Thailand’s biggest oil, gas and petrol firm has agreed terms with six leading global car manufacturers on the development of electric vehicles. Earlier this month, PTT Public Company Limited signed contracts with the in-country management teams of Nissan, Mitsubishi, Mercedes Benz, Porsche, BMW and Volvo.
Authorities in Bangkok have dusted off a long mooted scheme to bring the city’s canal network back to life. The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) says it has already started the process of cleaning up canals which in historic times garnered the Thai capital the moniker Venice of the East.
Cambodia is preparing to add another visa option to its portfolio which will enable tourists to reside in the country for up to three years at a time. The national tourism-minister told reporters in Phnom Penh the visa would be good for multiple entries and available from 1 September 2016 onwards.
The company in charge of Bangkok’s urban trains has announced a fare reduction for passengers using the brand new Purple Line. Reduced ticket prices will be available for passengers, tourists and commuters with MRTA Smart Cards on trains between Bang Yai and Tao Poon stations.
The fee for visas issued at Thailand’s airports and border crossings is set to double next month. An increase in the price of visas-on-arrival will see them rise from the current THB1,000 to THB2,000 on 27 September.
Cultural experts in Hoi An say the only way of saving its covered bridge is to dismantle it and strengthen the basic structure. The 400-year-old Japanese style bridge is the Vietnamese heritage town's best known site and attracts an estimated 4,000 tourists a day.
Bangkok’s Comedy Club says two forthcoming shows by top UK comedian Jimmy Carr are almost sold out. The funny man is scheduled to take the stage at the Grand Ballroom of the Westin Grande Sukhumvit Hotel on 11 September 2016.
The operator of Bangkok’s new transport link, the Purple Line, is considering fare cuts to entice passengers to use the service. The Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA) officially inaugurated the service on 6 August 2016, but has found passenger numbers are only a third of what was forecast.
The assistant-governor of Phuket Island has confirmed the dates for the 2016 Vegetarian Festival. The perennially favourite cultural extravaganza will be held between 1 and 9 October and will kick off with the usual rites to welcome the attendant deities down from their heavenly resting places.
Adrenalin junkies have been rushing to get just released tickets for tours of the world’s most high octane and biggest cave. The cave in question is Son Doong and at five kilometres in length it is the longest in the world.
The management authority at Angkor Archaeological Park has announced it is to start donating a portion of visitor entry income to children’s hospitals. The Angkor Institution says it will start donating to Kantha Bopha hospitals as soon as an increase in admission fees comes into effect next year.
The lifeguard association in charge of Phuket’s west coast beaches say red flags prohibiting swimming will stay up until Saturday at least. Chief lifeguard Prathaiyuth Chuayuan told reporters on the Thai island that high waves and undercurrents at five beaches were too dangerous for swimmers.
Thailand’s Meteorological Department says bad weather will sweep across the nation over the next few days. Forecasters say heavy rain which has already caused extensive flooding in the eastern province of Nan and neighbouring Laos is heading west.
Canadian band Simple Plan is set to play a gig in Bangkok early next month. The five-piece Montreal based group will be bringing their own peerless fusion of punk-pop to the Moonstar Studio on September 8 as a part of the Taking One for the Team global tour.
Local authorities in Hanoi say they are about to change regulations to allow bars and restaurants to stay open after midnight. People’s Committee chairperson Nguyen Duc Chung said the extension will be enacted so that residents and tourists will be able to enjoy nightlife to the full.
A rescue squad swung into action on Sunday to search for two Britons who had got lost in the jungles of Koh Chang. The manager of Theodor Stennett and Ramanjot Chahal’s guest house reported them missing when they had not returned from an all-day trek by 21:30 in the evening.
US news network CNN has labelled Bangkok as the top global destination to eat street food. In a just released report, CNN lauded popular concoctions such as pad Thai fried noodles and hoy tot mussel pancakes as pure heaven for foodies.
The Lanna Folklife Museum in Chiang Mai is getting ready for the opening of the eagerly awaited ASEAN pop culture festival. The cultural extravaganza will take place on the weekend of the 27 and 28 August at the northern Thai city’s flagship cultural establishment.
Local authorities in Tak Province are preparing the venue for next week’s Bhumibol Dam International Mountain Cycle championships. The three-day tourney begins on Friday 26 August and ends on Sunday 28.
Thailand’s marine authorities have chosen Koh Samui as the location for a new cruise ship port. The nation’s deputy-transport-minister told reporters the Marine Department had conducted feasibility studies and decided the Gulf of Thailand isle was best suited for the new facility.