Northern Thailand News

Northern Thailand news, Chiang Mai news, business, tourism, and culture—stay updated with breaking stories, local events, and travel insights from Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Pai, and beyond. Get the latest from The Thaiger, your trusted Northern Thailand news source.

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    9 most common health issues covered by insurance for expats in Thailand

    Thailand is a popular destination for expats due to its affordable lifestyle and excellent healthcare system. However, settling in a new country often brings health concerns. To ensure you’re covered for the most common medical needs, understanding what expat health...

  • Thailand’s newest UNESCO learning cities revealed, Bangkok on the list

    Thailand’s newest UNESCO learning cities revealed, Bangkok on the list

    Bangkok, Khon Kaen, and Yala have clinched spots in UNESCO’s 2024 Global Network for Learning Cities (GNLC), heralding a new era of lifelong learning across Thailand. Education Minister Permpoon Chidchob unveiled the exciting news, showcasing Thailand’s commitment to fostering continuous education and development. Joining the ranks of previously listed cities such as Chiang Rai (2019), Chiang Mai, Phuket, and Chachoengsao…

  • Thai police cracks down on billion-baht movie piracy network

    Thai police cracks down on billion-baht movie piracy network

    Law enforcement conducted raids at four locations across Thailand, cracking down on an extensive online piracy network responsible for an illicit movie streaming platform that has been in operation for nearly two decades. The raids, which took place yesterday, targeted two sites in Bangkok, one in Surin, and one in Surat Thani, aiming to dismantle the piracy network that has…

  • Exploited Thai workers: Debt, deception, and the dark side of berry picking in Europe

    Exploited Thai workers: Debt, deception, and the dark side of berry picking in Europe

    In the past 18 years, over 110,000 Thai workers embarked on a gruelling journey to Europe, enticed by the promise of lucrative pay in berry fields, yet behind the allure lies a sinister reality of exploitation, debt bondage, and shattered dreams. From the rural heartlands of Thailand’s northeast, hopeful farmers borrowed staggering sums from banks and illegal lenders to finance…

  • International Balloon Fiesta 2024 lights up Singha Park Chiang Rai for Valentine’s Day

    International Balloon Fiesta 2024 lights up Singha Park Chiang Rai for Valentine’s Day

    In a collaborative effort spearheaded by Boonrawd Trading, the Tourism Authority of Thailand, Singha Estate, and Kasikorn Bank, the International Balloon Fiesta 2024 takes flight today, transforming Singha Park Chiang Rai into a haven for couples seeking romance. Pongrat Luangthamrongcharoen, the managing director of Singha Park Chiang Rai, expressed enthusiasm for the event. “The International Balloon Fiesta 2024 is a…

  • Ceramic doll statues conceal 20 million baht heroin haul in Thailand

    Ceramic doll statues conceal 20 million baht heroin haul in Thailand

    Mueang Nong Khai police uncover a stash of heroin bars worth over 20 million baht hidden within innocuous Chinese ceramic doll statues. At a press conference held on Monday, February 12, authorities revealed the seizure made at the First Thai–Lao Friendship Bridge, Nong Khai. According to police reports, the alarming find unfolded when two Lao nationals arrived at the checkpoint…

  • 2 foreign men to face 10,000 fine for riding e-unicycles in Chiang Mai (video)

    2 foreign men to face 10,000 fine for riding e-unicycles in Chiang Mai (video)

    Thai motorists demanded police take action against two foreign men riding electric unicycles, or e-unicycles, on a crowded road in the northern province of Chiang Mai. The video of two foreign men riding the e-unicycles in Chiang Mai was shared on February 10 by a Facebook, Guru Guroo Chiang Mai. The caption read… “Very dangerous! E-unicycles on Ring Road 2…

  • Van plunges into ravine on Chiang Mai-Pai route

    Van plunges into ravine on Chiang Mai-Pai route

    A passenger van on the Chiang Mai-Pai route lost control of his vehicle and veered off the road, plummeting approximately 15 metres into a ravine yesterday evening. The vehicle was extensively damaged and all 14 passengers on board were injured. Emergency services, including local police, hospital medical teams, and military units, were dispatched to the scene to provide assistance and…

  • Northern Thailand welcomes famed elephant ‘Indy Jumbo’ (video)

    Northern Thailand welcomes famed elephant ‘Indy Jumbo’ (video)

    An elephant known as Indy Jumbo has found a new lease on life after a viral video catapulted her to fame. The elephant, affectionately dubbed Indy Jumbo by Thai netizens, shot to stardom after a video of her leisurely beach escapade took social media by storm. The charming clip showcased her unwavering love for nature as she gazed at the…

  • Trunk turmoil: Mother elephant’s rampage leaves owner dead in Surin

    Trunk turmoil: Mother elephant’s rampage leaves owner dead in Surin

    A mother elephant from Surin province, led by its owners to beg along a road, became agitated, charging ahead and trampling her owner, resulting in the mahout’s death in a pool of blood. Upon receiving the report, local police officers from Kao Liew Police Station were promptly dispatched to investigate the scene, along with emergency medical personnel and rescue teams.…

  • Art extravaganza: Inside the Thailand Biennale Chiang Rai

    Art extravaganza: Inside the Thailand Biennale Chiang Rai

    The Thailand Biennale Chiang Rai (TBC) has taken the artistic community by storm, attracting international artists and prominent visitors. Angkrit Ajchariyasophon, a key figure in Thailand’s artistic realm, has played a pivotal role as co-curator. The TBC, with its diverse range of displays and activities, promises an unparalleled artistic experience in the northern region. On December 9 last year, the…

  • Misleading GPS directions left female driver stranded in Phetchabun (video)

    Misleading GPS directions left female driver stranded in Phetchabun (video)

    A driver’s reliance on her GPS turned into an unexpected off-road adventure as she attempted to reach a coffee shop in Khao Kho, Phetchabun, resulting in the vehicle becoming stuck and necessitating assistance. The incident, captured on video and shared on TikTok by user @tulip_kunyapak, has attracted nearly 2 million views. The driver yesterday set out for a coffee shop…

  • Flight fright: Panic-stricken passenger causes turbulence at Chiang Mai Airport

    Flight fright: Panic-stricken passenger causes turbulence at Chiang Mai Airport

    A Canadian passenger reportedly experienced a panic attack while a plane was taking off from Chiang Mai International Airport last night and attempted to open the plane door, causing chaos and a delay at the airport. The situation was brought under control at around 11pm. Facebook account Watcharapon Pethsurp posted about the incident at about 9.57pm yesterday, February 7. The…

  • Ancient dinosaur fossils discovered in Khon Kaen

    Ancient dinosaur fossils discovered in Khon Kaen

    Dinosaur fossils, estimated to be between 100 million to 110 million years old, have been unearthed in the Nam Phong district of Khon Kaen. The fossils, thought to be from the sauropod and spinosaurid species, were discovered by a team from the Department of Mineral Resources, led by Sasa-On Khansubha, a palaeontologist from the Sirindhorn Dinosaur Museum. The initial investigation…

  • Sandal scandal: Thai temple thief swaps white flipflops for black in Chiang Mai (video)

    Sandal scandal: Thai temple thief swaps white flipflops for black in Chiang Mai (video)

    A CCTV camera at Phra That Doi Suthep Temple in the southern province of Chiang Mai captured a Thai man stealing a pair of shoes from a South Korean tourist. The man entered the temple wearing white flipflops but left wearing black ones. The leader of the security team at the temple, Porramate Ngamchuen, told Channel 7 that the theft took…

  • Luxury Porsche worth 5 million baht goes up in flames after crashing in Phitsanulok

    Luxury Porsche worth 5 million baht goes up in flames after crashing in Phitsanulok

    A Porsche Panamera, estimated to be worth no less than 5 million baht, was found engulfed in flames after veering off the road and crashing into an electric pole at 1.40am this morning, in the Phlai Chumphon area of Phitsanulok. Police and rescue teams rushed to the accident scene only to find the driver missing. Upon arrival at the scene…

  • Khon Kaen restaurant worker fatally crushed by malfunctioning lift

    Khon Kaen restaurant worker fatally crushed by malfunctioning lift

    A freight elevator at a renowned restaurant in Khon Kaen malfunctioned and plummeted, fatally crushing a 46 year old female restaurant worker. The restaurant owner vowed to take full responsibility and provide compensation as police hasten their investigation to determine the cause of the accident. The calamity occurred at a well-known eatery situated along the Mittraphap Road in Khon Kaen’s…

  • Ganja overuse: Chinese man deported for causing chaos in Chiang Mai

    Ganja overuse: Chinese man deported for causing chaos in Chiang Mai

    Immigration police deported a Chinese man allegedly under the influence of excessive ganja use for causing chaos by walking shirtless, threatening locals, and destroying reflective traffic signs in Chiang Mai province. A motorist travelling along Liab Khlong Chonlapatarn Road in the Suthep sub-district of Chiang Mai province shared a video on social media on February 1, capturing the shirtless Chinese…

  • Suspect with mental health issues found dead in Khon Kaen cell

    Suspect with mental health issues found dead in Khon Kaen cell

    A 42 year old suspect was found dead in his cell at a police station in Manchakhiri, in the southern part of Khon Kaen province, northeastern Thailand. The deceased had been detained following a disturbance caused by intoxication, and his relatives had requested police intervention. The incident has highlighted concerns about handling individuals with a history of mental health issues and substance…

  • Thai teen’s tragic demise: Knife throw turns road into deadly game

    Thai teen’s tragic demise: Knife throw turns road into deadly game

    A 14 year old Thai boy died in hospital after two teenagers threw a knife at him on a road in the Isaan province of Ubon Ratchathani last Thursday, February 1. An altercation between two groups of Thai teenagers on Khutkhaopun-Pathummarat Road was reported to Kut Khaopun Police Station at about 8pm on February 1. A 14 year old victim…

  • From brooms to boom: Street sweeper sweeps up 12-million-baht lottery jackpot

    From brooms to boom: Street sweeper sweeps up 12-million-baht lottery jackpot

    A street sweeper’s life transformed overnight when luck smiled upon her with a 12-million-baht government lottery win. Somsong Singsa, a 56 year old municipal worker from Si Sa Ket province, revealed that a vendor’s persuasion made her purchase two winning tickets. After four decades of toil, she now plans to resign and provide for her family, who are overjoyed at…

  • Thai woman narrowly escapes after car gets stuck on broken footbridge

    Thai woman narrowly escapes after car gets stuck on broken footbridge

    A Thai woman narrowly escaped with her life after she drove her car onto a broken, wobbly wooden footbridge in the northern province of Phrae. The Sung Men Rescue Team successfully retrieved her car after she came a cropper. The 38 year old Thai woman carefully got out of her white sedan, a Honda City, which was stuck on the…

  • Thai woman fatally attacked with knife, secret affair suspected as motive

    Thai woman fatally attacked with knife, secret affair suspected as motive

    Police are searching for a killer who fatally attacked a Thai woman with a knife in the northern province of Sukhothai. The motive for the murder is suspected to be a secret affair and jealousy. Officers from the Ban Dan Lan Hoi Police Station dashed to the crime scene at 9.30am yesterday, January 28, and discovered the dead body of a…

  • Bus hostess killed, six injured in Phitsanulok night crash

    Bus hostess killed, six injured in Phitsanulok night crash

    A tragic collision between a tour bus and an 18-wheel truck at a U-turn near a gas station in Phitsanulok in lower northern Thailand resulted in the death of a bus hostess and left six passengers injured. The incident occurred at 12.15am today, January 29, when the Nakhon Chai Air bus travelling from Phrae to Bangkok was struck by the…

  • Latex leak caused car pileup in Northeast Thailand

    Latex leak caused car pileup in Northeast Thailand

    Torrential rains turned three major roads in the northeastern province of Loei into perilous zones, resulting in a 20-car pileup within a 3-hour span on January 25. The chaos unfolded when heavy rain triggered a cascade of calamities on Loei-Chiang Khan Road. The first report indicated a sprawling multi-car collision, prompting swift intervention from rescue teams. Loei-Wang Saphung Road and…

  • Fire engulfs recyclable waste mountain in northern Thailand

    Fire engulfs recyclable waste mountain in northern Thailand

    A fire erupted atop a mound of recyclable waste at the headquarters of Wongpanit International Co Ltd in Phitsanulok province. Fortunately, no casualties were reported. Over 20 fire engines and a multitude of firefighters battled for hours to wrestle the flames under control in the northern province’s Mueang district. Wongpanit, a recycling centre boasting over 2,000 franchise branches nationwide, witnessed…

  • Thai rural school fights educational inequality with single teacher for 19 students

    Thai rural school fights educational inequality with single teacher for 19 students

    A rural school overseen by the Primary Education Office of Nakhon Phanom in Nong Yat subdistrict has only 19 students with one single teacher looking after the class. Thanyalak Deechan, the only teacher at the Dong Choke Ratsadon-uthit school, revealed to Thai PBS that the establishment caters to 19 students ranging from kindergarten to primary 6. To compound the challenge, the…

  • Mysterious death in Udon Thani: Woman found in park pond

    Mysterious death in Udon Thani: Woman found in park pond

    A woman’s body was discovered floating in a pond in Udon Thani, sparking a police investigation into the mysterious death. Around 11.50am today, January 26, a student stumbled upon the grim find in Nong Prachak Park, not far from the city centre. The body, presumed to be of a woman aged between 40-45 years old, showed no signs of physical…

  • Bear necessity: Swiss man sacrifices arm in bear attack

    Bear necessity: Swiss man sacrifices arm in bear attack

    A Swiss man cut off his right arm as a bear locked his teeth onto his arm and stubbornly refused to release its grip while he was volunteering at a wildlife foundation in the northern province of Chiang Mai. The 32 year old Swiss man is in a private hospital in Chiang Mai province after being attacked by the Asian black…

  • From Thai cave hero to Aussie royalty: Dr Richard Harris set to become next Lieutenant Governor

    From Thai cave hero to Aussie royalty: Dr Richard Harris set to become next Lieutenant Governor

    The doctor who played a pivotal role in the Thai cave rescue in Chiang Rai is now destined to become South Australia‘s next Lieutenant Governor. Dr Harris, hailed as the linchpin of the rescue mission in 2018, undertook vital medical assessments and provided crucial advice on the safest extraction methods for 12 trapped children, aged between 11 and 16, and…

  • Paws and ponder: Annual military dog auction raises tails in northern Thailand

    Paws and ponder: Annual military dog auction raises tails in northern Thailand

    Curiosity piques as the Department of Military Animals at the Army Canine Centre in Pak Chong, Nakhon Ratchasima unveils its annual spectacle, the military dog auction. Dog lovers and curious minds are in for a treat as we unravel why these heroic canines end up on the auction block. Contrary to popular belief, these military dogs aren’t rejected. Instead, they…