Chiang Mai News

Stay up-to-date with the latest news from the charming and historic city of Chiang Mai with The Thaiger. Our team of seasoned journalists brings you breaking news, in-depth analysis, and exclusive stories from this fascinating city, covering a diverse range of topics, including local politics, business, culture, and tourism. Keep yourself informed about the city’s rich history, vibrant arts scene, and thriving expat community, as well as updates on events, attractions, and transportation.

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    Do foreigners get free healthcare in Thailand?

    Thailand’s healthcare system is well-regarded across Southeast Asia, with options ranging from public hospitals to world-class private facilities. But when it comes to foreign residents or tourists, healthcare access isn’t as straightforward. So, do foreigners get free healthcare in Thailand?...

  • Chiang Mai man wins 6 million baht lottery

    Chiang Mai man wins 6 million baht lottery

    A resident of Chiang Mai won the lottery prize of 6 million baht, marking the emergence of another millionaire. He plans to use the money for his father’s medical treatment and his child’s education. The news emerged today following the announcement of the latest lottery results by the Government Lottery Office for the draw on September 1. The winning number…

  • Major Cineplex to launch six new Kids Cinemas in Thailand

    Major Cineplex to launch six new Kids Cinemas in Thailand

    Major Cineplex Group has unveiled plans to launch six new Kids Cinema theatres across various provinces in the latter half of this year. These new locations will be situated at Major Cineplex Central Chiang Mai (Central Festival), Central Rayong, Central Nakhon Pathom, Robinson Phetchaburi, Robinson Ratchaphruek (Nonthaburi), and Westville Cineplex (Nonthaburi), with the first opening at Central Chiang Mai today,…

  • Chiang Mai waterfall closed after flash floods, tourists banned

    Chiang Mai waterfall closed after flash floods, tourists banned

    The Mae Sa Waterfall in Chiang Mai has been temporarily closed due to flash floods, with tourists being prohibited from visiting until conditions improve. Local officials are closely monitoring the situation. Flash floods have led to the temporary closure of the Mae Sa Waterfall in Doi Suthep-Pui National Park, located in Mae Rim, Chiang Mai. This decision was made to…

  • Heroic Thai nurse saves elderly man during Chiang Mai marathon

    Heroic Thai nurse saves elderly man during Chiang Mai marathon

    A heroic nurse demonstrating remarkable bravery and dedication saved an unconscious elderly man during a half marathon in Chiang Mai. She performed CPR tirelessly until the man regained a pulse, despite sustaining injuries and dirtying her shoes. A half marathon in Chiang Mai on Sunday, August 25, saw an unexpected act of heroism by Pakamas Phosri, a professional nurse from…

  • Chiang Mai temple halts 19-metre statue plan after public outcry

    Chiang Mai temple halts 19-metre statue plan after public outcry

    Wat Phra That Doi Kham in Chiang Mai has decided to halt its plan to build the world’s tallest Taowesuwan statue, standing at 19 metres, after facing significant opposition from locals and social media users. The revered temple, located in Mae Hia, Mueang district, had initiated a ceremony to install the giant statue’s feet, intending to provide devotees with a…

  • Thailand on track to invest 77 billion baht in new light rail systems

    Thailand on track to invest 77 billion baht in new light rail systems

    Plans are underway for the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA) to introduce a light rail system in Phuket, Chiang Mai, Nakhon Ratchasima, and Phitsanulok, with an overall budget of 77 billion baht. MRTA Deputy Governor Wittaya Phanmongkol revealed that the estimated costs of the projects are 35 billion baht for Phuket, 30 billion baht for Chiang Mai, 7…

  • Tipsy temple: Chiang Mai abbot arrested for boozing during Lent

    Tipsy temple: Chiang Mai abbot arrested for boozing during Lent

    Police arrested the abbot of a well-known Chiang Mai temple after he was found drinking beer with monks during the Buddhist Lent. This arrest followed multiple complaints from locals. Officers from Mae Jo Police Station in Chiang Mai, led by Police Colonel Naruebal Jittayanunk, were asked yesterday, August 19, by Buddhist officials to investigate and apprehend monks at a temple…

  • Earthquake rattles Chiang Mai and Lamphun early today

    Earthquake rattles Chiang Mai and Lamphun early today

    An earthquake with a magnitude of 3.4 struck Mae On district in Chiang Mai, causing tremors felt as far as Lamphun. The seismic event, which occurred early today, August 15, lasted for five seconds and was reported by the Earthquake Surveillance Division. The earthquake struck at 1.33am, with its epicentre located in Mae Tha subdistrict, Mae On district, Chiang Mai…

  • Chiang Mai woman fatally struck at zebra crossing

    Chiang Mai woman fatally struck at zebra crossing

    A tragic road accident occurred when a 56 year old woman was hit by a car while crossing a zebra crossing in Chiang Mai, resulting in her death. The incident took place yesterday near the chedi Mae Krua Market, Mae Faek Mai subdistrict in San Sai district. Police from Mae Faek Police Station received the report of the accident, which…

  • Big bike crashes in Chiang Mai, driver missing, one shoe found

    Big bike crashes in Chiang Mai, driver missing, one shoe found

    A big bike collided with a barrier on Khlong Chonprathan Road but the driver remains missing. Only a shoe was found at the scene, and rescue teams have not located the driver despite extensive searches. At 3.30am today, August 8, Chiang Mai Provincial Police Headquarters (191) received a report of an accident involving a big bike that had crashed into…

  • Thai forces seize 130,000 meth pills after clash with traffickers

    Thai forces seize 130,000 meth pills after clash with traffickers

    A fierce clash between Thai forces and a drug trafficking gang led to the seizure of over 130,000 methamphetamine pills. The confrontation occurred at 9.40am yesterday, August 6, near the Khao Hua Lon passage in Ban Nong Tao, Mon Pin Subdistrict, Fang District, Chiang Mai Province. The Pha Dam Command, under the Chaiyanuphap Task Force, was conducting a patrol to…

  • Man surrenders to police after car horn altercation in Chiang Mai

    Man surrenders to police after car horn altercation in Chiang Mai

    A heated altercation over a car horn incident led to a man turning himself in to the police, revealing that his wife was upset and had not allowed him to sleep at home. The young man involved demanded 10,000 baht for the fright he experienced, stating that if he had lost his temper that day, it could have led to…

  • Thai man arrested for tricking young girls into porn production

    Thai man arrested for tricking young girls into porn production

    Police arrested a Thai man for tricking young girls into producing pornography and selling the explicit content online, the youngest being 12 years old. A monk and a government official were found to be regular customers of the suspect. The Royal Thai Police (RTP) and Chiang Mai Provincial Police held a press conference yesterday, August 5, to report the successful…

  • Road rage: Knife-wielding driver threatens man in Chiang Mai (video)

    Road rage: Knife-wielding driver threatens man in Chiang Mai (video)

    A heated road rage encounter occurred at a traffic junction in San Sai district, Chiang Mai, where a man wielding a knife confronted another driver after a horn was honked at him. The incident, which took place at 11.25pm on Saturday, August 3, sparked widespread attention after being shared on social media. Beat, the 26 year old driver and owner…

  • Ceiling collapse at Chiang Mai Airport injures two foreign children

    Ceiling collapse at Chiang Mai Airport injures two foreign children

    A ceiling collapse at Chiang Mai Airport‘s security checkpoint injured two foreign children yesterday at 7.55am. Medical staff at the airport quickly administered first aid to the injured children. The first child, from the Netherlands, sustained minor injuries to the back of his hand, while the second, from China, suffered a head injury. The Dutch child and his family decided…

  • Cebu Pacific unveils first direct flights from Manila to Chiang Mai

    Cebu Pacific unveils first direct flights from Manila to Chiang Mai

    Cebu Pacific introduces its inaugural direct flights from Manila to Chiang Mai, starting October 29. This new route marks the airline’s fourth destination in Thailand, adding to its existing services from Manila and Mactan-Cebu International Airport to Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang Airports. Cebu Pacific’s President and Chief Commercial Officer Xander Lao highlighted the significance of this new route. “Chiang…

  • Thailand to increase forest ranger salaries and workforce

    Thailand to increase forest ranger salaries and workforce

    The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment plans to bolster its forest protection efforts by increasing the number of forest rangers, aiming to alleviate the current workload and enhance forest conservation across the nation. Ratchata Pisitbannakorn, assistant to Environment Minister Phatcharavat Wongsuwan, highlighted the ministry’s appreciation for the diligent work of rangers during a World Ranger Day event on Wednesday,…

  • Chiang Mai songthaew driver fined for aggressive road incident (video)

    Chiang Mai songthaew driver fined for aggressive road incident (video)

    A driver of a red songthaew in Chiang Mai faces two serious charges after reacting aggressively to a car horn by brandishing a wooden stick. He admitted to overreacting and apologised for tarnishing the songthaew’s image. The incident, which gained attention on social media, involved the driver stopping in the middle of the road to drop off a passenger, prompting…

  • Tourists found safe after getting lost in Chiang Mai forest

    Tourists found safe after getting lost in Chiang Mai forest

    Two tourists, a Russian man and a Chinese woman, were found safe but exhausted after getting lost in the forest on Doi Nang Meh in San Kamphaeng, Chiang Mai. The search and rescue operation involved local police and rescue teams. At 8.30pm yesterday, July 27, Poempool Chaisit, the head of the Village Headmen and Subdistrict Chiefs Club in On Tai…

  • Woman killed in Chiang Mai domestic, husband claims self-defense

    Woman killed in Chiang Mai domestic, husband claims self-defense

    A tragic domestic dispute in Chiang Mai resulted in the death of a woman, with her intoxicated husband claiming self defence. Police were alerted to the incident at a rented house on Muendamprakot Road, Chang Phueak Subdistrict, late yesterday. Investigators from Chang Phueak Police Station, including Winitchai Pinitsak, along with rescue teams and a medical examiner from Maharaj Nakorn Chiang…

  • Boy sleeping in Chiang Mai laundrette sparks action (video)

    Boy sleeping in Chiang Mai laundrette sparks action (video)

    A young boy has drawn widespread attention after sleeping alone in a laundromat in the Chiang Mai province late at night. Concerned netizens expressed their desire to help the child, sparking a conversation about his welfare. Footage shared by TikTok user @suwatchareek captured the boy entering the laundromat around 3am and staying until 5am. “A little boy came to sleep…

  • Persistent Chiang Mai gang arrested for bird food scam on tourists

    Persistent Chiang Mai gang arrested for bird food scam on tourists

    Police have detained members of a scammer gang at Tha Phae Gate, Chiang Mai, who were scamming tourists by selling bird food and charging them for photos, deemed to be damaging the area’s reputation as a tourist destination. Today, July 19, officers from the Tourist Police Division 2, led by Makara Srisakulpisut and Nithipat Bunmak, conducted a thorough inspection of…

  • Chiang Mai earthquake causes tremors, no major damage

    Chiang Mai earthquake causes tremors, no major damage

    An earthquake measuring 3.3 on the Richter scale struck Mae Chaem, Chiang Mai, causing noticeable tremors but no reported injuries or significant damage to buildings. Local officials have been instructed to conduct thorough inspections of the area to assess potential impacts. A 3.3-magnitude earthquake occurred in the Mae Na Chon area of Mae Chaem district yesterday at 11.04pm, with a…

  • African swine fever outbreak reported in Chiang Mai

    African swine fever outbreak reported in Chiang Mai

    In a significant and concerning development, Thailand has reported its first outbreak of African swine fever (ASF) for the year, as confirmed by the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH). This outbreak has occurred in Luang Nuea Village, located in the Doi Saket District of Chiang Mai Province. The outbreak details The outbreak began on June 5 on a farm…

  • Senior judge accused of molestation on sleeper train to Chiang Mai

    Senior judge accused of molestation on sleeper train to Chiang Mai

    A female court stenographer has lodged a complaint with the Crime Suppression Division (CSD), alleging that a senior judge molested her while they were travelling on a sleeper train to Chiang Mai for a personnel development activity. Investigators, led by Police Colonel Ekkasit Panseetha, began their inquiry into the case on Wednesday, July 10, after the stenographer filed her lawsuit.…

  • Officer killed, another injured in Chiang Mai drug raid shooting

    Officer killed, another injured in Chiang Mai drug raid shooting

    A police officer lost his life and another was injured in a shooting incident involving a drug suspect in Chiang Dao district, Chiang Mai last night. A coordinated operation involving police, soldiers, and local officials took place at around 9.30pm yesterday, July 11, targeting the suspect’s residence in Jiachan village, Moo 13, located in the Mueang Na subdistrict. As the team…

  • New tree species unearthed in Thai Geopark

    New tree species unearthed in Thai Geopark

    Researchers from Chiang Mai University have uncovered a brand-new species of Ylang Ylang, or cananga tree, at the Satun UNESCO Global Geopark. Dubbed “Chalermprakiat” in honour of His Majesty the King’s 72nd birthday, this discovery is set to shake the botanical world. Ylang Ylang, a tropical tree known for its fragrant flowers, is typically found in the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia,…

  • Thailand’s oldest oilfield to get 300 million baht redevelopment

    Thailand’s oldest oilfield to get 300 million baht redevelopment

    Thailand’s oldest oilfield is set for redevelopment with a budget of 300 million baht, as announced by the Defence Energy Department’s Northern Petroleum Development Centre (NPDC). The redevelopment plan of Fang Oilfield in Chiang Mai includes upgrading the oil refinery to Euro5 standards, enabling it to produce lower-sulphur diesel that is safe for car engines, according to Montri Jeennakorn, director…

  • Viral video reveals flaws in Chiang Mai homestay (video)

    Viral video reveals flaws in Chiang Mai homestay (video)

    A young man’s review of a homestay in Huay Kub Kab, Chiang Mai, has gone viral on social media, revealing numerous flaws in the accommodation, from an insecure lock to gaps in the roof. The video was intended as a humorous take on his experience. Nutthakorn (surname withheld) and his friends had travelled to Huay Kub Kab, Chiang Mai, to…

  • Road rage incident in Chiang Mai sparks online debate (video)

    Road rage incident in Chiang Mai sparks online debate (video)

    A recent incident involving a road rage altercation in Chiang Mai drew significant attention online. The dispute began when a woman driving slowly in the right lane was confronted by an irate driver, who accused her of using her mobile phone while driving. The incident, which occurred yesterday, involved 28 year old Aem, who was driving on Samphoch 700 Pi…