Phuket Community Weekly
Phuket this week: Nene wins AGT, 5,000 sailors, and the Veg Fest countdown begins
A Phuket 16-year-old just made history. Plus everything residents need before the festival starts October 10.
Friday 2 October 2026 | Read online
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Phuket's beachside Muay Thai gym for first-timers - Rawai Beach
π From the Island
2 October 2026
This is a week Phuket will not forget in a hurry. The news has been stacking up since last Tuesday, and for once it is almost entirely good.
Nene Royal just made history. Rattikan Amloy - 16, from Phuket - became the first Thai winner in America's Got Talent history on September 23. The homecoming celebrations ran all weekend. Social media engagement crossed 105 million. She has already landed the opening slot for Avenged Sevenfold's next run. The full story is below.
The Vegetarian Festival starts October 10. Eight days away. Nine days of processions, street food, and ceremonies centred on Old Town. If you have not planned around it yet, start now - road closures, crowd management, and the best food of the year are all incoming.
5,120 sailors arrive Monday. USS George H.W. Bush and escort destroyer dock at Phuket Deep Sea Port on October 5. Patong, Rawai, and Old Town are the designated shore-leave corridors through Saturday. Plan around it if those areas are on your week.
Four direct routes, one month. London (Oct 18), Zurich (Oct 25), Kuwait (Oct 27), Minsk (Oct 29). All without a Bangkok connection. High season is arriving by air.
Let's go.
β‘ Quick Island Pulse
π’ Navy in port: Monday through Saturday.
USS George H.W. Bush and destroyer arrive October 5. Combined shore complement: 5,120 personnel. Activity corridors: Patong, Rawai, Old Town. Expect elevated foot traffic, heightened security on Soi Bangla and the Rawai beachfront, and busy venues Monday evening through Saturday October 10.
π Vape crackdown on Bangla Road.
Ten arrests this month for e-cigarette possession on Bangla Road. Thailand's vape ban is fully in effect. Possession carries fines up to ΰΈΏ30,000 or up to three years in prison. You will see people using them - that does not make it legal. Worth a reminder to anyone visiting.
β οΈ Active roadworks: slow down after dark.
A contractor has been charged after a delivery driver died falling into an unlit drainage trench on an active road. Night-lighting and barriers are now mandated on all civil works. Active trenches remain on several arterial routes - take unfamiliar roads carefully after dark.
ποΈ Normal office hours.
No public holidays this week. Phuket Immigration open Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 4:30pm. Standard window for 90-day reports and TM30 filings.
π This weekend.
Thai-Malay Cultural and Halal Expo wraps Sunday at Robinson Thalang (free). Naka Weekend Market Saturday and Sunday 4pm-10pm. TRIBE open-air at YONA Beach Club Saturday afternoon. Carpe Diem La Dolce Vita Sunday Brunch season launch at Bang Tao. Lard Yai Walking Street Sunday from 4pm. Full events below.
Phuket's Beachside Muay Thai Gym for First-Timers
Trying Muay Thai for the first time can feel intimidating. Phuket Muay Thai makes it easy. With free beginner classes, no pressure to spar, and patient trainers, it's built for complete beginners.
The atmosphere is welcoming from day one. Small class sizes mean real one-on-one attention, so you're never lost in the crowd.
Location is a standout. The gym sits right by Rawai Beach, giving sessions a fresh, open feel and an easy post-training cooldown by the sea.
There's also a modern on-site hotel. Clean rooms, helpful staff, and beach views make it a simple, comfortable base for a Muay Thai train-cation.
π Welcome to the newest members of the community
Four new real estate agencies joined this week, which probably tells you something about where the market's attention is right now.
Phuket Serenity Villas - Rawai-based agency established 2009, covering sales, rentals, and property management island-wide.
Storm Phuket Real Estate - Award-winning agency with 10+ years specialising in foreign-friendly property sales.
Heavenly Phuket - Rawai-based agency focused on buy, sell, and property investment.
JFTB Real Estate Phuket - Independent agency helping international buyers since 2013.
If your business belongs on Phuket Community, the free listing takes about five minutes at phuketcommunity.com/join.
π° The Week in Stories
New this week on Phuket Community
β Community
Phuket's Nene Royal just became the first Thai winner in America's Got Talent history
Rattikan "Praew" Amloy - a 16-year-old guitarist from Phuket - won America's Got Talent on September 23, becoming the first Thai artist ever to take the title. The island's reaction was immediate and overwhelming: governor-organized homecoming celebrations ran across the weekend, and social media engagement on her win crossed 105 million interactions.
She has already landed the opening slot for Avenged Sevenfold's next touring run. If you have not watched her perform yet, do yourself a favour - the performances are extraordinary and they are all available online.
Watch all of Nene Royal's AGT performances on YouTube.
What this means for residents
For the island's profile: This is the kind of story that lands Phuket in international media for a reason that has nothing to do with tourism promotion. A 16-year-old guitarist winning the world's most-watched talent competition is genuinely extraordinary.
For residents with children in the school system: The schools that shaped Nene are the same ones your children attend. It is worth pointing that out to them.
π§Ύ Also This Week
βοΈ Aviation
Four direct routes launch this month, none via Bangkok. Virgin Atlantic London Oct 18 (3x weekly), Edelweiss Air Zurich Oct 25 (3x weekly), Kuwait Airways Kuwait Oct 27 (2x weekly), Belavia Minsk Oct 29 (2x weekly). Ten new weekly long-haul flights heading into high season. If you are planning a trip home over Christmas, the introductory fares on the new routes are worth checking. Via The Thaiger.
π¨ Development
Hotel Riu Palace Phuket is now open. 504 rooms, five-star, beachfront in Mai Khao - the Spanish chain's first Thailand property. Aimed at the package-holiday market, but the largest single room inventory addition to the north of the island this year. Worth knowing about if you are hosting visitors looking for an all-inclusive option. Via TTG Asia.
π¬ Got an event, tip, or opening to share?
We reach thousands of residents, long-stayers, and locals every Friday. If it is worth knowing about, we want it.
Submit here ->π₯¬ Community Feature
Vegetarian Festival: October 10-18
Your resident guide to Phuket's biggest cultural event of the year
Nine days of ceremonies, street processions, and some of the best plant-based street food you will eat anywhere. The festival - locally called Gin Jay - honours the Nine Emperor Gods in Taoist tradition. It originated in Kathu in 1825 when a travelling Chinese opera troupe fell ill and recovered after resuming vegetarian rites. This is the 201st year.
The processions
Each major shrine gets its own morning - processions typically start between 6 and 8am and run through Phuket Town for several hours. The biggest days: Bang Neow Shrine October 15 and Jui Tui Shrine October 16 (the largest and most crowded). The Kathu Shrine procession on the 17th covers roughly 10km to Saphan Hin. The grand farewell at Saphan Hin on the 18th closes it out.
Street closures
Rolling closures along procession routes in Old Town - Phuket Road, Ranong Road, Thalang Road, and Yaowarat Road - roughly 6am to 11am on procession mornings. Patong, Kata, Karon, and the beaches are barely affected. If you commute through Old Town, leave earlier or go around entirely.
The food (the main reason to go)
Jay food is stricter than vegan - no meat, dairy, eggs, honey, and no garlic, onion, shallots, chives, or leek. Look for yellow flags with red ΰΉΰΈ characters. Best location: Ranong Road between Fountain Circle and Jui Tui Shrine - hundreds of vendors, roughly 3pm to midnight. Dishes ΰΈΏ20 to ΰΈΏ100. The king oyster mushroom skewers and Khao Man Gai Jay are worth finding.
Practical notes
White clothing is traditional (not compulsory, but you will feel conspicuous otherwise). Wear closed shoes - firecracker debris burns flip-flops. Firecrackers are constant during procession mornings. The final night on October 18 is extraordinary - the town disappears into smoke.
Pets: Keep them indoors during procession hours if you live in Old Town, Kathu, or Sapam. Walk dogs either before 5am or after 10pm on procession mornings. Beach areas are significantly quieter.
Key dates
Oct 9: Go Teng pole raising at all major shrines (4-6pm) - festival eve
Oct 10: Opening ceremonies - processions begin
Oct 15-16: Bang Neow and Jui Tui processions - the biggest days
Oct 17: Kathu Shrine procession (10km to Saphan Hin)
Oct 18: Grand farewell at Saphan Hin
We will have a full resident guide up on the site before it starts. Save the dates: October 10-18.
π‘ Island Life Hack
Vegetarian Festival starts in eight days. Sort these now.
The festival is not hard to navigate if you plan ahead. Most of the problems residents hit are entirely avoidable.
Block out your Old Town commute: If you drive through Phuket Road, Ranong Road, Thalang Road, or Yaowarat Road in the morning, those routes close from roughly 6am to 11am on procession days. Leave before 5:30am or take the bypass entirely.
Go for the food, stay for the atmosphere: The yellow-flagged vendors on Ranong Road run from around 3pm to midnight. ΰΈΏ20-100 per dish - budget ΰΈΏ200 and eat well. The king oyster mushroom skewers and the Jay Khao Man Gai are the ones worth finding.
Wear white and closed shoes: Firecrackers are constant on procession mornings. Flip-flops and embers are a bad combination.
Plan around Oct 15-16 for the crowds: Bang Neow (15th) and Jui Tui (16th) are the biggest processions. Good for atmosphere, difficult for anyone trying to get somewhere quickly.
Sort the pets: If you are in Old Town, Kathu, or Sapam, keep animals inside during procession hours. Walk them before 5am or after 10pm on festival mornings. Beach-area residents need not worry - it is considerably quieter there.
π New on phuketcommunity.com
Four resident guides published last week - all written for people who live here, not people passing through.
Living with dogs in Phuket - Vets, emergency clinics, pet-friendly beaches, strays, and boarding.
Supermarkets and grocery shopping - Makro vs Lotus's vs Villa Market vs fresh markets. Where to find what, depending on where you live.
International schools 2026-27 - Fees, curricula, waiting lists, and what parents actually say. Updated for the new academic year.
Guided tours worth taking - The tours residents actually recommend when visitors ask.
π£οΈ Community Picks - recommended by readers
Two recommendations came in through the submission forms this week. Both worth passing along.
La Salada, Rawai - "The best Spanish restaurant in Phuket. Amazing tapas, live paella cooking and a very friendly owner." π Google Maps
IM en ville at Porto, Cherng Talay - "We went there for a Thai dinner and had the best food we've tasted in Phuket." π Google Maps
If you have eaten somewhere worth recommending, every guide on the site has a submission form at the bottom.
π§ The In-Between
A weekly reflection on change, transition and new beginnings in Phuket
By Johnny Carter | The Next Chapter
When Restlessness Is Trying to Tell You Something
What do you do when everything in your life looks fine - but something still feels off? In Week 3, Johnny explores the territory where there is no obvious crisis, nothing has collapsed, and yet something no longer quite fits. He makes the case that restlessness is sometimes not a problem to fix - but growth arriving before the new direction has become clear.
"Not every uncomfortable feeling needs to be fixed. Some need to be listened to."
Read the full column on phuketcommunity.com ->π Out & About
Marcele Bar & Bistro - Navera Phuket, Cherng Talay
New opening - MGallery Collection's Cherng Talay restaurant, worth watching
Marcele Bar & Bistro is the restaurant at Navera Phuket, the new MGallery Collection hotel in Cherng Talay. Accor's boutique-scale property - positioned above the usual Cherng Talay mid-range but well below the Banyan Tree tier. We have not eaten there yet, so this is a heads-up rather than a review.
The early signals are interesting: a dedicated head chef (not a hotel F&B afterthought), a menu leaning Mediterranean-Thai crossover, and a bar programme being treated as a standalone destination rather than a lobby appendage. Cherng Talay has been short on proper sit-down restaurants that are not attached to a beach club. Another option in that gap is welcome. We will report back once we have been.
Before / After: Boat Avenue is a short walk - good for a pre-dinner browse. Bang Tao and Laguna venues round out the evening north.
ποΈ Property & Development Corner
Market moves this week
Property Spotlight - Elephant Phuket
For Sale: Yaka Bungalows, Rawai - 3 bungalows, freehold, income-generating
A three-bungalow complex on Soi Mangosteen, Rawai - each unit self-contained with private bathroom, kitchen, and Wi-Fi. Freehold land and buildings. Currently operating as a proven short-term rental business: 4.76 rating with 100+ reviews on Airbnb (Guest Favourite). Close to Sai Yuan, local shops, cafes, and Sinbi Muay Thai. A turnkey investment for anyone looking at income-generating property in the south.
Listed through Elephant Phuket - a well-established property management and sales company in Rawai/Nai Harn, handling both long-term and holiday rentals for their clients.
Message Elephant Phuket on WhatsApp ->The market is splitting - high-end moving, lower tier soft.
Phuket registered 9.2 million arrivals in the first eight months of 2026, down 1.76% year-on-year. But branded luxury residential demand is moving the other way - high-net-worth buyers concentrating capital in Bang Tao, Layan, Kamala, and Cherng Talay. Unbranded inland condominiums face longer sales cycles. Rawai and Nai Harn remain the most active for completed-unit resale at prices residents buy to live in. Full analysis here.
Banyan Tree launches three new Laguna collections. $1 billion pipeline.
Banyan Group Residences launched Nerea (6 yacht-inspired duplexes on the lagoon), Oceanus (16 beachfront residences at Bangtao, up to 768sqm), and Varuna (ultra-luxury with Sanctuary Club privileges and full management). The group is targeting up to $1 billion in new Phuket developments. Via Bastille Post.
βοΈ Legal Watch
Thai regulatory enforcement of nominee ownership structures continues. Safest current structures for foreign buyers: direct freehold under the 49% foreign quota (condominiums only), or a 30-year registered leasehold recorded at the Land Department. Thai company nominee arrangements remain the active enforcement target. Review your structure if you have not done so recently. Our full guide is at phuketcommunity.com. International school applications for the January 2027 intake are opening now at BISP, UWC, and HeadStart - waiting lists fill fast.
Track new launches.
Our sister project Hawook is building an app to track Phuket's best new property launches. Still in beta, already listing several active projects.
π Events Snapshot
Friday 2 October to Thursday 9 October 2026
| Date | Event | Venue | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fri 2 Oct | Chillva Night Market | Yaowarat Rd, Ratsada, 5pm-11pm | Free |
| Fri-Sun 2-4 Oct | Thai-Malay Cultural & Halal Expo (final days) | Robinson Lifestyle Thalang, 10am-9pm | Free |
| Sat 3 Oct | TRIBE Open-Air Session | YONA Beach Club, Koh Kaew, 2pm-10pm | ΰΈΏ2,000 |
| Sat-Sun 3-4 Oct | Naka Weekend Night Market | Chao Fah West Rd, Phuket Town, 4pm-10pm | Free |
| Sun 4 Oct | La Dolce Vita Sunday Brunch - season launch | Carpe Diem Beach Club, Bang Tao | ΰΈΏ3,900 |
| Sun 4 Oct | Lard Yai Walking Street | Thalang Rd, Phuket Old Town, 4pm-10pm | Free |
| Sun 4 Oct | Sunday Brunch Market | Boat Avenue, Cherng Talay | Free |
| Mon-Sat 5-10 Oct | US Navy port call - Patong/Rawai busy | Ao Makham Deep Sea Port | - |
| Thu 9 Oct | Go Teng pole raising - Veg Fest eve | All major shrines, Phuket Town, 4-6pm | Free |
| Daily | Rawai Seafood Market | Wiset Rd, Rawai Waterfront, 6pm-9pm | Free |
Full calendar: phuketcommunity.com/events
Submit your event: forms.gle/Sne2PeSpmP9CHb8F6
π€ Community & Partners
Want to reach this community?
Residents, long-stayers, and property owners read this every Friday morning. If your business belongs in front of that audience, reply to this email or list at phuketcommunity.com/join.
A 16-year-old from Phuket wins America's Got Talent. Five thousand sailors arrive Monday. The Vegetarian Festival starts in eight days. This is some week.
If you are heading into Old Town next week, wear white and bring closed shoes. If Patong is on your schedule from Monday, factor in the crowds. And if you have not watched Nene perform yet - do it this weekend. She is extraordinary.
Sabai sabai. See you next Friday, 9 October - the Veg Fest edition.
