Thailand travel advice adjusted: Southern provinces of Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat from red to orange
On March 29, 2023, the travel advice for Thailand was adjusted by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The color code of the travel advice for the southern provinces of Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat goes from red to orange.
Panning for gold in Narathiwat
In the village of Ban Phu Khao Thong in the Sukhirin district of southern Narathiwat province, gold panning by villagers and sometimes visitors is becoming a tradition. It mainly happens in the river Sai Buri by means of a traditional sieving technique.
The Queens of Pattani
You read that right, we are talking about several queens, four to be precise, who ruled the Sultanate of Pattani for more than 100 years from 1584 to 1699. Pattani, which then covered an area of more than the current Thai provinces of Pattani, Yala, and Narithawat in southern Thailand, was a prosperous sultanate ruled by Sultan Mansur Shah in the mid-16th century. It had a small trading port with a good natural and sheltered harbour.
Tucked away in the deep south of Thailand is Narathiwat is the easternmost of the four southern provinces bordering Malaysia. What was once a small coastal town at the mouth of the Bang Nara River was named Narathiwat, literally 'the land of good people', after a visit by King Rama VI.
"Boom boom" at the border
Sungai Golok is a thriving little frontier town that attracts Malaysian men every night to enjoy the 'pleasures of the flesh', loud music, karaoke, copious booze and 'the ladies'. This is all frowned upon south of the river in Malaysia.
Reader question: Is Narathiwat in southern Thailand really dangerous?
We would like to go to Narathiwat and then move north. The southern provinces are red on the travel advice map, so no travel advice.
Is it really dangerous to go there?
Sex and Violence in Thailand's Deep South: 'Red Light Jihad' (Video)
'Red Light Jihad' is a special documentary about prostitution and violence in the deep south of Thailand.
The Forgotten Conflict: Insurrection in the South
In the three southern provinces of Thailand, there are almost daily deaths and injuries in attacks, bomb explosions, executions and beheadings. How did it come to this? What are the solutions?
News from Thailand – September 2, 2012
An explosion and fire at a department store in Narathiwat, in a security zone patrolled 24 hours a day, has once again shown that the militants are lord and master in the South.
News from Thailand – August 10, 2012
Thailand has won its second Olympic medal and its third is on its way. Chanatip Sonkham won bronze in the 49 kilo class in women's teakwondo. Boxer Kaew Pongprayoon is already certain of bronze and has a chance to win silver or gold.
News from Thailand – July 21, 2012
On the first day of Ramadan, the Islamic fasting month, a heavy car bomb exploded in Sungai Kolok (Narathiwat) district yesterday morning. Eight people were injured and a large storefront caught fire. It took firefighters 3 hours to bring the scorching fire under control.
News from Thailand – April 20, 2012
Cho Airong (Narathiwat) district police chief and 30 officers have escaped death when a bomb exploded on their way to a school that had been set on fire. The bomb, which exploded when they were 300 meters from the school, had clearly been placed there to kill the advancing officers.
News from Thailand – March 31, 2012
Angry pineapple fruit growers dumped thousands of pineapples on Phetkasem Highway in Prachuap Khiri Khan yesterday. In the morning, a group of 4.000 peasants blocked the road, and after finishing their action, 500 peasants occupied the highway elsewhere. d
Southern Provinces of Thailand: Violence and Bombings
Train traffic was disrupted in Narathiwat province today after two bombs destroyed the tracks. There were no injuries. It is not yet known who planted the bombs, but it is believed to be Islamic insurgents. The three southernmost provinces of Thailand are experiencing a lot of violence. It was also announced on Wednesday that two police officers were killed by Muslim extremists in the southern province of Pattani. Insurgents in Thailand rarely release statements, but are believed to be battling…