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.

  • 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…

  • Chiang Mai woman arrested for allegedly hiring hitman to kill her ex-husband

    Chiang Mai woman arrested for allegedly hiring hitman to kill her ex-husband

    A 63 year old Chiang Mai woman has been arrested for allegedly hiring a hitman to kill her ex-husband because she wanted his life insurance payout. Bualoi Tala is also being investigated for her alleged involvement in other possible murders after a number of people died after being poisoned and Bualoi received payouts from their life insurance policies. Police say…

  • Chiang Mai’s economic losses to reach 100 billion baht due to Covid-19 pandemic

    Chiang Mai’s economic losses to reach 100 billion baht due to Covid-19 pandemic

    Chiang Mai’s economic losses are estimated to reach 100 billion baht after Covid-19 ravaged the city’s tourism industry. The Bangkok Post reports that Varodom Pitakanonda, the president of The Chiang Mai Chamber of Commerce, says the city’s revenue from tourists “contracted severely this year due to the coronavirus”. “Now, we are pinning our hopes on government stimulus packages to salvage…

  • Condé Nast Traveller ranks Thailand in Top 20 Best Countries in the World

    Condé Nast Traveller ranks Thailand in Top 20 Best Countries in the World

    The Tourism Authority of Thailand is delighted to announce that Thailand has ranked #7 in a ranking of the Top 20 Countries in the World by readers of Condé Nast Traveller in the 33rd Readers’ Choice Awards 2020. Some of Thailand’s most popular locations also scored well in the prestigious listing. Italy, Sri Lanka and Portugal scored the top 3…

  • Chiang Mai sets rules for this year’s Yi Peng Lantern Festival

    Chiang Mai sets rules for this year’s Yi Peng Lantern Festival

    Sky lanterns released during Chiang Mai’s Yi Peng Lantern Festival will be banned for certain hours during the holiday from October 31 to November 1, which also coincides with Loy Krathong. The lanterns will only be allowed to be released at certain times to prevent potential damage caused by the lanterns, according to deputy governor Rathapol Naradisorn. Lanterns are allowed…

  • Disqualified MP candidate found not guilty of election fraud, wants 70 million baht in damages

    Disqualified MP candidate found not guilty of election fraud, wants 70 million baht in damages

    After the Supreme Court found a Chiang Mai MP candidate not guilty of election fraud, Surapol Kiatchaiyakorn of the Pheu Thai Party is now asking the Election Commission to pay him 70 million baht in damages for disqualifying him after he won an election. He is also asking for the commission to give him back his MP status. He got…

  • Russian man allegedly stabs Chiang Mai park officer, tries to break into tourist bungalow

    Russian man allegedly stabs Chiang Mai park officer, tries to break into tourist bungalow

    A Russian man has been arrested after he allegedly tried to break into tourist bungalows and stealing property at a Chiang Mai national park and stabbed a park officer with a pair of scissors. The incident follows months of complaints from Thai tourists at the national park reporting missing property. Thai media reports the 32 year old Russian man as…

  • Chiang Mai man charged with murdering baby daughter because he wanted a son

    Chiang Mai man charged with murdering baby daughter because he wanted a son

    A man has been arrested in Chiang Mai after confessing to poisoning his 7 month old daughter. 45 year old Anuphap Jaipanya, a hilltribe member, says he was influenced by his cultural beliefs and, having 2 daughters already, had hoped for a son to carry on the family name and take over his business. The Pattaya News reports that the…

  • Phuket, Chiang Mai, Chachoengsao join UNESCO’s learning cities

    Phuket, Chiang Mai, Chachoengsao join UNESCO’s learning cities

    3 cities in Thailand recently joined UNESCO’s membership of so called “learning cities” which are said to promote “lifelong learning” and sustainable development. Chachoengsao, Chiang Mai and Phuket joined the UNESCO’s Global Network of Learning Cities. Altogether, 55 cities from 27 countries, adding up to 230 cities in 64 countries around the world, according to UNESCO. “These cities are outstanding examples…