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Phulay Bay, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, the ultra-luxurious seafront sanctuary in Southern Thailand’s Krabi province, has reaffirmed its status as one of the world’s most extraordinary places to stay, dine and unwind, as it was awarded 3 MICHELIN Keys for the second consecutive year.

The second annual MICHELIN Key awards were revealed in October 2025, following countless hours of evaluation by the expert team of MICHELIN Inspectors. Only six properties in Thailand earned the prestigious 3 Key distinction – the highest honour in The MICHELIN Guide. Of these six, only three are beach resorts, and just one – Phulay Bay – is located in the breathtaking Thai province of Krabi.

The MICHELIN Guide 2025 praised Phulay Bay for the sheer quality of its services and facilities, all underpinned by authentic Southern Thai hospitality and panoramic views of the Andaman Sea, to create truly unparalleled guest experiences.

‘One of the most straightforward ways to stand out in the crowded field of Thai luxury hospitality is to simply create one of the most luxurious resorts anywhere, and that’s the path chosen by Phulay Bay, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve. What sets it even further apart from the norm is its exquisite tastefulness, from the traditional-style welcome pavilion to the thoughtfully localised interiors of the hotel’s villas and pavilions. An extravagant spa is present as a matter of course, as are a handful of restaurants serving everything from fresh seafood and Thai favourites to elevated Mediterranean classics,’ The MICHELIN Guide 2025 states.

This impressive accolade coincides with Phulay Bay starring at the Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards, another of the industry’s most important honours. Shining a spotlight on the planet’s finest hotels, resorts, airlines, destinations and more, these awards are voted for by the readers of Condé Nast Traveler, who include many of the world’s most discerning explorers.

Demonstrating how Phulay Bay resonates with this clientele of experienced, sophisticated and knowledgeable global travellers, the resort was voted as the #1 ‘Best Resort in Thailand’ by the readership of Condé Nast Traveller UK, and the #10 ‘Best Resort in the World’ by the audience of Condé Nast Traveler USA.

‘I am delighted and deeply honoured to have retained our 3 MICHELIN Key status for the second year, and to have been voted as the best resort in Thailand – and one of the ten best in the world – by the esteemed readers of Condé Nast Traveler. This is a testament to the passion and commitment of our Ladies and Gentlemen, who create highly personalised guest journeys every day. I look forward to welcoming even more experience-seeking guests to our resort in the coming months, when they can look forward to dining at Sri Trang, our newly-transformed Thai dining destination, and socialising at the all-new Pirom Bar, which is set to be unveiled at the end of October,’ says Vidya Sagar, General Manager, Phulay Bay, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve.

Koktail Thailand invites food lovers, chefs and hospitality professionals to celebrate the diversity of Thailand’s food scene, from lively street stalls to refined fine dining, at two major events.

First up is “The Ultimate Street Food Festival 2025”, which will take place at the Forum, ground floor of Gaysorn Amarin, Phloenchit Road, daily from 10am to 8pm from Thursday to Saturday.

The event marks the first-ever collaboration between Koktail and Time Out magazines, bringing together the authentic flavours of Thailand’s street food culture with the innovative flair of modern gastronomy presented by renowned chefs.

More than 20 booths from acclaimed restaurants across Thailand will serve an enticing array of dishes — from traditional favourites to inventive contemporary creations — priced between 100 and 200 baht. Guests can enjoy live music, refreshing cocktails, craft beers and locally sourced beverages in a lively atmosphere celebrating community, creativity and taste.

Scheduled for Nov 16 at Gaysorn Urban Resort is the “Koktail Thailand Charity Dinner 2025”, which will showcase an 11-course gourmet experience crafted by 12 of Thailand’s most acclaimed chefs, complemented by a pre-dinner reception, premium wine and beverage pairings.

Tickets cost 9,000 baht including alcohol-free pairing and 10,000 baht including wine pairing. Seats are limited to only 100 VIP guests. All proceeds from the event will be donated to the Issarachon Foundation, supporting initiatives that uplift and empower local communities.

Despite a significant increase in global cryptocurrency crimes this year, Thailand’s digital asset exchange operators maintained that crypto and digital assets have not been subject to scams and that illicit activities accounted for a minimal amount of total transactions.

Binance TH by Gulf Binance, a local joint venture of Binance — the world’s largest crypto exchange — said crypto and digital assets are simply tools that can be misused by a small number of criminals who constantly adapt their methods to exploit new technologies.

According to Chainalysis’s 2025 Crypto Crime Report, illicit activity accounted for just 0.14% of total on-chain transaction volume in 2024, a significant drop from 0.61% in 2023, said the company’s chief executive Nirun Fuwattananukul.

“It’s critical to understand the big picture that the vast majority of cryptocurrency transactions are legitimate. The belief that the cross-border nature of blockchain technology enables criminals to engage in illicit activities reflects a fundamental misunderstanding,” he told the Bangkok Post.

In fact, blockchain’s inherent transparency provides unparalleled visibility of the movement of digital assets. Furthermore, both Thai and international regulators have significantly enhanced their collaborative frameworks to combat crypto-related crimes.

“The concerted efforts across the industry — from exchanges like Binance TH by Gulf Binance to global law enforcement agencies, regulators and users — have collectively driven these positive developments,” Mr Nirun noted.

“By working closely with law enforcement agencies and regulators, we can develop robust safeguards to protect investors while fostering innovation. This ongoing collaboration has delivered concrete outcomes and underscores that real security knows no borders.”

THEFT ON THE UP

According to Chainalysis’s 2025 crypto crime mid-year updates, the value of stolen crypto rose 17% year to date versus the value of stolen crypto recorded in 2022, previously the worst year on record.

“With over US$2.17 billion stolen from cryptocurrency services so far in 2025, this year is more devastating than the whole of 2024. If current trends continue, stolen funds from services could eclipse $4 billion by year-end,” the US-based blockchain analysis firm said in its latest report.

Personal wallet compromises now represent a growing share of total ecosystem theft, with attackers increasingly targeting individual users, making up 23.3% of all stolen fund activity year to date in 2025.

APAC ranks second after North America in terms of total Bitcoin (BTC) stolen and third in terms of stolen Ethereum (ETH), whereas Central and Southern Asia and Oceania (CSAO) ranks second in terms of the value of stolen altcoin and stablecoin.

The US, Germany, Russia, Canada, Japan, Indonesia and South Korea top the list of highest victim counts per country, whereas Eastern Europe, the Middle East and North Africa and CSAO saw the most rapid year-on-year growth in victim totals in the first six months of 2025.

COLLABORATIVE EFFORT

Mr Nirun said Binance TH’s close collaboration with the Thai police has been able to take down highly sophisticated international money laundering networks involving digital assets. Such efforts reflect a shared dedication to protecting the community and strengthening cybersecurity.

The company remains committed to working with law enforcement agencies worldwide to help enhance trust in the digital asset space by maintaining robust compliance measures and actively cooperating with global law enforcement agencies, he noted.

Education is equally critical, said Mr Nirun, adding that Binance TH Academy has been promoting knowledge and understanding of the digital asset ecosystem and blockchain technology.

“The key is that the entire industry — exchanges, regulators and law enforcement — must work together. These collaborative efforts are making the crypto space safer while preserving the innovation and financial inclusion that digital assets promise,” he added.

River cruise operators in Thailand are reporting a cancellation rate of 30 to 40% after the Vijit Chao Phraya illumination festival was postponed for the mourning period for Her Majesty Queen Sirikit, the late Queen Mother, while hotels are urging authorities to provide detailed guidelines to prevent people from cancelling their New Year celebrations.

Poowadee Kunpalin, managing director of Chaophraya Cruise and advisor to the Chao Phraya River Tourism Association, said the river tourism outlook is in a vacuum period, lacking a clear direction from authorities in terms of holding events and celebrations.

Ms Poowadee said the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) postponed the Vijit Chao Phraya illumination festival from Nov 1, as well as toning down the celebratory vibe.

She said the move would impact the tourism recovery along the river, as operators await a revival during the high season, particularly from key events such as Loy Krathong and Vijit Chao Phraya, to offset sluggish arrivals earlier this year.

Some travellers and tour groups already cancelled or postponed their bookings until regulations for events held along the Chao Phraya River become clearer, said Ms Poowadee.

The Marine Department previously asked cruise operators to refrain from playing any music.

The river tourism association has been negotiating with the department to find a middle ground, such as changing the music tone, she said. This could include playing musical pieces that were composed by the royal family, and providing a moment of silence before cruise trips.

‘We hope the authorities will ensure all stakeholders can move forward together,’ said Ms Poowadee.

She said the TAT should replicate Pattaya’s International Fireworks Festival, shifting from a festival theme to a commemoration of the late Queen Mother and her royal duties.

Along the Chao Phraya River, special fireworks and drone shows could honour the Queen Mother, as well as a traditional khon performance, which was part of her royal legacy, said Ms Poowadee.

She said the TAT should use this opportunity to promote Thai dresses endorsed by the Queen Mother, inviting both Thai and foreign tourists to wear them while joining the festivals.

Thienprasit Chaiyapatranun, president of the Thai Hotels Association, said many events in hotels, such as weddings and corporate parties, are confirmed as planned, though some parties with music were cancelled by clients.

Mr Thienprasit said the government and related authorities should provide more detailed guidelines for private operators, as they remain reluctant to unveil their promotional plans.

For example, he said it is still unclear whether hotels can set off their own fireworks for guests during the New Year countdown, or if malls and attractions can hold certain types of music events.

Mr Thienprasit said that without clear regulations, hotel bookings for the next two months are expected to be slow.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a public warning after laboratory tests revealed microbial contamination in the popular herbal inhaler ‘Hong Thai Formula 2’, registration number G 309/62. The product, manufactured by Hong Thai Panich, has been declared substandard under the Herbal Product Act.

According to the FDA announcement, dated Oct 20, samples of Hong Thai Herbal Inhaler Formula 2 were collected from the manufacturing site and submitted to the Department of Medical Sciences for laboratory testing.

The results showed that the product failed to meet microbial safety standards, with contamination detected in three categories: total aerobic microbial count, total combined yeasts and mould count, and Clostridium spp., a spore-forming bacterium.

These findings are a violation of the Ministry of Public Health’s 2021 regulation on quality standards for registered herbal formulations.

The FDA has classified the product as substandard under the Herbal Product Act 2019.

Thailand will not reopen its border with Cambodia until Phnom Penh meets four conditions and restores diplomatic ties, Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul declared on Tuesday.

Mr Anutin made his remark in Kuala Lumpur when asked about his signing of a new peace agreement with his Cambodian counterpart there on Sunday.

The four conditions set by Thailand are, the withdrawal of heavy weaponry from the border, landmine removal, the suppression of transnational criminal syndicates including scammers, and solutions to the conflicts in border areas.

The prime minister said the withdrawal of weaponry from conflict areas started when the agreement was signed. He told Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet that the withdrawal must not be only a symbolic act but be concrete and quick. Then, Thailand would free 18 Cambodian soldiers being held in detention.

He also wants Cambodia to cooperate fully with landmine removal which, he said, will be done mainly by Thai experts because the mines were laid in Thai territory.

Mr Anutin said now was not the time to discuss reopening the border. After the four conditions were met, the two countries needed to restore diplomatic relations, and only then move towards the reopening of border checkpoints, he said.

‘Everyone knows that the most important thing is the reopening of the border. Thailand holds to that,’ Mr Anutin said.

Government spokesman Siripong Angkasakulkiat said that although withdrawal of weapons had started, Thailand wanted it to continue in all seriousness, for the safety and sake of people living in border areas.

Defence Minister Gen Nattaphon Narkphanit said at Government House that Thailand and Cambodia both began the withdrawal of weaponry on Sunday night, but it was initially only symbolic. Thailand expected Cambodia to remove its BM-21 multiple rocket launchers, he said.

During its border attacks in late July, Cambodia fired large numbers of BM-21 rockets at Thai civilian locations – communities, stores and hospitals – and caused many casualties and property damage.

According to the defence minister, Thailand plans three phases of effective weapons withdrawal over at least six weeks, and Cambodia agrees with the plan.

The first phase started on Sunday. The second would commence within three weeks and the third stage was set for the sixth week. Details of each stage were still being discussed, he said.

Thai Facebook users have raised alarms after discovering that searching for a common word or name, “May,” which is both a popular female name and a month, can yield explicit and pornographic video results.

The problem, reported on Tuesday, appears to affect both the mobile application and desktop versions of Facebook.

Many netizens shared screenshots showing that when they search for “May,” the results include inappropriate images and videos, often appearing at the top of search results. This has raised concerns over the platform’s content moderation and the effectiveness of its algorithms in filtering adult content.

Initial investigations suggest that the issue may be caused by a malfunction or glitch in Facebook’s search engine or artificial intelligence (AI) moderation system, which is designed to automatically detect and block adult material.

The glitch may have allowed such content to bypass automated filters, exposing users, particularly young audiences, to explicit videos.

It remains unclear whether this problem is limited to Thai users or if it is more widespread. Facebook has yet to explain the cause of the incident.

Experts say such glitches highlight the ongoing challenges social media platforms face worldwide in managing user-generated content, especially in regions with high social media penetration like Thailand.

Thailand expects nearly 1.2 million tourists from the US next year, continuing a record-breaking trend for the market, which has been boosted by more flights including the return of United Airlines to Bangkok after an 11-year absence.

Thapanee Kiatphaibool, governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), said the US is a high-spending market with strong demand from premium travellers, driven by season 3 of the White Lotus TV series, in which Thailand was the main location.

Last year, Thailand welcomed a record high of 1.03 million American tourists, generating 58.8 billion baht.

The number this year is forecast to grow by 8%, reaching 1.1 million and generating over 62 billion baht.

According to the Tourism Ministry, American tourists had an average length of stay of 12 days, and daily expenditure of 4,726 baht.

Ms Thapanee said the agency remains bullish that Thailand will continue to set a new high for this market in 2026, maintaining a minimum 8% increase year-on-year, or reaching nearly 1.2 million arrivals, thanks to more robust flights.

Among the new routes being operated during this high season is United Airlines’ UA820 service connecting Bangkok with Los Angeles via Hong Kong using 257-seat Boeing 787-9s.

This route represents an extension of its earlier operation running between Los Angeles and Hong Kong. It now operates a daily flight to Bangkok, and another daily flight to Ho Chi Minh City, which commenced on Oct 26.

The flight to Bangkok marked the carrier’s return following an absence of 11 years, after the airline terminated its Narita-Bangkok route in 2014.

Marcel Fuchs, managing director of sales at United Airlines, said the airline is confident in US outbound travel to Asia-Pacific, as it will soon offer services to over 32 cities in the region, more than any other US carrier.

Mr Fuchs said Bangkok attracts strong forward bookings during the upcoming months, thanks to festive holidays such as Christmas and New Year.

He said this route includes mixed markets, including those visiting family and friends in Thailand, leisure travellers, and business trips.

Roughly 70% are expected to be passengers from the US, while 30% will join the flight in Hong Kong.

Mr Fuchs said premium seats such as business and premium economy classes attract strong demand for 18-19-hour long-haul flights.

Travellers from San Francisco can also visit Thailand via connecting flights in Hong Kong, as the airline operates a double daily between Hong Kong and San Francisco.

Its Los Angeles and San Francisco hubs offer connections via more than 75 nonstop flights.

Other new routes in the region include nonstop flights to Adelaide, Australia, while a second daily flight between San Francisco and Manila has also been added.

At present, United Airlines is the largest airline in the world in terms of available seat miles.

Ms Thapanee added that Alaska Airlines is also considering opening new routes from the US to Thailand, in addition to several other connecting flights via North Asia, such as EVA Air, which recently added flights to Dallas, Texas.

Among the latest long-haul connections this winter, Norse Atlantic has introduced five routes from the UK, Sweden and Norway to Thailand.

Two Chinese men were arrested in Pattaya early Tuesday morning for possession of crystal methamphetamine, smuggled vapes and cigarettes for alleged sale at parties.

Pattaya police said information from a Thai woman who went through a drug rehabilitation programme led to the arrest of the suspects, identified only as Lian and Qi, aged 33 and 46 years.

They were arrested at a condominium building car park in Jomtien area about 1.30am.

The young woman said she had taken drugs at a party attended by the two foreigners, who had used and sold the drugs to revellers.

The two men were arrested in the process of selling drugs to a Chinese buyer. They had packets containing a total of 49 grammes of crystal meth, aka ‘ice”, according to police.

Police searched the suspects’ rooms and found another 0.49gm of ‘ice’, about 2,000 vaping devices and 200 cartons of smuggled cigarettes.

They allegedly told police they obtained the goods from a Chinese friend in Bangkok, with the intent to sell to foreign tourists in Pattaya, especially at parties.

The Ministry of Commerce estimates that exports will grow by 9.4-10.4% this year, driven by clearer US tariffs, global economic recovery and rising demand for digital technology products, agricultural products and food.

Nantapong Chiralerspong, director-general of the Ministry of Commerce’s Trade Policy and Strategy Office, said exports expanded by 19% year-on-year to US$30.9 billion in September, marking the 15th consecutive month of growth and the highest rate of growth since April 2023.

Imports tallied $29.6 billion, a 17.2% year-on-year growth during the same period.

In the first nine months of this year, exports grew by 13.9% to $254.1 billion and imports rose by 11.9% to $254.5 billion.

Despite a decline of 8.1% in agricultural and agro-industrial products in September, certain sectors saw growth. These included processed chicken; vegetable and animal oil and fat; wheat products and prepared foods; sugar; and chilled and frozen shrimp.

In the first nine months, exports in this sector grew by 0.6%.

He added that exports of industrial products jumped by 26% in September.

Key products showing growth included computers, peripherals and parts; automotives, accessories and parts; gems and jewellery, excluding gold; phones and peripherals; machinery and parts; and electrical transformers and parts.

Industrial product exports grew by 18.6% in the first nine months.

Exports are expected to grow in the final quarter, driven by clarity on US tariffs, which have reduced market concerns. Thailand remains competitive with the 19% reciprocal tariff, Mr Nantapong said.

Moreover, the global economy is recovering, as reflected in increased production capacity, while the growth of the digital technology industry has driven exports in this sector.

There is also demand for processed agricultural products and food.

He added that monthly export averages are expected to reach between $25-26 billion for the rest of this year.

“Exports are projected to grow by 9.4-10.4% this year, surpassing the earlier target of 2-3%,” he said.

The value of this year’s total exports is projected to reach about $329.1-332.1 billion, which would mark a fresh record high.

However, he pointed out several risk factors that need to be monitored. These include trade retaliatory measures between the US and China, the effects of the possibility of a prolonged US government shutdown, the appreciation of the baht and developments regarding the Thailand-Cambodia border situation following the recent signing of a peace agreement.