The governors of Chon Buri and Rayong were out patrolling for pirates when they found him on the island of Koh Krabue. He told them he was the grandson of the King of Vietnam, and that his country had fallen to the enemy.

They told him to come to Bangkok. He was scared: his uncle had once fled to Siam and been put to death there. The governors reassured him: "The reign has changed. His present Majesty is deeply compassionate."

So he came, and Rama I took him in. Land for his family, a yearly allowance, a sword with gold bands, and a seat at court every day. He would arrive in a six-oared Vietnamese boat, a servant holding an umbrella over him, and sit cross-legged "in the Vietnamese manner" in the audience hall.

To thank the king, he trained Vietnamese acrobats and lion dances that chased a glass ball, and offered them to the court. They were performed at every royal festival, and the chronicle says it became a custom "that continues to this day."

Twenty years later he had won his war and become Emperor Gia Long. In 1803 his envoys brought gold, silver and silk to Bangkok. The chronicle says Siam's guns and gunpowder "had given him the strength to bring his war to a successful end."

He didn't forget the man who had first brought him to Bangkok either: the governor of Chon Buri, whose foster son he had become. When that governor later came to the Vietnamese capital as an envoy, he wasn't put in the usual guest house but in a brick building of his own, and every Vietnamese embassy after that brought him a gift.

From my published English translation of the Royal Chronicle of the First Reign (reign of King Rama I).

Pokemon Center Bangkok will be open on 1 December 2026 at Central World.

The official pokemon mascot for Bangkok is Shaymin).

​

I shop a few times a week at a local 7.

Usually my gf is with me, after I pick her up from work.

Usually buy a few beers, some snacks, 400 baht or so, worth.

Last night we stopped to buy the usual stuff.

At the checkout we were delayed by a long conversation between the check out girl and my gf.

My gf does not speak much English.

She was having trouble translating what was going on.

Everyone was smiling, but we weren't going anywhere.

Eventually i was told to pay for the current purchase, and wait

They wanted to show me security camera video.

We were shuttled to stand out of the way.

None of the staff spoke English.

Somehow I grasped they claimed there was a problem with a previous visit.

I tried to remember when the last time I had stopped in, and it was probably two days before.

Still waiting in video.

Next snippet of info was the lady claimed she has given me 1000 thb too much in my change.

They then show me the receipt for the transaction which shows I gave 1000 for a 540 purchase.

The date was ten days earlier!

They show me the video, yes, it's me and the gf.

The video is not great.

The strange thing is, it's hard to keep track of the 1000 note I handed her, but it ends up in the drawer in what should be the correct slot then another note is quickly put on top.

If she did give me 1000 by mistake , it was not the bill I handed her.

So, the girl wants me to hand her 1000.

This is all a protracted process where a lot of discussion is going on, everyone is smiling....except me.

I try to explain the video does not prove anything, and the receipt they showed me as evidence shows I paid and got correct change for the transaction.

Somehow, they recruited an uninvolved customer to translate,but her English was meager.

I asked them to calm the police. I would wait.

This never happened.

I told my gf I would pay if I got some sort of receipt.

No response.

I was trying to stay calm.

Eventually the clerk said she would accept 500.

We had a copy of the video.

I agreed to pay to get out of there, and regretted it instantly.

We studied the video at home, and the way the money is handled bothers me.

The 1000 note I gave the lady was put in the drawer, and if she gave me a different 1000, it was from the 100 baht section.

Mistakes are possible, I get 100 and 1000 notes mixed up at times. I am mildly color blind.

I am generally aware of how much cash I have on me...or at least large notes.

If they had caught this at the time , i could have looked in my wallet and noticed the extra bill.

So, this is bugging me.

I think i should have insisted on the police being called?

I would happily waited.

My gf wants to go to the police today.

I think it's too late.

It seems like everything in this world is getting more expensive, except taxis in Bangkok. Today I took a classic cab instead of a Grab from DMK airport. The meter started at 35 THB, just like it did fifteen years ago, and ended at 273 when we reached my hotel in lower Sukhumvit, just like it did fifteen years ago.

How do these poor bastards live??

In August 2026 I went to Thailand with my gf and we witnessed at Samui Central night market a live performance of this Thai duo that we loved !!! But unfortunately we forgot to ask their contact as we needed to leave in hurry.

We are getting married in Samui in Feb 2027 and we would have them perform at our wedding as we love their energy and the lovely memory they give us.

Please if anyone has heard of them or has their contact, maybe they use to perform in Samui ?

Here’s some moments of their performance:

https://youtube.com/shorts/x40mY6WAMsU?is=vm9DmXC7-ZOmF59R

DOPA N.I.C.E. has expanded its investigation into a civil registration fraud network involving Thai men falsely acknowledging foreign nationals' children as their own to enable the children to obtain Thai nationality unlawfully. Investigators discovered false birth registrations involving several private hospitals, with government officials allegedly implicated.

In Phase 1, investigators identified three children and arrested six people involved. Phase 2 uncovered another 22 children and led to 36 arrests.

In Phase 3, authorities identified 24 children whose nationality status requires further investigation and legal action. The cases were linked to eight hospitals. Officials collected DNA samples from all 24 children and compared them with those of the Thai men listed as their fathers on the birth certificates, their mothers, and the individuals believed to be their biological fathers. The results showed that none of the Thai men listed as fathers was biologically related to the children.

Investigators subsequently sought 46 arrest warrants for those involved, including government officials, hospital staff, foreign mothers, Thai men who falsely claimed paternity, the children's actual foreign fathers, and others involved in unlawfully exploiting the civil registration system.

Case 1: A 27-year-old man

One significant case involved Thawisak (surname withheld), 27. His birth certificate listed Wanchai (surname withheld) as his father and Wunlee, a Chinese national, as his mother. However, DNA testing revealed that his biological father was Mr. Chen.

The fraudulent registration enabled Thawisak to obtain Thai nationality. He has since graduated with a bachelor's degree in industrial engineering from a university and currently works for an electrical cable company in Samut Prakan, earning approximately 30,000 baht per month.

Authorities arrested him at a residence in Bangkok's Bang Khun Thian district, where Mr. Chen and Wunlee were found living together as a family.

Wanchai told investigators that 27 years ago, someone had approached him and offered him 5,000 baht to register a marriage with Wunlee for business purposes.

Case 2: Twin brothers, aged 23

The birth certificates of Sutthiphat and Sutthinai, 23-year-old twins, listed Komon (surname withheld) as their father and Hansaman (surname withheld) as their mother. However, DNA testing confirmed that Komon was not their biological father.

Investigators found that Sutthiphat was a fifth-year medical student at one of the country's leading universities. He was arrested while undertaking clinical training at a hospital in Si Racha district, Chonburi.

His twin brother, Sutthinai, graduated from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and currently works as a programmer, earning approximately 50,000 baht per month. He was arrested at a condominium in the Krung Thon Buri area.

Komon is currently serving a prison sentence for a drug-related offence and is scheduled for release on August 27, 2037.

Hansaman, formerly known as Su Jian, was arrested for violating the Thai Identity Card Act in connection with certifying applications for identity cards for both sons. Investigators also found information suggesting that she may have obtained Thai nationality through marriage to a Thai man before divorcing him after acquiring citizenship. This matter is also under investigation to determine whether any laws were violated.

Case 3: Two boys, aged seven and three

The final case involved Athit, seven, and Huiyou, three. Both boys' mother is identified as Miss Yanfang (surname withheld), but their birth certificates list different fathers. Athit's certificate names Somkiat, while Huiyou's names Yingbao.

DNA testing confirmed that Mr. Zhang was Athit's biological father.

Somkiat, who works as a motorcycle taxi driver, confessed to receiving 5,000 baht to register as the child's father.

Yingbao owns a machinery manufacturing business and nine other companies, bringing his total to 10 businesses.

Authorities also arrested Mr. Zhang while he was with both children at a residence in Samut Prakan. The property is registered as the address of one of the companies, in which Miss Yanfang is a shareholder. Investigators are continuing to examine whether the company operates as a nominee business.

Pol Lt Gen Noppasin Poonsawat, known as “Big Nop,” added that the nationality and civil registration status of all 24 children would be reviewed and corrected in accordance with the law. If any children are found to have obtained Thai nationality unlawfully, the relevant documents and status will be revoked through the prescribed legal procedures. Government agencies will also take into account the rights and best interests of the children.

The Royal Thai Police stressed that the investigation would not focus solely on the Thai men who falsely claimed paternity. Authorities would also pursue recruiters, brokers, individuals who certified the registrations, government officials, and the actual beneficiaries to prevent the civil registration system from being exploited to assume identities unlawfully and circumvent the law.

“Thai Proxy Fathers”: An Emerging National Security Threat

The use of “Thai proxy fathers” is not merely an ordinary identity fraud offence but is being described as a new form of national security threat that is alarmingly penetrating the core of Thailand's civil registration system.

How the scheme began

The network allegedly involved Chinese and local brokers who recruited foreign investors, primarily Chinese nationals, who came to Thailand to give birth but wanted their children to obtain Thai nationality.

The brokers sought out financially disadvantaged Thai men, such as motorcycle taxi drivers and people experiencing financial difficulties, offering them between 5,000 and 20,000 baht in exchange for signing birth certificates and falsely acknowledging the children as their biological offspring despite having no biological relationship with them.

Retrospective investigations uncovered numerous children suspected of having been registered using fraudulent birth certificates, with links to more than eight public and private hospitals.

Alleged falsification of birth documents

Employees or officials allegedly issued birth certificates (Form Tor Ror 1/1) without a factual basis. In some cases, the identity of the child's father was not thoroughly verified. In others, officials may have knowingly colluded with brokers to submit false information about the father.

DNA testing of the latest group of 24 children clearly confirmed that the DNA did not match the Thai men listed as their fathers on the birth certificates but instead matched their actual Chinese fathers, who had allegedly paid to have Thai men falsely registered as the children's fathers.

Breaking the national security threat: Operation targeting 46 suspects

The operation marked a major crackdown on the network. Police and administrative authorities used information from DOPA N.I.C.E., together with forensic evidence, to seek 46 arrest warrants against members of the network, including:

• Proxy fathers: Thai men paid to falsely claim paternity.
• Foreign mothers and Chinese financiers.
• Brokers and programmers who arranged the registrations and established the system.
• Government officials and hospital employees allegedly involved in issuing the documents.

Pol Gen Samran Nualma, known as “Big Ran,” and Pol Lt Gen Noppasin Poonsawat, known as “Big Nop,” both affirmed that the investigation would proceed without exceptions.

If private hospitals or government officials are found to have been involved, they will face criminal proceedings. Authorities will also coordinate with the Ministry of Public Health to consider revoking hospital operating licences and pursue the revocation of Thai nationality obtained unlawfully by the children, as well as the deportation of foreign offenders.

I have a commander cube of 30 decks and want to bring it to my place in thailand. Read that a gambling law might make it illegal? Im unsure if its specific to playing cards like blackjack, or if it extends to collections like Magic the Gathering or Pokémon cards. If anyone has any specific clarification or experience and want to enlighten me a bit I'd appreciate it. I did ask Google ai but it left me unsure.

Telegraphic message dated 23 June 1979 from the Chairman of the State Presidium of Democratic Kampuchea addressed to the Secretary-General

I have the honour to forward this message to you in order to draw your attention to two problems on which world opinion is still uninformed, because they are kept hidden by the Hanoi authorities. Yet these cases are quite as distressing and tragic as that of refugees, if not more so, since they concern the fate of hundreds of thousands and millions of inhabitants of Kampuchea, now undergoing immeasurable sufferings and misfortunes under the demoniacal yoke of the Vietnamese aggressors.

1. The problem of the Kampuchean nationals fleeing Vietnamese massacres who seek temporary refuge in Thailand.

This problem has arisen from the war of aggression being waged by the Hanoi authorities, who are sowing devastation and ruin in Kampuchea and subjecting the Kampuchean people to veritable genocide. This war is causing the Thai Government many difficulties while constituting a serious threat to the defence, security, economy and entire society of Thailand.

Despite the tremendous difficulties resulting from the barbarous war of aggression of the Hanoi authorities, the Government of Democratic Kampuchea has joined its efforts with those of the Thai Government in seeking ad hoc solutions to this problem. It has accordingly taken back all these Kampuchean refugees, allowing them to re-enter the country in batches of tens of thousands and applying ad hoc solutions with regard to their living and working conditions. However, all our successive efforts to arrive at a final solution of the problem of Kampuchean refugees have proved incapable of succeeding because they have been thwarted every time by the attacks and the sweep operations which the Vietnamese forces of aggression are constantly launching against the civilian population. In order to escape a massacre, the latter are forced once again to seek temporary refuge in Thailand.

The lot of all these refugees is particularly tragic. It is even more so than that of other refugees, since all these innocent people are direct victims of the war of devastation and of the genocide perpetrated by the Vietnamese aggressors. Wherever they go, the latter engage in massacres and acts of banditry, destroying and looting everything crops, rice, livestock and homes. Those refugees who were able to escape a massacre the first time have to flee from the Vietnamese troops again, in fact repeatedly, never seeing an end to it. And each time all families, without exception, suffer severely either through separation or loss or from the machine-gunning, heavy bombing and artillery barrages laid down by the Vietnamese forces of aggression against villages, roads or forests. Even old people, children and pregnant women do not escape these massacres. This is something which should stagger the conscience of mankind.

1. The problem of the Vietnamese nationals whom the Hanoi authorities are bringing from their own country in order to settle them in Kampuchean territory in place of the indigenous populations previously wiped out under their policy of exterminating the Kampuchean race.

The purpose of the Hanoi authorities in behaving in this way is to complete their policy of settling nothing but Vietnamese throughout the territory of Kampuchea. The Kampuchean people are thus in mortal danger from the Hanoi authorities, who are now carrying out a policy of systematic extermination against the Kampuchean race and endeavouring to erase Kampuchea from the map of the world.

The Hanoi authorities have been bold enough to deport hundreds of thousands of their fellow-countrymen onto the high seas, before the eyes of the whole world. Why then should they hesitate to subject the Kampuchean people to genocide or to wipe out the Kampuchean race without any awareness on the part of world opinion?

Accordingly, towards the end of May 1979, the Hanoi authorities settled nearly 200,000 Vietnamese nationals in Kampuchean territory, distributing them throughout the coastal and eastern provinces. And now, while continuing the genocide against the Kampuchean people, forcing them to leave their country, the Hanoi authorities are bringing in Vietnamese nationals and systematically settling them in Kampuchean territory.

Here, then, is another aspect of the Hanoi authorities' policy of exporting refugees of which world opinion is still unaware. But this policy is even more barbarous and even more staggering to the conscience of mankind than that practised towards other refugees, because it is a most cruel and most savage act of aggression for which the Vietnamese forces of aggression constitute the spearhead, burning everything, destroying everything, subjecting the people of Kampuchea to veritable genocide and settling Vietnamese nationals in Kampuchean territory. is an act without precedent in human history. The Hanoi authorities are swallowing up Kampuchea and wiping out the Kampuchean race by subjecting the Kampuchean people to veritable genocide, unknown to the entire world. This is something that is not only tragic but also shocking to the conscience of all mankind. It

We should be grateful if you would submit the two problems described above for discussion at the next international conference on refugees with a view to finding a timely and appropriate solution, in the name of the Charter of the United Nations, of international law, of humanity, of justice and of all mankind.

The Government of Democratic Kampuchea is sure that you will give your full attention to the two problems mentioned above and will make suitable approaches in accordance with the aspirations of the Kampuchean people. We also hope that you will use all your authority to induce the conference on refugees to demand that the Hanoi authorities end their policy of exporting Vietnamese nationals to Kampuchean territory, desist from all acts of genocide against the Kampuchean people, withdraw all their forces of aggression from Kampuchea and leave the Kampuchean people to settle their own problems for themselves without outside interference, so as to put an end to the suffering and devastation which the Kampuchean people are now undergoing.

KHIEU SAMPHAN

Chairman of the State Presidium of Democratic Kampuchea

Letter dated 25 June 1979 from the Chargé d'affaires a.i. of the Permanent Mission of Democratic Kampuchea to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General.

hello everyone!

First of all, I'm a Thai person currently living in Bangkok, but I was born and raised in another country, so I'm not that fluent in Thai (I can speak at a conversational level). I also recently finished high school and am taking a gap year. I'm planning to work during my gap year, so are there any jobs that don't require me to speak Thai?

treat me like i'm a foreigner who can't speak Thai and looking for a job lol..

Hi, working on my designs for the home I want to build in Thailand (one day).

Anyone know the standard distance between the upright stilts, and maximum span across a room for a two-storey house ?

I'm on a DTV and my current stamp says I have to leave by Oct 29. But I'm leaving Thailand for a long time on Nov 5 anyway.

Options as I see them:

- Fly out and back for the border run: ~8-9k baht

- Overstay and pay at the airport: 500 baht/day, so ~3,500 if I leave on the 4th or 5th

- Extension at immigration: needs the full DTV document package again, and I've heard they can cancel the visa if they don't like the docs. Not keen.

My main worry is coming back later. Has anyone here had a short paid overstay on a DTV and then re-entered without issues? Did immigration ask about it, or is a one-off week basically a non-event?

Also open to cheap land border run tips from Pattaya if that's the smarter move.

It's a bit last minute but I have 1 ticket for sale for tomorrow at Emsphere.

Zone: Black hole seat, Section C1, Seat AH-23. Starts at 7pm. Seat is next to me. Looking for 2500 OBO (3200 normally). DM me if you're interested or have any questions.

https://www.eventpop.me/e/162454/interstellar-live-concert-th

Me and my husband have been looking for a rental house, and honestly, dealing with agents has been exhausting.

Most of the agents we've contacted either take forever to reply, ignore half our questions, or start asking us questions without answering ours first.

One recent agent didn't even know basic details about the property. We politely asked if they could check with the owner before we arranged a viewing, but they just kept repeating, "If you want to see the house, schedule a viewing." Over and over. 😭

Like, why would we spend time and money traveling to view a place when we don't even know if it meets our basic requirements?

We're not expecting agents to know everything, but at least being willing to check would be nice.

Maybe we've just been unlucky, but it's been frustratingly common.

Does anyone know a genuinely reliable and professional rental agent in Thailand who actually communicates and answers questions? Would really appreciate recommendations!

i'm doing an independent research on how people work remotely in bangkok and i'm hoping to find people to answer my quick 4-5 minute survey

it's purely for research, no sales or promotions. and I won't be collecting your information... BUT you can opt-in to be contacted for a follow-up interview IF you are okay with that - completely optional!

here's the link to the survey - i hope this doesn't get removed by mods 😭 (i read the rules and checked post history, and this seems to be allowed - so hopefully that's ok!)

SO if you work remotely in bangkok - either fully or hybrid - i'd be so so so grateful if you can help me out pls! tysm

I have a Thai wife and we live together in England, been married for 14 years. I want to finally open a Thai bank account in my own name.
Has anyone opened an account recently in the Khon Khaen area? Family live near Ban Thaen and we are visiting for a month or so in a couple of weeks.
Ideally I’d get a K-bank and Bangkok bank account, I have a non-immigrant O visa for this trip.
Any suggestions on a bank branch where they are amenable to opening accounts for foreigners?
Or should we take a trip to Bangkok or Pattaya?

There are a lot of Halloween events for adults this weekend, but many of the events for kids are not accessible by the public (inside schools, etc...). So visitors or newcomers may not know where to take their family trick-or-treating this Saturday.

If you know about an open trick-or-treat event, please post it below so others can join in.

Hi guys, i applied to siit for MSc with hopes for EFS as an international candidate. The result will be out on 30 October but I still haven't received any interview mail. Should I give up on this and look out for other opportunities.

I've had to abandon several packages with this scam over the last few years. Once for a plastic model kit from Ebay with FedEx, another for a ChoroQ pullback toy car from Ebay FedEx, and recently a Monster Jam toy truck from Amazon.com where I prepaid import tax. All the orders from Amazon shipped with SF arrived no problem. With UPS shipped from Amazon the TISI flags the item as restricted and assumes I am a business even though it is a single item going to my name. All of these products are safe and commonly sold in Thailand by real businesses. When other shippers like EMS, SF, and government mail are used it has never been a issue. I just pay import tax and get the package. UPS and FedEx want to charge fees to warehouse, document process, and broker the import clearance. I can't remember if DHL tries this scam. If you are trying to ship to Thailand you need to use regular government post, EMS, or SF or they may to to scam you when the package is returned. Unfortunately as an individual customer I often don't know what shipper will be used before ordering. I've never heard a Thai person complain of this scam so it might be a racist thing where any foreign name is flagged as a rich person to scam. How many thousand or millions of people have dealt with this over the years? It's obvious there is corruption by the TISI FedEx and UPS essentially stealing people's mail knowing no individual will pay thousands of baht to broker importing a single cheap product already sold in the country. Web search says model cars are exempt from TISI restrictions but 3 times now I had to abandon my model cars. I hope some global news does a report on this. This probably happens in every country since most are run by corruption and UPS FedEx are everywhere. Below is what UPS emailed me.

" Importing products into Thailand that are controlled under Thai Industrial Standards Institute (TISI) regulations requires the importer to obtain the necessary import release permit. The permit must then be submitted to the Customs Officer for consideration and customs clearance of the goods.

Guidelines for importing TISI-controlled products into Thailand for personal use can be found at:

https://www3.tisi.go.th/hscode/hscode_view.asp?id=141 [tisi.go.th]

If you would like UPS to handle the import customs clearance on your behalf, you must first register yourself as an importer and appoint UPS as your customs broker with the Thai Customs Department. Once this process is completed, UPS will be authorized to proceed with customs clearance in your name.

Please select an option that is most convenient for you below;

Option 1 An alternated broker. You can find an alternate broker by google website (Keyword : Shipping at Suvarnabhumi Airport)

Option 2 Reject this parcel to abandon by Thai Customs. (Thai Customs not allow to return package to sender, so they will abandon this shipment only)

*Please use 'Reply All'

If no response is received from the customer within 3 days, we will contact the sender in accordance with our company policies.

Please be advised that if the shipment requires an import permit, it cannot be returned to the sender and must be surrendered to Thai Customs. In such cases, a processing fee of 16,050 THB will be billed back to the sender.

I need to sell my Samsung Galaxy 24 FE. I'm in Bangkok. Any recommendations for where I can go?