Chiang Mai News
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Volunteer firefighter dies in Chiang Mai forest
A volunteer firefighter died after helping battle forest fires in Chiang Mai and completed firebreaks on Tuesday, March 31. A team of volunteer firefighters entered forested areas near the Ban Saluang community to control a fire. The group brought the blaze under control and completed firebreaks at about 8pm before leaving the area together, except for 56 year old Boonma…
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Thai and foreign residents protest at US Consulate in Chiang Mai
Yesterday, March 28, about 50 Thai and foreign residents gathered outside the US Consulate General in Chiang Mai to protest the United States’ war with Iran and to call for an end to the conflict. The group, calling itself CNX4PEACE, held placards criticising the United States’ military action and urging peace. A representative of the demonstrators read a statement calling…
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Chiang Mai tram bidding set for 2027, services targeted to begin in 2032
The Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA) plans to open bidding for the Chiang Mai tram project in 2027, with construction expected to start in 2028 and the service targeted to open in 2032. The Chiang Mai light rail or tram project was first raised in 2017 and later approved by the Cabinet in 2018. Previous reports put the…
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Chiang Mai buffet diner refuses 259-baht bill, argues for an hour
A buffet dispute has drawn attention online after a Chiang Mai restaurant owner posted on Facebook yesterday, March 24, about a Chinese customer who allegedly refused to pay after eating, prompting the shop to call the police to mediate. The post was shared by a Facebook user who identified themself as the owner of a Shabu buffet restaurant in Chiang…
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Chinese man blacklisted for filing fake theft to Chiang Mai police
A Chinese man is suspected of filing a fake theft complaint in Chiang Mai in an attempt to obtain a police document for an insurance claim before leaving Thailand. Officers from Mueang Chiang Mai Police Station were alerted of a snatching at 11.40pm on March 17 by a 33 year old Chinese man, Xiao. He reported that the crime occurred…
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Rescue leader urges petrol stations to ease limits for ambulances
A rescue foundation leader in Chiang Mai has called on petrol stations to relax a limit that caps fuel purchases at 500 baht per vehicle per day, warning the restriction is affecting emergency medical operations nationwide and could increase risks for patients. Sahachat Limcharoenphakdi, president of the Phetkasem Foundation, said the cap has been introduced at many stations as fuel…
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Foreign man jumps into Chiang Mai river after stealing police motorcycle
Chiang Mai police and rescue teams are searching the Ping River for a foreign man who stole a police motorcycle and jumped into the water to avoid arrest. Officers from Mueang Chiang Mai Police Station, along with rescuers from several foundations in the province, began searching the river today, March 16. As of the latest update, they had not located…
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Body of Chinese man’s newborn son missing from Chiang Mai hospital
A Chinese businessman filed a police complaint against a hospital in Chiang Mai after the body of his deceased newborn baby went missing. The father, Fang Peng Cherng, accompanied by Thai lawyer Atipong Phonlachai, lodged the complaint against Maharaj Nakorn Chiang Mai Hospital at Bhubing Rajanivej Police Station yesterday, March 12. Atipong provided details of the incident with ThaiRath on…
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Thai man kills sister-in-law in Chiang Mai following attempted rape
Police arrested a Thai man for killing his sister-in-law after she resisted an attempted rape at a rented house in Hang Dong district, Chiang Mai. He initially presented himself as a witness in the case. The victim, a 22 year old waitress, U-sa, also known as Praew, failed to turn up for work. Her employer and a colleague went to…
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Bird feed sellers detained after video shows man flipping off tourists
Chiang Mai police yesterday, February 23, tracked down a group of bird feed sellers at Tha Phae Gate after a viral video showed a man obstructing and insulting foreign tourists in the plaza and making a middle-finger gesture. The issue surfaced yesterday after a post in the Facebook group Chiang Mai 108 criticised bird feed sellers at Tha Phae Gate.…
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Ministry links 72 Chiang Mai tiger deaths to distemper, not bird flu
An unusually high number of tiger deaths in Mae Rim, Chiang Mai, have been linked to disease, with the Agriculture Ministry saying yesterday, February 23, that tests identified the cause and found no evidence that it spreads from animals to humans. Deputy Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Amin Mayusoh said that he had received an update from the Department of Livestock…
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Foreigners caught on CCTV stealing statue from Chiang Mai pub
A pub owner in Chiang Mai has filed a police report after CCTV footage allegedly showed a foreign man and woman acting together to steal a gold lion statue from inside the venue on February 11. In the footage, a foreign man in a white T-shirt is seen approaching a table where a gold lion statue is placed and lingers…
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Lottery vendor caught after attempted theft at Chiang Mai market
A lottery vendor was detained by residents at a market in San Sai district, Chiang Mai, yesterday, February 15, after allegedly attempting to steal from an 80 year old woman. before being rescued by police from an angry crowd. Police at Mae Faek Police Station received a report that a theft had occurred at the Mae Faek Sunday Market, located…
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Chiang Mai temple thief performs wai then steals silver tray
Police reviewed CCTV footage showing a man performing a wai gesture, as if asking forgiveness, before stealing a silver donation tray from a Chiang Mai temple last month and fleeing the scene on a motorcycle. The incident occurred at Wat Daraphimook in Don Kaeo subdistrict, Mae Rim district, Chiang Mai, at around 1.40pm on January 28. The stolen item was…
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Spanish woman and Thai vendor critically injured in Chiang Mai car crash
A Spanish woman and a Thai food vendor sustained serious injuries after a Grab driver crashed his electric car near the old city moat in Chiang Mai this morning, January 28. Locals who witnessed the accident at around 7.40am alerted officers from Mueang Chiang Mai Police Station and rescue teams to assist the victims. The Spanish woman and a Thai…
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Thai woman and 2 Chinese men arrested over nominee hotel in Chiang Mai
A Chinese woman fled arrest while two Chinese partners and a Thai nominee were taken into custody during a raid on an illegally operated hotel in Chiang Mai province on Thursday, January 15. Officers from the Chiang Mai Provincial Immigration Office raided a hotel on Chang Klan Road in the city centre following an investigation into suspected nominee business practices.…
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Japanese man arrested after viral reviews on his illegal matcha stall
Online food reviews led to the arrest of a Japanese man for operating a matcha ice cream shop without permission in Chiang Mai. The apprehension later sparked a heated online debate, with some netizens accusing authorities of discrimination. The Japanese man, 39 year old Junichi, was operating a small matcha ice cream stall outside Yang Kwang Temple, located in the city…
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Pheu Thai aims to transform Chiang Mai into inclusive growth model city
Pheu Thai has introduced policies to transform Chiang Mai into a model city for inclusive growth, integrating creative industries, cluster tourism, diversity, and educational reform. Prime ministerial candidates Yodchanan Wongsawat and Suriya Jungrungreangkit from the Pheu Thai Party visited Chiang Mai on Saturday. They conducted a public forum to gather opinions from the LGBTQIA+ community, creative workers, cultural professionals, and…
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Suspicion raised in Chiang Mai house fire that kills family of 5
Police launched a deeper investigation into a deadly house fire in Chiang Mai province that claimed the lives of five family members, after officials raised concerns that the blaze may not be an accident. The fire broke out at around midnight yesterday, January 8, at a two-storey house in the Pa Dad sub-district of Chiang Mai. All five occupants were…
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Opinions divided after foreigners sunbathe in bikinis near Chiang Mai temple
Opinions among Thai netizens were divided after images of four foreign women in bikinis sunbathing near a temple in Chiang Mai province circulated widely on social media. The Facebook page แฉเชียงใหม่ V2 shared the photos on Monday, January 5. The images showed four foreign women wearing bikinis and sitting on the grass beside the city moat in central Chiang Mai.…
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Chiang Mai pigeon feed sellers back at Tha Phae Gate after arrests
A group of pigeon feed sellers has returned to Tha Phae Gate in Chiang Mai today, January 5, after previously being arrested, reigniting concerns over hygiene and the impact on the city’s tourism image. The issue centres on the open plaza at Tha Phae Gate in Mueang district, where the same group of individuals was seen once again selling pigeon…
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272 deaths in 7 days: essential safety tips for motorbike rentals in Chiang Mai
Between December 30, 2025, and January 5, 2026, Thailand recorded 272 fatalities in 1,511 road accidents during the New Year “Seven Dangerous Days” campaign. For anyone considering motorbike rental in Chiang Mai or elsewhere in Thailand, understanding what makes this period so deadly could save your life. The “Seven Dangerous Days” Phenomenon Thailand tracks what officials call the “Seven Dangerous…
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Lost baby gibbon rescued in Chiang Mai village
A baby gibbon spotted alone near a Chiang Mai village was rescued by wildlife officials yesterday, December 22, after worried residents raised concerns over its safety. The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation confirmed yesterday on its Facebook page that officers from Conservation Area Management Office 16 in Chiang Mai received the young gibbon following a report made…
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Chiang Mai set for UNESCO World Heritage nomination approval
Thailand is moving to nominate Chiang Mai’s ancient Lanna capital for UNESCO World Heritage status, with seven iconic temples and the city’s historical layout forming the foundation. Yesterday, December 16, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, Suchart Chomklin, and Minister of Culture Sabina Thaised chaired the fifth meeting of Thailand’s national committee on the protection of…
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Doi Inthanon frost dips to -4.9°C, temps continue to fall
Tourists continued to visit Doi Inthanon in Chiang Mai yesterday, November 28, as temperatures on Thailand’s highest peak dropped further, with grass frost recorded at -4.9 degrees Celsius (°C), the lowest temperature observed there so far this season. Frost, known locally as moei khab, appeared at the summit ranger station for the fifth consecutive day, with a noticeably thicker layer…
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Twelve Chiang Mai officials arrested for selling fake Thai ID cards to foreigners
Police arrested 12 out of 28 wanted local government officials and civilians in Chiang Mai province for illegally issuing Thai identification cards to foreigners, particularly Chinese nationals. A local journalist, JDTendirections, reported yesterday, November 20, that officials in the Wiang Haeng sub-district of Chiang Mai illegally issued at least 20,000 ID cards to Chinese nationals living in Thailand without legal…
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South Korean DJ caught spinning without permit in Chiang Mai
A South Korean national was arrested in Chiang Mai by immigration officers after being found working illegally as a DJ at a local venue without a permit. The suspect, whose identity has not been released, was detained yesterday, November 19, after immigration officials received a tip-off regarding foreign nationals working without permits in the Mueang district. The operation took place…
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Thai twins make history with life-saving liver transplant
A young man’s life has been saved by his identical twin in a medical first for Thailand, thanks to a groundbreaking liver transplant in Chiang Mai. Doctors at Chiang Mai University confirmed the successful operation, marking a turning point in Thailand’s transplant history. The patient, Suphawit Songngern, was born with biliary atresia, a rare condition that blocks the bile ducts…
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Lottery fever: Chiang Mai punters scramble for lucky numbers
As the government lottery draw nears, Chiang Mai locals are rushing to buy lucky numbers from vendors, hoping to cash in on signs and superstitions. Excitement is building in Chiang Mai ahead of the November 16 lottery draw, as eager buyers flood stalls across the province in search of lucky numbers, pushing prices and demand to new highs. By 8.30am…
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Lao women arrested in Chiang Mai sex-for-hire crackdown
Three Lao women were caught in Chiang Mai after police uncovered a sex-for-hire operation, following local reports of illegal activity in the area. The operation, led by Mae Wang Police Station Chief Police Colonel Thananchai Siriwanna, saw officers move in on a residence in Ban Nong Tao, Mae Win subdistrict, following multiple complaints from residents. Officers arrested a 32 year…
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