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.

  • Sponsored

    Pre-existing conditions? These expat insurance plans still have you covered

    Many expats feel worried that their pre-existing health problems will stop them from getting insurance in a new country. This fear is common, especially when medical care can be expensive. But the good news is, some insurance, like the plans...

  • Chiang Mai Univeristy students scammed of millions in single day | Thaiger

    Chiang Mai Univeristy students scammed of millions in single day

    Ten students at Chiang Mai University experienced scams in a single day, resulting in losses amounting to several million baht. This has led the university and local police to issue a warning about the scams. The scams intensified during a long holiday from May 31 to June 2, according to Police Colonel Manatchai Inthean, superintendent of Bhubing Rajanives Police Station.…

  • Foreign tourist vandalises Chiang Mai temple, police seek suspect | Thaiger

    Foreign tourist vandalises Chiang Mai temple, police seek suspect

    A foreign tourist is on the run after spray-painting graffiti on the historic wall of Wat Lam Chang, a 650-year-old temple in Chiang Mai’s old city. The culprit, who left behind English-language text and a house motif, is now being hunted by police after reportedly fleeing the northern province by air. The incident was first reported by the temple’s abbot,…

  • Chiang Mai homestay featured in Thai film destroyed in fire | Thaiger

    Chiang Mai homestay featured in Thai film destroyed in fire

    A fire broke out early Tuesday morning at a well-known homestay, which was also used as a filming location, in Chiang Mai, completely destroying the wooden accommodation. The Mae Daet Subdistrict Royal Thai Police (RTP) Cyber Village Facebook page shared a video showing police officers, rescue workers, and firefighters attempting to control the blaze at the popular homestay, Doolaylay. According…

  • 4.5 magnitude quake hits Chiang Mai, no damage reported | Thaiger

    4.5 magnitude quake hits Chiang Mai, no damage reported

    The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) reported a 4.5 magnitude earthquake centred in Mae Pang subdistrict, Chiang Mai province, prompting the director-general, Phasakorn Boonyalak, to instruct four provinces to monitor the situation closely. The DDPM swiftly initiated damage assessments in the affected areas, utilising the Cell Broadcachinst alert system. The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) promptly sent out the…

  • Chinese arrested for molesting intern at Chiang Mai aquarium | Thaiger

    Chinese arrested for molesting intern at Chiang Mai aquarium

    A brazen act of sexual harassment has rocked Chiang Mai Zoo Aquarium, as a Chinese tourist was caught on camera groping a female intern before being swiftly apprehended by staff and police. The disturbing incident has sparked outrage and a firm promise from police to prosecute the offender to the fullest extent of the law. The incident occurred today, May…

  • Chiang Mai locals rush to buy lottery tickets before draw | Thaiger

    Chiang Mai locals rush to buy lottery tickets before draw

    In Chiang Mai, as the lottery draw approaches, locals are eagerly purchasing lottery tickets, especially in the bustling morning markets and areas like Mahidol Road and Mueang district. Prices remain steady with single tickets at 100 baht, two-ticket sets at 200 baht, and five-ticket bundles priced between 650 and 700 baht. Pannee Lu Poo Ngern, a lottery vendor from Chiang…

  • Chiang Mai man with dissociative identity disorder goes missing | Thaiger

    Chiang Mai man with dissociative identity disorder goes missing

    A Thai woman appealed to an online community for help after her husband, who suffers from Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), also known as multiple personality disorder, went missing from their home in the northern province of Chiang Mai on Monday, May 26. The wife, Runglamai Jaisooksern, took to Facebook to urge netizens to assist her and her daughter in locating…

  • Chiang Mai smugglers dump 2 million speed pills in jungle | Thaiger

    Chiang Mai smugglers dump 2 million speed pills in jungle

    Drug traffickers ditched over 2 million meth pills in a jungle in Chiang Mai’s Chiang Dao district, fleeing into the shadows as army patrols closed in — in what’s being called one of the largest single hauls of the year. The Pha Muang Task Force confirmed the staggering seizure today, May 29, after troops encountered a group of about 10…

  • Malaysian man robs Chinese influencer to fund Chiang Mai holiday | Thaiger

    Malaysian man robs Chinese influencer to fund Chiang Mai holiday

    A 34 year old Malaysian man robbed a Chinese influencer and university student of 135,000 baht in the northern province of Chiang Mai, claiming he needed the money to fund his holiday. Mueang Chiang Mai Police Station officers held a press conference yesterday, May 27, to reveal details of the case. The suspect, identified as Eng Chee Hon, allegedly committed…

  • Police officer dismissed over 7,000 baht extortion in Chiang Mai | Thaiger

    Police officer dismissed over 7,000 baht extortion in Chiang Mai

    A police officer has been dismissed after allegedly extorting 7,000 baht from a 21 year old man who was urinating by the roadside, claiming it was a fee to clear a drunk driving charge. The incident took place on the Hod-Doi Tao Road in Chiang Mai province. The accused, posing as a police officer, reportedly intimidated the victim with a…

  • Thailand seeks ASEAN Heritage status for Doi Inthanon park | Thaiger

    Thailand seeks ASEAN Heritage status for Doi Inthanon park

    Efforts are underway by the government to have Doi Inthanon National Park in Chiang Mai recognised as an ASEAN Heritage Park (AHP), according to Attapol Charoenshunsa, the chief of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP). The announcement followed the 12th ASEAN Heritage Park Committee Meeting (AHPCM) in Bangkok, chaired by Attapol. The meeting included over 100…

  • 2 British tourists expose Chiang Mai monk for inappropriate kissing | Thaiger

    2 British tourists expose Chiang Mai monk for inappropriate kissing

    Two British tourists exposed a monk at a temple in the northern province of Chiang Mai for inappropriately kissing her and her friend on the cheek during a visit on March 30. The monk reportedly responded to the foreigners with rude and aggressive language after the incident was made public. A Thai man named Thanawat shared the account, which he…

  • Chiang Mai lottery sales dip despite cultural event interest | Thaiger

    Chiang Mai lottery sales dip despite cultural event interest

    In Chiang Mai, lottery ticket sales are seeing mixed results as the significance of key dates such as Visakha Bucha, the Royal Ploughing Ceremony, and Coronation Day fuels interest. Despite this, vendors report a dip in sales due to the school term’s start. Today, May 14, it was observed that people are gradually purchasing lucky numbers at major markets around…

  • Chinese national arrested for overstaying visa in Chiang Mai | Thaiger

    Chinese national arrested for overstaying visa in Chiang Mai

    Yesterday, April 30, immigration police in Chiang Mai apprehended a Chinese national who had overstayed his tourist visa in Thailand. The arrest took place on Thipanet Road, Mueang district in Chiang Mai province, following a coordinated operation between the Chiang Mai Provincial Immigration Bureau and Immigration Division 5. The man was charged with remaining in the kingdom after the expiration…

  • Arsenic contamination in Chiang Mai’s Kok River sparks testing | Thaiger

    Arsenic contamination in Chiang Mai’s Kok River sparks testing

    The testing of aquatic animals and agricultural produce is underway in Chiang Mai following the arsenic contamination of the Kok River. Police have issued warnings against using the river water for daily consumption and food preparation. Yesterday, April 29, at Chiang Mai Provincial Hall, deputy governor Siwako Buaphong attended an online meeting with the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and…

  • Thai national park wildfire hero dies in motorcycle accident | Thaiger

    Thai national park wildfire hero dies in motorcycle accident

    A tragic incident unfolded in Chiang Mai over the weekend when a 62 year old volunteer firefighter lost his life after his motorcycle plunged off a hill road following a long day battling wildfires. Manit Sawansu, a dedicated volunteer ranger with the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP), had been working tirelessly to combat the raging fires…

  • Chiang Mai cafe accused of creating ‘human zoo’ amid criticism | Thaiger

    Chiang Mai cafe accused of creating ‘human zoo’ amid criticism

    Criticism has been directed at a Chiang Mai cafe located in a former tobacco factory, which allows visitors to observe workers sorting tobacco leaves, with some accusing it of creating a “human zoo.“ The controversy began after a customer posted an image on social media, capturing her visit to Yen.CNX cafe with workers visible behind a glass partition, sorting leaves…

  • Blade runner: Thai man sparks hospital horror in Chiang Mai | Thaiger

    Blade runner: Thai man sparks hospital horror in Chiang Mai

    Panic gripped a Chiang Mai hospital this morning after a knife-wielding Thai man stormed the outpatient ward, threatening to slash his own throat in front of terrified staff and patients. The dramatic standoff unfolded around 11.30am, today, April 25, when the unhinged man burst into McCormick Hospital in Chiang Mai, clutching a knife and pressing it to his own neck…

  • Fire breaks out at Chiang Mai’s Dara Dhevi Hotel | Thaiger

    Fire breaks out at Chiang Mai’s Dara Dhevi Hotel

    A fire broke out at the renowned Dara Dhevi Hotel in Chiang Mai early this morning sending emergency services rushing to the scene to contain the blaze. The fire, which started around 2am today, April 23, affected a section of the luxury hotel, causing chaos among guests and staff. As firefighters worked tirelessly to control the flames, the cause of…

  • Pain in the neck: American kicks off outside Chiang Mai shop | Thaiger

    Pain in the neck: American kicks off outside Chiang Mai shop

    An American man with a serious neck injury yesterday refused medical treatment and caused a public disturbance outside a convenience store in Chiang Mai province. A witness recorded a video of the foreign man yesterday, April 22, causing a fracas and shared it with the local news Facebook page, Guru Guroo Chiang Mai. The footage, filmed from inside the witness’s…

  • Earthquake damages Chiang Mai temples, restoration underway | Thaiger

    Earthquake damages Chiang Mai temples, restoration underway

    Three of Chiang Mai’s most iconic temples, Wat Chedi Liam, Wat Chedi Luang, and Wat Umong, have suffered damage following the powerful earthquake that struck neighbouring Myanmar on March 28. While none of the structures face immediate risk of collapse, government officials are moving quickly to stabilise and restore these sacred landmarks, which are central to the city’s rich cultural…

  • Chiang Mai election campaign attacked by village head | Thaiger

    Chiang Mai election campaign attacked by village head

    A violent altercation occurred during an election campaign in San Phi Suea subdistrict, Mueang district, Chiang Mai province. The village head of Tha Duea yesterday, April 19, reportedly drove a vehicle into a campaign assistant before attacking the team with a stick, causing injuries. Pawit Boonchala, a candidate for municipal mayor, explained that the incident happened at 5.45pm while his…

  • Chiang Mai hotels thrive during Songkran with strategic pricing | Thaiger

    Chiang Mai hotels thrive during Songkran with strategic pricing

    Hotels in Chiang Mai experienced a strong performance during the Songkran holiday, despite offering lower room rates compared to the previous year. The pricing strategy was aimed at attracting last-minute domestic travellers, whose confidence was affected by last month’s earthquake. Paisarn Sukjarean, President of the Thai Hotels Association’s upper northern chapter, indicated that many Thais remained unsettled by the earthquake…

  • Chiang Mai lottery sales surge during Songkran festival | Thaiger

    Chiang Mai lottery sales surge during Songkran festival

    In Chiang Mai, lottery ticket sales are thriving during the Songkran festival, with locals eagerly purchasing tickets from various stalls around the city, including areas like Chiang Mai Gate, Chang Phueak Gate, Mahidol Road, Mueang district, the railway station, and morning markets. Tickets are priced at 100 baht (US$3) each, with sets of two selling for 200 baht (US$6), three…

  • Chiang Mai rattled by quake as Myanmar tremors hit | Thaiger

    Chiang Mai rattled by quake as Myanmar tremors hit

    A mild earthquake measuring 1.4 on the Richter scale struck Chiang Mai’s Phrao district at 4.33am today, April 11, according to the Thai Meteorological Department’s Earthquake Observation Division. The tremor’s epicentre was pinpointed in San Sai subdistrict, located at coordinates 19.529°N and 99.222°E, with a shallow depth of just 1 kilometre. While the quake was minor and caused no immediate…

  • Chiang Mai aims for fingernail dance world record | Thaiger

    Chiang Mai aims for fingernail dance world record

    In celebration of tradition and unity, Chiang Mai is preparing to break a Guinness World Record next Friday, April 19, with over 20,000 traditional fingernail dancers performing together at the historic Three Kings Monument. The event marks the ancient northern city’s 729th anniversary and promises to be one of the most spectacular cultural displays ever staged in Thailand. Organisers say…

  • Teen found dead in Chiang Mai after swallowing ping pong bomb | Thaiger

    Teen found dead in Chiang Mai after swallowing ping pong bomb

    A tragic incident occurred today at a residence in Mae Chaem district, Chiang Mai province, when a 17 year old boy was found dead after swallowing a ping pong bomb. The victim, who suffered from depression and was known for spending long hours in his room, was discovered following a reported explosion at 3.19am today, April 9. Police Lieutenant Sumerng…

  • Teens detained in Chiang Mai for Cambodian call centre scam | Thaiger

    Teens detained in Chiang Mai for Cambodian call centre scam

    Three teenagers were detained in Chiang Mai for allegedly operating an office to recruit people for work in a Cambodian call centre scam. They enticed people with promises of lucrative grey-area jobs, free accommodation, and natural border crossing. Yesterday, April 8, Police Lieutenant General Kritthapol Yisakhon, the commander of the Provincial Police Region 5, revealed a collaborative operation involving several…

  • Stream fright: Chiang Mai tot gets unwelcome leech up her nose | Thaiger

    Stream fright: Chiang Mai tot gets unwelcome leech up her nose

    A hospital in Chiang Mai issued a warning to the public to exercise caution when using water from natural sources after a three year old girl was found to have a leech in her nose because she washed her face in a stream. The case was shared by a doctor from Nakhonping Hospital in Mueang District, Chiang Mai, via the…

  • Foreign motorcyclist seriously injured after race in Chiang Mai | Thaiger

    Foreign motorcyclist seriously injured after race in Chiang Mai

    A foreign motorcyclist sustained serious injuries after allegedly racing with his friend and crashing into a police booth in Chiang Mai in the early hours of yesterday, April 7. CCTV footage of the accident, shared on Channel 8, showed the foreigner’s motorcycle overturning near the footpath at Sanpakoi Intersection in the Mueang district of Chiang Mai. Another motorcyclist, who was reported…