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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    Long-term life in Thailand? 5 reasons private health insurance pays off in the long run

    Thailand is a great place for expats and retirees, offering a warm climate, affordable living, and rich culture. However, healthcare can be tricky for foreigners since they aren’t eligible for public health coverage, and private care can be expensive. Private...

  • Thai transwoman brutally assaulted and raped by obsessed attacker

    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

    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

    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…

  • American tourist falls to death after lovers’ row at Chiang Mai condo

    American tourist falls to death after lovers’ row at Chiang Mai condo

    A dream holiday turned into a nightmare in Chiang Mai after a 35 year old American man plunged to his death from the 10th floor of a luxury condominium. The tragic incident unfolded at 9.50pm on Friday, July 18, in the Chang Klan area, shocking the local expat and tourist communities. The victim, Justin Todd Henry, had travelled to Thailand…

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

    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

    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

    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…

  • Bark and spite: Drunk Thai man kicks autistic boy after row with dog

    Bark and spite: Drunk Thai man kicks autistic boy after row with dog

    A drunk Thai man was arrested after kicking a seven-year-old special needs boy and his aunt outside a Chiang Mai shopping mall, claiming a barking dog sent him over the edge. The shocking incident unfolded in the Bo Sang area of San Kamphaeng district at 4am on July 13, and the autistic child’s devastated family filed a complaint the following…

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

    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

    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

    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…

  • Thailand investigates mpox case in Chiang Mai amid rising numbers

    Thailand investigates mpox case in Chiang Mai amid rising numbers

    The Department of Disease Control is actively investigating a mpox case in Chiang Mai, as Thailand reports 40 cumulative cases this year, with a total of 900 cases and 13 deaths since 2022. Sexual transmission is identified as a primary cause of mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, prompting advice to use condoms to mitigate risk. Vigilant monitoring of international mpox…

  • British mother warns of deadly scrub typhus after Thailand trip

    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

    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

    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…

  • Police bust Chinese call centre scam in Chiang Mai luxury home

    Police bust Chinese call centre scam in Chiang Mai luxury home

    In Chiang Mai’s Hang Dong district, police apprehended 15 Chinese nationals implicated in a call centre scam. The operation took place in a luxury house in tambon Ban Waen, where Provincial Region 5 police searched yesterday, July 1. Following a tip-off, police discovered that the property was purchased by Chinese people through Thai nominees and was being used as a…

  • Chiang Mai official arrested for extorting migrant worker brokers

    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…