Nordic News, Business and Life in Asia
Ferry fares are set to jump dramatically this Friday. For the first time in ten years, prices are rising as diesel costs soar, a consequence of global fuel instability, Bangkok …
Ferry fares to Koh Chang rise for the first time in 10 years Read More
Mastercard has started testing AI-powered payments in Southeast Asia. In a press release, the company says its system is now live in early markets including Singapore and Malaysia. The technology …
Mastercard starts testing AI payments in Southeast Asia Read More
Thailand has long required tourists to prove they have sufficient funds upon arrival: 20,000 baht per person or 40,000 baht per family for tourist visas and visa-exempt entries. Visa-on-arrival travelers …
Thailand reinforces cash requirement at immigration Read More
Travellers flying in Asia may soon need to rethink what they pack in their hand luggage. New international safety rules now limit passengers to carrying a maximum of two power …
Flying soon? You may not be allowed to do this anymore Read More
Vietnam is introducing a new emergency law that could give authorities sweeping powers over businesses and daily life in times of crisis. The law was approved in December 2025 and …
New law gives Vietnam more power over businesses and daily life Read More
Tourists from Denmark, Sweden and Norway are heading to Vietnam in growing numbers as the country records its strongest tourism start ever. Vietnam welcomed 6.76 million foreign visitors in the …
Nordics are choosing Vietnam like never before Read More
A costly problem is forcing Thailand to rethink how visitors enter the country. Authorities are now considering making travel insurance mandatory for international tourists, as unpaid medical bills continue to …
Thailand considers mandatory insurance for tourists Read More
A recently published report reveals fresh efforts by Thailand and Sweden to safeguard the thousands of Thai seasonal workers who travel each year to pick berries in Sweden, Ministry of …
Thailand and Sweden intensify efforts to protect seasonal berry pickers Read More
Air travel across Asia is under pressure right now. On April 5, thousands of travellers are experiencing delays and cancellations as widespread disruptions hit major airports across China, Japan, South …
Thousands of flights delayed across Asia as storms hit major hubs Read More
In northern Vietnam, local hospitals are transforming emergency care through international collaboration. Thuy Nguyen Medical Center recently performed its first successful thrombolysis on a 68-year-old stroke patient, restoring mobility within …
Swedish-Vietnamese hospital collaboration boosts emergency care in Vietnam Read More
Thailand’s King Maha Vajiralongkorn and Queen Suthida are scheduled to pay an official visit to Sweden from 29 April to 2 May 2026, according to a Thai-language announcement circulating in …
Thailand’s King and Queen to pay official visit to Sweden Read More
Join the Danish Church in Thailand for one of the church year’s biggest celebrations: Easter. A bilingual Danish-Swedish service will be held April 5 at the Danish Church in Thailand, …
Join the Easter festivities at the Danish Church in Thailand Read More
Bangkok is stepping up its climate ambitions. On April 3, 2026, Dr. Pirun Saiyasitpanich, Director-General of the Department of Climate Change and Environment, met with H.E. Mrs. Anna Hammargren, Sweden’s …
Thailand and Sweden join forces to tackle climate change Read More
Thai Airways is enforcing a new rule that limits passengers to carrying no more than two power banks each, and strictly prohibits using or charging them during flights, Bangkok Post …
Thai Airways tightens power bank rules for passengers Read More
Foreigners in Vietnam could now face faster deportation under sweeping new rules that came into force this week. The changes allow authorities to remove people more quickly if they fail …
Break the rules and you’re gone: Vietnam tightens deportation laws Read More
Truls Möregårdh delivered an impressive performance at the ITTF World Cup in Macao, advancing to the quarterfinals after a dominant win, SVT Sport reports. The Swedish player defeated Germany’s Patrick …
Swedish table tennis star impresses in China: “He’s special” Read More
A Thai youth football team is set to travel to Sweden this summer after winning a national tournament in Bangkok, MGR Online reports. Futboys X Pattaya United secured first place …
Thai youth team heads to Sweden after tournament win Read More
Northern Thailand is heading into Songkran under a blanket of toxic smog. And tourists are staying away. Chiang Mai was this week ranked the most polluted city in the world, …
Toxic smog hits Chiang Mai: Tourists flee as Songkran approaches Read More
Touring Malaysia is becoming significantly more expensive. Tour bus and van rental prices have surged by up to 80 per cent due to rising diesel costs linked to the ongoing …
Price shock in Malaysia too: Tours up to 80 percent more expensive Read More
A hot air balloon carrying tourists collided with power lines in Vang Vieng, Laos, during a sunset flight on March 26, according to a video shared by Newsflare. The incident …
Tourist balloon slams into power lines in Laos Read More
A Swedish industry giant is making a move in Thailand. Tetra Pak has opened a new food innovation centre in Rayong with one clear goal: speed. This was announced by …
Swedish giant storms Thailand with new food innovation hub Read More
Vietnam’s textile industry is on the verge of a major shift. ABB, the global engineering giant, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Swedish startup Syre to explore technologies for …
Textile waste in Vietnam could get new life through Swedish partnership Read More
You feel happy when you meet Viveca Bratt and Hans (Hasse) Bratt Hernberg, they’re quick to laugh, yet have a great depth to them. Viveca and Hasse met in 2001 …
With sights set on success – Hong Kong, here we come! Read More Thailand’s strengthening currency is raising concerns across the tourism industry, Bangkok Post reports. The baht is currently trading between 30 and 32 per US dollar and has appreciated significantly in …
Thailand’s travel sector faces pressure from stronger currency and rising costs Read More
Eurovision goes asian. Bangkok will host the first-ever Eurovision Song Contest Asia in November 2026, marking the competition’s first multinational expansion beyond its traditional format, according to an announcement from …
Bangkok to host massive new song contest as Eurovision invades Asia Read More
The Philippines is moving closer to Nordic partners as global tensions intensify and humanitarian concerns grow, The PhilBiz News reports. At a Nordic Day event in Manila, Philippine officials highlighted …
Shared values bring Philippines and Nordic countries closer in crisis Read More
The pressure is mounting on one of Sweden’s most iconic carmakers. Swedish Volvo Cars is tightening its ties with Chinese owner Geely Holding as global competition intensifies, according to new …
Volvo deepens China cooperation to navigate tougher market Read More
Northern Thailand and neighbouring countries are being hit by worsening haze, as fire activity increases across the Mekong region. More than 1,450 fire hotspots were detected in Thailand alone at …
Haze spreads across Mekong region as fires rise Read More
Passengers travelling to and from Thailand are being warned to take extra care of their belongings after a rise in credit card thefts during flights, according to Thai authorities. The …
Credit card theft tops 8 million baht: Immigration police now warn passengers Read More
Thailand is planning to introduce a 300 baht (around USD 9) entry fee for foreign tourists arriving by air in 2026, as part of efforts to strengthen tourism infrastructure and …
Entering Thailand could soon cost you extra: Visitors must pay on arrival Read More
On March 30, 2026, the United Arab Emirates’ air defence systems intercepted 11 ballistic missiles and 27 drones launched from Iran, the UAE Ministry of Defence reports. Since the beginning …
Indonesian and Swedish citizens injured in UAE missile and drone attacks Read More
Vietnam is among the countries where women travelling alone feel relatively safe, according to a recent overview by BBC. The assessment is based on global data, including the Women, Peace …
Vietnam praised as safe for solo women travellers Read More
Authorities in Laos are warning the public about thunderstorms, lightning, strong winds and a risk of hail in some areas. According to Xinhua, citing the Department of Meteorology and Hydrology, …
After hail chaos in Vientiane: More storms could be on the way Read More
Danish shipping company NORDEN has ordered two new ice-class multipurpose vessels from China’s Wuchang Shipbuilding Industry Group as part of a long-term contract with Swedish mining company LKAB. The contract …
NORDEN orders ice-class vessels in China for long LKAB contract Read More
Airlines in Asia are raising fares and reducing flight operations as jet fuel prices surge following the conflict in the Middle East. Jet fuel prices have surged sharply, with some …
Rising oil prices hit tourism in Asia as flight and transport costs surge Read More
Foreign travelers to Thailand are being warned about fraudulent websites charging fees for the country’s digital arrival card, Bangkok Post reports. The system, known as the Thailand Digital Arrival Card …
Tourists warned against fake Thailand arrival card websites Read More
Cambodia’s Development Cooperation Board (CDCB) joined a high-level discussion on the future of global aid cooperation. The meeting was organised by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Chou Heng, …
Cambodia joins OECD talks with Swedish participation Read More Thousands of passengers are being impacted as a wave of flight disruptions is hitting major airports across Asia, Travel and Tour World reports. Nearly 2,800 flights are delayed and more …
Nearly 3,000 flights disrupted across Asia Read More
Bangkok is once again at the center of Thailand’s tourism success. When digital travel platform Agoda revealed its 2025 Gold Circle Awards, the Thai capital stood out with nearly 100 …
Thailand ranks among world’s best hotels in Agoda awards Read More
Floorball in Vientiane is about to get its first permanent base. From 1 April, the Lao Floorball Federation will take over a sports venue known as Box Underground. “For the …
New Vientiane venue gives Lao floorball a home Read More
Swedish electronic music project Galantis, led by producer Christian Karlsson, is set to headline the &FRIENDS Festival in Manila this June, Philstar reports. Known for global hits such as “Runaway …
Sweden’s Galantis joins festival lineup in Manila Read More
As global energy markets grow unstable and traditional trade routes falter, the Philippines is looking north for reliable partners, The Philbiznews reports. At the first Nordic Day celebration in Manila, …
Nordic ties bring trust and opportunity to Manila Read More
At a ceremony in Hanoi on March 25, ten young Vietnamese were honored for their exceptional contributions across science, education, culture, business, sports, and community service, Vietnam VN reports. Among …
Vietnamese scientist in Sweden recognized as young face of 2025 Read More Thai minister Suchart Chomklin says he will drop a lawsuit against journalist Hathairat Pahonthap, in a case linked to Thai berry pickers working in Finland and Sweden, Thaiger reports. Suchart …
Thai minister drops lawsuit in case tied to berry pickers in Finland Read More Thailand’s tourism sector, a pillar of its economy, is under threat as global travel faces disruption from rising fuel costs and the ongoing Middle East war, Bangkok Post reports. The …
Tourism at risk: Thailand could lose millions of visitors Read More
China has expanded its 240-hour visa-free transit policy to include several European countries, including Nordic nations such as Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Iceland and Finland, Travel and Tour World reports. The …
Nordic travellers can now stay visa-free in China for up to 10 days Read More
The Swedish Restaurant at IKEA EmSphere Bangkok, set the bar high on Tuesday 24 of March, by inviting the Thai Chef Ian Pongtawat Chalermittichai to prepare a Swedish fine dining …
I’M FINE-Dining with IKEA! Read More
Sweden is looking to strengthen cooperation with Vietnam in railway development, including the country’s planned high-speed rail project, according to Ministry of Construction. Sweden’s ambassador to Vietnam, Johan Ndisi, raised …
Sweden wants to join Vietnam’s 1,541km high-speed railway Read More
Hong Kong’s Court of Appeal has rejected the appeal of Swedish businessman Patrik Tobias Ekstrom, confirming his convictions for raping his Nepalese domestic helper and committing non‑consensual buggery, Dimsum Daily …
Hong Kong court confirms rape conviction of Swedish businessman Read More
Ericsson has celebrated its 120th anniversary in Thailand by announcing a partnership with the country’s Digital Economy Promotion Agency (depa), Ericsson reports in a press release. The collaboration will integrate …
Ericsson marked its 120th anniversary in Thailand with a new education partnership Read More