Thailand: Loy Krathong Under Surveillance, Shopee/Lazada Purchases Soon to be Taxed, Storm Around a Beauty Contest, and a French Hero in Bangkok

Lanterns brushing against rooftops, canals put to the test, tax rules tightening for e-commerce, and a media scene buzzing around a beauty contest: the Thai week has been intense, sometimes rough, often revealing. On the menu: figures that matter, political choices that weigh on daily life, an unexpected hero, and a sweet surprise that shakes up clichés. Here's what to remember, with verified facts, context, and a bit of frankness.

Loy Krathong 2024: Enchantment, Limited Damage, and Ecological Debate

Loy Krathong, celebrated every year in early November, remains one of Thailand's most photogenic festivals. Small boats made of plants – the krathongs – float on the surface, while lanterns illuminate the night sky. In Chiang Mai, the spectacle is breathtaking... and sometimes high-risk: videos have shown agents rushing with poles to prevent roofs from catching fire when poorly directed lanterns lost altitude. The hair of some participants also came close to overheating. Guaranteed atmosphere, mandatory vigilance.

Beyond the postcard, the other side of the festival is seen the next morning. The krathongs end up in the waterways, the lanterns fall back into the streets. Bangkok announced that it collected approximately 391,000 krathongs this year, a volume significantly lower – around -24% according to the municipality – compared to the previous edition. The downward trend has been confirmed for several years.

Materials: Better, But Not Yet Irreproachable

The capital's authorities insist on the festival's shift towards more environmentally friendly materials. Plant-based krathongs largely dominate (more than 80% according to the figures provided). A core of problematic models remains: a little over 7% in foam, and nearly 10% in bread – a local practice that starts with good intentions but proves counterproductive. The bread swells, floats for a long time, and can clog the pipes at a time when the rainy season requires a fluid drainage network.

The weather weighed on attendance: several regions, including Phuket, experienced sustained rainfall. The recent floods have highlighted how waste management during Loy Krathong is not a folkloric detail but a concrete urban issue. Local authorities encourage fully biodegradable krathongs, without pins or plastic bases, and remind people of the areas where releasing lanterns is strictly prohibited.

What We Remember

• A decrease in waste volume in Bangkok, a sign of awareness and dissuasive weather.
• A real effort on materials, but foam and the "bread krathong" remain black spots.
• The festival remains splendid, provided that local rules are respected to avoid fires and obstructions of the drainage network.

Nighttime Regulations: Reminder on Alcohol After Midnight

An official reminder circulated in the local press (notably via Bangkok Post) regarding the strengthening of sanctions on the sale of alcohol after midnight. The country already has a strict framework on authorized hours; the current discussion concerns enforcement and sanctions. For now, many professionals are waiting to see how, where, and with what intensity the controls will be carried out. Keep an eye on it if you run a bar, a restaurant, or if you go out late.

Tourist Tax: The Recurring Issue Postponed Again

The 300 baht "tourist tax," announced, modified, and then postponed for two years, is reportedly being postponed again by about four months. Officially, the payment mechanism is ready; politically, the decisions are dragging on. For travelers, uncertainty continues: the measure exists, but its effective date changes according to announcements.

Express FAQ

• Planned amount: 300 baht per visitor, with possible exemptions depending on entry status. To be confirmed.
• Stated objective: to finance the maintenance of tourist infrastructure and basic insurance coverage for visitors.
• Timeline: vague. Follow official announcements from the government and the Immigration Bureau.

Practical advice: do not change your travel plans based on rumors. Wait for a clear publication in the Official Journal, or a unified government communication, before organizing yourself.

Buying on Lazada, Shopee, Shein, Temu: VAT Will Apply From 1 Baht in 2026

Thailand is aligning with a global trend: the end of the de minimis threshold that allowed small imported packages to pass without VAT. Today, purchases under 1,500 baht (approximately 40 euros) are not subject to VAT or import duties. From January 1, 2026, any imported package – even at 1 baht – will be taxed.

What Changes

• VAT without threshold: all imported e-commerce packages will be taxed, regardless of their value.
• Stated objective: more "fair" competition between local merchants and foreign platforms.
• Expected revenue: approximately 3 billion baht additional, according to estimates mentioned by the authorities.

Impact for Consumers

Concretely, low-priced "little things" are likely to cost more. The differential will not always be enormous, but sufficient to make people think. We can expect:

• a mechanical increase in the final ticket (price + VAT + any processing fees),
• customs clearance delays sometimes lengthened during the ramp-up,
• better traceability of packages thanks to standardized billing.

The Winners and Losers

Local businesses see the measure as a rebalancing of competition. Foreign platforms, for their part, will have to refine their logistics chains and clarify information to customers (VAT, fees, deadlines). On the consumer side, buying in stores will regain popularity for what is easily found nearby, while e-commerce will retain the advantage for references not found locally. The most likely scenario? Less impulse, more "thoughtful" basket.

Tight schedule: if you had spotted items for 2025, you will still benefit from the current regime. In 2026, the page will be turned.

Controversy at the Top of the Police: Online Gambling, Dismissals, and Requests for Independent Investigation

The saga between high-ranking Thai police officers has seen a new episode. A former highly publicized chief, nicknamed "Big Joke," had been ousted and investigated for alleged links to online gambling sites – illegal in Thailand. Another official, presented as his rival, is now accused of similar implications, in the wake of a long-term investigation.

Dozens of police officers – more than two hundred cited by some sources – are reportedly involved, while the opposing camps are engaged in a battle of arguments. Everyone swears they want transparency, and everyone demands that the evidence be made public and examined independently.

Why It's Important

• Online gambling is a lucrative clandestine market, which undermines public funding and serves as a gateway to fraud.
• The enj...