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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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…
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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…
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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…
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Chiang Mai aims for UNESCO World Heritage status by 2026
The Thai government plans to nominate Chiang Mai as a UNESCO World Heritage Site by 2026, coinciding with the northern city’s 730th anniversary. Culture Minister Sudawan Wangsuphakijkosol revealed that a government committee has prepared a nomination dossier since Chiang Mai was added to UNESCO’s tentative list this year. The nomination dossier, aimed at promoting the city as a World Heritage…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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PM Paetongtarn invites tourists to Chiang Mai’s vibrant cultural fest
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has encouraged both Thais and tourists to partake in the Pee Mai Mueang San Kamphaeng event, highlighting the enchanting Lhong Him Khao community in Chiang Mai. Lhong Him Khao, located in the San Kamphaeng district, is a vibrant community celebrated for its traditional Lanna arts, crafts, and cultural expressions. Residents have transformed their homes into cafes,…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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Chiang Mai prepares moat for Songkran with safety upgrades
As the Songkran festival approaches, Chiang Mai is ensuring its historic moat is ready for the annual water splashing fun, with significant upgrades to water quality and safety. The city has taken crucial steps to improve both the environment and the safety of residents and tourists who flock to the moat to celebrate Thailand’s most famous water festival. Since March…
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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…
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Fat-shaming Thai restaurant grilled over skinny discount (video)
A Thai restaurant is under fire for discriminating against fat people by offering skinny folk a discount for being thin. One disgruntled US tourist fumed “the restaurant would be sued if it was in America!” Chiang Mai Breakfast World is offering customers a controversial skinny discount to diners, provided they can squeeze through a set of narrowing metal bars before…
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Man drowned in Chiang Mai river in suspected suicide
Police in Mueang Chiang Mai district were alerted to a man who had fallen into a river and drowned near Mengrai Bridge. Emergency services, including local rescue teams and divers, yesterday morning, April 6, supported the search efforts. Personal belongings were found at the scene, including clothing, a bag with an ID card, a phone, and a tablet. Divers searched…
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Drama: TikTok star denies responsibility for injuring stray dog in car crash
Netizens’ opinions are divided after a transgender TikTok star and her friend denied responsibility for injuring a stray dog in a car crash in the northern province of Chiang Mai. The accident witness, later identified as Supithan Hitanon, also shared a video of his confrontation with the TikTok star, better known as Nungty, on Facebook. In the video, Supithan can…
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Chiang Mai condo closed after cracks appear post-Myanmar quake
Yesterday, the Chiang Mai municipality ordered the closure of a luxury condominium complex due to visible cracks on the building’s structure, following a significant earthquake. Residents have been barred from entering the premises to ensure their safety. According to the Meteorological Department (TMD), the earthquake occurred at 1.20pm yesterday, March 28, with its epicentre in Myanmar, registering a magnitude of…
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Chiang Mai declared disaster zone due to ongoing wildfires
Wildfires in Chiang Dao and Omkoi districts of Chiang Mai have been raging for two weeks, prompting the declaration of disaster zones as local efforts intensify to manage the situation. Chiang Mai governor Nirat Phongsittithaworn yesterday, March 24, announced that five subdistricts within these districts are now designated as disaster areas. This decision enables the implementation of emergency relief and…
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Toxic haze: Chiang Mai at No. 5 globally for poor air quality
Chiang Mai has been ranked as the world’s fifth-worst city for air quality, with PM2.5 levels exceeding safe limits across the province. Hod district experienced the highest levels, with PM2.5 reaching 144 microgrammes per cubic metre today, March 22. The weakening of a cold air mass has caused reduced air ventilation, contributing to the accumulation of dust particles. At 9am,…
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Drug trafficker killed, 300,000 meth pills seized in Chiang Mai
Pha Mueang Task Force yesterday engaged with a group of drug traffickers in Mae Ai district, Chiang Mai province, resulting in one suspect’s death and the seizure of 300,000 methamphetamine pills. The officials remained unharmed. The incident, yesterday, March 19, at 8.30am, occurred when the patrol team spotted and attempted to search three to five suspicious people carrying modified backpacks…
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Phantom fail: Ghostly Chiang Mai gold heist ends in ghastly gaffe
In an audacious plot fit for a Halloween flick, a bungling gold thief’s disguise as a horror movie ghost backfired spectacularly when he found himself trapped in a shopping mall, leading to his swift arrest. The wannabe thief, Etsara, dreamed up a daring heist at a renowned Chiang Mai shopping mall, planning to loot a gold shop by posing as…
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Rescue diver’s body found in Ping River after fishing accident
The body of a 34 year old rescue diver, has been discovered in the Ping River after he went missing while fishing. His body was found yesterday, March 16 at a whirlpool, following an extensive overnight search by a rescue team in Chiang Mai province. On March 15, Tonkla or Ditsakorn was fishing near a sand pier in Hod district,…
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Chiang Mai air quality ranks worst globally due to regional fires
Burning activities in Myanmar and Laos have significantly contributed to the poor air quality in Chiang Mai, which has been ranked as having the worst air quality in the world. Today, March 16, 17 provinces in Thailand reported PM2.5 levels exceeding safety standards. Associate Professor Doctor Wisanu Arthawanich from the Faculty of Economics at Kasetsart University highlighted the situation on…
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Name baby giraffe to win one-year pass to Chiang Mai Zoo
Chiang Mai Zoo is celebrating the arrival of its newest and cutest resident—a baby giraffe born just one month ago. To mark the occasion, the zoo is inviting the public to help choose the perfect name for the little calf through an online vote. The female giraffe, born on February 7, is the offspring of Ton Khun, a seven year…
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Thai military seizes 400,000 meth pills near Myanmar border
Soldiers from the Pha Mueang Task Force intercepted a drug trafficking operation, seizing 400,000 methamphetamine pills in Fang district, Chiang Mai province. The encounter, which took place at 12.30am yesterday, March 4, resulted in no injuries or fatalities. Captain Sawatsakon Onkaew, commanding officer of the 3rd Cavalry Company, under the Chaianuphap Special Task Force, directed two military patrol teams to…
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Chiang Mai monk faces charges for exam impersonation scandal
Prime Minister’s Office minister Chusak Sirinil has called for criminal charges against a senior monk from Chiang Mai. This monk allegedly employed another monk to impersonate him during a level-five Pali examination in Bangkok. The Chiang Mai ecclesiastical office has since ordered the dismissal of the unnamed senior monk from his role as abbot of a prominent temple in the province.…
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Chiang Mai e-cigarette seller arrested with 1,269 items seized
An online electronic cigarette seller in Chiang Mai, operating through Facebook and LINE groups, was apprehended with an estimated daily revenue of 10,000 baht, averaging over 100,000 baht monthly. The suspect led police to his home, where a substantial amount of goods was seized. Police from Special Operations Division 5 conducted a sting operation at approximately 1pm yesterday, February 26,…
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Scam alert: Fake cop targeting Chiang Mai residents
Chiang Mai residents are on high alert after the Mae Jo Police Station issued a warning about a cunning con artist known as “Phuy Kong Poi Phet,” who is impersonating a police officer to scam victims out of their money. The audacious fraudster is allegedly posing as a Mae Jo police officer and using sophisticated tactics to deceive unsuspecting locals.…
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Moroccan man arrested in Turkey for Chiang Mai murder
Interpol arrested a Moroccan national in Turkey for allegedly murdering his Thai LGBTQ lover, a beauty surgeon, in Chiang Mai last December. Bilal Chenfinu fled Thailand immediately after the crime, prompting an international manhunt and extradition proceedings to bring him back to face charges. Mueang Chiang Mai Police Chief Police Colonel Pratchaya Thisala confirmed that 30 year old Chenfinu was…
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Car-truck collision in Chiang Mai injures 16 longan workers
A collision between a car and a truck transporting longan harvest workers in Chiang Mai left 16 people injured, with two in serious condition. The cause of the accident is currently under investigation. Yesterday, February 9 at 8.35pm, investigators from San Pa Tong district in Chiang Mai received reports of a significant traffic accident on the San Pa Tong-Hang Dong…
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