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Good morning Bangkok. Happy Sunday.

🌡️ Weather: 28-36°C (82-97°F). Hot and humid with scattered showers from mid-afternoon. Morning is the outdoor window before the afternoon builds.

🌫️ AQI: 68-131 (Good to Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups). At the lower end, clean air. At the upper end, check your sensor. Morning remains the best window.

🗞️ TOP STORIES

A man drove his SUV into the swimming pool at Chulalongkorn University after an argument about condominium rent.

Police and rescue workers from Pathum Wan Police Station were called to the pool outside Sasapol Building at Chulalongkorn University on Thursday, June 18, after a white SUV was found submerged in the water. The driver had allegedly been involved in a dispute over condominium rent before getting into the vehicle and driving it directly into the university pool. No students or swimmers were in the pool at the time. The driver survived and was pulled from the vehicle. His mother has offered to cover all repair costs and damages to the university property.

It is the kind of story that only makes sense in Bangkok. A rent argument escalating into a vehicle entering a university swimming pool combines property frustration, impulse decisions and property damage in a sequence that reads like fiction but happened on a Thursday afternoon in Pathumwan. Chulalongkorn University confirmed the incident and said assessments of the pool and surrounding structures are underway. The driver faces potential charges for property damage and reckless driving. For anyone who has ever been frustrated by a landlord dispute in Bangkok, this is a reminder that driving your car into a pool is not the answer. It is, however, the most memorable response to a rent disagreement this city has produced in 2026.

Bottom Line: Nobody was hurt. The pool will be repaired. The car is presumably totaled. And somewhere in Bangkok a mother is writing a check she never expected to write because her son could not resolve a rental dispute like an adult.

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The airport departure fee increase to ฿1,120 took effect yesterday. Every international flight out of Bangkok just got ฿390 more expensive.

AOT's increase from ฿730 to ฿1,120 per international departure is now live as of June 20. We first covered this story on May 15 when it was announced. The increase of ฿390 per person, a 53% jump, applies to all international passengers departing from Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang. A family of four flying internationally now pays ฿4,480 in departure fees alone, up from ฿2,920 previously. AOT cited the need to fund airport infrastructure improvements to meet ICAO international safety standards.

The timing remains the story. The increase lands during a period when global airfares are already up approximately 45% from the Hormuz crisis, 9.3 million airline seats have been cut globally, and tourist arrivals to Thailand fell 2.3% in the first five months of 2026. Adding ฿390 per departure on top of fares that have already risen significantly is the kind of stacking cost that changes how frequently people fly. For expats who make multiple international trips per year, the annual impact is measurable: four return trips means ฿3,120 in additional departure fees per person. For visiting friends and family calculating the cost of coming to see you, it is one more line item on a trip that is already more expensive than it was six months ago.

Bottom Line: The fee is live. It applies to every international departure starting yesterday. If you booked flights before June 20, check whether the new fee was included in your ticket price or will be charged separately at the airport. For future travel, factor ฿1,120 per person per departure into your budget. It is not going back down.

QUICK HITS

  • Six Pakistani nationals arrested in Pattaya for herbal scam. The group was detained on June 19 for selling overpriced products with exaggerated health claims to foreign tourists. Both locals and foreigners had reported the scam to police.

  • South Korean fraud suspect arrested at Bangkok condo. Mr. Kim, 36, was detained at a Ramkhamhaeng condominium on an Interpol-coordinated warrant for $7 million in telecom fraud. Part of the Immigration Bureau's "Three No's" policy.

  • DSI traced ฿28 million to a People's Party MP in Forex fraud probe. Raids on 24 locations seized ฿65 million in cash and luxury assets. Seven days before the governor election.

  • Princess Bajrakitiyabha mourning period ends June 26. Five days from now. Memorial activities continue around royal sites.

  • Bangkok governor election: 7 days away. June 28. Chadchart vs Chaiwat (People's Party). Final week of campaigning..

Worth a Look

Wall Street’s New Shopping List

Big money is rotating into a select group of stocks for the second half of 2026.

MarketBeat’s analysts tracked the move and identified 10 companies attracting fresh capital right now.

The updated 10 Best Stocks to Own in 2026 report lays out the tickers, trends, and catalysts.

🧖 SPOT OF THE DAY

Divana Nurture Spa (←Click For Directions)

Divana has been one of Bangkok's most trusted spa names for years, and the Nurture Spa on Soi 11 is where the brand does its best work. The space is set inside a tropical garden compound that feels like it belongs in Ubud rather than 200 meters from one of Sukhumvit's busiest nightlife strips. Traditional Thai massage, aromatherapy, body scrubs and signature treatments are delivered in private garden rooms where the sounds of the city disappear entirely. The 4.8-star rating across 929 Google reviews, a 5/5 on Facebook across 510 votes, and a 4.6 on Klook across 1,332 reviews all point to the same conclusion: this is a spa that consistently delivers at a level most hotel spas charge double for. People typically spend four hours here, which tells you something about the quality of the experience: nobody spends four hours somewhere that is just okay. "Good service with cozy environment," one reviewer wrote. "Topnotch service, reasonable price," wrote another. On a Sunday after a long week, four hours in a garden compound sounds like time well spent.

TIP: Book via Klook or GoWabi for discounted packages. Last booking is 9PM. Sunday afternoons are popular, so reserve ahead. Let them recommend a treatment if it is your first visit.
Address: 71 Sukhumvit 11 Alley, Khlong Toei Nuea, Watthana, Bangkok 10110. BTS: Nana. Phone: 02 651 2916. Instagram: @divanathailand. Website: divanaspa.com. Hours: Open daily until 11PM. Last booking 9PM. Rating: 4.8 stars, 929 Google reviews. Book: Klook | GoWabi.

📅 EVENTS

  • EU Film Festival 2026 (through June 29, Siam Society, House Samyan, Lido Connect, free) 21 films from 19 countries. Final week. Tickets one hour before each screening.

  • Thai Travel Fair (ไทยเที่ยวไทย ครั้งที่ 78) (Thursday June 25, BITEC, 10AM) Domestic travel deals, hotel packages and tour discounts. Worth checking for Thai holiday planning.

  • Books and Beers Festival (June 26-July 5, Singha Complex, 11AM-10PM, free) Ten days of reading, browsing, craft markets, workshops, live music and day drinking. Opens Thursday.

  • Bangkok Bicycle Film Festival (June 27-28, ChangChui Creative Park) Cycling-themed films and community events. Mark the calendar.

  • Bangkok Governor Election (Sunday June 28) One week away. Chadchart vs Chaiwat (People's Party). The election that determines your roads, parks and daily quality of life.

  • The Kid LAROI (Monday June 29, 6PM, Samyan Mitrtown Hall) Australian pop star on the "A Perfect World" tour. Tickets via ThaiTicketMajor.

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

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