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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  • Chiang Mai couple arrested for selling outdoor sex show online | Thaiger

    Chiang Mai couple arrested for selling outdoor sex show online

    In the continued crackdown in Thailand against sexually explicit material being sold on the internet, a Thai couple has been arrested in Chiang Mai for having sex in public and selling videos of it online. The couple was arrested over an incident that took place in May where they are accused of having sex in public in front of a…

  • Cyclist unable to take steep hill plunges to his death in Chiang Mai ravine | Thaiger

    Cyclist unable to take steep hill plunges to his death in Chiang Mai ravine

    A cyclist riding in Chiang Mai, a northern Thai province, was unable to steer his bike down a downhill road yesterday morning and plummeted about 30 metres down a ravine to his death. Police learned of the incident, which occurred on a steep section of the Mae Rim-Mae Sai tourist road in front of the Pongyang Jungle Coaster & Zipline…

  • Suspect in Chiang Mai kidnapping faces 2 new charges | Thaiger

    Suspect in Chiang Mai kidnapping faces 2 new charges

    Siew, the man who is suspected of being involved in the disappearance of the toddler “Nong Gina”, is facing 2 new charges: depriving a child under 15 of parental care and detaining a child, says the superintendent of Bo Luang police station, Kriangsak Prom-Uthai. The toddler who is just shy of 2 years old went missing from her home last…

  • Kidnapped baby Nong Gina was not sexually assaulted | Thaiger

    Kidnapped baby Nong Gina was not sexually assaulted

    After the bizarre excuse given for Nong Gina’s kidnapping, that the 2 year old was left at a cave as a sacrifice to the nature spirits, police and missing persons groups suspected more sinister motivations. Police are looking into the possibility that a human trafficking network had targeted Nong Gina, and questioned 3 additional suspects. Now after a physical examination,…

  • Rescued Chiang Mai child doing better, still needs time to heal, says doctor | Thaiger

    Rescued Chiang Mai child doing better, still needs time to heal, says doctor

    The toddler that was recently rescued in northern Thailand’s Chiang Mai province is recuperating well and has allowed her parents to hug her, but still needs time to heal both physically and mentally, says a doctor. Gina’s father says his daughter has a healthy appetite and looks fresher and healthier than she did the day before. A doctor cautions that…

  • Foundation suspects darker motive in missing girl’s kidnapping | Thaiger

    Foundation suspects darker motive in missing girl’s kidnapping

    After a bizarre case where a baby known as Nong Gina disappeared on Monday and was thankfully recovered unharmed yesterday, the suspect later admitted to leaving her at a cave in the forest as a sacrifice to spirits that had spoken to him. Now an organisation that helps find missing people is casting doubt on the story, saying they suspect…

  • Missing baby girl found by cave she was brought to as a sacrifice | Thaiger

    Missing baby girl found by cave she was brought to as a sacrifice

    In Chiang Mai, a toddler, who has been missing since Sunday evening, has reportedly been found. A man allegedly admitted to kidnapping the girl, who is almost 2 years old, and leaving her outside a cave as a sacrifice to the spirits of the mountains and forest. She was found in a hut just outside the cave. The 44 year…

  • Couple held for questioning in connection with missing Chiang Mai toddler | Thaiger

    Couple held for questioning in connection with missing Chiang Mai toddler

    Earlier today, the Thaiger wrote about how officials in Chiang Mai have been searching for a toddler that has been missing since Sunday night. Now, Thai PBS says a couple is being held in police custody for questioning in connection with the search. A 44 year old man, who is a neighbour of the missing girl’s father, and his wife…

  • 25 arrested at Chiang Mai rooftop bar | Thaiger

    25 arrested at Chiang Mai rooftop bar

    A rooftop bar in Chiang Mai, a northern Thai province, was raided yesterday and 24 customers, plus the bar owner were arrested for allegedly gathering to drink alcoholic beverages, a violation of the emergency decree. Police say the 25 suspects were seen drinking alcohol and dancing to a band that was playing at the bar. The police add the suspects…

  • 7 monks receive suspended jail terms, 10,000 baht fines from Chiang Mai court | Thaiger

    7 monks receive suspended jail terms, 10,000 baht fines from Chiang Mai court

    7 monks and 1 friend who were found enjoying food and alcoholic drinks Sunday night, 4 of whom were abbots, have been defrocked from the monkhood, fined, and given suspended jail sentences for breaking Covid containment measures. Police, who had received complaints from residents, raided a location for monks at Wat Pansao in Chiang Mai. Bangkok Post says the monks…

  • 80 year old Australian man kicked to the ground in Chiang Mai road altercation | Thaiger

    80 year old Australian man kicked to the ground in Chiang Mai road altercation

    An 80 year old Australian man was assaulted after he smacked a car that almost ran him over. The driver of the car got out of his vehicle and kicked the octogenarian in the back following the older man’s car smacking. Dashcam footage captured the incident that happened in Chiang Mai, the northern Thai province which is hoping to launch…

  • TAT plans to launch Chiang Mai tourism plan in October | Thaiger

    TAT plans to launch Chiang Mai tourism plan in October

    Chiang Mai is getting ready to launch a “Bubble and Sealed” tourism plan where visitors can travel to 4 districts in Chiang Mai, the northern Thai province. The plan comes by way of the Tourism Authority of Thailand. The 4 districts are the Mueang District, the Mae Rim district, the Mae Taeng district, and the Doi Tao district. The opening…

  • Search party locates missing college student’s body in Chiang Mai | Thaiger

    Search party locates missing college student’s body in Chiang Mai

    Northern Thailand’s Chiang Mai police have found the body of a college student who had been missing for 2 days. Rescue workers discovered the body in Doi Suthep Pui National team. Rescue workers say Nong Boss was hiking in the forest prior to going missing. Rescue workers, however, were not alone in their search efforts. More than 100 people had…

  • Chiang Mai field hospital to reopen | Thaiger

    Chiang Mai field hospital to reopen

    A Chiang Mai field hospital that closed early last month is reopening today to combat the rising Covid infections. Yesterday, Chiang Mai reported 17 new infections. Local authorities will reopen the hospital, located at the international convention and exhibition centre this afternoon. Beds and other equipment were also put back. Dr Amporn Iamsri, the director of the Chiang Mai field hospital,…

  • Suspect arrested in murder of noodle shop owner | Thaiger

    Suspect arrested in murder of noodle shop owner

    A manhunt has concluded in the northern Thai province, Chiang Mai. Police were looking for a man who allegedly killed a 63 year old noodle seller. Despite being rushed to a hospital, the woman who had suffered stab wounds to her neck and back would later be pronounced dead. Police say they were called to a roadside noodle stand. Once…

  • Chiang Mai eases restrictions, alcohol now allowed at restaurants | Thaiger

    Chiang Mai eases restrictions, alcohol now allowed at restaurants

    Alcohol is now allowed to be served in Chiang Mai restaurants. Provincial officials loosened disease control restrictions today, including lifting the alcohol ban at eateries, although bars and other nightlife venues must still remain closed. Restrictions eased nationwide this week and the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration revised its colour-code zoning based on the Covid-19 situation in each province. Local…

  • 82 year old woman first person to get vaccine in Chiang Mai | Thaiger

    82 year old woman first person to get vaccine in Chiang Mai

    An unnamed, nationality unknown, 82 year old woman has become the first person to get a Covid vaccine in Chiang Mai, a northern Thai Province. She received her inoculation of AstraZeneca this morning and did not report any adverse side effects. The woman did not reveal whether she had gotten the vaccine in hopes of winning a cow: as a…

  • Chiang Mai launches website for expats to register for Covid-19 vaccination | Thaiger

    Chiang Mai launches website for expats to register for Covid-19 vaccination

    The northern province of Chiang Mai has launched a website where foreign residents can register to be vaccinated against Covid-19. Provincial permanent secretary Kanok Sriwichainan says foreigners who have not registered through the Mor Prom app can now do so at the Kampang Wiang website. They will need to provide their passport number and vaccination will be carried out with…

  • Get vaccinated, win a cow: Chiang Mai district starts vaccine incentive campaign | Thaiger

    Get vaccinated, win a cow: Chiang Mai district starts vaccine incentive campaign

    A district in Chiang Mai has launched a campaign to help entice residents to get vaccinated against Covid-19… a chance to win a live cow. Each week for the rest of the year, the Mae Chaem district will give away a young cow. To enter the raffle, residents have to be vaccinate against the coronavirus. Since the start of the…

  • British man with a machete in Chiang Mai temple arrested | Thaiger

    British man with a machete in Chiang Mai temple arrested

    A British man was arrested in Chiang Mai after brandishing a machete at Wat Eranthawan, a temple in the south of the northern city. Clive George Davidson was arrested by police after a stand-off while taking him into custody and is being charged with multiple crimes. CCTV footage shows 50 year old Davidson getting out of his car and pacing…

  • Chiang Mai hospital reports 7 new cases after patients lied about being infected | Thaiger

    Chiang Mai hospital reports 7 new cases after patients lied about being infected

    A hospital in the northern province of Chiang Mai has reported a new cluster of Covid-19 after 3 patients lied about being infected. The Central Chiang Mai Memorial Hospital has 7 new cases of the virus after the patients concealed the fact that they had Covid-19 and subsequently passed it to 7 healthcare workers, as well as putting at least…

  • University student carves “112” into chest after being charged with violating lèse-majesté law | Thaiger

    University student carves “112” into chest after being charged with violating lèse-majesté law

    A Chiang Mai University student now has the numbers of “112” carved across his chest after using a razor blade on himself in defiance of the Section 112 of the Criminal Code, also known as the lèse-majesté law. The student took to cutting himself after arriving at the police station to face charges of violating the law. He was also…

  • Murder of Thai wife may have been 2nd attempt by US man | Thaiger

    Murder of Thai wife may have been 2nd attempt by US man

    The American man accused of the murder of his Thai wife in Chiang Mai has now confessed to the brutal crime. And it may not have been the first time he tried to kill her. The 32 year old man, who was a computer programmer in the United States, admitted that he killed his wife while she was 3-months pregnant.…

  • American arrested for alleged murder in Chiang Mai has past record of abuse in Colorado | Thaiger

    American arrested for alleged murder in Chiang Mai has past record of abuse in Colorado

    The American man who was recently arrested for allegedly murdering his pregnant Thai wife in Chiang Mai had been sentenced to 2 years of probation back in 2019 on assault charges after his gun went off while he was threatening a woman in Colorado. A report from the Associated Press says it appears to be the same woman. Jason Matthew…

  • Chiang Mai restaurants want dine-in ban revoked as infections drop | Thaiger

    Chiang Mai restaurants want dine-in ban revoked as infections drop

    The governor of Chiang Mai has called for the ban on dining in at restaurants to be lifted and for eateries to be allowed to serve food on-site until 9pm. Charoenrit Sa-nguansat’s request follows a drop in Covid-19 infections in the northern province. The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration has colour-coded Chiang Mai “dark red”, making it a maximum control…

  • Chiang Mai on track to reopen 2 districts to foreign tourists in October | Thaiger

    Chiang Mai on track to reopen 2 districts to foreign tourists in October

    Chiang Mai is still on track to reopen to foreign tourists under the sandbox model this October. The so-called sandbox model would allow foreign tourists, who are vaccinated against Covid-19, to travel to designated areas in Thailand without undergoing quarantine. In Chiang Mai, tourists will be able to travel in the area with tour guides on designated routes. Phuket is…

  • 50 Buddhist nuns positive for Covid at Chiang Mai dharma practice centre | Thaiger

    50 Buddhist nuns positive for Covid at Chiang Mai dharma practice centre

    50 Buddhist nuns have tested positive for Covid-19, causing the Chiang Mai dharma practice centre, where they live, to be closed. The Chiang Mai public health office closed the centre, located in the main city district for 2 weeks from Saturday. People who took part in activities at the centre from April 7 are being asked to take a Covid…

  • Biochar could solve smoke pollution problem in Chiang Mai | Thaiger

    Biochar could solve smoke pollution problem in Chiang Mai

    The emerging technology of biochar may be at the forefront of dealing with Chiang Mai and its globally infamous smoke and air pollution. After another terrible burn season where the air quality was rated among the worst in the world, Chiang Mai is often rated the most polluted city in the world. As scientists worldwide tackle climate change, Chiang Mai…

  • Officials in Chiang Mai and Hua Hin express concern amid rapid rise in infections | Thaiger

    Officials in Chiang Mai and Hua Hin express concern amid rapid rise in infections

    Health officials in the northern province of Chiang Mai and the western province of Prachuap Khiri Khan are on high alert amid a surge in Covid-19 cases. Prachuap Khiri Khan has now reported 334 cases, with infections rising by 141 yesterday. The outbreak is primarily centred around the Hua Hin district, with provincial health official Suriya Khuharat saying most people…

  • Chiang Mai: Covid-19 cancels many Songkran events | Thaiger

    Chiang Mai: Covid-19 cancels many Songkran events

    After a surge in new Covid-19 infections, Chiang Mai health officials decided to cancel Songkran celebrations and implement containment measures. As the virus spreads through Thailand, 281 new infections were just diagnosed on Sunday, reported in Monday’s daily Covid-19 statistics. These infections bring the total for the month of April to 662 people. With this outbreak spreading wider and faster…