Thailand Lifts Curfew in Cha Am, Hua Hin, Krabi and Phang-Nga

Update 8 June 2014: On Sunday, Hat Yai, Koh Chang and Koh Phangan were added to those areas where the curfew has now been lifted. End of update. Original story below

Less than a week after Thailand's National Council for Peace and Order lifted the curfew in Pattaya, Phuket and Koh Samui, four more popular Thai holiday destinations now have their own reason to celebrate as the curfew has also been lifted in Cha Am, Hua Hin, Krabi and Phang-Nga.

All other parts of Thailand - including other tourist favourites such as Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Samet, Kanchanaburi, Kao Yai and of course the capital city, Bangkok - are still under curfew from 00:00 to 04:00.

And, with the FIFA World Cup just days away, bars around Thailand would have been hoping for an income boost as they attract football fans - both local and from overseas - to watch the games live, while enjoying food and beverages through the night. Unfortunately, with most games kicking off around 11pm Thai time and ending in the early hours, unless you are in one of the fortunate areas - all mainly in the south - to have had the curfew lifted, then you are pretty much forced to watch them at home, or possibly in your hotel room if you are a tourist.

It is unclear what the authorities are trying to achieve by the curfew, but tourism bodies around the country, and many Thais themselves, are calling for it to be lifted from the whole country as soon as possible.

Curfew-Free Areas of Thailand

The curfew has now been lifted from the following parts of Thailand:

Cha Am

Hat Yai

Hua Hin

Koh Chang

Koh Phangan

Koh Samui

Krabi

Pattaya

Phang-Nga

Phuket