesterday called off a plan to begin attacking Iran again, citing a pending deal with the Middle Eastern country amid a wavering ceasefire.
The president said he told Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth and other top defense officials that “we will not be doing the scheduled attack of Iran tomorrow, but have further instructed them to be prepared to go forward with a full, large-scale assault of Iran, on a moment’s notice, in the event that an acceptable deal is not reached.” Continued …
Thai consumer confidence falls to global low
Consumer confidence in April plunged into crisis territory, recording the sharpest monthly decline globally and across the Asia-Pacific region, as economic uncertainty, geopolitical tensions, rising living costs, and dissatisfaction with government efforts to address the economy eroded public sentiment, according to the Ipsos Global Consumer Confidence Index.
The findings suggest cautious consumer sentiment is likely to persist through to the end of the year. “For the first time, this survey shows that Thai consumer confidence has fallen to its lowest level in the four years since the survey began,” said Pimtai Suwannasuk, senior client manager at Ipsos. Continued …
Thailand eyes foreign-backed oil reserves and data center power rules
Energy Minister Akanat Promphan has floated a plan to attract Middle Eastern oil producers to invest in a strategic petroleum reserve (SPR) in Thailand, positioning the country as a regional oil distribution hub while strengthening long-term energy security.
He also said the government was preparing conditions for data center investors, whose operations consume huge amounts of electricity, to take greater responsibility for the power system. One option would be to require them to buy electricity at a rate above actual cost, with the margin used to help reduce power bills for households and existing industries. Continued …
Thailand hits back at US trade allegations over forced labor and excess capacity
A high-level Thai delegation has robustly defended the kingdom’s trade practices during technical consultations with the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR), clarifying that Thai supply chains are completely free of forced labor.
Officials also rejected American allegations regarding industrial excess capacity, counter-arguing that Thailand operates a strictly free-market economy and remains an indispensable, long-standing commercial ally to the United States. Continued …
Thailand Enlists Celebrity Influencers to Champion Local Economies
The Department of Intellectual Property (DIP) has launched an influencer-led campaign alongside Thai celebrity couple “Cee” Siwat Chotchaicharin and “Amy” Amika Klinpratoom to showcase the economic and culinary value of the nation’s Geographical Indication (GI) products.
Through a series of engaging, educational home-cooking episodes broadcast on the Amika’s Kitchen YouTube program (AmyC channel), the partnership aims to introduce modern consumers to premium regional ingredients. Continued …
Thailand Launches Massive Tourist Resort Crackdown on Illegal Foreign Proxy Networks
The Department of Business Development (DBD) has joined forces with the Royal Thai Police and border control agencies to launch an aggressive, widespread crackdown on illegal corporate nominees operating within Thailand’s primary tourist destinations.
Authorities have uncovered a vast network connecting more than 50,000 corporate entities where Thai nationals are suspected of acting as proxy shareholders to mask illegal foreign ownership. Comprehensive, deep-level legal proceedings are now underway to systematically dismantle these illicit commercial syndicates. Continued …
Thai hotels expect foreign guest numbers to decline in Q2 2026
The April 2026 Hotel Business Operator Sentiment Index, jointly prepared by the Thai Hotels Assn. (THA) and the Bank of Thailand (BOT), was based on a survey conducted from April 16 to 30, among respondents from 134 accommodation businesses.
Assessing the outlook for “foreign tourist” customers in the second quarter of 2026, it found that more than 62% of operators expected long-haul guests to decline by more than 10% from the same period last year. Continued …
High season visitors expected to be strong despite current downturn
Thai tourism operators are looking beyond the sluggish low season and expect healthy bookings, particularly from European tourists, when the high season returns in the third quarter.
Thapanee Kiatphaibool, governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), said most tourism operators still expect healthy bookings during the year-end winter high season despite concerns over geopolitical issues. Continued …
Suvarnabhumi fast track claim denied by Immigration Bureau
Thailand’s Immigration Bureau posted a video on Sunday warning travelers not to trust claims that a paid fast track immigration service is available at Suvarnabhumi Airport through Trip.com.
The warning followed a post by a Chinese-Taiwanese tourist who claimed the service could be bought for 650 yuan. The post reportedly included an image from the app stating that travelers could clear immigration within one minute. Continued …
EU Approves Extended Schengen Visas for Thais
The European Union has approved the Visa Cascade scheme for Thai nationals, as announced by Thailand’s Foreign Ministry. This decision allows eligible travelers from Thailand to obtain longer-term, multiple-entry Schengen visas more easily.
The move aims to streamline the visa application process for Thai residents seeking short-stay Schengen visas. Thailand joins India, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Oman, Turkey, and Indonesia as countries with access to the scheme. Continued …
Chiang Mai On A Budget: Thailand’s Cosy Mountain Escape
Chiang Mai feels like Thailand exhaled slightly. Bangkok has the chaos, the islands have the beaches, but Chiang Mai has balance. Temples glow in the evening light, cafés hide behind jungle plants, night markets somehow smell amazing from three streets away, and the mountains sit quietly around the city like they know they’re part of the reason everyone stays longer than planned.
It’s affordable, endlessly walkable in parts, and dangerously good at making you comfortable very quickly. Continued …
Study Names Thailand as ASEAN’s Leading Electric Vehicle Market
Thailand is emerging as Southeast Asia’s most NEV-ready market, with 58% of consumers considering hybrid or electric vehicles — significantly above the regional average of 42.8%. Key purchase motivators include lower fuel costs, charging availability, and longer driving range.
However, a critical infrastructure gap remains: while 75% of prospective EV buyers expect home charging, only 36% currently have access. Thai consumers also prioritize affordable public charging, with 76% citing cost as a key factor, underscoring the urgent need for ecosystem-level solutions involving energy providers, developers, and urban planners. Continued …
Hua Hin Links and Transport
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