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.

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    Why 8 Atelier Residence is poised for growth: Phuket’s investment hotspot in the making

    Phuket’s residential real estate market is no longer defined only by beachfront villas and short-stay resort condominiums. The island is now seeing sustained interest from international investors targeting long-term yields, capital stability, and access to full-scale lifestyle infrastructure. Looking at...

  • Missing girls found safe near Chiang Mai school | Thaiger

    Missing girls found safe near Chiang Mai school

    The Mirror Foundation has clarified that the disappearance of three young girls from their school dormitory in Mae Ai district, Chiang Mai province, was not a case of kidnapping or abduction. Yesterday, August 4, police from Mae Ai Police Station, investigators, border patrol troops, local police, and teachers from Rajaprajanugroh 30 School held a meeting to coordinate efforts to locate…

  • 3 Thai girls missing after late-night escape from Chiang Mai school | Thaiger

    3 Thai girls missing after late-night escape from Chiang Mai school

    Three Thai girls, aged between seven and nine, went missing after leaving their school in the northern province of Chiang Mai yesterday, August 3. Officers from Mae Ai Police Station urged residents of Chiang Mai and nearby provinces to report any information that may assist in locating the three girls, who disappeared from Rajaprajanugroh 30 School in the Tha Ton…

  • Body of tourist found decomposed in Doi Suthep forest, Chiang Mai | Thaiger

    Body of tourist found decomposed in Doi Suthep forest, Chiang Mai

    The body, thought to be a foreign tourist, was discovered in an advanced state of decomposition in the forest of Doi Suthep, located in the Mueang district of Chiang Mai. The discovery was made yesterday, August 3. A resident, while collecting forest products, found the body approximately 2 kilometres from the main road in tambon Suthep and reported it to…

  • 12 Chinese nationals arrested for operating call centre scam in Chiang Mai | Thaiger

    12 Chinese nationals arrested for operating call centre scam in Chiang Mai

    Police arrested 12 Chinese nationals yesterday, July 30, for operating a call centre scam from a pool villa in the northern province of Chiang Mai. Officers from Provincial Police Region 5 and the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau raided the villa in the Mae Rim district following a tip-off that it was being used as a base for the scam. According…

  • Flood chaos fears as Chiang Mai braces for storm Wipha | Thaiger

    Flood chaos fears as Chiang Mai braces for storm Wipha

    Chiang Mai is on high alert as storm Wipha barrels towards the northern province, prompting the setup of 24-hour emergency operations and shelters for tens of thousands of residents. Provincial Governor Nirat Pongsitthaworn confirmed the launch of a round-the-clock Emergency Command Centre to manage the looming crisis. With weather forecasters warning of intense downpours, particularly in Chiang Mai’s upper districts,…

  • Thai transwoman brutally assaulted and raped by obsessed attacker | Thaiger

    Thai transwoman brutally assaulted and raped by obsessed attacker

    A Thai transwoman in Chiang Mai is seeking justice after being brutally assaulted and raped by a man with whom she had previously had a one-night stand and rejected his romantic advances. The transgender victim, Bell, sought help from the Emmy Volunteer Team after being unable to escape her attacker. Bell told the team she nearly lost her life during…

  • Class acts: Chinese scammers pose as students in pensioner con | Thaiger

    Class acts: Chinese scammers pose as students in pensioner con

    Crooks running a slick online scam from a swanky Chiang Mai villa posed as students while fleecing elderly Chinese pensioners out of millions, in yet another twist to Thailand’s growing cybercrime crisis. Three suspected ringleaders have been nicked and 17 others detained after Thai police swooped on a luxury pool villa in Hang Dong, uncovering a Chinese-led operation that preyed…

  • Chiang Mai tragedy: man kills wife, then himself in dispute | Thaiger

    Chiang Mai tragedy: man kills wife, then himself in dispute

    A tragic incident occurred on July 19 in Mueang Chaem district, Chiang Mai province, when a 43 year old man, Phak, fatally shot his 36 year old third wife before taking his own life. The incident left his two other wives in shock as they attempted to save the couple, but was too late. Police Lieutenant Colonel Samruang Monthanom, from the…

  • 9 karaoke bar workers arrested for assault on British tourist in Chiang Mai | Thaiger

    9 karaoke bar workers arrested for assault on British tourist in Chiang Mai

    Police arrested nine karaoke bar workers in Chiang Mai for the gang assault of a British tourist yesterday, July 16, following a dispute over alleged overcharging. Officers from Mueang Chiang Mai Police Station responded to public concerns after a video of the attack went viral on Thai social media. The footage showed a group of Thai men, along with one…

  • Chiang Mai tops Asia’s best cities as Bangkok grabs 3rd place | Thaiger

    Chiang Mai tops Asia’s best cities as Bangkok grabs 3rd place

    Thailand has cemented its status as a tourism heavyweight after Chiang Mai was officially crowned Asia’s best city for 2025, leaving travel-hungry globetrotters buzzing with excitement. The prestigious ranking, released by Travel + Leisure, placed Chiang Mai at the very top of its coveted list, scoring a remarkable 91.94 out of 100. Bangkok wasn’t far behind, clinching third place with…

  • Chiang Mai University warns of deadly brain-eating disease | Thaiger

    Chiang Mai University warns of deadly brain-eating disease

    The Faculty of Medicine at Chiang Mai University warns of the silent threat posed by the brain-eating amoeba found in natural water sources, urging caution even with seemingly clean water. Yesterday, July 15, the official page of the Chiang Mai University Faculty of Medicine published an article highlighting the dangers of Naegleria fowleri, a single-celled parasite that can cause fatal…

  • Thai man arrested for assaulting autistic woman and boy in Chiang Mai | Thaiger

    Thai man arrested for assaulting autistic woman and boy in Chiang Mai

    Police arrested a Thai man for physically assaulting two autistic victims, one of whom was a seven year old boy, on a footpath in Chiang Mai on Sunday, July 13. The victims, an autistic woman named JJ and her seven year old nephew Krit, contacted the Emmy Volunteer team, alleging that police officers ignored their case. The volunteer team pledged…

  • 2 Chinese men arrested in murder of fellow countryman in Chiang Mai | Thaiger

    2 Chinese men arrested in murder of fellow countryman in Chiang Mai

    Police yesterday, July 14, arrested two Chinese men in connection with the murder of a fellow countryman in Chiang Mai province. Two other suspects remain at large. A Chinese woman filed a complaint at Chiang Saen Police Station on July 8, stating that her younger brother, Yang, had been kidnapped for ransom. The criminal gang demanded 3 million baht from her,…

  • Thailand’s blind elephant becomes loving sanctuary grandma (video) | Thaiger

    Thailand’s blind elephant becomes loving sanctuary grandma (video)

    A once-reclusive elephant who spent years shunning contact has undergone a heart-melting transformation, capturing hearts around the world. Jokia, a blind elephant who survived Thailand’s brutal logging trade, had long preferred her own company, traumatised by a past she couldn’t forget. Rescued by the Save Elephant Foundation, she spent years wandering alone, too wary to bond with her kind. “She…

  • Arsenic contamination in Chiang Mai children linked to river fish | Thaiger

    Arsenic contamination in Chiang Mai children linked to river fish

    An alarming discovery was made in Mae Ai district, Chiang Mai province, where arsenic levels in two young children were found to exceed normal standards. This was believed to be linked to fish consumption from the Kok River, which flows from Shan State, Myanmar, into Thailand. The Chiang Mai Provincial Public Health Office conducted tests yesterday, July 7, on four…

  • Thai girl risks brain damage after mistaking cannabis gummies for sweets | Thaiger

    Thai girl risks brain damage after mistaking cannabis gummies for sweets

    A two year old Thai girl in the northern province of Chiang Mai lost consciousness and may suffer long-term brain damage after mistaking cannabis gummies for sweets and eating more than 10 of them on July 2. The girl’s father took to Facebook to warn other parents about the dangers of cannabis gummies after his daughter was hospitalised twice following…

  • Thai man rides naked with dildos strapped to bike in Chiang Mai | Thaiger

    Thai man rides naked with dildos strapped to bike in Chiang Mai

    A man from Chiang Mai’s San Sai district has stunned villagers after riding naked on his motorbike with three giant dildos strapped to the side. The shocking incident, which was caught on camera, shows a 49 year old man from Lampang, later identified as Kluay, cruising through the village of Chedi Mae Krua while fully naked, with the phallic-shaped prop…

  • British mother warns of deadly scrub typhus after Thailand trip | Thaiger

    British mother warns of deadly scrub typhus after Thailand trip

    A British mother from North Yorkshire, England, issued a stark warning about the risk and dangers of catching a bacterial infection after her teenage daughter fell ill with alarming symptoms following a trip to Thailand. The infection, known as scrub typhus, is often overlooked by travellers but can be life-threatening if not treated in time. Earlier this year, the family…

  • Chiang Mai locals fear scam as love scandal posters pop up across province | Thaiger

    Chiang Mai locals fear scam as love scandal posters pop up across province

    A travel agency in the northern province of Chiang Mai caused panic in the local community with a bizarre advertising tactic: posters featuring the love scandal of James and Olivia along with a QR code. A Thai man, Wirawat Buranarom, spotted several paper posters with QR codes attached to streetlights and electricity poles in central Chiang Mai. Concerned by the…

  • 4 Rottweilers rescued after being left to die in Chiang Mai forest | Thaiger

    4 Rottweilers rescued after being left to die in Chiang Mai forest

    An animal welfare foundation rescued four Rottweilers abandoned in a forest in Chiang Mai province. One of the dogs was found with two gunshot wounds. On July 1, locals from Mae Kam Pong Village, a well-known tourist destination, sought help from Odd, the abbot of Chedi Luang Temple, after discovering the dogs in the forest while foraging for food. The…

  • Chiang Mai woman hits 60 million baht lottery jackpot | Thaiger

    Chiang Mai woman hits 60 million baht lottery jackpot

    A woman from the Tai Yai community in Chiang Mai has become an instant millionaire, winning a staggering 60 million baht after securing 10 first-prize lottery tickets with the number 949246. The life-changing win came during the lottery draw yesterday, July 1, and the lucky winner celebrated her newfound wealth with friends in the Wiang Haeng district. The lucky woman,…

  • Chiang Mai official arrested for extorting migrant worker brokers | Thaiger

    Chiang Mai official arrested for extorting migrant worker brokers

    In Chiang Mai‘s San Sai district, the assistant chief has been detained for extortion, following allegations from brokers of migrant workers in the northern province. Boonyarit Nipawanich, who also serves as the head of the Registration Management Centre, Region 5, at the Chiang Mai branch, was apprehended by the Central Investigation Bureau’s Anti-Corruption Division. The arrest, involving charges of corruption…

  • Fatal motorcycle crash claims life in Chiang Mai | Thaiger

    Fatal motorcycle crash claims life in Chiang Mai

    A motorcycle accident in Doi Saket district, Chiang Mai, claimed the life of 33 year old Kritsada Ketprasatkon yesterday, June 28. He lost control of his motorcycle, crashing into a metal barrier, which resulted in his decapitation and the motorcycle catching fire. The incident happened at 12.43pm on the Chiang Rai-Doi Saket road near Ban Pa Daeng village. Police Lieutenant…

  • Thai man punched by stranger on Chiang Mai road | Thaiger

    Thai man punched by stranger on Chiang Mai road

    A Thai man is seeking justice after being punched by a stranger on a road in Chiang Mai province without any prior altercation, in the early hours of Wednesday, June 25. The victim, 30 year old James, posted CCTV footage of the assault on his Facebook page, appealing to the online community to help identify the attacker. He uploaded the…

  • Tourist arrested for selling Korean fried chicken in Chiang Mai | Thaiger

    Tourist arrested for selling Korean fried chicken in Chiang Mai

    A South Korean tourist is facing serious legal trouble in Chiang Mai after being arrested for selling Korean fried chicken without proper work authorisation. The man, who had been operating a food truck outside a local shopping centre, was caught in the act by tourist police following a tip-off. The arrest comes after police had been monitoring the food truck’s…

  • Family finds rare two-headed snake in Chiang Mai home | Thaiger

    Family finds rare two-headed snake in Chiang Mai home

    A family in Phayao, returning to their home in Chiang Mai, discovered a two-headed snake while cleaning their house. The unusual find yesterday, June 24, was made at house number 40/2 in Mueang Don Luang, Nong Tong subdistrict, Hang Dong district. While cleaning a wardrobe, the family found the snake, approximately 40 centimetres in length, with yellow and black colouring…

  • Thai cavalry seizes six million meth tablets in Chiang Mai clash | Thaiger

    Thai cavalry seizes six million meth tablets in Chiang Mai clash

    A special forces cavalry unit named Chaiyanuphap engaged in a confrontation with approximately 30 drug traffickers during a patrol operation in Chiang Mai. The clash took place yesterday, June 23, in Mueang Na subdistrict, Chiang Dao district, Chiang Mai province, resulting in the seizure of over six million methamphetamine tablets. While patrolling in Baan Arunothai, soldiers from the 2nd Cavalry…

  • Elderly man arrested for illegal excavation in Chiang Mai | Thaiger

    Elderly man arrested for illegal excavation in Chiang Mai

    An arrest has been made of a 70 year old man, accused of operating an illegal soil excavation site in Chiang Mai’s San Kamphaeng district, which has caused disturbance for over 20 years. Police seized equipment, including two excavators and three dump trucks, at the site located in Buakkang subdistrict. Ayree has been suspected of operating the excavation site without…

  • Chiang Mai lottery frenzy over Thai star and plane crash numbers | Thaiger

    Chiang Mai lottery frenzy over Thai star and plane crash numbers

    Lottery enthusiasts in Chiang Mai are flocking to purchase tickets featuring popular numbers associated with the late singer Pumpuang Duangjan and the recent plane crash in India. The numbers are selling out quickly at various lottery stalls across the city. Pannee Lupu-ngern, a lottery vendor on Chiang Mai-Lamphun Road in Saraphi district, revealed that numbers related to Pumpuang, who passed…

  • Smuggler killed in Chiang Mai clash, 200k meth pills seized | Thaiger

    Smuggler killed in Chiang Mai clash, 200k meth pills seized

    In Chiang Mai’s Fang district, a confrontation between an army patrol and armed drug traffickers resulted in the death of a smuggler and the seizure of 200,000 methamphetamine pills and 20 kilogrammes of opium. The incident occurred early yesterday morning in the northern border province. The Chaiyanuparp special unit from the Pha Muang task force encountered four to five armed…