Smoke from burning forests in Indonesia has covered the town of Hat Yai and the surrounding region in the far south of Thailand since the beginning of the week. While the haze is clearly visible in the sky local environmental officials say it is not yet a health risk.
The tourism bureau in Ho Chi Minh City says better options for nightlife are a must if the city wants to attract more international visitors. Tourism Department assistant-director La Quoc Khanh told reporters the city needs to set up designated nightlife zones where visitors can party 24/7 if they so wish.
Phuket’s as yet unopened aquarium has just welcomed its first aquatic residents. The facility’s manager has confirmed that two seals and five dolphins have arrived from Ukraine and are getting used to their new home in the Chalong area of the island.
The transport authority in Phuket Town has inaugurated a temporary trolley-bus service for the duration of the annual Vegetarian Festival. The service is currently free and deputy-mayor Kosol Tang-Uthai said if there was sufficient interest in it, it could become permanent.
A good Samaritan has rescued a Norwegian couple buried up to their waists in mudflats in Krabi. Video footage of the rescuer turning himself into a human bridge so the couple could get to higher ground went viral over the weekend.
Vietnam is further relaxing its visa requirements in an attempt to boost its flagging tourist industry. New regulations due to come into effect on 23 November 2015 will see the cost of a single-use tourist visa reduced from US$45 to US$25 as well as other visa-related incentives designed to encourage people to visit.
Pop superstar Elton John has confirmed he will be playing a concert in Bangkok at the end of next month. The British singer and pianist will be joined by his backing band on stage at the city’s premier concert venue, the Impact Arena at the Muang Thong Thani complex in Nonthaburi, on 29 November.
Phuket Town’s annual Vegetarian Festival began on Tuesday. Ethnic Chinese and other residents of the island have been joined by foreign tourists at food stalls in locations such as Ranong Road as well as local temples for what is known locally as Tessagan Gin Jay.
The authority responsible for Cambodia’s Angkor Wat temple complex has confirmed it has formulated a plan to inaugurate a new plantation. Apsara Authority says the natural environment of a plantation will contrast nicely for visitors after they have spent time sightseeing at 800-year-old ruins.
The 22-hour train trip between the Thai capital city of Bangkok and northwest Malaysia is rated as one of Asia’s epic journeys by many who take taken it. The International Express, or Train 35, leaves Bangkok’s Hua Lamphong Station for Butterworth at 14:45 every day and arrives early in the afternoon on the following day.
Public health authorities in Northern Thailand have issued a warning telling people to beware of the onset of the cold season. Chiang Mai’s Public Health Office says quite a lot of people with pneumonia and difficulties with breathing have been admitted to hospitals in the province over the past few days.
Khao Lak is a beach destination spread out along Thailand’s southern Andaman Sea shoreline. Despite its stunning beaches, Khao Lak is uncrowded and peaceful and compares pleasantly with its louder cousin a little farther south, Phuket Island.
A fire at a heritage Thai museum in Mae Sariang completely destroyed the structure early on Sunday morning. The blaze broke out a little after 06:00 and local residents immediately called the fire brigade.
A lorry laden with seafood proved too heavy for a loading ramp at Koh Samui’s main terminal and caused it to collapse on Friday. About 20 lorries had already crossed the makeshift bridge to the ferry when the incident took place a little after 05:00 in the morning.
Two foreign tourists stuck in the mountains of Koh Samui were rescued early on Sunday. The rescue squad mounted a search for the couple from Ukraine after staff at the hotel they were staying at notified police they were missing.
Khao Sok National Park is a must for anybody with the slightest interest in nature at its best or joining in exhilarating activities. Khao Sok covers a chunk of land between Khao Lak and Surathani on the southern Thai peninsula.
Smoke from forest fires burning in northern Indonesia has shrouded Thailand’s southernmost provinces for most of this week. The smog has reduced visibility and forced the pilots of several incoming flights to abort landings.
Chiang Mai provincial officials are collaborating with the Thai national rail operator in promoting a series of special train services to the north. Called Train Ride to the North, the campaign focuses on the traditions and historical attractions of the former Lanna Kingdom.
The culture centre in the Vietnamese town of Hoi An inaugurated its first water-puppet shows last week. The ancient town’s theatre on Hai Ba Trung Street was the venue for the puppetry shows which will now be staged on Friday and Saturday evenings.
Myanmar’s Ministry of Culture has kicked off the process of applying for UNESCO World Heritage Status for Inle Lake. The ministry had already begun the process late last year by assessing the iconic lake’s natural and cultural draws and their relevance to UNESCO criteria.