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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British man arrested for selling drugs to foreign tourists in Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai Provincial Immigration Office arrested a British man after he sold drugs targeting foreign tourists in the province over the past six months. Immigration officers observed the Englishman, identified only as Daniel, displaying suspicious behaviour. Daniel was a partner in a cannabis shop on Chang Moi Road in the province. The main owner of the shop was a Thai…
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Forestry officer arrested after armed robbery in Sakon Nakhon
An arrest warrant is targeting a forestry police officer following an armed robbery at a forest conservation unit in Sakon Nakhon province. On Saturday, a group of men attacked the Warit-Panna forest protection unit, making off with 19 phayung logs, also known as Siamese rosewood and two firearms. The logs are valued at approximately 800,000 baht. Surachai Achalaboon, Director-General of the…
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Female student falls from Nakhon Ratchasima school’s 7th floor
A female student from a prestigious girls’ school in Nakhon Ratchasima fell from the seventh floor of a school building, leaving her in a critical condition. School administrators and teachers temporarily halted classes immediately following the incident. Police received reports of the incident today, November 12, at 11.15am. The accident occurred at a well-known secondary school under the jurisdiction of…
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Minister defends ‘controversial’ land title decision in Buriram
Deputy Interior Minister Songsak Thongsri recently stepped into the spotlight by defending a contentious decision made by a land committee regarding land title documents for plots in Buriram’s Khao Kradong area. This decision comes despite a 2021 Supreme Court ruling that the land is owned by the State Railway of Thailand (SRT). The crux of the issue lies in the…
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Airport initiative boosts culture and economy in northern Thailand
Phitsanulok and Nan airports have introduced an innovative Live Airport concept aimed at highlighting the cultural identities of these provinces while generating sustainable economic benefits for local communities. The initiative was inaugurated on November 1 and seeks to position airports as not only transit points but also as cultural gateways into the region. Deputy Transport Minister Manaporn Charoensri, accompanied by…
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Thai schools probed for misconduct over spoiled food claims
Allegations of misconduct have prompted the Office of the Basic Education Commission (OBEC) to investigate two schools in Chachoengsao and Nakhon Ratchasima. Concerns surfaced online, suggesting one school provided spoiled fruit in student meals while the other was excessively soliciting donations from parents for a school van. Thanu Wongchinda, Secretary-General of OBEC, addressed these claims yesterday, November 7, indicating that…
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Axe to grind: Thai father attacks son after suffering years of abuse
A Thai father snapped and attacked his son with an axe in a fit of rage at midnight today after he and his wife suffered years of physical abuse at the hands of the son in the Isaan province of Khon Kaen. Officers from Manchakhiri Police Station received a report of a serious assault at a house in the Manchakhiri…
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Thaksin to fire up Pheu Thai campaign in Udon Thani province
Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra is back in the political spotlight as he gears up to boost the Pheu Thai Party’s campaign in a major way. Thaksin is expected to make his return to the stage in Udon Thani next week, marking his first public address since ending his self-imposed exile in August last year. The 74 year old’s…
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Phimai Festival to boost tourism in Nakhon Ratchasima
Nakhon Ratchasima this week launched the spectacular Phimai Festival, featuring a dazzling light and sound show titled Vimayapura Niramit Sri Wirentrasrom. The event aims to boost the local economy and promote tourism in Korat. The Phimai Historical Park in Phimai district, Nakhon Ratchasima, served as the venue for the festival’s opening ceremony. Chaiwat Chuenkosum, the Governor of Nakhon Ratchasima, presided…
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Housekeeper denies stealing 20 million baht gold in Khon Kaen
A startling case of theft has emerged from a gold shop in the northeastern province of Khon Kaen, where a housekeeper has been accused of stealing gold worth over 20 million baht since 2021. Despite clear CCTV evidence, the accused continues to deny the charges in court. Footage from a CCTV camera in the gold shop located in Ban Phai…
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Thai man arrested for North Thailand festival double murder
A 21 year old suspect has been apprehended in Chon Buri, linked to a violent altercation that resulted in the deaths of two individuals and left two others injured at a festival in the northern province of Uttaradit. The incident occurred during the Amazing Hidden Lin Lablae annual festival, which took place in June this year. On that day, a…
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Major drug bust in Mukdahan uncovers 1.6 million meth pills
Police in Mukdahan province were alerted to a suspicious vehicle parked on a public road, leading to a major drug bust. The car, found at around 2pm yesterday, November 5, in Ban Don Sawan, Nam Thiang subdistrict, Khamcha-i district, contained a staggering 1.6 million methamphetamine (meth) pills hidden within fertiliser sacks. Police from the Khamcha-i Police Station were notified by…
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Enlist now, reap rewards: PM hails modern Ministry of Defence
The Ministry of Defence is shaking up Thailand’s military recruitment strategy, swapping the conscription model for a voluntary one packed with incentives and young Thais are taking note. In a recent visit to Infantry Division 6 in Roi Et province, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and Defence Minister Phumtham Wechayachai lauded the successful transformation, highlighting that voluntary enlistment has surged significantly.…
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Thai woman found murdered in Nakhon Sawan home
A Thai woman was brutally murdered in her own home, located beneath her elevated wooden house in Phai Sali district, Nakhon Sawan province. Before her tragic death, she managed to call her sister and identify her alleged murderer. The woman’s puppies, unaware of their owner’s demise, gathered around her lifeless body. Police reported receiving a distress call about the murder…
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UNESCO Thai heritage site threatened by reservoir projects: Probe
Environmentalists are urging a House committee to investigate two reservoir construction projects that they fear may threaten the Dong Phayayen–Khao Yai Forest Complex in Nakhon Ratchasima, recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage site. The Klong Madue reservoir project in Nakhon Nayok and another near the forest complex have raised concerns among conservationists. Suthee Rattanamongkol, leading the Khao Yai Forest Conservation Network,…
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Thai mother cages in drug-addicted son in Buriram (video)
A situation has arisen in Buriram province where a 64 year old mother took drastic measures to handle her 42 year old son’s severe drug addiction and erratic behaviour. The son, who also struggles with gambling addiction, has been a source of distress, frequently threatening her and causing damage to their property. Despite undergoing rehabilitation over 10 times, his condition…
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Bumpy ride: bus-truck crash ‘derails’ journey in Phrae, injuring 45
A collision involving a bus travelling from Bangkok to Chiang Rai and a trailer truck unfolded in Song district, Phrae province, injuring 45 people. The unfortunate incident took place this morning, highlighting ongoing road safety concerns in the region. The Highways Department reported that the accident occurred around 6.15am, today, November 5, on Highway 103. The impact was severe enough…
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Cattle herder murder: Body found in Nakhon Phanom forest
A man who had gone to tend to his cattle was found dead in a forest in Nakhon Phanom province with multiple stab wounds. Police were alerted to the scene, uncovering a brutal murder that left the family devastated. The incident came to light around 8.30pm yesterday, November 1, when police were informed about a body found in the forest…
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Thai police arrest suspect in 2.7 million baht footballer scam
Thai police have apprehended a suspect involved in an online loan scam that swindled a prominent national footballer out of nearly 2.7 million baht. The suspect, identified as 45 year old Wanchai, confessed to managing mule accounts for the criminal gang. The crackdown, led by Police Major General Jirawat Payoongtham, took place today, November 2, when cybercrime officers, directed by…
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Thailand launches anti-drug campaign in 10 pilot provinces
Thailand is taking decisive action against drug-related issues by designating 10 provinces as pilot areas to test new strategies. Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra emphasised the broader societal impacts of drug problems during her visit to Roi Et, highlighting the urgent need for a comprehensive approach to tackle this challenge. Drug problems are seen as a significant barrier to national progress…
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Monk on the run: Abbott crashes and dashes after bail (video)
A Thai abbot crashed his pickup into a prison guard’s car on a road in Chiang Mai, seriously injuring the guard. The monk later disappeared after being granted bail. The public raised suspicions of corruption in the road accident case involving the abbot and the prison guard in Chiang Mai. The accident occurred on October 24 but the suspect, the abbot…
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2 Thai teens surrender after brutal attack on homeless man in Isaan (video)
Two of the three Thai teenagers involved in the brutal attack on a homeless man in the Isaan province of Nakhon Ratchasima surrendered to the police yesterday. They claimed that another friend ordered them to commit the crime. Locals in the Pak Chong district of Nakhon Ratchasima, along with rescuers from the Sawang Dhammastan Foundation, rushed the homeless man, 60 year…
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Halloween drive spooks up support for Nakhon Ratchasima blood banks
Nakhon Ratchasima faces a severe blood reserve shortage, leading to a creative Halloween-themed blood donation drive. Held at Terminal 21 mall, the event encourages citizens to donate blood, crucial for emergency patients. The Happy Halloween Blood Party organised by Sirilak Pheakkhuntot, head of the National Blood Service Region 5 in Nakhon Ratchasima, aims to address the critical blood shortage in…
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Chiang Mai unveils cultural and health tourism route
Chiang Mai launched a new cultural and health tourism route during the National Thai Traditional Medicine Wisdom Day and the Thai Traditional Medicine Wisdom Fair. The event took place yesterday, October 25, and was presided over by Siwa Thamikanon, the Deputy Governor of Chiang Mai, who was assigned by Nirut Phongsitthithaworn, the Governor of Chiang Mai. Thitikarn Na Pan, the…
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Woman critically injured after car hits utility pole in Buriram
A high-speed collision involving a car and a high-voltage utility pole left a woman critically injured after she was ejected from the vehicle, landing on a nearby shop’s roof before falling to the ground. The incident occurred last night on Route 226 in Buriram. Police Lieutenant Nuntikarn Ampawan from the Buriram City Police Station reported that the accident took place…
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Dessert storm: British man gets burned for smoking at sweet stall (video)
Two Thai dessert vendors in Chiang Mai clashed with an ignorant British man after he smoked outside their stall, despite a no-smoking sign and warnings from the vendors. The altercation between the Thai vendors and the Brit garnered public attention after a witness shared a video of the incident on her TikTok account, @ketar_nk, on October 23. In the caption,…
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Sky’s the limit: Mysterious pillar ‘clouds’ over Ubon Ratchathani
A mysterious pillar, or column, rising from rainbow-hued clouds has enchanted the skies above Ubon Ratchathani, capturing the attention and imaginations of residents alike. The striking phenomenon, immortalised in a photograph shared on the Facebook page มีด่าน อุบลราชธานี, sparked a flurry of intrigue and speculation about its origins. “What’s this pillar? Yesterday, October 21, at 5.35pm on Ubon Khueang Nai…
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Travel subsidy scheme said to boost post-flood tourism in the north
The Tourism and Sports Ministry is considering increasing the budget for its tourism subsidy scheme to help tourism firms in the northern region recover from recent flood damage. Tourism and Sports Minister Sorawong Thienthong announced the plans following a meeting with Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra to discuss economic and tourism stimulus measures. The meeting followed Sorawong’s visit to flood-hit Chiang…
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Double tax deductions to boost northern Thailand tourism
The Ministry of Finance is planning to introduce measures under the Thai Travel Continues campaign to boost tourism in flood-affected areas in northern Thailand. The initiative will offer double tax deductions for two groups: individuals and companies holding seminars in the disaster-stricken regions. Finance Deputy Minister Julapun Amornwiwat announced that the Ministry of Finance, in collaboration with the Ministry of…
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Chiang Rai flood recovery 96% complete, set to finish by Monday
Post-flood recovery efforts in Chiang Rai’s Mae Sai district are nearing completion, according to the government’s operation centre for flood, storm, and landslide victims. Officials stated yesterday, October 18, that all affected communities should see the recovery work finalised by Monday as scheduled. Jirayu Huangsab, a spokesperson for the centre, provided an update from the forward command in Chiang Rai,…
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