Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs is coordinating efforts to repatriate the body of Bavorntat Pengsook, the well-known Thai travel content creator known online as “Hlun Solo,” following confirmation of his death in Georgia.
The ministry said it is working with the Royal Thai Embassy in Ankara and Georgian authorities to complete the required procedures and arrange for his body to be returned to Thailand for funeral rites.
His death was confirmed after several days of concern over his whereabouts. Bavorntat had been travelling alone in Georgia to produce content and had not been in contact with his family since July 13.
Known for documenting his solo journeys around the world, Hlun Solo built a large online following, with more than 2.5 million followers on Facebook and around 914,000 subscribers on YouTube.
Jaithai Upakaranitikaset, Director-General of the Department of Information and Ministry Spokesperson, stated that officials from the embassy in Ankara travelled to Georgia to meet local authorities, where they received confirmation of his passing.
Georgian authorities are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding his death, and a cause has not yet been confirmed. Embassy officials have notified Bavorntat’s family and said they will continue to provide updates as further information becomes available.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also expressed its deepest condolences to Bavorntat’s family.
From Humble Beginnings to Global Travel
The 27-year-old creator, who was raised in Kalasin province by his grandmother following the death of his father, came from modest circumstances and grew up without financial support from his parents.
During his school years, Bavorntat attended a local community school and applied for numerous scholarships to help cover his education. After completing secondary school, he was unable to immediately afford university and instead spent a year working at an industrial factory in Bangkok.
He worked 10-hour shifts for a minimum daily wage of 300 baht while living in a small rented room near the industrial estate. Outside working hours, he continued studying and preparing for university scholarship examinations.
His efforts eventually earned him a full scholarship to the Faculty of Political Science at Chulalongkorn University. With tuition and living expenses covered, he was able to save additional income toward his long-held ambition of travelling the world as a backpacker.
While studying, Bavorntat arranged his classes into a compact schedule that allowed him to take on several part-time jobs. His work included private tutoring, distributing flyers, raising funds for charities and selling products online.
By the time he graduated, he had saved enough money to finance a year of independent travel overseas, laying the foundation for the solo travel content that would later attract millions of followers.
