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.

  • Sponsored

    What are the most affordable places to visit in Thailand?

    The Thaiger key takeaways Thailand is still relatively affordable in 2025, offering cheap stays, street food, and low-cost attractions across all regions. Key budget-friendly destinations include Pai, Chiang Mai, Bangkok, Koh Tao, and Kanchanaburi. Travel protection matters. SafetyWing insurance ensures...

  • Sukhothai temple warns against releasing catfish | Thaiger

    Sukhothai temple warns against releasing catfish

    A temple in Sukhothai has gained widespread online attention for its warning sign against releasing catfish into local waters, highlighting the ecological damage caused by this practice. The sign at Wat Traphang Thong in Mueang District has sparked a viral discussion on social media. “Warning to those making merit: Do not release catfish as it destroys the ecosystem. “Avoid releasing…

  • Shop owner fatally stabbed chasing thief in Nakhon Ratchasima | Thaiger

    Shop owner fatally stabbed chasing thief in Nakhon Ratchasima

    A 27 year old shop owner in Nakhon Ratchasima tragically lost his life after being stabbed seven times while trying to catch a thief. The shop owner’s girlfriend saw the suspect, who had frequently visited the shop, and provided crucial information to the police. Police received a report at around 4am today of a fatal stabbing at a general store…

  • Deputy school director missing for 10 days amid financial dispute | Thaiger

    Deputy school director missing for 10 days amid financial dispute

    The family of a deputy school director, missing for 10 days, is deeply concerned about a possible financial dispute. The father of the missing school director, 72 year old Chalerm Jaisanti of Sri Sai Mun village in Nong Chang Khuen subdistrict, Mueang Lamphun district, reported that his son, 43 year old Ruchakorn Jaisanti, also known as Bank, deputy director of San…

  • 88 year old Thai man killed after tree branch falls on his head | Thaiger

    88 year old Thai man killed after tree branch falls on his head

    An 88 year old Thai man lost his life yesterday after a tree branch fell onto his head while he was sitting under it at a temple in the Mae On district of the northern province of Chiang Mai. Officers from Mae On Police Station were alerted to the death of the old man, Boonma Do-kaew, by Mae On Hospital,…

  • Army dog auction to feature trained military dogs | Thaiger

    Army dog auction to feature trained military dogs

    The Army Dog Centre is set to open bidding for 66 well-trained but test-disqualified military dogs on July 6. The auction will feature Labrador Retrievers, Belgian Malinois, and German Shepherds at the Army Dog Centre in Nakhon Ratchasima. Details have been gradually released on the Army Dog Centre’s Facebook page, revealing the initial bidding prices for the latest 10 dogs.…

  • Northern Thailand: Police shoot armed drug dealer in self-defence | Thaiger

    Northern Thailand: Police shoot armed drug dealer in self-defence

    Police officers in Chiang Kham, Phayao in northern Thailand encountered a drug dealer who aimed a firearm at them, prompting a defensive response that resulted in the suspect being shot. Police Colonel Sakorn Sukphoomphong, Superintendent of Chiang Kham Police Station, received a tip about a drug gathering in Ban Nam Lao, Moo 7, Mae Lao Subdistrict. He assigned Deputy Inspector…

  • Slithery surprise: Python disrupts Chon Buri football match | Thaiger

    Slithery surprise: Python disrupts Chon Buri football match

    A football player had an unexpected encounter with a large python at a stadium in Chon Buri, prompting a rescue team to capture the snake and its numerous eggs, which posed a threat to children playing in the area. The report was received from Sittichai Samrit, head of the Naprao community in Si Racha district, Chon Buri. A sizeable python…

  • Buriram abbot moved to monastery after loudspeaker incident | Thaiger

    Buriram abbot moved to monastery after loudspeaker incident

    A temple abbot in Buriram was taken to a nearby monastery to calm down after a loudspeaker incident at 4am caused a stir among locals. Stress during funeral preparations for his father was cited as the reason, with no drugs involved. A recent incident involving 47 year old Phra Khru Sutthithamparahat, the abbot of Mueang Fai Temple in Nang Rong…

  • Chiang Mai man’s foul play: Dog shot and grilled in grisly twist | Thaiger

    Chiang Mai man’s foul play: Dog shot and grilled in grisly twist

    In the northern province of Chiang Mai, a Burmese man fatally shot a dog, claiming the animal had eaten his chickens, before allegedly grilling and eating it. The Save Elephant Foundation in Chiang Mai contacted the Watchdog Thailand Foundation (WDT) and Mae Taeng Police Station to seek justice for the female dog named Daeng. The foundation revealed that the Burmese…

  • Lamps out: Lampang horse-drawn carriage rides face unbridled end | Thaiger

    Lamps out: Lampang horse-drawn carriage rides face unbridled end

    The famed horse-drawn carriage rides in Lampang may soon become a relic of the past, as dwindling tourism revenue fails to attract new generations to sustain the business, according to the Tourism Council of Lampang. Lampang registered 559,892 visitors in the first four months of this year, a 0.52% decline year-on-year, with only 35,131 foreign travellers. Despite the drop in…

  • Mother and infant found dead in Maha Sarakham pond | Thaiger

    Mother and infant found dead in Maha Sarakham pond

    A tragic discovery was made as a mother and her 10 day old infant were found dead in a pond in Maha Sarakham. The pair had been missing since yesterday, with the mother reportedly battling postpartum depression. At approximately 7am today, police officer Yutthasart Yenwattana received a report of two bodies floating in a pond near Ban Si Wichai in…

  • Severe drought in Nakhon Ratchasima threatens rice farmers | Thaiger

    Severe drought in Nakhon Ratchasima threatens rice farmers

    Nakhon Ratchasima faces a severe drought crisis, with newly sown rice fields wilting due to prolonged dry spells. The irrigation department is urgently pumping water to prevent damage to over 1,000 rai of rice seedlings. The significant drought is particularly felt in the Phimai district. The water allocation officials from the Thung Samrit Irrigation Project, Phimai district, have accelerated efforts…

  • Air pollution crisis: Village chief defends age-old burning practices (video) | Thaiger

    Air pollution crisis: Village chief defends age-old burning practices (video)

    As the haze season begins, villagers of Ban Mae Lan Kham are preparing to burn their land, adding to some of the world’s worst air pollution. When the haze season descends upon northern Thailand, village chief Nanthawat Tiengtrongsakun and his community start their annual preparations. They cut down shrubs and trees on their small plots, then set controlled burns to…

  • Colour con: Woman’s 7,000 baht hair dye disaster leaves her seeing red | Thaiger

    Colour con: Woman’s 7,000 baht hair dye disaster leaves her seeing red

    A woman expressed her disappointment after paying 7,000 baht for a hair colouring service that did not meet her expectations. She had requested a dark grey shade but the result was far from what she envisioned. The woman also experienced scalp irritation during the process. The incident took place at a hair salon in Ton Tann Market, Khon Kaen Province.…

  • Eel-lustrious luck: Rare albino eel brings lottery fortune in Udon Thani | Thaiger

    Eel-lustrious luck: Rare albino eel brings lottery fortune in Udon Thani

    A rare albino eel caught in Ban Dung, Udon Thani, has now brought lottery luck to its owner for three consecutive draws. The unique white eel was initially discovered by villagers from Santi Suk who were out fishing. Residents had gathered at house number 18, located at a three-way junction leading to the famous Kamchanod, the land of the mythical…

  • Phichit farmers boost income with organic date palms | Thaiger

    Phichit farmers boost income with organic date palms

    Farmers in Phichit are turning to organic date palm cultivation to boost income, with sweet, nutrient-rich fruits fetching high prices of 400 baht per kilogramme. This shift is driven by the fruit’s popularity and the relatively easy maintenance. Veerachat Kiewubon of Poon Siri Farm located in Moo 2, Wat Kwang Subdistrict, Pho Thale District, Phichit, converted his 8-rai lime plantation…

  • Police seize 1.1 million meth pills abandoned in Chiang Rai | Thaiger

    Police seize 1.1 million meth pills abandoned in Chiang Rai

    Police intercepted a major drug haul when two motorcyclists abandoned 1.1 million meth pills by the roadside in Chiang Rai. The suspects fled after encountering a checkpoint, leaving behind the drugs branded with a luxury car logo. The incident occurred around 6.30pm yesterday. Officers from the 191 Patrol Unit of Mae Chan Police Station and the Tha Khao Pluak checkpoint…

  • Pooling trouble: Udon Thani cops dive in, net 31 in drug raid splash | Thaiger

    Pooling trouble: Udon Thani cops dive in, net 31 in drug raid splash

    Police in Udon Thani conducted a significant raid on a pool villa, resulting in the arrest of 31 individuals involved in a drug party. The operation took place after authorities received a tip-off from the Damrongdhama Center. The raid uncovered a new type of illicit substance disguised within 13 packs of collagen, along with two ecstasy pills and 2.48 grammes…

  • Caught in the act: Man arrested for luring women into online porn | Thaiger

    Caught in the act: Man arrested for luring women into online porn

    Police arrested a 20 year old Thai man in the northern province of Lamphun for tricking women, the youngest as young as 12, into making porn and selling explicit content online. Police Cyber Taskforce (PCT) officers acted on a tip-off and investigated a Telegram account sharing explicit videos of several women until they managed to arrest the suspect, 20 year…

  • PM Srettha plans to transform Lamphun into a museum hub | Thaiger

    PM Srettha plans to transform Lamphun into a museum hub

    To revitalise Thailand’s tourism sector, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin is championing the transformation of Lamphun into a City of Museums and accelerating efforts to secure UNESCO World Heritage status for Nan. During a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, PM Srettha highlighted these ambitious proposals following his recent visits to several provinces. He was particularly impressed by the innovative vision of Lamphun’s…

  • Man in pickup truck in Tak claims children staring at him after crash (video) | Thaiger

    Man in pickup truck in Tak claims children staring at him after crash (video)

    A man parked his pickup truck in the middle of a dark road in Tak Province, after having a breakdown. He refused to get out of the vehicle, covered his eyes covered and claimed children were staring at him, while handprints covered the back window. A TikTok user with the account athena.hyk posted a video of the incident while driving…

  • Triple odds: Thai gamblers back new three-digit lottery system | Thaiger

    Triple odds: Thai gamblers back new three-digit lottery system

    The Thai government’s decision to introduce a three-digit lottery ticket system gained traction among gamblers, who believe it could reduce illegal gambling. However, lottery ticket vendors are concerned about the potential impact on their sales and are considering selling fewer traditional lottery tickets. Following the Cabinet’s approval of a draft ministerial regulation to introduce three-digit lottery tickets, the Government Lottery…

  • Pickup truck accident in Tak province leaves one dead | Thaiger

    Pickup truck accident in Tak province leaves one dead

    A tragic accident claimed the life of one sibling and left another critically injured when a pickup truck lost control and collided with their motorcycle. The incident occurred at 7.30am yesterday on the Mae Sot-Umphang Road in the Phop Phra district of Tak province. Police and emergency responders arrived promptly at the scene following a report of the accident. They…

  • Community rallies after baby boy abandoned in Buriram | Thaiger

    Community rallies after baby boy abandoned in Buriram

    A newborn baby boy was found abandoned behind a house in Kan Dong district, Buriram province, sparking a community effort to rescue him and uncover the reasons behind the incident. The discovery took place yesterday when residents heard the cries of the infant and alerted police. Police Lieutenant Parinya Yingngam, Deputy Inspector of Kan Dong Police Station, received a report…

  • Parking lot scales up: Fish delivery driver attacked in market brawl | Thaiger

    Parking lot scales up: Fish delivery driver attacked in market brawl

    A chaotic scene erupted at a local market in Udon Thani as a fish delivery driver was attacked over a parking dispute. The incident, which occurred around 7am yesterday, June 10, saw several men assaulting the driver before fleeing the scene in a pickup truck. Police from Udon Thani’s 191 suppression unit received a report of the attack, which took…

  • Buriram villagers accuse ex-principal of land grab | Thaiger

    Buriram villagers accuse ex-principal of land grab

    Villagers in Nong Mai Ngam, Lahan Sai District, Buriram Province, submitted evidence to the Buriram Provincial Land Reform Office, accusing a former school principal of seizing their agricultural land after they failed to repay loans. The villagers borrowed money from the ex-school principal but could not repay it in time, leading to the confiscation of their Sor Por Kor land,…

  • Smell Nakhon Ratchasima’s durian festival excitement | Thaiger

    Smell Nakhon Ratchasima’s durian festival excitement

    Nakhon Ratchasima officially kicked off its durian festival, featuring 38 varieties of Wang Nam Khiao durians. Desserts stores will be welcoming tourists from tomorrow with the grand opening on July 5. Ploenchit Durian Orchard, situated in Ban Khlong Sai, Wang Nam Khiao, Nakhon Ratchasima, the owner, Satit Tritarak, revealed the orchard cultivates over 40 varieties of mixed durians. With 360…

  • Thai man swindled out of 550,000 baht by online investment scam | Thaiger

    Thai man swindled out of 550,000 baht by online investment scam

    A man from Nong Han district in Udon Thani has been driven to suicidal thoughts after being swindled out of 550,000 baht by an online scammer posing as an investment advisor. The scammer continues to taunt him daily, asking if he wants to invest more. The 42 year old victim, identified by the pseudonym Krob, had worked for 10 years…

  • Flooding in Nakhon Ratchasima boosts income with tadpole sales | Thaiger

    Flooding in Nakhon Ratchasima boosts income with tadpole sales

    Heavy rainfall in Nakhon Ratchasima has led to flooding in several areas, prompting locals to catch tadpoles in rice fields. These tadpoles are used in traditional dishes, reducing household expenses and generating additional income as they sell for 300 baht per kilogramme. Recent reports indicate that various parts of Nakhon Ratchasima province have experienced rainfall, which has moistened the soil…

  • Spooky film screened at Nakhon Ratchasima cemetery | Thaiger

    Spooky film screened at Nakhon Ratchasima cemetery

    A spooky film screening was held at the Chinese cemetery in Nakhon Ratchasima, with hundreds of empty chairs set up for unclaimed spirits. The event, organised by the Sawang Metta Thammasathan Foundation, took place at a cemetery home to 2,800 graves. After a ceremony for the unclaimed deceased, the foundation arranged an open-air film screening from June 2 to June…