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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Weekend road trips in Thailand are a great way to enjoy beautiful scenery, local culture, and quick getaways without much travel time. From winding mountain routes in the north to coastal drives in the south, every journey brings new sights...
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Elderly woman transforms village with 500-metre flower garden
A 75 year old woman has garnered widespread admiration online for her dedication to maintaining a 500-metre stretch of flowers along a roadside. Initially mistaken for a government project, the flower garden is entirely the work of the elderly woman. The online community was abuzz with appreciation after a clip posted on the page Jae Moi V+ from TikTok user…
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Grieving mother pleads for justice after son shot dead by gang
A bed-ridden mother mourns her son, a Grade 8 student, who was shot dead by a gang. She pleads for the police to swiftly apprehend the perpetrators, asserting her son had no conflicts with anyone. Yesterday, a tragic incident occurred in Nakhon Phanom where three individuals on a motorcycle shot 14 year old Oak in the back of the head,…
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Mae Hong Son villagers reap profits from collecting mushrooms
Mae Hong Son villagers are seizing the annual opportunity to gather mushrooms known as the barometer earthstar, earning up to 2,000 baht per day. These mushrooms, known for their white flesh and sweet, crunchy taste, have become a significant economic driver in the region. Throughout the early rainy season, Mae Hong Son’s forests yield an abundance of barometer earthstar mushrooms,…
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Golden pumpkin vine in Phayao draws villagers seeking luck
A unique golden-hued pumpkin vine has captured the attention of villagers in Phayao, prompting them to seek luck and fortune. The vine, located in the vegetable garden of Amphorn Chaithong’s home, has drawn a crowd eager to witness and worship the unusual plant. The golden pumpkin vine, planted near the fence of Amphorn Chaithong’s residence in Cham Pa Wai, Mueang…
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Thai abbot denies rape allegation by transwoman and plans lawsuit
A Thai abbot at Phra Phutthabat Pha Nam Temple in the northern province of Lamphun denied raping a transwoman and accused her of fabricating the story after a conflict over flower decoration costs. A complaint warrant was circulated on social media, detailing the alleged sexual assault of a 38 year old transgender victim by the abbot, Phra Kru Sunthorn Auttakarn,…
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Sisaket school attack leaves boy severely injured
A violent incident occurred at a school in Khun Han district, Sisaket province, where a 12 year old boy was brutally attacked by older students after refusing to buy cigarettes for them. The incident has raised concerns about student safety and prompted intervention from educational authorities. A Facebook post by a concerned relative highlighted the severe injuries sustained by the…
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Father and daughter targetted by gunmen over land dispute
A father and daughter are living in fear after their home was targeted by gunmen, prompting them to post police reports on their door and trees to deter further attacks. The incident is believed to be linked to a dispute over valuable land. Kamin, a 74 year old homeowner in Thung Pho, Nong Chang District, Uthai Thani Province, reported that…
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Runaway kangaroo confirmed dead after 30 hour search in Chiang Mai
The Director of the Zoological Park Organisation of Thailand confirmed today that officers discovered the dead body of the runaway kangaroo near the Chang Khian Waterfall at the foothill of Doi Suthep mountain in the northern province of Chiang Mai. The red kangaroo, aged two years and six months, escaped from the Chiang Mai Zoo at about 7.50am yesterday, May…
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Spooky spectacle: Haunted house in Surin sparks lottery frenzy
A deserted house in Surin Province, northeastern Thailand, has become the centre of local attention after reports of ghost sightings and supernatural occurrences. Relatives and villagers have been flocking to the house to seek lucky lottery numbers ahead of the upcoming draw. The house, located at 27, Moo 6, Ban Bueng, Ban Rae Subdistrict, Khwao Sinarin District, has been abandoned…
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Thai authorities seize one million meth pills near Chiang Rai Airport
Authorities intercepted a major drug bust involving one million methamphetamine pills in the parking lot of a well-known shopping mall near Chiang Rai Airport. The suspects, a man and a woman, were caught preparing to transport the drugs into the interior of the country. Colonel Kidakorn Chantra, Deputy Commander of the Pha Muang Task Force, examined the seized drugs and…
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Hopping hunt: Chiang Mai Zoo scrambles to find runaway kangaroo
Chiang Mai Zoo staff members are on a mission to locate a runaway kangaroo that was last seen this morning hopping along the main road leading to the popular tourist attraction, Doi Suthep. The incident came to light when a Thai man, Tun Chanachai, shared a video of the escapee on Facebook around 8.20am today, May 29 with a caption…
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Hooked: Foreigner makes waves, takes a dip in fish spa (video)
A foreign man captured the attention of Thai netizens after a viral video on the TikTok application showed him dipping his head into a fish tank foot spa to cool off on a hot day in the northern province of Chiang Mai. A Thai man shared the video on his TikTok account, @dai.yin.see.tatto, yesterday, May 27, with the caption, “When…
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Hoppy news: Rare albino frog spawns lottery luck in Khon Kaen
Residents in Khon Kaen province have been captivated by the discovery of a rare albino frog, which they believe to be a harbinger of good fortune. This unusual amphibian was stumbled upon after a rainstorm, prompting villagers to flock to see it in anticipation of uncovering lucky lottery numbers. Social media and various pages across Khon Kaen province have been…
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Drugged-up driver’s wild ride ends with 120km police chase
A dramatic police chase unfolded when a 25 year old man, high on drugs, stole a pickup truck and a minibus, fleeing across provinces for 120 kilometres before being apprehended in Nakhon Ratchasima, also known as Korat, claiming he was escaping from people trying to kill him. The incident began last night, May 27, when police from Choknasan Police Station…
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Buriram village builds shrine for Golden Boy replica
The local municipality and residents are actively constructing a replica shrine and lifelike statue of the Golden Boy at the excavation site, using funds raised through faith and donations. A grand ceremony is planned for July 18 to honour the artefact. Following the repatriation of the bronze sculptures of Lord Shiva, known as the Golden Boy, and the Kneeling Female…
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North Thailand: Man pleads with estranged wife who left with monk
A Uthai Thani man is pleading for his estranged wife to return after she allegedly left with a monk. The Thai man, 61 year old Sanan, made a tearful appeal through the media, urging his 53 year old wife, Nanthawan to come back to their home in Nong Chang district. Sanan expressed his willingness to forgive her relationship with the…
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Chiang Rai: Fire devastates central Mae Chan market
A massive fire engulfed the bustling central market in Mae Chan, Chiang Rai, causing extensive damage and leaving vendors devastated. The blaze spread to adjacent buildings and destroyed numerous stalls, taking over two hours to put under control. A ferocious fire broke out yesterday at Nuanchan Market, commonly known as Kad Lang Mae Chan, located along the Chan River in…
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Fairyland department store in Nakhon Sawan up for sale
A real estate broker announced on Facebook the sale of the renowned Fairyland department store, a well-known local establishment in the Nakhon Sawan province. “Selling Fairyland Department Store, Nakhon Sawan, along with adjacent shophouses on Sawanwithi Road. The property covers 7 rai (approximately 2.8 acres), with a five-storey building in the heart of Nakhon Sawan. The price is 550 million…
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Northeast Thailand: Wildlife officer mauled by bear survives attack
A brave wildlife officer narrowly escaped death after being mauled by a ferocious bear while patrolling a remote mountain in northeast Thailand. Danai, a 39 year old officer from the Phu Khieo Wildlife Sanctuary in Chaiyaphum province, was conducting a routine patrol through dense woodland last Friday, May 17 when an Asian black bear emerged, attacking Danai with its powerful…
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Rocket near-miss with aircraft prompts safety concerns in Surin
Rocket fireworks narrowly missed an aircraft in Surin province on Sunday, prompting officials to urge pilots to navigate around them. The district chief denied the incident occurred in his area, highlighting a lack of clarity about the event’s location. Local reporters were alerted to illegal gambling activities at the Boon Bang Fai rocket festival behind a temple in Ban Jang…
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Thai school embraces LGBTQ rights: Students enjoy hair freedom
In a groundbreaking move that left students beaming with “Pride,” Boon Wattana School in Nakhon Ratchasima is now allowing LGBTQ students to wear their hair in a style that best reflects their gender identity. This progressive measure has seen many male students proudly sporting shoulder-length hair, a privilege previously reserved only for female students. Panwarit Patwimonsilp, a 16 year old…
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Chiang Mai police invoke 10pm curfew after samurai gang rampage
Chiang Mai Provincial Police officers imposed a 10pm curfew on locals under 18 years old following a deadly rampage by a criminal gang armed with samurai swords. The commander of the Provincial Police Region 5, Krittapon Yi-sakhon, revealed to the MumKhao news platform that a group of men, mostly teenage Burmese nationals, repeatedly caused chaos, committed theft, fatally attacked, and…
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Cambodian worker in Thailand wins 12 million baht in lottery
A Cambodian woman working as a labourer in Nakhon Ratchasima has become a millionaire after winning 12 million baht in the lottery. She shared the emotional moment of realising she had won, celebrating with her partner. Reports emerged that a foreign worker had won the first prize in the lottery, amounting to 12 million baht, at Ban Khok Na Klang,…
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Surin temple’s Buddha statue event sparks lottery buzz
A revered wooden Buddha statue’s head-raising ceremony at Nong Khu Pattana Temple in Surin province has become the talk of the town, as the auspicious numbers divined in the ritual matched the age of the temple’s abbot. The event yesterday drew a large crowd of devotees and lottery enthusiasts eager to witness the traditional ceremony and perhaps gain insight into…
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Thai Vietjet halts Phuket-Chiang Rai flights
Thai Vietjet has abruptly cancelled its direct flights between Chiang Rai, in northern Thailand, and Phuket, a favourite destination on the Andaman Sea coast. The budget airline remained tight-lipped about the sudden suspension. However, the timetable for May 1 to 31, filed with Mae Fah Luang Chiang Rai International Airport and posted on its Facebook page, indicates that the final…
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Nong Khai battered by fierce storm, homes and temple ravaged
An unprecedented storm struck Nong Khai province last night, causing significant damage to homes and infrastructure, including a widespread power outage due to fallen electricity poles. A lifelong local, 55 year old Boorachai expressed he had never witnessed such severe weather in his lifetime. As the storm raged through the region, residents of the Ban Fang district of Sakhrai scrambled…
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Nakhon Ratchasima farmer earns big with sweetleaf bush
In a remarkable agricultural venture in Nakhon Ratchasima, a Thai farmer transformed a 1-acre plot of land into a thriving sweetleaf bush plantation, with a yield that commands an impressive price of 200 baht per kilogramme. The 63 year old farmer, Aatthakorn Kaewmorakot, resides in Chan Kho, Mu 3, Rang Ka Yai Sub-district, Phimai District, Nakhon Ratchasima Province, and is…
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Reeling in profits: Nakhon Ratchasima villagers cash in on low water levels
Villagers in Nakhon Ratchasima flocked to buy fishing permits, taking advantage of the reduced water levels in a natural canal to catch fish for both consumption and sale, thereby boosting their income. The funds raised from selling the permits are earmarked for village development. Reporters noted that hundreds of residents from the Phimai district, in Nakhon Ratchasima province, gathered at…
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Muay Thai might: Burmese brawlers flee Chiang Mai showdown
Seven men, believed to be Burmese nationals, picked a fight with four Thai men at a popular attraction in Chiang Mai. However, they quickly apologised and ran away when they discovered two of the victims were Muay Thai boxers. Muay Thai boxer and trainer, 34 year old Prawit “Ter” Petboribundee, shared a video and photos of the incident on Facebook,…
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Massive drug bust: Heroin seized in river smuggling operation
Local officers from Na Ngiew Police Station and border patrol police swooped down on Phukhao Thong village in Ban Mueang subdistrict, uncovering a labyrinthine web of drug smuggling. Nestled in the Sangkhom district of Nong Khai province, this clandestine operation bordered Laos. Upon arrival, the officers stumbled upon four shadowy figures ferrying cardboard boxes into a nondescript house. Police Lieutenant…
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