Northern Thailand News

Northern Thailand news, Chiang Mai news, business, tourism, and culture—stay updated with breaking stories, local events, and travel insights from Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Pai, and beyond. Get the latest from The Thaiger, your trusted Northern Thailand 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...

  • University student found dead in Nan River, Phitsanulok

    University student found dead in Nan River, Phitsanulok

    A 23 year old university student who had been missing for two days was found dead in the Nan River in Phitsanulok, northern Thailand. The fourth-year student from a well-known university, identified only as Teeraporn (surname withheld) was found without any apparent injuries, suggesting a grim conclusion to her life. The initial report came yesterday when local authorities were alerted…

  • Surin man travels 2,589 kilometres to witness snow in China

    Surin man travels 2,589 kilometres to witness snow in China

    A young man from Surin Province completed a daring journey from Thailand to China, spanning a staggering 2,589 kilometres. Riding a Honda Wave motorcycle through rugged terrain, the man embarked on this adventure to fulfil his dream of riding through snow, a quest that took seven days to complete, starting on March 17. The man who goes by the name…

  • Uthai Thani homeowner gets 5,000 baht bill after meter upgrade

    Uthai Thani homeowner gets 5,000 baht bill after meter upgrade

    A homeowner in Uthai Thani was in for a shock when she received an electricity bill that surged to over 5,000 baht, a steep increase from the usual monthly payment of around 300 baht, following the installation of a new digital meter. Despite complaining to the Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA), the issue remains unresolved. A citizen from the Uthai Thani municipality…

  • Mae Hong Son village assistant assaults wildlife officer

    Mae Hong Son village assistant assaults wildlife officer

    Authorities in Mae Hong Son launched a severe disciplinary investigation against a village assistant for leading a group of 20 locals in a brazen attempt to free two suspects from wildlife officers. The incident, coupled with the seizure of firearms, methamphetamine, and animal remains, sparked a potential dismissal from the position of the village assistant involved. A bold confrontation erupted…

  • Woman apologises for provocative photos at Rama I monument

    Woman apologises for provocative photos at Rama I monument

    Social media erupted with controversy when a provocative, scantily-clad young woman, followed by over 200,000 people on Facebook, posted suggestive, racy images of herself with the monument of King Rama I, the Great Statue of King Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke, in the background. Her caption, “Please come visit my city,” quickly drew criticism, particularly from the people of Buriram province. The…

  • 4 year old boy throws scissors at sister, causes serious head injury

    4 year old boy throws scissors at sister, causes serious head injury

    A four year old Thai boy imitated a fight scene from a movie by throwing scissors at his 10 year old sister, causing serious head injury. Fortunately, the girl is now in stable condition and under the care of doctors at a hospital in the Isaan province of Buriram. The 10 year old victim, Face, was rushed to the Satuek…

  • Hungarian couple injured due to hole on Chiang Mai road

    Hungarian couple injured due to hole on Chiang Mai road

    A Hungarian couple sustained minor injuries when their motorcycle fell into a 100-centimetre-deep hole on a road near Chang Phueak Gate in Chiang Mai province on the evening of March 23. A video showing the Hungarian couple riding a motorcycle before tumbling into a hole swiftly gained traction on Thai social media. The footage captured the pair travelling in the…

  • Man found dead in Greater Manchester home

    Man found dead in Greater Manchester home

    British police took to social media to reach out to the Thai family of a Manchester man found dead in his own home in Denton, Greater Manchester, in the United Kingdom. The deceased, 48 year old Lee McDonough’s untimely demise has left authorities scrambling for answers as they seek to connect with his family, believed to be in Thailand. Tameside…

  • Kidnap ringleader caught after seven-year hunt in Khon Kaen

    Kidnap ringleader caught after seven-year hunt in Khon Kaen

    The Thai authorities have arrested the alleged ringleader of a drug gang in Khon Kaen, who is accused of kidnapping a 13 year old girl to extort 30,000 baht from her father to settle a methamphetamine debt. The 30 year old suspect, identified as Kamonchai, was apprehended after he reportedly went into hiding following media coverage of the incident on…

  • State Railway of Thailand’s renovation project for accessibility

    State Railway of Thailand’s renovation project for accessibility

    In a significant move towards inclusivity, the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) has embarked on a renovation project for 10 of its passenger carriages. The initiative is aimed at making the carriages more accessible for individuals with disabilities, according to Aekkarat Sriarayanpong, head of the SRT governor’s office. The carriages undergoing renovation are second-class vehicles put into service in 2012.…

  • Sakon Nakhon headman caught in 9 million baht heroin bust

    Sakon Nakhon headman caught in 9 million baht heroin bust

    In a major drug bust, authorities in Bueng Kan Province apprehended three individuals, including a prominent subdistrict headman from Sakon Nakhon, for smuggling nearly 10 kilogrammes of heroin. The arrest took place yesterday afternoon at a border patrol police company in Bueng Kan, following a covert operation led by the local law enforcement and border patrol units. The suspects were…

  • Northeast Thailand: Son murders father in family dispute

    Northeast Thailand: Son murders father in family dispute

    A family tragedy unfolded in Non Sang, Nong Bua Lamphu province when a son murdered his father in a moment of apparent self-defence. The harrowing incident, which took place yesterday evening, resulted in an urgent manhunt for the perpetrator, who is now urged to surrender to the authorities. The deceased, Songsakran, was known by locals for his drastic change of…

  • Phayao to become Thailand’s next eco-tourism hotspot

    Phayao to become Thailand’s next eco-tourism hotspot

    In a move set to transform Phayao into Thailand’s next eco-tourism hotspot, the Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, unleashed a whopping 300 million baht across 13 projects. This ambitious blueprint not only aims to catapult Phayao onto the global sustainable travel map but also promises a future where rubber farmers rejoice over record-breaking profits. PM Srettha, who also…

  • Northern Thailand braces for severe air pollution crisis

    Northern Thailand braces for severe air pollution crisis

    Northern Thailand, specifically the provinces of Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, and Mae Hong Son, are bracing for severe PM2.5 air pollution. These areas, surrounded by mountains and hills, have previously been rated as the most polluted globally. The pollution crisis has strained the public healthcare system and forced locals to invest in air purifiers and face masks for protection. While…

  • Thai police colonel commits suicide in Uthai Thani

    Thai police colonel commits suicide in Uthai Thani

    A high-ranking Thai police officer committed suicide yesterday evening, sparking an investigation into the circumstances that led to the drastic move. The incident, involving Police Colonel Kosol Jaipechdee, took place at a busy intersection in Uthai Thani province, directly in front of a well-known shopping complex. The provincial police chief, Major General Narongdech Saksumboon, visited the scene to oversee the…

  • Elderly woman fatally crashes into rice field in Udon Thani, two injured

    Elderly woman fatally crashes into rice field in Udon Thani, two injured

    An elderly woman fatally crashed into a rice field yesterday afternoon in the Kum Pha Wa Pi district of Udon Thani province, leaving two seriously injured. The 70 year old woman driving to a medical appointment yesterday, March 19, suddenly lost control of her vehicle, which veered off the road and overturned several times before coming to a stop in…

  • Fatal bus crash in northern Thailand kills two drivers, injures 44

    Fatal bus crash in northern Thailand kills two drivers, injures 44

    A fatal bus crash involving a long-haul vehicle claimed the lives of its two drivers and injured 44 passengers early today in the Mueang district of Nakhon Ratchasima. The double-decker bus, run by Lotusphibul Tours, was travelling from Bung Kan to Bangkok when it collided with a steel support for a road sign. The accident occurred around 2am, today, March…

  • Smokin’ setback: Forest fires force Bangkok Airways flight cancellations

    Smokin’ setback: Forest fires force Bangkok Airways flight cancellations

    Bangkok Airways had to cancel six flights at Mae Hong Son Airport this month due to smoke arising from widespread forest fires in the province. Bangkok Airways yesterday, March 18, cancelled flight PG 205, which runs from Bangkok to Lampang and then Mae Hong Son because the thick smoke affected the pilots’ visibility. Chiang Mai News reported that the flight…

  • Forest fires in northern Thailand increase dangerous PM2.5 levels

    Forest fires in northern Thailand increase dangerous PM2.5 levels

    Forest fires in the northern provinces of Thailand have sparked an increase in atmospheric PM2.5 levels, leading to a stern warning from the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation. The department stated yesterday that severe legal consequences will be faced by those who illicitly ignite fires in forest lands. Department chief Athapol Charoenshunsa unveiled that they have recently…

  • Man physically assaulted by teens after Korat festival

    Man physically assaulted by teens after Korat festival

    A 55 year old man was physically assaulted by a group of teenagers in Nakhon Ratchasima, sparking outrage from his daughter who demanded justice and called for witnesses. The incident occurred on Wednesday, March 13 at approximately 3.30am, during the final night of the Thao Suranari victory celebration in the Korat region. The man fell victim to a brutal attack…

  • Nearly a million pay respects to Buddha relics in northern Thailand

    Nearly a million pay respects to Buddha relics in northern Thailand

    Nearly one million devotees paid homage to the sacred Buddha relics over four days, as the revered artefacts were temporarily enshrined in Ubon Ratchathani before being transferred to Krabi province on March 14, as part of a ceremonial procession. This event marked a significant moment in Thai religious history, showcasing the deep reverence the population holds for such important symbols…

  • Flame game foiled: Chiang Mai crackdown scorches forest arsonist

    Flame game foiled: Chiang Mai crackdown scorches forest arsonist

    Chiang Mai authorities have taken swift action against forest arson, resulting in the arrest and fining of a perpetrator following a tip-off from a vigilant citizen. Yesterday, March 13, a man was spotted igniting a fire within the protected forest area of Ban Pang Keut, Mae Taeng district in Chiang Mai. The deputy governor personally delivered a cash reward to…

  • iCare Foundation transforms lives in northern Thai villages

    iCare Foundation transforms lives in northern Thai villages

    iCare Thailand Foundation, founded by Danish-Norwegian visionaries, unveils its latest endeavour in the northern Thai countryside. Led by Michael and Karin Andreassen, the iCare Thailand Foundation sets out on a poignant mission to uplift remote communities, one dormitory at a time. Arriving at Huay Pu Kaeng Village, nestled along the Myanmar border, the team’s dedication radiates amidst the sweltering Thai…

  • Triple murder-suicide stuns community in northern Thailand

    Triple murder-suicide stuns community in northern Thailand

    In a shocking discovery at a newly built residence in Udon Thani, Thailand, a gardener found three bodies lying side by side, in the aftermath of an apparent murder-suicide involving a retired police officer. The deceased included the homeowner, her sister, and the ex-officer, who were to celebrate a housewarming and birthday tomorrow, March 14. Police Colonel Pattanawong Janphol, the…

  • Father discovers daughter’s body in Udon Thani, sparking village fears

    Father discovers daughter’s body in Udon Thani, sparking village fears

    A father found his daughter dead in a storeroom at their home in Udon Thani, sparking fear among villagers of a malevolent spirit after a series of unsettling incidents. The 48 year old woman from Udon Thani, known only as Orawan, appeared to have taken her own life by hanging, leaving the community in shock and prompting an investigation into…

  • Thai man survives black bear attack during ant egg hunt (video)

    Thai man survives black bear attack during ant egg hunt (video)

    A Thai man survived an attack by an Asian black bear while hunting for ant eggs within the Dong Yai Wildlife Sanctuary in the Isaan province of Buriram at the weekend. The victim’s wife, 56 year old Warn Chernprakone, shared details of the incident on Sunday, March 10 with Matichon. Warn explained that her 60 year old husband, Phumin Joysaku,…

  • Fisherman shot by friend with harpoon in northern Thailand (video)

    Fisherman shot by friend with harpoon in northern Thailand (video)

    A Thai fisherman shot through the head by a friend with a harpoon after a row over who caught the biggest fish said he felt better after a cigarette, despite the spear being lodged in his head. The 45 year old fisherman, Sujit Klingtalay, had a spat with a friend while enjoying a drink in Nakhon Ratchasima province on Sunday, March…

  • Buriram shooting: Teenagers injured in revenge attack

    Buriram shooting: Teenagers injured in revenge attack

    A violent encounter last night left two high school students injured after being shot by a younger peer. The incident, which took place near a petrol station in Buriram province, was reportedly an act of revenge on behalf of a friend. The two victims, both Grade 9 students, were attacked as they rode their motorcycle in the vicinity of Nong…

  • Man on rampage in Sisaket injures cop and residents with crowbar

    Man on rampage in Sisaket injures cop and residents with crowbar

    A 50 year old Thai man’s violent rampage in Sisaket Province ended with a police officer seriously injured and the assailant subdued by an electric gun. The incident unfolded in the small community of Ban Kradaw, where the man, identified as Boonyiam, attacked an elderly man on a motorcycle with a metal crowbar, breaking his arm. A female village head…

  • Thai woman arrested for trafficking protected rat snakes

    Thai woman arrested for trafficking protected rat snakes

    In a covert operation, police apprehended a 45 year old Thai woman at her residence in Phichit, where a trove of Indo-Chinese Rat Snakes was stashed away. Seven sacks brimming with the slithery reptiles, weighing 34.26 kilogrammes, were confiscated alongside four sacks containing snake carcasses, tallying 5 kilogrammes, concealed in a freezer. Two mobile phones linked to the clandestine snake…