On Thursday 25 March 2010 from 11.30 a.m. to 2.00 p.m., a group of 24 teachers and students participating in the 28th Thai Youth Hostels Association’s Summer English Course paid a courtesy call on Ambassador Nopadol Gunavibool at the Thai Residence. The students, who was on a short English course from 17 to 26 March, was led by Mrs. Viyada Chamnanvej with the help of 3 teaching staff, including an American, from St. Grabriel in Bangkok.

Ambassador Nopadol pointed out to the students that although Singapore was a small country with only about 5 million population, Singapore had made remarkable progress and attained envious achievements. She is ahead of many other countries in education, science and technology, telecommunication and transportation, etc. Singapore’s success was due, in no small part, to the long-term planning and preparation for the future, based on the wisdom and vision of its leaders. He also urged the students to bring back some striking features they encountered and experienced during their week long stay in this city state, such as greeness and cleanliness of the city, strict observance of rules and regulations, etc.  Ambassador Nopadol and other Embassy staff also explained to the students about Embassy’s work and its role and responsibilities in representing Thailand and in protecting and Thailand’s and Thai nationals’ interests in Singapore.

The Thai Youth Hostels Association (TYHA) is an independent body registered on 7 June 1961. It took root in 1957 after a representative of the International Youth Hostels Federation called upon Kunying Dusdi Malakul, President of the Thai Women's Volunteer Association, and asked her to start a youth hostel project in Thailand.  She reported the matter to the Ministry of Education and had their approval to start a youth hostel project under the auspices of the Women Volunteers Association. Under this project, two youth hostels were opened on 2 January 1960; one at Cholburi and another at Nakorn Nayok. In July  1960, the Department of Highways allowed the youth hostel project to use two buildings on a hill near the Phra Buddha-Chaya Temple at Saraburi as the 3rd youth hostel in Thailand. 

The Association's philosophy and mission is to promote the education of all young people of all nation, especially young people of limited means by encouraging in them a greater knowledge, love and care of the countryside and an appreciation of the cultural values of towns and cities in all parts of the world, and as ancillary there, to provide hostels or other accommodation in which there shall be no distinctions of race, nationality, color, religion, sex, class or political opinions and thereby develop a better understanding of their fellow men, both at home and abroad.  TYHA is a full member of the International Youth Hostel Federation. 

Born out of the excursions of a German school teacher, Mr. Richard Schirrman, and his pupils, Hostelling International has become the world's biggest membership organization for youth , with over 4 million members. Youth hostels encourage activity and awareness. They stimulate guests to think about their responsibility to protect nature and preserve cultural values. they promote a better understanding between people of different nations.  Hostelling International fosters growth and effectiveness of the Youth Hostel Associations worldwide. Its mandate is to expand the network to new areas, establishing the same practices and high standards every where, and stimulate the hostelling ethic by international promotion and cooperative activities. Through these endeavours, Hostelling International continues to open up the world to youth and ensure a service that is consistently matched to contemporary need and serve the goal it has always strived after.