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.

  • Sponsored

    Digital nomading in Chiang Mai? What US$1,000 a month really gets you

    Chiang Mai has become a popular destination for digital nomads due to its low living costs, rich culture, and active remote work community. The city offers affordable housing, tasty food, reliable internet, and many co-working spaces, making it a great...

  • Conscript denies sexual rejection as motive in stabbing of ex-girlfriend

    Conscript denies sexual rejection as motive in stabbing of ex-girlfriend

    A conscript in Phitsanulok is facing accusations after allegedly stabbing his ex-girlfriend at her place of employment. In the aftermath of the incident, he denied that sexual rejection was the motive for the attack. The 19 year old Thai woman, Sasipim, was stabbed in the neck while working at a noodle factory in Phitsanulok on Wednesday, May 14. A colleague…

  • Pregnant woman and friend killed by lightning in Sisaket tragedy

    Pregnant woman and friend killed by lightning in Sisaket tragedy

    A tragic incident occurred when a seven-month pregnant woman and her husband’s friend were fatally struck by lightning while seeking shelter under a tree in Sisaket province. The woman’s husband discovered the scene upon returning from delivering a load of eucalyptus wood. Police from Khukhan Station in Sisaket were informed by Khukhan Hospital staff about the critical condition of 35…

  • Thai man murders 2 year old stepdaughter for interrupting sex

    Thai man murders 2 year old stepdaughter for interrupting sex

    A Thai stepfather murdered his two year old disabled stepdaughter for interrupting him while he was having sex. The child’s body was later found in a river in the northern province of Chiang Rai, . Police apprehended the stepfather yesterday, May 13, after the girl’s family reported her missing on May 10. They stated to officers at Mae Fah Luang…

  • Tour bus flips in northeast Thailand, 36 injured in midnight crash

    Tour bus flips in northeast Thailand, 36 injured in midnight crash

    Dozens of terrified passengers were left bloodied and bruised after a packed tour bus flipped onto its side in the dead of night in northeast Thailand — with many suspecting the driver had dozed off behind the wheel. The crash occurred around 3am yesterday, May 9, as the Chan Tour bus, en route from Rayong to Nakhon Phanom, veered off…

  • Nan hit by two tremors after Nakhon Si Thammarat quake damage

    Nan hit by two tremors after Nakhon Si Thammarat quake damage

    The northern province of Nan experienced two tremors early yesterday, following a previous earthquake that caused damage to a hospital in Nakhon Si Thammarat on May 7. According to the Earthquake Observation Division of the Thai Meteorological Department, the tremors in Nan registered magnitudes of 1.7 and 1.5 on the Richter scale, occurring at 4.04am and 4.52am, respectively. Local officials…

  • Thai officials brace for rocket risks at Bun Bang Fai festival

    Thai officials brace for rocket risks at Bun Bang Fai festival

    Deputy Transport Minister Manaporn Charoensri has directed the Department of Airports (DoA) to work closely with communities to ensure compliance with aviation safety protocols during the forthcoming Bun Bang Fai festival. The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) has established guidelines to mitigate risks, as festival rockets may ascend to altitudes that could endanger aircraft. Approaching festival dates have prompted…

  • Rescue vehicle runs red light and kills woman on Lamphun road

    Rescue vehicle runs red light and kills woman on Lamphun road

    A rescue vehicle ran a red light in the northern province of Lamphun and crashed into two motorcycles, resulting in the death of a Thai woman. Officers from Mueang Chi Police Station were alerted to the accident at Doi Ti Intersection on the Lampang–Chiang Mai Road at around 8.30pm on Tuesday, May 6. Witnesses reported that a rescue vehicle belonging…

  • Fourth anthrax case confirmed in northeast Thailand outbreak

    Fourth anthrax case confirmed in northeast Thailand outbreak

    The Mukdahan Provincial Public Health Office announced yesterday a new case of anthrax, raising the total number of cases in the current outbreak to four, with one resulting in death. According to a source, three are currently hospitalised; two at Mukdahan Hospital and one at Don Tan Hospital. Of the 636 deemed at risk, 538 have completed a seven-day observation…

  • Thailand rattled by tremors as 10 mini quakes rock region

    Thailand rattled by tremors as 10 mini quakes rock region

    Residents in northern and northeastern Thailand woke up to a shaky surprise this morning after a swarm of small earthquakes hit the region, sending tremors through three provinces and sparking concern online. Ten mild earthquakes were recorded today, May 6, in parts of Myanmar and across northern and northeastern Thailand, according to the Thai Meteorological Department’s Earthquake Observation Division. The…

  • Kok River contamination sparks fears in northern Thailand

    Kok River contamination sparks fears in northern Thailand

    The Kok River, winding through the northern provinces of Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai before joining the Mekong River, has become a source of concern for residents who once depended on it for agriculture, fisheries, and tourism. High concentrations of arsenic, a hazardous heavy metal, have been discovered, generating fear and uncertainty among those who rely on the river for…

  • Thai gunman arrested after opening fire at Tak petrol station

    Thai gunman arrested after opening fire at Tak petrol station

    Police launched a swift response and arrested a Thai man who fired random shots outside a petrol station in Mae Sot district, in the northern province of Tak, this morning. The official Facebook page of Mae Sot Police Station issued a warning to the public at 7.29am, today, May 6. In the post, officers stated: “Maniac man with a gun.…

  • No new anthrax infections found in Thailand’s Mukdahan province

    No new anthrax infections found in Thailand’s Mukdahan province

    The anthrax situation in Mukdahan province is showing signs of improvement, with the Public Health Ministry reporting no new cases as of yesterday, May 5. The province has recorded three anthrax cases, according to Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsutin. Of these cases, one person has died, while two remain hospitalised. Some 636 people in the province have come into contact…

  • Thailand reports first anthrax death in 30 years, health alert issued

    Thailand reports first anthrax death in 30 years, health alert issued

    Thailand has experienced its first anthrax-related death in 30 years, resulting in a public health alert after hundreds in Mukdahan province were possibly exposed to the bacteria. A 53 year old man from Mukdahan passed away on Wednesday, April 30, after contracting anthrax. A second confirmed case and three additional suspected cases are also being investigated in the same province,…

  • Jackpot! Sisaket couple clears debt with Thai lottery win

    Jackpot! Sisaket couple clears debt with Thai lottery win

    A couple from Sisaket province experienced a life-changing event after winning 6 million baht in the latest lottery draw. At their residence in Lin Fa subdistrict, Yang Chum Noi district, family and locals gathered yesterday, May 2, to congratulate 58 year old Lamphong and his 56 year old wife, Kanokwan, who won the first prize in the Thai Government Lottery…

  • No plans to quit: Roi Et man wins 12 million baht, keeps working

    No plans to quit: Roi Et man wins 12 million baht, keeps working

    In the northeastern province of Roi Et, a 45 year old department store employee experienced a significant change in fortune after winning 12 million baht from two first-prize lottery tickets. Despite his newfound wealth, he plans to continue working. Yesterday, May 2, Vilai Phakacherd visited Roi Et Police Station to register his lottery win as evidence before claiming his prize…

  • 450kg of crystal meth seized in northeast Thailand chase

    450kg of crystal meth seized in northeast Thailand chase

    A high-speed police chase in Thailand’s northeast ended with a massive drug haul and three traffickers in cuffs. Police in Nong Khai province have arrested three men and seized a staggering 450 kilogrammes of crystal methamphetamine, known as “Ice”, following a dramatic pursuit through Tha Bo district. The suspects, 23 year old Prasobsuk, 28 year old Thongthawat, and 20 year…

  • Thai agriculture minister boosts lychee farming in Nakhon Phanom

    Thai agriculture minister boosts lychee farming in Nakhon Phanom

    Agriculture Minister Narumon Pinyosinwat yesterday visited a major lychee farm in Nakhon Phanom province to observe the implementation of policies aimed at enhancing high-value agricultural products and services. Accompanied by Anongnat Jakaew, the agriculture minister’s secretary, and a team of officials, she engaged with local farmers to understand their challenges. The Uthai Rasmilichit Nakhon Phanom 1 lychee variety is a…

  • Khon Kaen restaurant faces closure over illegal hours and drug use

    Khon Kaen restaurant faces closure over illegal hours and drug use

    Police in Khon Kaen raided a well-known restaurant after receiving complaints about its operation beyond legal hours and the involvement of youths in drug activities. The venue, Foryou, on Ruenrom Road in Mueang district, which allegedly served alcohol from 2am to 1pm daily, has been proposed for a five-year closure. During the raid yesterday, April 29, officers led by Deputy Superintendent Police…

  • Thai mother and 2 children killed by drunk driver in Tak

    Thai mother and 2 children killed by drunk driver in Tak

    A drunk hatchback driver crashed into a motorcycle carrying a Thai mother and her two children, killing all three of them, on a road in the northern province of Tak. A group of people rushed to assist the woman and her young children after witnessing the grey Honda Jazz hatchback collide with their motorcycle, a blue and white Honda Scoopy,…

  • PM Paetongtarn’s health scare disrupts Nakhon Phanom visit

    PM Paetongtarn’s health scare disrupts Nakhon Phanom visit

    Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra’s official visit to Nakhon Phanom province took an unexpected turn yesterday as she battled a high fever and fatigue, forcing her to cancel several key activities. The premier, who appeared visibly unwell, was seen struggling to stay focused during a briefing about cross-border drug issues along the Mekong River. Despite her efforts to push through, Paetongtarn’s…

  • Thunderbolt sets Isaan home ablaze in terrifying storm (video)

    Thunderbolt sets Isaan home ablaze in terrifying storm (video)

    A ferocious thunderstorm sent shockwaves through Na Chueak district, Maha Sarakham province, last night after a bolt of lightning struck a house and sparked a raging fire that gutted the entire property. At 7.10pm yesterday, April 28, Police Lieutenant Somwang Prangprakhon, Deputy Inspector at Por Phan Police Station, received an urgent call about a house fire in Baan Por Phan,…

  • PM visits Sakon Nakhon to address water quality, support tourism projects

    PM visits Sakon Nakhon to address water quality, support tourism projects

    Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra visited Sakon Nakhon province today to review water management efforts and receive progress updates from Sakon Nakhon Governor Chusak Ruaying at Don Koen Public Park in Mueang district. The governor reported concerns about the deteriorating water quality and ecosystem of Nong Han Lake, which has become a major discharge point for untreated household wastewater. Rapid weed…

  • Thailand PM pushes major transport projects in northeast region

    Thailand PM pushes major transport projects in northeast region

    Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra is advocating for major transport development projects in northeast Thailand, aligning with an upcoming mobile Cabinet meeting agenda in Nakhon Phanom tomorrow, April 29. This initiative precedes the PM’s scheduled visit to the area today, where the government is considering transport projects in Sakon Nakhon, Nakhon Phanom, and Mukdahan provinces. The aim is to transform the…

  • Thailand plans new economic zones up north

    Thailand plans new economic zones up north

    Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra is anticipated to consider a proposal to establish new economic zones in the north and northeast of Thailand, aiming to bolster regional economies distant from the heavily promoted Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC). The initiative was proposed by a House of Representatives extraordinary committee following a study of special economic development zones in these regions. Tachaphol Kanjanakul,…

  • Tourism in Mukdahan drops by 50% after Songkran festival

    Tourism in Mukdahan drops by 50% after Songkran festival

    The Mukdahan Hotel Association has highlighted a significant decline in tourism activity following the Songkran festival, with accommodation bookings plummeting by over 50%. The lack of major events in this secondary tourist destination is affecting employment, with thousands at risk of losing their jobs. Pramin Wongpralab, chairman of the Mukdahan Hotel Association, noted that the sluggish economic conditions in April…

  • Foreign man to face charges for drifting car on mountain road

    Foreign man to face charges for drifting car on mountain road

    Police plan to summon a foreign man for drifting his luxury car on Phu Thap Buek mountain in the northern province of Phetchabun after a video of the dangerous driving went viral on the TikTok application. The Thai TikToker, @lolono.re, shared the video of the car drifting yesterday, April 24, with a caption that read, “Brilliant! #Phetchabun #PhuThapBuek.” The video…

  • Twin tremors hit Pai as Thailand’s earthquake saga continues​

    Twin tremors hit Pai as Thailand’s earthquake saga continues​

    Northern Thailand was rocked late last night by a pair of earthquakes in Mae Hong Son’s picturesque Pai district, sending tremors across two provinces and adding to a growing list of seismic shocks unsettling the region in recent weeks.​ At 10.27pm, yesterday, April 24, a 3.8-magnitude earthquake struck Wiang Nuea subdistrict in Pai district, Mae Hong Son province, at a…

  • Men caught with more than 600k meth pills in northeast Thailand

    Men caught with more than 600k meth pills in northeast Thailand

    Two men were arrested with a staggering 632,360 methamphetamine (meth) pills after a border patrol police chase in Mueang district. The pair, who attempted a brazen getaway, were eventually caught and taken into custody with their stash of illicit drugs. According to Police Lieutenant Colonel Boonlert Wisetchart, deputy commander of Border Patrol Police Subdivision 24, the two suspects were identified…

  • Motorcycle rider killed in Nakhon Ratchasima road accident

    Motorcycle rider killed in Nakhon Ratchasima road accident

    A tragic accident occurred on Mittraphap Road yesterday, April 18 when a motorcycle collided with a pickup truck and was subsequently struck by a trailer truck, resulting in the death of the rider. Police Colonel Anon Sajanthuek, an investigator with the Pho Klang Police Station, received a report of the accident near the entrance to Ther Thai Market in Suranaree…

  • Khon Kaen ICU called ‘slaughterhouse’, complaint filed

    Khon Kaen ICU called ‘slaughterhouse’, complaint filed

    Mancha Khiri Hospital in Khon Kaen province has requested police intervention after a man expressed his frustration towards nurses in the intensive care unit, referring to the facility as a “slaughterhouse.” The hospital director, Pornpol Laowithaya, stated yesterday, April 18, that a formal complaint had been lodged with Mancha Khiri police against 45 year old Anucha Chuenjai, accusing him of…