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 Chinese nationals arrested crossing illegally into Thailand
Thai police arrested five Chinese men last night as they attempted an illegal border crossing from Myanmar into Thailand’s Tak province, raising further concerns about the region’s notorious scam operations. Border patrol officers from the Ratchamanu Taskforce discovered the group at 8.30pm, yesterday, January 30, wading through the Moei River from Myawaddy to Mae Sot district. The men—29 year old…
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Grim discovery: Elderly couple finds neighbour dead in Sisaket
An elderly couple stumbled upon the dead body of their neighbour outside their home in the serene Sisaket province. The unsettling scene unfolded in Moo 8, Nong Chiang Thun subdistrict, Prang Ku district, where a 77 year old man and his 75 year old wife discovered their 45 year old neighbour, Vachakorn, near a phone top-up machine, bearing a gruesome…
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Rabies panic: Khon Kaen officials say cooked beef is safe
Health officials in Sam Sung district, Khon Kaen moved to calm public fears after reports of rabies-infected beef sparked concerns about food safety. While a cow infected with rabies was slaughtered and consumed earlier this month, officials have clarified that properly cooked beef remains safe to eat. The outbreak began on January 23, when a dog infected with rabies entered…
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Lottery luck: Number 703 sparks lottery frenzy in Phayao
Residents of Ban San Pa Nat in Dok Kham Tai district, Phayao province participated in the annual ritual to honour the spirit of Chao Pho Ong Dam today. They gathered to perform traditional rites and offered various items including flowers, incense, and food. This cultural event, held on the 13th day of the waning moon in the fourth month, is…
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Thai barber denies sexual assault allegation after customer shares video
A Thai man accused a barber in the Isaan province of Khon Kaen of sexually assaulting him while receiving a haircut, but the barber denied the accusation, claiming he merely flirted with the customer. The victim shared his story in a local Facebook group in Khon Kaen, warning others to avoid the barber‘s services. He posted part of a video…
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Thai transwoman stifles laughter as thief steals fake gold necklace
A thief broke into a luxury house in the Isaan province of Udon Thani and escaped with a gold necklace, but the homeowner later confirmed that the stolen item was a fake. The Thai transwoman, 27 year old Phattarawan Kongphuthorn, filed a complaint with Mueang Udon Thani Police Station officers yesterday after returning home to find signs of a break-in.…
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Police raid online football gambling site near Isaan school
Police raided an online football gambling site located just 500 metres from a school in Ubon Ratchathani, catering to children and youths with a monthly turnover of 1 million baht. The operation, conducted yesterday, January 24, involved high-ranking officers including Police Lieutenant General Trairong Phiwphann and Police Major General Wiwat Kamchamnarn. Acting on a tip-off, officers from Subdivision 2 of…
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7 Thai suspects arrested for abduction and robbery in Chiang Mai
Yesterday, January 23, police arrested seven suspects, aged between 16 and 20 years old, for abducting a 25 year old woman from a condominium in the northern province of Chiang Mai, brutally assaulting her, and stealing her cash and mobile phone. The 25 year old victim, Worrada, filed a complaint against seven suspects at Mae Ping Police Station. The incident occurred…
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Cyber Crime Division probes legality of Jagat coin app
Thailand’s Cyber Crime Division has identified the Jagat coin as potentially illegal, uncovering three bank accounts linked to player transactions, and has summoned account holders for questioning. Players are warned of possible legal repercussions. Police Lieutenant General Trirong Phiewpan, commander of the Cyber Crime Division, yesterday highlighted concerns about the Jagat coin hunt app. Initial investigations suggest it may involve…
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Thai police halt illegal 15 tonnes of pork import from China
Thai highway police intercepted a major operation yesterday, January 22, involving the illegal import of more than 15 tonnes of pork meat from China. The meat, intended for restaurants in Bangkok, was smuggled across the Mekong River. Police Major General Khongkrit Lertsittikul, commander of the Highway Police Division, directed the operation leading to the arrest of three individuals: 27 year…
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Details emerge on Nakhon Phanom 12 million baht lottery dispute
The ongoing saga of a 12 million baht lottery win involving a female food vendor in That Phanom district, Nakhon Phanom province, has taken a new turn. The lottery, drawn on January 17, reportedly won 6 million baht for Boomlom, the food vendor, who claimed that Police Lieutenant Thitiphat, a customer she knew, had given her the ticket to settle…
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Love takes flight: Balloon festival lands in Chiang Rai
Get ready for an unforgettable Valentine’s Day and beyond as Chiang Rai’s skies light up with vibrant hot air balloons. The Singha Park Chiang Rai International Balloon Fiesta 2025 promises a breathtaking spectacle with 30 balloons from 13 countries taking flight next month. Pongrat Luangthamrongcharoen, Managing Director of Singha Park Chiang Rai Company Limited, has announced the return of the…
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Thai pickup driver assaults university student over roundabout dispute
A Thai pickup driver physically assaulted a university student in the northern province of Chiang Rai because the student stopped his motorcycle to allow vehicles in the roundabout to pass first. The university student, Pattanasak Sanya, shared details of the incident on his Facebook page yesterday. He began his account by stating that he was in the right. “I stopped…
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Khon Kaen: 4 year old girl has close brush with child abductor
A warning has emerged in Khon Kaen regarding an alleged child abduction gang after a mother recounted an incident involving her four year old daughter nearly being taken by a stranger. Police have confirmed that no missing child cases have been reported. A Facebook user posted about a child abduction gang in action yesterday, January 21, claiming her daughter was…
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Thai woman left in debt after lending 880k baht to friend
A woman voiced her grievances on social media after lending 880,000 baht to a close friend nearly three years ago, only to have it remain unpaid. While her friend continues to live a comfortable life, she finds herself burdened with a high-interest loan. The incident came to light yesterday, January 20, when the woman shared her story online, revealing the…
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Gold rush: Daylight thief strikes Phitsanulok market
A thief snatched a gold necklace weighing 2 baht from a 65 year old shop owner in broad daylight at a market in the Phitsanulok province. The suspect fled on a motorcycle, prompting police to launch an urgent search for the thief. The incident took place at the front of First Boutique, located at 109/103 Village 7, Bang Rakam subdistrict,…
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Fire at Phichit biomass plant burns 1,000 tonnes of fuel
A fire broke out at a biomass power plant in Taphan Hin district, Phichit province, engulfing over 1,000 tonnes of compressed fuel. Emergency services, including 15 fire trucks, responded to the incident. The cause of the fire remains unknown, and no injuries have been reported. The facility, operated by Thip Phichit Hybrid Energy Company, started operations on December 24, 2022.…
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15 minor earthquakes shake Pai district in Mae Hong Son
A series of 15 minor earthquakes impacted the Pai district in Mae Hong Son province from Sunday evening, January 19 through yesterday afternoon. The Earthquake Observation Division of the Meteorological Department of Thailand reported these events took place in Wiang Nuea subdistrict, Pai district, between 9.56pm on Sunday and 3.46pm yesterday, January 20. The earthquakes registered magnitudes between 1.7 and…
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Boy found safe in Khon Kaen after drug use with father
A stepmother in Udon Thani reached out to a local activist after concerns that her husband was introducing their 12 year old son, A, to drugs. However, when officials investigated, they initially lost contact with the family. Eventually, they found the boy safe in Khon Kaen, preparing to become a novice monk, and he admitted to drug use with his…
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Perverted professor forces teen to perform oral sex in public bathroom
A professor at a leading university in the southern province of Phayao allegedly forced a 17 year old Thai boy to perform oral sex on him in a bathroom at a petrol station in Lampang province. The family of the 17 year old victim, A, accompanied him to Kelangnakorn Police Station in Lampang to file a complaint against the suspect,…
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Nakhon Ratchasima to launch electric rail transit after 7-year wait
The government has given the green light to a long-anticipated electric rail mass transit initiative in the city of Nakhon Ratchasima. After a seven-year wait, the northeastern province is eagerly anticipating its own mass transit system, as noted by Sarawut Choedchai, a former city mayor and member of the traffic management committee in Thailand’s third-largest city after Bangkok and Chiang…
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Thai singer demands revenue from falsely claimed song rights (video)
Min Kuntaphat, a renowned Thai singer and independent artist from Maha Sarakham province, has accused a popular influencer with nearly 3 million followers of falsely claiming ownership of his song Soi Dao. According to Min, who legally owns the song’s rights, the influencer has been collecting revenue from the song on various online platforms for almost a year, despite Min’s…
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Ex-police officer and restaurant owner win 12 million baht lottery
A former police officer sharing a lottery ticket with a restaurant owner led to an unexpected windfall as the pair won the first prize in the Thai government lottery, securing 12 million baht. The joyous occasion took place at a restaurant by the Mekong River in Nakhon Phanom province, where the lucky ticket was shared. The winning lottery number 807779…
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Ex-waiter arrested for shabu restaurant theft in Ubon Ratchathani
Police in Ubon Ratchathani arrested a former head waiter accused of breaking into a shabu restaurant and stealing money. The suspect, 20 year old Natthaphon Wongko, reportedly used a stone to smash the glass of the restaurant, including one where he previously worked, to commit the theft. The incident was reported on Monday, January 13, when 30 year old Panupon…
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Banana plant in Phayao sparks lottery frenzy with unique bud
A unique phenomenon in Phayao province has attracted attention as a banana plant, seemingly cut down, has produced a bud resembling a lotus flower from its trunk. Residents are flocking to the site with hopes of finding lucky lottery numbers, believing a local spirit, known as the Goddess Tanee, is offering protection. Locals informed the media yesterday, January 15, about…
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Korat calls for urgent donations amid major blood shortage
Residents across northeastern Thailand are being encouraged to donate blood to address a significant shortage, as highlighted by officials at Regional Blood Centre V. Hospitals in regions such as Nakhon Ratchasima, Chaiyaphum, Buriram, and Surin are currently receiving only 30 to 40% of their required blood supply, according to Sirilak Piakkhunthod, head of the blood centre. Sirilak noted that 39…
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Thai girl reunited with family after abduction by drug addict
Thai police collaborated with armed forces in Myanmar to rescue a 10 year old Thai girl abducted by a drug-addicted Thai woman and taken to Myanmar via the border in Mae Sot district in the northern province of Tak. A 40 year old Thai mother, Khamporn Onkate, filed a complaint at Mae Sot Police Station yesterday, January 14, after her 10…
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Man rescued from water tank mishap in Nakhon Ratchasima
A man in Nakhon Ratchasima found himself trapped in a water tank while attempting repairs and required the assistance of emergency services. The disaster prevention and mitigation team from the Pho Klang Subdistrict Municipality received a call yesterday, January 14, about someone stuck in a household water tank. Upon arrival, the team saw the homeowner stuck in a 500-litre tank,…
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Khon Kaen school director arrested for drug dealing
Police in Khon Kaen arrested a school director for drug dealing after a sting operation caught him in the act of delivering drugs to an undercover officer. Yesterday, January 14, Police Colonel Theerathat Phongsuwan, of Nong Song Hong Police Station, reported the arrest of 40 year old Naphatdol, a school director in Nong Song Hong district, Khon Kaen province. He…
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Isaan tamarind vendor fined for nude model marketing tactics
Police fined a sweet tamarind vendor in the Isaan province of Udon Thani 2,500 baht for using explicit photos of scantily clad and nude models to promote his shop. A medical professional from Ban Phue Hospital in Udon Thani urged officers from Ban Phue Police Station to take action against the vendor, who advertised his shop with explicit images. The…
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