Friday 19 June 2026

Good morning Bangkok. Happy Friday.

🌡️ Weather: 26-36°C (79-97°F). Cooler morning before a hot afternoon. Scattered showers possible late afternoon. A beautiful start to the weekend.

🌫️ AQI: 31-60 (Good). Bangkok's clean-air streak continues. Best air quality week of 2026 so far. Get outside this morning.

Police arrested three suspects in connection with the murder of a Thai man whose body was discovered concealed inside a plastic container buried within a cannabis planter box at a property in Don Mueang district. Officers from Don Mueang Police Station were called to a housing estate on Thoet Ratchan Road in Si Kan subdistrict on June 14 after receiving reports. The victim was identified as the owner of a cannabis shop. The body had been placed inside a plastic container and buried beneath a large planter box used for growing cannabis at the property.

The investigation moved quickly. Three men were arrested in connection with the killing. The details of the dispute that led to the murder have not been fully disclosed, but police said the suspects were known to the victim and that the crime was not random. The cannabis connection adds a layer that reflects the complicated reality of Thailand's cannabis landscape since decriminalization: a growing industry operating in a legal grey zone where disputes sometimes escalate without the formal protections that regulated businesses rely on. For the Don Mueang neighborhood, the discovery of a body buried on a residential property was deeply unsettling. For the broader readership, the story is a reminder that the cannabis sector in Thailand, however normalized it may appear on the surface, still carries risks that the legal framework has not fully addressed.

Bottom Line: Three arrests. One body. A planter box. This is not a story about cannabis policy. It is a story about a man who was killed, and the people who allegedly killed him tried to hide the evidence in the most literal way possible. The speed of the arrests suggests police had cooperation. The method of concealment suggests the suspects did not expect to be found.

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REIC figures show Bangkok had 70,495 second-hand homes listed in the first quarter of 2026, as their total value rose 234% to 701.25 billion baht. That is not a typo. The total value of Bangkok's resale housing market nearly tripled in a single reporting period. The numbers come from the Real Estate Information Center and reflect a market where owners are listing properties at significantly higher valuations than previous quarters, driven by a combination of rising land prices, construction cost inflation and the broader cost-of-living pressures that have defined 2026.

For expats, the data tells two stories depending on which side of the market you sit on. If you own property in Bangkok, your asset is likely worth considerably more on paper than it was a year ago. If you are looking to buy, the entry point has moved significantly higher, and the volume of listings, over 70,000, suggests that many owners are testing the market at elevated prices rather than selling urgently. The 234% value surge does not mean every home costs 234% more. It means the aggregate value of all listed properties has jumped, which can be driven by a combination of higher individual prices and more expensive properties entering the market. Either way, the direction is clear: Bangkok's property market is repricing upward, and the second-hand segment is leading the move.

Bottom Line: If you have been thinking about buying property in Bangkok, the data says the window of "Bangkok is cheap" is closing. If you already own, your patience is being rewarded. Either way, 70,495 homes on the market means there is no shortage of options. The prices are just different from what they were.

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A 1940s pre-revolutionary Cuban bar that has been one of Bangkok's most consistently fun nightlife venues since it opened. Havana Social does not take itself seriously, which is exactly why it works. The interior is vintage Havana: dark wood, dim lighting, cigar smoke, Latin music and a crowd that came to dance rather than pose. The cocktail menu is rum-forward, as it should be. The Mojito and the Salted Caramel Daiquiri are the most ordered drinks. The Cubano Sandwich (฿300+) and the Beef Empanada (฿130+) are the food orders for anyone who needs fuel between rounds. Latin music plays every night, but check dates for live music. Sundays there is a salsa dance class for anyone willing to embarrass themselves in the best possible way. The 4.4-star rating across 2,479 Google reviews and the World's 50 Best Bars discovery listing reflect a bar that has earned its following through atmosphere rather than hype. On a Friday night when you want somewhere that feels like a different city entirely, Havana Social is the call.

TIP: Go after 9PM for the best atmosphere. The dance floor builds from 10PM. Address: 41/3 Sukhumvit Road, Khlong Toei Nuea, Watthana, Bangkok 10110. BTS: Nana, Soi 11. Phone: 02 821 6111. Instagram: @havanasocialbkk. Website: havanasocialbkk.com. Hours: Daily 6PM-2AM. Rating: 4.4 stars, 2,479 Google reviews. Price: ฿400-1,200 per person.

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Have a great Friday, and see you tomorrow morning.

— Patrick