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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Sponsored How to reduce out-of-pocket medical expenses in Thailand?
Managing medical expenses in Thailand is important as healthcare costs continue to rise. The country’s healthcare system includes both public and private options, but even with the Universal Coverage Scheme (UCS) for citizens, many still face high out-of-pocket medical expenses....
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Chiang Mai nightclub scandal: Police officers relocated, 242 minors found using fake IDs
Five police officers from Chang Phueak Police Station have been relocated following a Halloween night incident involving minors under 20 years old using fake identification to enter a nightclub. The minors were found to have altered their birth dates on their national identification cards to gain entry. An investigation committee was set up today. The latest reports indicate that during…
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Chiang Mai club raided in Pa Cha Tek operation for serving underage drinkers
In the early hours of today, a popular club in Chang Phueak, Chiang Mai, was raided as part of the Pa Cha Tek operation. Led by Atsathit Sampantarat, Director of the Department of Provincial Administration, the operation was launched after the club was discovered to be allowing underage patrons, as young as 18, to enter and buy alcohol. The operation…
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72 year old American trail runner found safe in Chiang Mai’s national forest reserve
The 72 year old American trail runner who vanished in the national forest reserve of Pa San Sai, Chiang Mai, has been found. Reach Mikob, an American national, was reported missing during a nature trip with 20 friends. He was located by the head of Pong village, Manop Boonsiri, and subsequently taken to a Chiang Mai hospital for a health…
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Residents soar in opposition to Chiang Mai Airport’s extended hours plan
Chiang Mai International Airport‘s proposed plan to extend its operating hours is facing mounting opposition from the locals of the Mae Hia subdistrict. The contention stems from the lack of compensation for the damages inflicted by the airport’s activities over the past five years. Meena Chankaew, president of the Nimman Noradee Neighbourhood, voiced the concerns of the residents whose properties…
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62 year old woman commits suicide in Chiang Mai after 5.2 million baht scam by call centre fraudsters
A 62 year old woman took her own life in Mae Rim, Chiang Mai after she was deceived by a group of call centre fraudsters. A financial loss of 5.2 million baht was involved. The case propelled Sector 5 Police into a fervent pursuit of 14 more suspects connected to the case. The deceased, 62 year old Yupin, was found dead,…
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Ghost encounter leaves Thai Dhamma retreat-goer spooked in Chiang Mai
A Thai woman claimed that a ghost haunted her after completing a Dhamma retreat at a Rampoeng temple in the northern province of Chaing Mai. She also shared her selfie with the ghost in the background on TikTok. Sawitcha “Pear” Butsara, shared a spooky video of her ghost encounter on TikTok @pipimpeary, on Wednesday, October 18, with the caption… “What…
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Thai tourism hit as gun violence prompts Chinese visitor cancellations
The Thai government has been urged to tighten gun control measures by Chiang Mai hoteliers and tourism entrepreneurs in the aftermath of the Siam Paragon shopping mall shooting on October 3. The incident, which resulted in the death of three people, including a Chinese tourist, and injured four others, has shaken the confidence of Chinese travellers in Thailand. The fallout…
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Chiang Mai lottery fervour spikes as fortune tellers offer lucky numbers amid Vegetarian Festival
The lottery buzz is in full swing in Chiang Mai as fortune tellers provide lucky numbers and warn of double digits. Among the popular figures are ones associated with the Vegetarian Festival and the Chinese calendar. Today, the lottery stalls in Chiang Mai are buzzing with people searching for their lucky numbers. Despite the continuous rainfall, hopeful buyers flocked to…
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Chiang Mai school cancels controversial 2000 baht fine for exam failures
A memorandum of understanding (MOU) between a teacher and students in a Chiang Mai secondary school, which required students to pay a fine of 2,000 baht per credit if they failed or scored zero in exams, has been scrapped. The MOU, which attracted criticism on social media, was not mandated by the school’s administrators but was the initiative of the…
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Chiang Mai’s sizzling lottery craze: Rain or shine, locals bet on luck
The buzz around the “hot lottery” is intensifying in Chiang Mai, with locals eagerly purchasing tickets for Sunday’s draw in hopes of securing the lucky numbers revealed by revered teacher Sreevichai. The allure of the lottery is strong, despite the ongoing rainy season and the ticket price remaining at 100 baht per ticket and 110-120 baht for a series. The…
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Chiang Mai Airport’s 24 hours upgrade takes off to meet ‘soaring’ Chinese demand
The Airports of Thailand (AOT) is preparing to take flight as Chiang Mai International Airport gears up for 24/7 operations starting November 1, all in response to the soaring demand from Chinese visitors. The Prime Minister’s Office spokesperson, Chai Watcharong, said today that the PM and Finance Minister, Srrettha Thavisin, wants to extend Chiang Mai Airport’s operating hours, from the…
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Fatal folly: Rubbernecking motorcyclist’s abrupt stop leads to tragic crash in northern Thailand
A tragic fatality occurred as a result of an unforeseen incident when a motorist abruptly braked to observe an accident scene in Lamphun, northern Thailand. The incident transpired around 7.20pm yesterday when a motorcyclist lost his life due to a six-wheeled lorry failing to come to a halt in time, colliding with the back of the motorcycle. The initial accident…
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Off-duty nurse and police save woman’s life at Chiang Mai Railway Station
An off-duty nurse, aided by railway police, performed life-saving CPR on a woman who collapsed at Chiang Mai Railway Station in northern Thailand. The woman’s relatives are overwhelmed with gratitude, describing the timely intervention as a miracle, stating if she had been delayed at the hospital, she would have been lost forever. According to railway police officer Narongsak Chaitham and…
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High-stakes crackdown: Chiang Mai’s administrative ace raids gambling dens
Chiang Mai administrative team, led by Ronnarong Tipsiri, swooped on several prominent gambling dens operating in the heart of the city. After a collaborative operation involving over 40 officers from various entities, they arrested 104 people behind an operation that had a daily turnover of over 1 million baht (US$28,530). This decisive action took place yesterday, in response to multiple…
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Japanese woman found dead at luxury hotel in Chiang Mai
A heart-wrenching incident unfolded at the upscale Parc Borough hotel on Mahidol Road in Chiang Mai’s Padad sub-district when a Japanese man discovered his girlfriend’s dead body in their room. The shocking discovery prompted an immediate response from Mueang Chaing Mai Police Station officers, who rushed to investigate the scene. The victim, identified as 25 year old Ami Hosue, was…
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Chiang Mai court convicts dog killer: A justice victory for popular campus pet
In Chiang Mai, a man who killed a beloved dog has been sentenced to six months in prison for animal cruelty. The dog was known as Thia Mor Chor, a short-legged, popular fellow among students. Watchdog Thailand, an animal rights organisation, announced the verdict yesterday, signalling justice for Thia, whose name means shorty. The late Thia was an adored fixture…
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Clam-bushed in Thailand: 53 year old diver vanishes, family in deep distres
The family of a 53 year old diver are distraught after he disappeared whilst fishing for clams in a reservoir in northern Thailand. His motorbike and discarded shoes were found at the reservoir yesterday, leading his family to believe he had drowned. Police were alerted to the man’s disappearance, leading a coordinated search with local divers. The local police from…
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Thai Smile Airways’ turbulent tiff: Passenger’s ‘left-behind’ fiasco halts takeoff in Chiang Mai (video)
A Thai Smile Airways flight had to make an emergency stop as it taxied down the runway after a foreign passenger demanded the plane returned to the terminal gate so he could pick up his left behind valuables at Chiang Mai International Airport. A Thai TikTok user, bandzlam, shared a video of the incident when a foreign man urged a…
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San Mahaphon chairman found after mysterious 4-day disappearance in forest
The chairman of San Mahaphon Municipality Council, located in Chiang Mai province, has been located after mysteriously disappearing for four days. He was found today in a forest nearly 5 kilometres from where he disappeared. He went missing from home without a trace from July 17 onward. According to family members, he had crossed the Mae Faek dam and a…
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Illegal logging crackdown: Two men arrested and valuable timber seized in Chiang Mai park
In a continuous crackdown on illegal logging, officials from Sri Lanna National Park in Chiang Mai arrested two men and seized valuable processed timber. It is part of broader efforts to deal with crimes against forest resources and wildlife. Additionally, a hunt is underway for four other men allegedly involved in the illegal activities. The order for this intensified action…
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Chiang Mai elephant sanctuary faces closure amid family inheritance dispute
The renowned family-managed elephant sanctuary, Mae Sa Elephant Camp in Chiang Mai, might be confronted with closure amidst an ongoing legal battle over inheritance between the late owner’s eldest child and his spouse (her stepmother). The camp, nestled in the Mae Rim district of this northern province, has been grappling with monetary issues that are impacting its operations, according to…
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Online exposé reveals shocking hygiene standards at Thai dental clinic with ‘recycled’ braces
An online exposé has been circulating recently highlighting the shocking condition of a dental clinic’s tools and equipment, raising concerns about health and safety standards. Quick replacement of used equipment, hiding the act from the owner, was a technique employed by some employees to service clients. กรรไกรผ่าตัด เก็บรวมไว้กับเครื่องมืออื่นๆ และไม่ล้างฆ่าเชื้อใดๆ ส่วนแบล็คเก็ทถอดออกจากคนไข้จัดฟันที่จัดเสร็จ จากนั้นนำมาล้างแล้วเก็บใช้กับคนอื่นต่อไป(ทั้งที่มีคราบติดอยู่)#เชียงใหม่ #คลินิกทำฟัน #หมอฟัน #จัดฟันเชียงใหม่ #สกปรก #สวมีไว้ทําไม #ปิดสวิตช์สว #ม็อบ16กรกฎา66 #เมียน้อยสว pic.twitter.com/XMFXCC0ODM…
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Ex-village head assaults man in Chiang Mai restaurant, claims to be ‘biggest man’ (video)
A distressing incident involving a local claiming to be the “biggest man” in Mae Rim district’s Mueang Kaew sub-district, Chiang Mai, hit social media. The man, identified as a former village head, was recorded punching a young man from behind, resulting in the victim collapsing. The video clip of the incident spread on social media, sparking outrage among netizens. The…
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Thai Court holds PM and NEB accountable for escalating Chiang Mai pollution
The Administrative Court yesterday decreed that Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and the National Environmental Board (NEB) were guilty of neglecting their duties in addressing the escalating toxic air pollution in the province of Chiang Mai. This denunciation originated from a case initiated by a local man named Wasuchart Pichai. Wasuchart argued that he has been adversely impacted by the haze…
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Jealousy’s fatal blade: Thai wife stabs unfaithful husband in Chiang Mai
In a tragic twist of jealousy, a Thai wife fatally stabbed her unfaithful husband in the Fang district in the northern province of Chiang Mai. The chilling incident unfolded when Fang Police Station received a distress call on July 4. Rushing to the scene, officers discovered the lifeless body of 30 year old Khamlu Siamlai on the road, his chest bearing…
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Ancient Obnoi ravine: Chiang Mai’s hidden beauty set to become major tourist attraction
Recently, a local government council led by Phansak Kaewsudjai, along with a group of administrative staff and media representatives, explored a narrow ravine in the Chom Thong district of Chiang Mai. The ravine is known to the locals as ‘Obnoi.’ With impressive rock formations and ancient inscriptions suspected to be thousands of years old, this is an enchanting spectacle reminiscent…
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Unchained Elephants launches their first rescue mission for Kanun: Bringing hope to an abandoned elephant in Chiang Mai
On 23rd June 2023, Unchained Elephants has embarked on their first mission to rescue Kanun, a 55-year-old male elephant in Mae Tang, Chiang Mai. Kanun’s current situation is dire, as he endures life chained up, malnourished, and with only one functioning eye. The urgent need for intervention has sparked a determined effort to save Kanun and provide him with a…
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Chiang Mai locals eager for lottery win: Demand for ‘lucky’ numbers soars
The northern city of Chiang Mai has experienced intense demand for lottery numbers as locals seek out lucky digits ahead of Saturday’s draw. This surge in activity was observed at 9am today, across various locations including markets, transportation hubs, major streets, and key spots like the Chiang Mai Gate and Nong Hoy. The going rate for a single lottery ticket…
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Monkey business alert: Chiang Mai Zoo stages emergency drill as gibbons plot daring escape
Chiang Mai Zoo set in place an emergency drill for the staff members in preparation just in case any of the zoo’s gibbons tried to escape. To enhance the realism of the exercise, two zookeepers wore gibbon costumes and assumed the roles of the stubborn animals. Chiang Mai Zoo’s official Facebook page of shared a video of the emergency drill…
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Tik-shock: Baht bus operator gets tough on risqué ride with Chinese viral vixen
A baht bus operator in Chiang Mai has recently implemented stricter measures in response to viral TikTok videos featuring a provocative Chinese woman on one of their buses in the province. On Friday, June 16, a Chinese woman, under the TikTok handle @huanxi59, posted a video that quickly gained attention. The video showcased her seated on the baht bus floor,…
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