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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    5 ways retirees in Thailand lose money (and how to stop it)

    Retiring in Thailand can be affordable and enjoyable, but many retirees lose money due to common mistakes. High living costs, scams, and unexpected expenses can quickly drain savings. There are five ways that retirees in Thailand can lose money and...

  • Chiang Mai teacher dismissed over student lunch programme mismanagement

    Chiang Mai teacher dismissed over student lunch programme mismanagement

    Chaiyot Suktor, a senior professional level teacher (K3) at Yangpao School in Omkoi, Chiang Mai, has been dismissed from the civil service following allegations of corruption by the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC). Chaiyot, identified as the fourth accused, is allegedly guilty of criminal misconduct as an official, accused of performing or neglecting duties without authority. The case centres around Chaiyot,…

  • Update: Brave Thai doctor’s final battle ends, Dr Krittai loses fight against cancer

    Update: Brave Thai doctor’s final battle ends, Dr Krittai loses fight against cancer

    The Thai medical sector is mourning the loss of Dr Krittai Tanasombatkul, a 29 year old doctor, known for his Facebook page, Fight for It, and who fought against terminal lung cancer. In a poignant announcement on his Fight For It web page last month, Dr Krittai revealed his grim diagnosis of stage four lung cancer. Despite his regular exercise…

  • Young clinician’s tragic death raises questions on Thai air pollution

    Young clinician’s tragic death raises questions on Thai air pollution

    The problem of PM 2.5 Thai air pollution has been highlighted by the unfortunate case of 28 year old Kritthai Tansombatitkul, a clinician and statistician at the Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, who passed away from late-stage lung cancer. Despite living a healthy lifestyle and not smoking, he was diagnosed with the disease at a young age, leading many…

  • Thai government approves 8 billion baht scheme to tackle PM2.5 pollution

    Thai government approves 8 billion baht scheme to tackle PM2.5 pollution

    To mitigate the escalating PM2.5 pollution problem, the government recently approved a scheme worth 8 billion baht designed to incentivise sugarcane farmers to modify their harvesting methods. The initiative, which is set to be implemented in the 2022/23 harvest year, encourages farmers to cut fresh sugarcane without burning the residue, a practice known to be a significant contributor to the…

  • Popular snack vendor finds 100,000 baht stolen from Chiang Mai home

    Popular snack vendor finds 100,000 baht stolen from Chiang Mai home

    A popular snack vendor known for her revealing outfit, returned to her Chiang Mai home yesterday, November 30 to find nearly 100,000 baht had been stolen from her safe. The 27 year old vendor, Aranya Abhaiso, also known as Olive Tokyo No Bra, suspects the culprit to be someone close to her and is preparing to file a police report.…

  • Young women ignore safety warnings at Phu Chi Fah, sparking concerns

    Young women ignore safety warnings at Phu Chi Fah, sparking concerns

    Two young women risked their lives by crossing a safety line at Phu Chi Fah viewpoint to take photographs, triggering concerns from officials about a potential increase in copycat behaviour. Phu Chi Fah National Park in Thoeng, Chiang Rai, reported the incident occurred at 6.04am on October 26, and issued a public warning on their page. The tourist attraction has…

  • Chiang Mai: Explosion at longan plantation claims three lives

    Chiang Mai: Explosion at longan plantation claims three lives

    Tragedy struck a longan plantation in Ban Chai Ngam village of Mae Waen subdistrict, Phrao district, Chiang Mai yesterday when an explosion claimed the lives of three workers. The incident occurred as they were making a flowering stimulant mixture, resulting in an immediate fatality for two female workers – one Thai and one from Myanmar. Another worker, a man from…

  • Female party entertainer accuses police officer of rape and physical assault

    Female party entertainer accuses police officer of rape and physical assault

    A female party entertainer in the northern province of Lamphun accused a police officer of raping and physically assaulting her. The accused officer denied the allegations. The 25 year old party entertainer, identified as A, filed a complaint at Mueang Jee Police Station on November 22 that a Chiang Mai province police officer had raped and assaulted her in Nong…

  • Loy Krathong chaos at Chiang Mai Airport: 160 flights shuffled, travellers beware!

    Loy Krathong chaos at Chiang Mai Airport: 160 flights shuffled, travellers beware!

    With the upcoming Loy Krathong Festival in sight, Chiang Mai Airport is set to experience a whirlwind of changes, with a staggering 160 flights facing disruptions from November 27 to 28, post 7pm. Chiang Mai Airport Deputy Director Wisut Khamyod revealed today a jaw-dropping 101 cancellations and 59 rescheduled flights, creating a turbulence level hitting 47% of regular air traffic.…

  • Chiang Mai: DSI arrests woman in high-profile online gambling case

    Chiang Mai: DSI arrests woman in high-profile online gambling case

    The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) arrested a woman in connection with a high-profile online gambling case. The DSI today targeted a skincare clinic in the heart of Chiang Mai and apprehended Sasithon (surname withheld), who is linked with the bank account advertised on the online gambling website of the renowned AK47XXX network. The AK47XXX network is owned by the…

  • Chiang Mai: Thief arrested for stealing from temple caught in moral dilemma

    Chiang Mai: Thief arrested for stealing from temple caught in moral dilemma

    A 20 year old man was recently apprehended in Chiang Mai for stealing from a charity donation box at Jettiyanusorn temple, also known as Ban Yang Phra That temple, in Doi Saket. The suspect reportedly fled on a bicycle after the theft, which took place on November 8. Upon his arrest, the man confessed to taking 200 baht in cash…

  • Chiang Mai: Tourist van crash leaves two dead, 10 injured

    Chiang Mai: Tourist van crash leaves two dead, 10 injured

    Yesterday at 9.40am, an accident involving a tourist van in Mae Taeng, Chiang Mai province, left two dead and 10 injured. The Chiang Mai provincial authorities are providing full support to the casualties. The Governor of Chiang Mai, Nirat Pongsittithavorn, assigned his deputy, Veerapong Ruttharot, along with Chiang Mai’s provincial transportation office, disaster prevention and mitigation office, provincial tourist police,…

  • Model snaps back: Peeping Tom photographer’s shocking shower scandal in Chiang Mai

    Model snaps back: Peeping Tom photographer’s shocking shower scandal in Chiang Mai

    A Peeping Tom photographer in Chiang Mai has been sternly warned by a model after he secretly recorded her showering in the bathroom. This shocking event occurred yesterday, around 11pm. The revelation was made by the model, 24 year old Bee from Lampoon, via her social media page. The post, which warned about the photographer who had hired her for…

  • Temple trickster: Deceitful vendor bags counterfeit scam in northern Thailand

    Temple trickster: Deceitful vendor bags counterfeit scam in northern Thailand

    A deceitful vendor, Anoma (surname withheld), was apprehended by the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB) outside a famous temple in Chiang Mai. Anoma was caught red-handed for defrauding the public by faking illness to solicit funds for her medical treatment and deceiving customers into buying counterfeit designer bags. The arrest was a result of a court warrant issued on October…

  • Chiang Mai: Illegal venue serving minors shut down in police raid operation

    Chiang Mai: Illegal venue serving minors shut down in police raid operation

    In the early hours yesterday, a police raid was set into motion in the Chang Phueak area of Mueang Chiang Mai, Chiang Mai Province. The operation, at precisely 12.30am, was led by Ronarong Thipsiri, the Inspector General of the Department of Provincial Administration (DOPA), alongside DOPA SWAT and other relevant officials. Their target was an illegal entertainment venue, which had…

  • Unusual Halloween costume shocks crowd at Chiang Mai bar Halloween bash

    Unusual Halloween costume shocks crowd at Chiang Mai bar Halloween bash

    Halloween celebrations at a popular local bar took a spooky turn when a customer, dressed in an unusual Halloween costume, as a ghost with a belly, stunned the crowd. The costume, complete with dark skin and blood effects, proved to be a show-stopper, attracting attention and widespread amusement from the online community. The Halloween festival, which unfolded yesterday, saw a…

  • Chiang Mai club raided in Pa Cha Tek operation for serving underage drinkers

    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…

  • 72 year old American trail runner found safe in Chiang Mai’s national forest reserve

    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…

  • Residents soar in opposition to Chiang Mai Airport’s extended hours plan

    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…

  • Chiang Mai Airport to extend operation hours

    Chiang Mai Airport to extend operation hours

    The Chiang Mai International Airport is set to operate on a 24-hour basis starting from next Wednesday November 1, a move prompted by the government‘s Quick-Win economic stimulus policies, Transport Minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit revealed. The decision, influenced by Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin’s orders, is deemed critical to accommodate the anticipated influx of tourists during the year-end peak season and beyond,…

  • Ghost encounter leaves Thai Dhamma retreat-goer spooked in Chiang Mai

    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…

  • Thai tourism hit as gun violence prompts Chinese visitor cancellations

    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…

  • Chiang Mai lottery fervour spikes as fortune tellers offer lucky numbers amid Vegetarian Festival

    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…

  • Hermit’s forest meditation takes an eternal detour in remote Thailand

    Hermit’s forest meditation takes an eternal detour in remote Thailand

    A 58 year old hermit was found dead during meditation in a deep forest in Chiang Mai, northern Thailand. The rescue team had to walk to the scene due to the inaccessibility of vehicles. The body was later transported by motorcycle from the mountain today. Jiraphan Suinwai, head of the Naprat Chiang Mai Rescue, stated that on Sunday, October 1, they…

  • Chiang Mai’s sizzling lottery craze: Rain or shine, locals bet on luck

    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…

  • Chiang Mai Airport’s 24 hours upgrade takes off to meet ‘soaring’ Chinese demand

    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…

  • Fatal folly: Rubbernecking motorcyclist’s abrupt stop leads to tragic crash in northern Thailand

    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…

  • Chiang Mai’s lottery fever heats up with political numbers and auspicious figures in high demand

    Chiang Mai’s lottery fever heats up with political numbers and auspicious figures in high demand

    The lottery fever is high in Chiang Mai as numbers related to politics are still in demand. The excitement is palpable as people continue to purchase lottery tickets from various stalls located across key areas, including Mahidol Road, Chiang Mai-Lamphun Road, and several morning markets in each district, railway stations, transport terminals, and large stalls at different points. Prices remain…

  • High-stakes crackdown: Chiang Mai’s administrative ace raids gambling dens

    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…

  • Japanese woman found dead at luxury hotel in Chiang Mai

    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…