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 club raided in Pa Cha Tek operation for serving underage drinkers | Thaiger

    Chiang Mai club raided in Pa Cha Tek operation for serving underage drinkers

    In the early hours of today, a popular club in Chang Phueak, Chiang Mai, was raided as part of the Pa Cha Tek operation. Led by Atsathit Sampantarat, Director of the Department of Provincial Administration, the operation was launched after the club was discovered to be allowing underage patrons, as young as 18, to enter and buy alcohol. The operation…

  • 72 year old American trail runner found safe in Chiang Mai’s national forest reserve | Thaiger

    72 year old American trail runner found safe in Chiang Mai’s national forest reserve

    The 72 year old American trail runner who vanished in the national forest reserve of Pa San Sai, Chiang Mai, has been found. Reach Mikob, an American national, was reported missing during a nature trip with 20 friends. He was located by the head of Pong village, Manop Boonsiri, and subsequently taken to a Chiang Mai hospital for a health…

  • Residents soar in opposition to Chiang Mai Airport’s extended hours plan | Thaiger

    Residents soar in opposition to Chiang Mai Airport’s extended hours plan

    Chiang Mai International Airport‘s proposed plan to extend its operating hours is facing mounting opposition from the locals of the Mae Hia subdistrict. The contention stems from the lack of compensation for the damages inflicted by the airport’s activities over the past five years. Meena Chankaew, president of the Nimman Noradee Neighbourhood, voiced the concerns of the residents whose properties…

  • Chiang Mai Airport to extend operation hours | Thaiger

    Chiang Mai Airport to extend operation hours

    The Chiang Mai International Airport is set to operate on a 24-hour basis starting from next Wednesday November 1, a move prompted by the government‘s Quick-Win economic stimulus policies, Transport Minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit revealed. The decision, influenced by Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin’s orders, is deemed critical to accommodate the anticipated influx of tourists during the year-end peak season and beyond,…

  • Ghost encounter leaves Thai Dhamma retreat-goer spooked in Chiang Mai | Thaiger

    Ghost encounter leaves Thai Dhamma retreat-goer spooked in Chiang Mai

    A Thai woman claimed that a ghost haunted her after completing a Dhamma retreat at a Rampoeng temple in the northern province of Chaing Mai. She also shared her selfie with the ghost in the background on TikTok. Sawitcha “Pear” Butsara, shared a spooky video of her ghost encounter on TikTok @pipimpeary, on Wednesday, October 18, with the caption… “What…

  • Thai tourism hit as gun violence prompts Chinese visitor cancellations | Thaiger

    Thai tourism hit as gun violence prompts Chinese visitor cancellations

    The Thai government has been urged to tighten gun control measures by Chiang Mai hoteliers and tourism entrepreneurs in the aftermath of the Siam Paragon shopping mall shooting on October 3. The incident, which resulted in the death of three people, including a Chinese tourist, and injured four others, has shaken the confidence of Chinese travellers in Thailand. The fallout…

  • Chiang Mai lottery fervour spikes as fortune tellers offer lucky numbers amid Vegetarian Festival | Thaiger

    Chiang Mai lottery fervour spikes as fortune tellers offer lucky numbers amid Vegetarian Festival

    The lottery buzz is in full swing in Chiang Mai as fortune tellers provide lucky numbers and warn of double digits. Among the popular figures are ones associated with the Vegetarian Festival and the Chinese calendar. Today, the lottery stalls in Chiang Mai are buzzing with people searching for their lucky numbers. Despite the continuous rainfall, hopeful buyers flocked to…

  • Hermit’s forest meditation takes an eternal detour in remote Thailand | Thaiger

    Hermit’s forest meditation takes an eternal detour in remote Thailand

    A 58 year old hermit was found dead during meditation in a deep forest in Chiang Mai, northern Thailand. The rescue team had to walk to the scene due to the inaccessibility of vehicles. The body was later transported by motorcycle from the mountain today. Jiraphan Suinwai, head of the Naprat Chiang Mai Rescue, stated that on Sunday, October 1, they…

  • Chiang Mai’s sizzling lottery craze: Rain or shine, locals bet on luck | Thaiger

    Chiang Mai’s sizzling lottery craze: Rain or shine, locals bet on luck

    The buzz around the “hot lottery” is intensifying in Chiang Mai, with locals eagerly purchasing tickets for Sunday’s draw in hopes of securing the lucky numbers revealed by revered teacher Sreevichai. The allure of the lottery is strong, despite the ongoing rainy season and the ticket price remaining at 100 baht per ticket and 110-120 baht for a series. The…

  • Chiang Mai Airport’s 24 hours upgrade takes off to meet ‘soaring’ Chinese demand | Thaiger

    Chiang Mai Airport’s 24 hours upgrade takes off to meet ‘soaring’ Chinese demand

    The Airports of Thailand (AOT) is preparing to take flight as Chiang Mai International Airport gears up for 24/7 operations starting November 1, all in response to the soaring demand from Chinese visitors. The Prime Minister’s Office spokesperson, Chai Watcharong, said today that the PM and Finance Minister, Srrettha Thavisin, wants to extend Chiang Mai Airport’s operating hours, from the…

  • Fatal folly: Rubbernecking motorcyclist’s abrupt stop leads to tragic crash in northern Thailand | Thaiger

    Fatal folly: Rubbernecking motorcyclist’s abrupt stop leads to tragic crash in northern Thailand

    A tragic fatality occurred as a result of an unforeseen incident when a motorist abruptly braked to observe an accident scene in Lamphun, northern Thailand. The incident transpired around 7.20pm yesterday when a motorcyclist lost his life due to a six-wheeled lorry failing to come to a halt in time, colliding with the back of the motorcycle. The initial accident…

  • Chiang Mai’s lottery fever heats up with political numbers and auspicious figures in high demand | Thaiger

    Chiang Mai’s lottery fever heats up with political numbers and auspicious figures in high demand

    The lottery fever is high in Chiang Mai as numbers related to politics are still in demand. The excitement is palpable as people continue to purchase lottery tickets from various stalls located across key areas, including Mahidol Road, Chiang Mai-Lamphun Road, and several morning markets in each district, railway stations, transport terminals, and large stalls at different points. Prices remain…

  • High-stakes crackdown: Chiang Mai’s administrative ace raids gambling dens | Thaiger

    High-stakes crackdown: Chiang Mai’s administrative ace raids gambling dens

    Chiang Mai administrative team, led by Ronnarong Tipsiri, swooped on several prominent gambling dens operating in the heart of the city. After a collaborative operation involving over 40 officers from various entities, they arrested 104 people behind an operation that had a daily turnover of over 1 million baht (US$28,530). This decisive action took place yesterday, in response to multiple…

  • Japanese woman found dead at luxury hotel in Chiang Mai | Thaiger

    Japanese woman found dead at luxury hotel in Chiang Mai

    A heart-wrenching incident unfolded at the upscale Parc Borough hotel on Mahidol Road in Chiang Mai’s Padad sub-district when a Japanese man discovered his girlfriend’s dead body in their room. The shocking discovery prompted an immediate response from Mueang Chaing Mai Police Station officers, who rushed to investigate the scene. The victim, identified as 25 year old Ami Hosue, was…

  • Chiang Mai court convicts dog killer: A justice victory for popular campus pet | Thaiger

    Chiang Mai court convicts dog killer: A justice victory for popular campus pet

    In Chiang Mai, a man who killed a beloved dog has been sentenced to six months in prison for animal cruelty. The dog was known as Thia Mor Chor, a short-legged, popular fellow among students. Watchdog Thailand, an animal rights organisation, announced the verdict yesterday, signalling justice for Thia, whose name means shorty. The late Thia was an adored fixture…

  • Fireworks factory explosion triggers panic in tranquil Chiang Mai community (video) | Thaiger

    Fireworks factory explosion triggers panic in tranquil Chiang Mai community (video)

    A thunderous explosion rocked all tranquillity when a fireworks factory exploded, sending tremors of shock through a Chiang Mai community and engulfing the plant in billowing fire and smoke. The emergency response was put into swift action around midday today. The incident occurred in the sub-district of San Pu Leui, located in the Doi Saket district. The intense noise and…

  • Thai Smile Airways’ turbulent tiff: Passenger’s ‘left-behind’ fiasco halts takeoff in Chiang Mai (video) | Thaiger

    Thai Smile Airways’ turbulent tiff: Passenger’s ‘left-behind’ fiasco halts takeoff in Chiang Mai (video)

    A Thai Smile Airways flight had to make an emergency stop as it taxied down the runway after a foreign passenger demanded the plane returned to the terminal gate so he could pick up his left behind valuables at Chiang Mai International Airport. A Thai TikTok user, bandzlam, shared a video of the incident when a foreign man urged a…

  • San Mahaphon chairman found after mysterious 4-day disappearance in forest | Thaiger

    San Mahaphon chairman found after mysterious 4-day disappearance in forest

    The chairman of San Mahaphon Municipality Council, located in Chiang Mai province, has been located after mysteriously disappearing for four days. He was found today in a forest nearly 5 kilometres from where he disappeared. He went missing from home without a trace from July 17 onward. According to family members, he had crossed the Mae Faek dam and a…

  • Illegal logging crackdown: Two men arrested and valuable timber seized in Chiang Mai park | Thaiger

    Illegal logging crackdown: Two men arrested and valuable timber seized in Chiang Mai park

    In a continuous crackdown on illegal logging, officials from Sri Lanna National Park in Chiang Mai arrested two men and seized valuable processed timber. It is part of broader efforts to deal with crimes against forest resources and wildlife. Additionally, a hunt is underway for four other men allegedly involved in the illegal activities. The order for this intensified action…

  • Temple incident: Monk prompts killing of dog in Chiang Mai, causes public outrage | Thaiger

    Temple incident: Monk prompts killing of dog in Chiang Mai, causes public outrage

    A shocking incident at a temple in Thailand’s northern Chiang Mai province saw the temple’s leading monk command a follower to shoot and kill a dog, according to an anonymous source on Monday. This graphic scenario, caught on video, stirred public outrage for the cruel treatment of the animal and raised questions about monk conduct and regulations surrounding firearm possession. The…

  • Online exposé reveals shocking hygiene standards at Thai dental clinic with ‘recycled’ braces | Thaiger

    Online exposé reveals shocking hygiene standards at Thai dental clinic with ‘recycled’ braces

    An online exposé has been circulating recently highlighting the shocking condition of a dental clinic’s tools and equipment, raising concerns about health and safety standards. Quick replacement of used equipment, hiding the act from the owner, was a technique employed by some employees to service clients. กรรไกรผ่าตัด เก็บรวมไว้กับเครื่องมืออื่นๆ และไม่ล้างฆ่าเชื้อใดๆ ส่วนแบล็คเก็ทถอดออกจากคนไข้จัดฟันที่จัดเสร็จ จากนั้นนำมาล้างแล้วเก็บใช้กับคนอื่นต่อไป(ทั้งที่มีคราบติดอยู่)#เชียงใหม่ #คลินิกทำฟัน #หมอฟัน #จัดฟันเชียงใหม่ #สกปรก #สวมีไว้ทําไม #ปิดสวิตช์สว #ม็อบ16กรกฎา66 #เมียน้อยสว pic.twitter.com/XMFXCC0ODM…

  • Ex-village head assaults man in Chiang Mai restaurant, claims to be ‘biggest man’ (video) | Thaiger

    Ex-village head assaults man in Chiang Mai restaurant, claims to be ‘biggest man’ (video)

    A distressing incident involving a local claiming to be the “biggest man” in Mae Rim district’s Mueang Kaew sub-district, Chiang Mai, hit social media. The man, identified as a former village head, was recorded punching a young man from behind, resulting in the victim collapsing. The video clip of the incident spread on social media, sparking outrage among netizens. The…

  • Thai Court holds PM and NEB accountable for escalating Chiang Mai pollution | Thaiger

    Thai Court holds PM and NEB accountable for escalating Chiang Mai pollution

    The Administrative Court yesterday decreed that Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and the National Environmental Board (NEB) were guilty of neglecting their duties in addressing the escalating toxic air pollution in the province of Chiang Mai. This denunciation originated from a case initiated by a local man named Wasuchart Pichai. Wasuchart argued that he has been adversely impacted by the haze…

  • Chiang Mai massage parlour filing defamation over ‘distorted’ molestation claim | Thaiger

    Chiang Mai massage parlour filing defamation over ‘distorted’ molestation claim

    An escalating spat over alleged sexual molestation at a massage parlour in Chiang Mai‘s Wualai district has taken a new twist. The accused masseuse, along with the owner of the establishment, retaliated, filing a police complaint against the young male client and the creator of the Facebook post that spurred the initial allegation. They claim the online account was a…

  • Ancient Obnoi ravine: Chiang Mai’s hidden beauty set to become major tourist attraction | Thaiger

    Ancient Obnoi ravine: Chiang Mai’s hidden beauty set to become major tourist attraction

    Recently, a local government council led by Phansak Kaewsudjai, along with a group of administrative staff and media representatives, explored a narrow ravine in the Chom Thong district of Chiang Mai. The ravine is known to the locals as ‘Obnoi.’ With impressive rock formations and ancient inscriptions suspected to be thousands of years old, this is an enchanting spectacle reminiscent…

  • Unchained Elephants launches their first rescue mission for Kanun: Bringing hope to an abandoned elephant in Chiang Mai | Thaiger

    Unchained Elephants launches their first rescue mission for Kanun: Bringing hope to an abandoned elephant in Chiang Mai

    On 23rd June 2023, Unchained Elephants has embarked on their first mission to rescue Kanun, a 55-year-old male elephant in Mae Tang, Chiang Mai. Kanun’s current situation is dire, as he endures life chained up, malnourished, and with only one functioning eye. The urgent need for intervention has sparked a determined effort to save Kanun and provide him with a…

  • Chiang Mai locals eager for lottery win: Demand for ‘lucky’ numbers soars | Thaiger

    Chiang Mai locals eager for lottery win: Demand for ‘lucky’ numbers soars

    The northern city of Chiang Mai has experienced intense demand for lottery numbers as locals seek out lucky digits ahead of Saturday’s draw. This surge in activity was observed at 9am today, across various locations including markets, transportation hubs, major streets, and key spots like the Chiang Mai Gate and Nong Hoy. The going rate for a single lottery ticket…

  • Virtual vibes: Chinese nationals seek fortune, prosperity through online ritual in Chiang Mai | Thaiger

    Virtual vibes: Chinese nationals seek fortune, prosperity through online ritual in Chiang Mai

    Nearly 3,000 Chinese nationals took part in an online ritual performed in Chaing Mai province in the northern part of Thailand to attract fortune and prosperity into their lives. Chiang Mai News reported today that netizens from Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, and China participated in the online ceremony performed by a Thai cult leader named Sub Muneethep. This mystical…

  • Tik-shock: Baht bus operator gets tough on risqué ride with Chinese viral vixen | Thaiger

    Tik-shock: Baht bus operator gets tough on risqué ride with Chinese viral vixen

    A baht bus operator in Chiang Mai has recently implemented stricter measures in response to viral TikTok videos featuring a provocative Chinese woman on one of their buses in the province. On Friday, June 16, a Chinese woman, under the TikTok handle @huanxi59, posted a video that quickly gained attention. The video showcased her seated on the baht bus floor,…

  • Chiang Mai tourism: Haze issue risks long-stay senior tourist numbers | Thaiger

    Chiang Mai tourism: Haze issue risks long-stay senior tourist numbers

    Tourism operators in Chiang Mai are urging the new government to address the persistent haze issue to attract the return of long-stay senior tourists, whose absence has dealt a significant blow to the province’s economy. The leader of the Move Forward Party, Pita Limjaroenrat, visited Chiang Mai last week and discussed environmental and tourism policies with local industry representatives. According…