Sunday 12 July 2026

Good morning Bangkok. Happy Sunday.

🌡️ Weather: 25-31°C (77-88°F). Cooler than normal as Typhoon Bavi continues to pull temperatures down across much of Thailand. Expect cloudy skies and scattered showers throughout the day. Heavy rain and rough seas remain in the South and along the Andaman coast through July 15. A good excuse to enjoy a slow Sunday.

🌫️ AQI: 68-120 (Good to Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups). Most areas are seeing decent air quality this morning. If you're planning to exercise outdoors, earlier is still your best window.

Travel + Leisure has released its annual World's Best Awards 2026, and Thailand once again cemented its place among the world's top travel destinations. Chiang Mai ranked third globally with a score of 91.88, while Bangkok placed sixth with 91.29. The full top 10 includes San Miguel de Allende, Kyoto, Chiang Mai, Hoi An, Oaxaca, Bangkok, Jerusalem, Siem Reap, Mexico City and Tokyo. Thailand and Japan each placed two cities on the list, while Mexico led the rankings with three.

For Bangkok residents who escape to Chiang Mai whenever they get the chance, the results simply reinforce what many already believe. But they also highlight Southeast Asia's growing influence on global travel. Vietnam's Hoi An ranked fourth, Cambodia's Siem Reap came in eighth, and four of the world's ten best cities are now in Southeast Asia. The recognition also arrives alongside a string of recent international wins for Thailand. Koh Samui was recently named the best island in Asia-Pacific, Thailand won the "Best Welcome" award in Madrid, and the country was ranked Asia's top destination for retirement. The momentum isn't slowing, it continues to build.

Bottom Line: Chiang Mai ranked #3. Bangkok ranked #6. Both finished ahead of Tokyo. Whether you're here for a few months or have called Thailand home for years, the country continues to earn recognition as one of the world's best places to visit, and increasingly, one of the best places to live.

Turns out, AI is good for more than writing emails and generating LinkedIn posts. This guide is packed with 200+ actionable ways to build income with AI.

Inside you'll discover:

AI is changing how people work and how people earn, far beyond the simple “write me an email” prompt. Discover the possibilities and download the free guide to start cashing in today.

Get The Free Guide

Thailand's film industry is having one of its strongest years on record. According to figures released Friday by Deputy Government Spokesperson Ploytalay Laksameesaengchan, 302 international productions chose Thailand during the first half of 2026, generating more than ฿4 billion in economic activity. The projects range from feature films and television series to commercials, documentaries, music videos and digital content. Among them is Below Deck Season 13, currently filming around Phuket.

The numbers matter because film production delivers far more than location fees. International crews stay for weeks or months, hire local technicians, rent hotels, restaurants, vehicles and equipment, and ultimately broadcast Thailand to millions of viewers around the world. Every major production effectively becomes free tourism marketing. A single season of Below Deck showcasing Phuket may inspire more future visitors than an entire advertising campaign. Thailand's rebate program and streamlined permit process have also helped the country compete successfully against Malaysia, Indonesia and Vietnam for international productions.

Bottom Line: Thailand is quietly becoming one of Asia's leading production hubs. The investment is growing, the incentives are working, and every film or television show shot here doubles as a global advertisement for the country.

If you enjoyed today's issue, our sponsor below helps keep The BKK Insider free and in your inbox every morning. No sign-up, no download, just a quick click. It takes two seconds and it genuinely makes a difference.

Skip the sales call. Walk through Gladly's interface yourself — the AI suggestions, the unified customer view, the full conversation thread. 15 minutes, no installation, no commitment.

See it yourself

4.9-star rating from more than 1,300 Google reviews is almost unheard of for any Bangkok business, let alone a massage spa. Yet DreamHouse Thai Massage has built exactly that reputation. Tucked away on leafy Soi Ruamrudee, it has quietly become one of Bangkok's highest-rated places to unwind.

The menu covers everything from traditional Thai massage and aromatherapy oil treatments to foot reflexology and focused head, neck and shoulder sessions. What guests consistently mention isn't just the quality of the massage, it's the consistency. Review after review describes therapists who actually listen, strong technique without unnecessary force and a calm atmosphere that feels removed from the city's chaos. One guest called it "10/10... the best Thai massage I've had in Bangkok." Another wrote, "Walking away with a much more relaxed body after a long week."

With cooler temperatures and rain expected throughout Sunday, spending 90 minutes here may be one of the best ways to enjoy the weather.

TIP: The 90-minute traditional Thai massage offers the best value. Book ahead, especially on weekends, and aim for a mid-afternoon appointment when it's typically quieter.

📍 20/24-25 Soi Ruamrudee, Lumphini, Pathum Wan
📞 Phone: 082 423 2396
🕛 Hours: Daily until midnight
⭐ Rating: 4.9 (1,328 Google reviews)

Always check opening times before heading out.

Interested in reaching Bangkok's expat community? If you have an upcoming event or volunteer opportunity you think our readers would like, reply to this email and we can feature the event or activity for free.

If you or your business serves or helps expats in Bangkok and you want to get in front of our readers, reply to this email and I will send you our media kit.

Have a great Sunday, and see you tomorrow morning.

— Patrick