Chiang Mai News

Chiang Mai news, politics, business, culture, and tourism—stay updated with breaking stories, local events, and expat insights from Thailand’s northern hub. Get the latest from The Thaiger, your trusted Chiang Mai news source.

  • Chiang Mai tram bidding set for 2027, services targeted to begin in 2032 | Thaiger

    Chiang Mai tram bidding set for 2027, services targeted to begin in 2032

    The Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA) plans to open bidding for the Chiang Mai tram project in 2027, with construction expected to start in 2028 and the service targeted to open in 2032. The Chiang Mai light rail or tram project was first raised in 2017 and later approved by the Cabinet in 2018. Previous reports put the…

  • Chiang Mai buffet diner refuses 259-baht bill, argues for an hour | Thaiger

    Chiang Mai buffet diner refuses 259-baht bill, argues for an hour

    A buffet dispute has drawn attention online after a Chiang Mai restaurant owner posted on Facebook yesterday, March 24, about a Chinese customer who allegedly refused to pay after eating, prompting the shop to call the police to mediate. The post was shared by a Facebook user who identified themself as the owner of a Shabu buffet restaurant in Chiang…

  • French man reports assault, 30,000 baht bill at Chiang Mai karaoke | Thaiger

    French man reports assault, 30,000 baht bill at Chiang Mai karaoke

    Police in Mueang Chiang Mai are investigating a complaint filed yesterday, March 23, after a Frenchman reported an assault and a 30,000 baht drinks bill at a karaoke venue in Chiang Mai. The tourist gave a statement identifying himself as 35 year old Kevin, a French national who has been living in Chon Buri province for around two years. According…

  • Chinese man blacklisted for filing fake theft to Chiang Mai police | Thaiger

    Chinese man blacklisted for filing fake theft to Chiang Mai police

    A Chinese man is suspected of filing a fake theft complaint in Chiang Mai in an attempt to obtain a police document for an insurance claim before leaving Thailand. Officers from Mueang Chiang Mai Police Station were alerted of a snatching at 11.40pm on March 17 by a 33 year old Chinese man, Xiao. He reported that the crime occurred…

  • Foreign man jumps into Chiang Mai river after stealing police motorcycle | Thaiger

    Foreign man jumps into Chiang Mai river after stealing police motorcycle

    Chiang Mai police and rescue teams are searching the Ping River for a foreign man who stole a police motorcycle and jumped into the water to avoid arrest. Officers from Mueang Chiang Mai Police Station, along with rescuers from several foundations in the province, began searching the river today, March 16. As of the latest update, they had not located…

  • Body of Chinese man’s newborn son missing from Chiang Mai hospital | Thaiger

    Body of Chinese man’s newborn son missing from Chiang Mai hospital

    A Chinese businessman filed a police complaint against a hospital in Chiang Mai after the body of his deceased newborn baby went missing. The father, Fang Peng Cherng, accompanied by Thai lawyer Atipong Phonlachai, lodged the complaint against Maharaj Nakorn Chiang Mai Hospital at Bhubing Rajanivej Police Station yesterday, March 12. Atipong provided details of the incident with ThaiRath on…

  • American tourist accused of theft at Chiang Mai shop, police called | Thaiger

    American tourist accused of theft at Chiang Mai shop, police called

    Police in Chiang Mai were called to a second-hand shop today, March 12, after a report that an American tourist allegedly took items without paying, with CCTV footage later used as evidence. At about 11am, tourist police, immigration police and local patrol officers went to a second-hand clothing and footwear shop in a market area in Wat Ket subdistrict, Mueang…

  • Thai man kills sister-in-law in Chiang Mai following attempted rape | Thaiger

    Thai man kills sister-in-law in Chiang Mai following attempted rape

    Police arrested a Thai man for killing his sister-in-law after she resisted an attempted rape at a rented house in Hang Dong district, Chiang Mai. He initially presented himself as a witness in the case. The victim, a 22 year old waitress, U-sa, also known as Praew, failed to turn up for work. Her employer and a colleague went to…

  • Ministry links 72 Chiang Mai tiger deaths to distemper, not bird flu | Thaiger

    Ministry links 72 Chiang Mai tiger deaths to distemper, not bird flu

    An unusually high number of tiger deaths in Mae Rim, Chiang Mai, have been linked to disease, with the Agriculture Ministry saying yesterday, February 23, that tests identified the cause and found no evidence that it spreads from animals to humans. Deputy Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Amin Mayusoh said that he had received an update from the Department of Livestock…

  • Foreigners caught on CCTV stealing statue from Chiang Mai pub | Thaiger

    Foreigners caught on CCTV stealing statue from Chiang Mai pub

    A pub owner in Chiang Mai has filed a police report after CCTV footage allegedly showed a foreign man and woman acting together to steal a gold lion statue from inside the venue on February 11. In the footage, a foreign man in a white T-shirt is seen approaching a table where a gold lion statue is placed and lingers…

  • Spanish couple allegedly fake assault video to discredit Chiang Mai laundry shop | Thaiger

    Spanish couple allegedly fake assault video to discredit Chiang Mai laundry shop

    A Thai owner of a self-service laundry shop in Chiang Mai accused a Spanish couple of generating an artificial intelligence (AI)-edited video to falsely claim he physically assaulted them, following a dispute over washing machine usage and a 2,000-baht fine. The owner of Fatcat Cafe & Laundry shared his version of events on the shop’s official Facebook page on February…

  • Lottery vendor caught after attempted theft at Chiang Mai market | Thaiger

    Lottery vendor caught after attempted theft at Chiang Mai market

    A lottery vendor was detained by residents at a market in San Sai district, Chiang Mai, yesterday, February 15, after allegedly attempting to steal from an 80 year old woman. before being rescued by police from an angry crowd. Police at Mae Faek Police Station received a report that a theft had occurred at the Mae Faek Sunday Market, located…

  • Spanish woman and Thai vendor critically injured in Chiang Mai car crash | Thaiger

    Spanish woman and Thai vendor critically injured in Chiang Mai car crash

    A Spanish woman and a Thai food vendor sustained serious injuries after a Grab driver crashed his electric car near the old city moat in Chiang Mai this morning, January 28. Locals who witnessed the accident at around 7.40am alerted officers from Mueang Chiang Mai Police Station and rescue teams to assist the victims. The Spanish woman and a Thai…

  • Thai woman and 2 Chinese men arrested over nominee hotel in Chiang Mai | Thaiger

    Thai woman and 2 Chinese men arrested over nominee hotel in Chiang Mai

    A Chinese woman fled arrest while two Chinese partners and a Thai nominee were taken into custody during a raid on an illegally operated hotel in Chiang Mai province on Thursday, January 15. Officers from the Chiang Mai Provincial Immigration Office raided a hotel on Chang Klan Road in the city centre following an investigation into suspected nominee business practices.…

  • Chiang Mai temple to ban tourists following ‘Disrespectful’ yoga | Thaiger

    Chiang Mai temple to ban tourists following ‘Disrespectful’ yoga

    Chiang Mai Temple Threatens to Ban Tourists Following ‘Disrespectful’ Yoga and Climbing. CHIANG MAI – Wat Pha Lat, a historic temple in northern Thailand, issued a strict ultimatum to visitors. The administration warns that it may permanently close its gates to the public if tourists continue treating the sacred grounds as a gymnasium or recreational park. ​The 13th-century forest temple,…

  • Japanese man arrested after viral reviews on his illegal matcha stall | Thaiger

    Japanese man arrested after viral reviews on his illegal matcha stall

    Online food reviews led to the arrest of a Japanese man for operating a matcha ice cream shop without permission in Chiang Mai. The apprehension later sparked a heated online debate, with some netizens accusing authorities of discrimination. The Japanese man, 39 year old Junichi, was operating a small matcha ice cream stall outside Yang Kwang Temple, located in the city…

  • Suspicion raised in Chiang Mai house fire that kills family of 5 | Thaiger

    Suspicion raised in Chiang Mai house fire that kills family of 5

    Police launched a deeper investigation into a deadly house fire in Chiang Mai province that claimed the lives of five family members, after officials raised concerns that the blaze may not be an accident. The fire broke out at around midnight yesterday, January 8, at a two-storey house in the Pa Dad sub-district of Chiang Mai. All five occupants were…

  • Opinions divided after foreigners sunbathe in bikinis near Chiang Mai temple | Thaiger

    Opinions divided after foreigners sunbathe in bikinis near Chiang Mai temple

    Opinions among Thai netizens were divided after images of four foreign women in bikinis sunbathing near a temple in Chiang Mai province circulated widely on social media. The Facebook page แฉเชียงใหม่ V2 shared the photos on Monday, January 5. The images showed four foreign women wearing bikinis and sitting on the grass beside the city moat in central Chiang Mai.…

  • Family of five, including twin girls, killed in Chiang Mai house fire | Thaiger

    Family of five, including twin girls, killed in Chiang Mai house fire

    A family of five died in a house fire that broke out around midnight today, January 8, in Chiang Mai province. Local authorities believe an electrical short circuit may have caused the blaze. Firefighters and rescuers from several foundations rushed to a two-storey house in Soi Ruean Kham 17, Pa Dad sub-district, after receiving a fire report shortly after midnight. The…

  • Chiang Mai pigeon feed sellers back at Tha Phae Gate after arrests | Thaiger

    Chiang Mai pigeon feed sellers back at Tha Phae Gate after arrests

    A group of pigeon feed sellers has returned to Tha Phae Gate in Chiang Mai today, January 5, after previously being arrested, reigniting concerns over hygiene and the impact on the city’s tourism image. The issue centres on the open plaza at Tha Phae Gate in Mueang district, where the same group of individuals was seen once again selling pigeon…

  • Lost baby gibbon rescued in Chiang Mai village | Thaiger

    Lost baby gibbon rescued in Chiang Mai village

    A baby gibbon spotted alone near a Chiang Mai village was rescued by wildlife officials yesterday, December 22, after worried residents raised concerns over its safety. The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation confirmed yesterday on its Facebook page that officers from Conservation Area Management Office 16 in Chiang Mai received the young gibbon following a report made…

  • Chiang Mai set for UNESCO World Heritage nomination approval | Thaiger

    Chiang Mai set for UNESCO World Heritage nomination approval

    Thailand is moving to nominate Chiang Mai’s ancient Lanna capital for UNESCO World Heritage status, with seven iconic temples and the city’s historical layout forming the foundation. Yesterday, December 16, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, Suchart Chomklin, and Minister of Culture Sabina Thaised chaired the fifth meeting of Thailand’s national committee on the protection of…

  • Ex-homeless Chiang Mai man wins 18 million baht lottery | Thaiger

    Ex-homeless Chiang Mai man wins 18 million baht lottery

    Relatives flocked to the home of a former homeless man in Chiang Mai after he struck it rich with a winning lottery ticket worth 18 million baht. The lottery winner, 68 year old Suthon, also known as “Uncle Jae,” lives alone in a rented room in San Pa Tong district. He earns just 350 baht a day from odd jobs…

  • Doi Inthanon frost dips to -4.9°C, temps continue to fall | Thaiger

    Doi Inthanon frost dips to -4.9°C, temps continue to fall

    Tourists continued to visit Doi Inthanon in Chiang Mai yesterday, November 28, as temperatures on Thailand’s highest peak dropped further, with grass frost recorded at -4.9 degrees Celsius (°C), the lowest temperature observed there so far this season. Frost, known locally as moei khab, appeared at the summit ranger station for the fifth consecutive day, with a noticeably thicker layer…

  • South Korean DJ caught spinning without permit in Chiang Mai | Thaiger

    South Korean DJ caught spinning without permit in Chiang Mai

    A South Korean national was arrested in Chiang Mai by immigration officers after being found working illegally as a DJ at a local venue without a permit. The suspect, whose identity has not been released, was detained yesterday, November 19, after immigration officials received a tip-off regarding foreign nationals working without permits in the Mueang district. The operation took place…

  • Thai twins make history with life-saving liver transplant | Thaiger

    Thai twins make history with life-saving liver transplant

    A young man’s life has been saved by his identical twin in a medical first for Thailand, thanks to a groundbreaking liver transplant in Chiang Mai. Doctors at Chiang Mai University confirmed the successful operation, marking a turning point in Thailand’s transplant history. The patient, Suphawit Songngern, was born with biliary atresia, a rare condition that blocks the bile ducts…

  • Rare great hornbill spotted in Chiang Mai after 10 years | Thaiger

    Rare great hornbill spotted in Chiang Mai after 10 years

    A great hornbill was spotted in a Chiang Mai national park, marking the first confirmed sighting in over a decade and signalling improved forest health. Chiang Mai’s Doi Pha Hom Pok National Park is celebrating a major ecological milestone after spotting a great hornbill, also known locally as nok kahang or nok gak, for the first time in over a…

  • Lottery fever: Chiang Mai punters scramble for lucky numbers | Thaiger

    Lottery fever: Chiang Mai punters scramble for lucky numbers

    As the government lottery draw nears, Chiang Mai locals are rushing to buy lucky numbers from vendors, hoping to cash in on signs and superstitions. Excitement is building in Chiang Mai ahead of the November 16 lottery draw, as eager buyers flood stalls across the province in search of lucky numbers, pushing prices and demand to new highs. By 8.30am…

  • Indian woman with severe injuries denied boarding in Chiang Mai | Thaiger

    Indian woman with severe injuries denied boarding in Chiang Mai

    An Indian tourist was denied boarding at Chiang Mai airport after airline staff discovered her severe injuries from a motorbike crash in northern Thailand. Tourist police in Chiang Mai stepped in to assist an Indian woman after she was denied boarding on her flight home due to serious injuries sustained in a motorbike accident. The incident unfolded yesterday, November 11,…

  • Tourist bus overturns in Lampang, injuring over 39 passengers | Thaiger

    Tourist bus overturns in Lampang, injuring over 39 passengers

    A tourist bus travelling from Chiang Mai to Bangkok overturned on Khun Tan hill in Lampang province, resulting in injuries to over 39 international tourists, with one individual seriously injured and trapped inside in the bus crash. The incident occurred at around 8.45pm yesterday, on November 8, when Chiang Mai traffic police received a report about an accident involving a…

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