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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  • American arrested for alleged murder in Chiang Mai has past record of abuse in Colorado

    American arrested for alleged murder in Chiang Mai has past record of abuse in Colorado

    The American man who was recently arrested for allegedly murdering his pregnant Thai wife in Chiang Mai had been sentenced to 2 years of probation back in 2019 on assault charges after his gun went off while he was threatening a woman in Colorado. A report from the Associated Press says it appears to be the same woman. Jason Matthew…

  • Chiang Mai sees 2 elderly deaths from UK Covid variant including French woman

    Chiang Mai sees 2 elderly deaths from UK Covid variant including French woman

    Chiang Mai province is reporting the deaths of 2 elderly women from the UK Covid-19 variant, including a French woman. The provinces death toll is now 9 according to the governor. The 81 year old French woman was suffering from high blood pressure, cholesterol and diabetes. She fell down on April 22 and received treatment at a hospital. After coming…

  • Chiang Mai restaurants want dine-in ban revoked as infections drop

    Chiang Mai restaurants want dine-in ban revoked as infections drop

    The governor of Chiang Mai has called for the ban on dining in at restaurants to be lifted and for eateries to be allowed to serve food on-site until 9pm. Charoenrit Sa-nguansat’s request follows a drop in Covid-19 infections in the northern province. The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration has colour-coded Chiang Mai “dark red”, making it a maximum control…

  • Chiang Mai on track to reopen 2 districts to foreign tourists in October

    Chiang Mai on track to reopen 2 districts to foreign tourists in October

    Chiang Mai is still on track to reopen to foreign tourists under the sandbox model this October. The so-called sandbox model would allow foreign tourists, who are vaccinated against Covid-19, to travel to designated areas in Thailand without undergoing quarantine. In Chiang Mai, tourists will be able to travel in the area with tour guides on designated routes. Phuket is…

  • Biochar could solve smoke pollution problem in Chiang Mai

    Biochar could solve smoke pollution problem in Chiang Mai

    The emerging technology of biochar may be at the forefront of dealing with Chiang Mai and its globally infamous smoke and air pollution. After another terrible burn season where the air quality was rated among the worst in the world, Chiang Mai is often rated the most polluted city in the world. As scientists worldwide tackle climate change, Chiang Mai…

  • 37 inmates at Chiang Mai prison test positive for Covid-19

    37 inmates at Chiang Mai prison test positive for Covid-19

    At least 37 new inmates at Chiang Mai Central Prison have tested positive for Covid-19 in routine testing during the quarantine period for new inmates before they enter the general prison population. Provincial public health chief Jatchuchai Maeerat said the inmates who tested positive for the virus were sent to a field hospital at the prison in Chiang Mai’s Mae…

  • Officials in Chiang Mai and Hua Hin express concern amid rapid rise in infections

    Officials in Chiang Mai and Hua Hin express concern amid rapid rise in infections

    Health officials in the northern province of Chiang Mai and the western province of Prachuap Khiri Khan are on high alert amid a surge in Covid-19 cases. Prachuap Khiri Khan has now reported 334 cases, with infections rising by 141 yesterday. The outbreak is primarily centred around the Hua Hin district, with provincial health official Suriya Khuharat saying most people…

  • Chiang Mai: Covid-19 cancels many Songkran events

    Chiang Mai: Covid-19 cancels many Songkran events

    After a surge in new Covid-19 infections, Chiang Mai health officials decided to cancel Songkran celebrations and implement containment measures. As the virus spreads through Thailand, 281 new infections were just diagnosed on Sunday, reported in Monday’s daily Covid-19 statistics. These infections bring the total for the month of April to 662 people. With this outbreak spreading wider and faster…

  • All new Covid-19 infections in Chiang Mai are linked to nightlife venues

    All new Covid-19 infections in Chiang Mai are linked to nightlife venues

    All of the new Covid-19 infections reported by health officials in Chiang Mai yesterday are linked to local nightlife venues. Over the past few days, 47 cases linked to bars and nightclubs have been confirmed, including the 36 new cases reported yesterday by the provincial communicable disease control panel. With the rise of infections linked to entertainment venues, Chiang Mai…

  • Chiang Mai records 6 new infections after nearly 3 months virus-free

    Chiang Mai records 6 new infections after nearly 3 months virus-free

    After nearly 3 months without any Covid-19 infections, the northern province of Chiang Mai is once again having to implement measures to suppress the virus after recording 6 new cases. 4 cases were reported on Monday, 3 of which are linked to nightlife venues in Bangkok and the central province of Nonthaburi. Another 2 cases were recorded yesterday, bringing the…

  • New infections in Chiang Mai linked to Bangkok nightlife cluster

    New infections in Chiang Mai linked to Bangkok nightlife cluster

    3 out of 4 new Covid-19 infections reported in the northern province of Chiang Mai are in patients who frequented nightlife venues in Bangkok. The communicable disease committee has confirmed 4 new infections, while introducing restrictions to curb any further spread. According to a Nation Thailand report, the first patient visited a nightlife venue in the Ratchadaphisek area of Bangkok…

  • Heavy storms to hit many parts of Thailand between today and Tuesday

    Heavy storms to hit many parts of Thailand between today and Tuesday

    The Thai Meteorological Department is warning of sudden summer storms, bringing strong gusts and possibly even hail, across many parts of the country. Yep, looks like the wet season has arrive d abut early in parts of Thailand this year. The TMD says the north-east, east, north, central, and upper south of the country will be affected from today until…

  • Thailand to improve safety for ziplining and adventure tourism

    Thailand to improve safety for ziplining and adventure tourism

    Looking ahead to the return of foreign tourists, Thailand tourism officials are planning to improve safety standards for adventure activities like ziplining in an effort to prevent accidents from happening and to gain tourist confidence. In 2019, a Canadian man died in a zipline incident in Chiang Mai. He was attached to the harness, ready for the 5 kilometre Flight…

  • Professor blasts university officials for removal of “trash” art installations

    Professor blasts university officials for removal of “trash” art installations

    An art professor at Chiang Mai University has slammed university executives for the removal of student art they say they thought was, “trash”. Video of the professor’s rant went viral on social media, after university officials began to remove some pieces from a student art installation. The removal of the pieces, which seemed to depict the aftermath of political protests,…

  • Chiang Mai hotels slash prices amid ongoing slump in tourism

    Chiang Mai hotels slash prices amid ongoing slump in tourism

    Hotels in the northern province of Chiang Mai have been forced to cut their rates by up to 90%, in a desperate bid to attract more domestic tourists. According to a Bangkok Post report, La-Iad Bungsrithong, from the northern chapter of the Thai Hotels Association, says with tourists mainly favouring the southern beach destinations this month, hotel operators in the…

  • The Area Hotel Quarantine – tweaking Thailand’s arrival options

    The Area Hotel Quarantine – tweaking Thailand’s arrival options

    We spoke about the new proposal for an Area Hotel Quarantine last Friday and in Thailand News Today. The mandatory 14 day quarantine (magically extended a couple of days at many facilities at the foreigner’s cost) remains the key sticking point for the return of tourists or travellers, in any significant or useful numbers. A number of visas and quarantine…

  • UPDATE: Thailand Covid zones and your restrictions

    UPDATE: Thailand Covid zones and your restrictions

    Which of the five coloured zones are you living in? A green zone? Red zone? Pale red zone? hat’s the difference and what’s open and what’s not? If you’re not in Samut Sakhon, the coastal province just south west of Bangkok, then some of the restrictions imposed by the CCSA have recently been lifted. Here’s a quick look at what’s…

  • Chiang Mai night markets reopening tomorrow

    Chiang Mai night markets reopening tomorrow

    Night markets in Chiang Mai will be reopened tomorrow after the province went 6 consecutive days with no new Covid-19 cases. According to Chiang Mai Governor, Charoenrit Sanguansat, the province and the provincial disease control committee agreed to ease up restrictions on social and business activities after the number of infections continually dropped and no new infections were reported during…

  • Chiang Mai records 4 new Covid cases linked to same venue

    Chiang Mai records 4 new Covid cases linked to same venue

    The northern city of Chiang Mai has confirmed 4 new cases of coronavirus, all of which are linked to the Warm Up café in the Muang district. The province of Chiang Mai now has 11 active cases and has recorded 57 cases in total, according to deputy governor, Weerapan Dee-on. “The 54th patient in Chiang Mai is a Thai man…

  • Chiang Mai ranks 5th on travel site’s list of best places for digital nomads

    Chiang Mai ranks 5th on travel site’s list of best places for digital nomads

    Chiang Mai, a city which some say is a “rite of passage” for digital nomads, is a top location in the world to work remotely, according to the global travel site Big 7 Travel. In the list of “50 Best Places for Remote Working in 2021,” Chiang Mai ranked 5th out of 50 places. The site says the city has…

  • Arriving in Chiang Mai? Prepare to be checked.

    Arriving in Chiang Mai? Prepare to be checked.

    Anyone who has recently visited the new Covid-19 epicentre of Samut Sakhon and who arrives in Chiang Mai should prepare to be checked, according to health authorities. The efforts are underway to stop the virus from spreading and anyone who is suspected of being infected with Covid-19 or who has visited the central shrimp market in Samut Sakhon, must use the…

  • Chiang Mai New Year countdown events still on

    Chiang Mai New Year countdown events still on

    New Year countdown events in Chiang Mai are still on, despite Thailand’s record spike in Covid-19 cases. Cancelling the celebrations would hurt the already battered economy and local officials decided not to ban the events due to the economic impact, according to director of the Public Health Promotion Division Chiang Mai municipality, Danai Sarapruek. Danai says measures are in place…

  • Chiang Mai man arrested for allegedly stealing women’s underwear

    Chiang Mai man arrested for allegedly stealing women’s underwear

    A 25 year old man in Chiang Mai was arrested for allegedly stealing women’s underwear. Apparently, the man, identified as Fang, has been stealing the women’s bras and panties for the past 2 years, police say. Police opened an investigation after a 29 year old woman staying at a Chiang Mai hotel reported that her suitcase was stolen. Officers reviewed…

  • Thai Airways delays resumption of domestic flights due to local Covid-19 cases

    Thai Airways delays resumption of domestic flights due to local Covid-19 cases

    Thai Airways flights to Phuket and Chiang Mai were supposed to start back up on Christmas day, but the recent Covid-19 local transmissions have led the airline to push the relaunch date back. Now the flights from Bangkok will take off on January 1, but if the virus continues to spread, the airline might decide to delay the flights indefinitely.…

  • Thai Airways to resume flights from Bangkok to Chiang Mai and Phuket

    Thai Airways to resume flights from Bangkok to Chiang Mai and Phuket

    After nearly 9 months on the ground due to the coronavirus pandemic, along with problems balancing their accounts, Thai Airways will resume flights between Bangkok and Chiang Mai as well as Bangkok and Phuket later this month. The flights will start back up on Christmas day. Flights from Bangkok to the 2 key tourist provinces have been grounded since April…

  • Thai woman tests positive for Covid in Chiang Mai, 72 people found to be in close contact

    Thai woman tests positive for Covid in Chiang Mai, 72 people found to be in close contact

    A 29 year old female Thai returnee from Myanmar has tested positive for Covid in Chiang Mai, after visiting the hospital with flu-like symptoms. She was the only local case reported, out of 5 other positive tests, with officials saying she is believed to have contracted the virus in Myanmar. The positive test on November 27, came after she was…

  • Tourists flock to Chiang Mai Royal Park Rajapruek over the long weekend

    Tourists flock to Chiang Mai Royal Park Rajapruek over the long weekend

    Over the long holiday weekend, more than 1,500 tourists a day flocked to the Royal Park Rajapruek in Chiang Mai. Most of the visitors were Thais from other provinces to enjoy the beautiful display of seasonal flowers adorning the park grounds. The Ratchaphruek Flower Gardens are considered a “must-see” when visiting the northern capital. The expansive gardens are incredibly picturesque.…

  • 5 injured in Chiang Mai collision after driver falls asleep at the wheel – VIDEO

    5 injured in Chiang Mai collision after driver falls asleep at the wheel – VIDEO

    5 passengers in a public transport vehicle have been injured after a pickup driver fell asleep at the wheel and slammed into them. Nation Thailand reports that the collision occurred on San Kampaeng Road in the northern province of Chiang Mai. Rescue workers had to use specialist equipment to free the passengers, who were trapped in the bus. They managed…

  • Human rights lawyer Anon Nampa arrested, flown to Chiang Mai for sedition charges

    Human rights lawyer Anon Nampa arrested, flown to Chiang Mai for sedition charges

    After being arrested in Bangkok early this morning, along with numerous other protesters, human rights lawyer and pro-democracy activist leader Anon Nampa is apparently being flown up to Chiang Mai to face sedition charges for allegedly criticising the Thai Monarchy at a past event in the northern province. In Bangkok today, at least 20 protesters, who intended to camp out…

  • Chiang Mai tourism slowdown takes a toll on local businesses

    Chiang Mai tourism slowdown takes a toll on local businesses

    Chiang Mai’s tourism industry has drastically slowed down from the lack of travel due to the affects of the Covid-19 pandemic – the lockdowns and the travel restrictions. Tourists “vanished” during the April lockdown, according to president of the Tourism Association of Chiang Mai, Anantorn Hochindarat. Now, as the chilly, cool season approaches, when the northern province is the most popular…