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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Sponsored Weekend road trip routes across Thailand [2025]
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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Thai school conducts mass drug testing: Is it a violation of student rights?
A Thai school recently conducted a mass urine drug testing initiative for its entire student body, causing online debate as netizens clashed over whether this practice constituted a violation of the students’ rights. The school, local authorities, and health officials collaborated on the project to ensure a drug-free environment. The school is located in the town of Tha Rong in…
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Drunk as a monk: Intoxicated Thai monks defrocked after selling temple items
In northeast Thailand’s Nong Bua Lamphu province, two intoxicated monks were defrocked after testing positive for high levels of alcohol consumption. The monks were also accused of selling temple-owned items without permission. Concerned locals alerted the Mueang Nong Bua Lamphu Police about the monks’ behaviour on a recent Tuesday. The police, accompanied by around 20 frustrated residents, visited the temple…
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Chiang Rai tackles severe PM 2.5 with China-Thai collaboration on air pollution
In response to the severe PM 2.5 air pollution and forest fire smog issues affecting Chiang Rai, Thai and Chinese experts have collaborated to provide sustainable solutions. They are working to tackle this complex problem, which has been difficult to predict due to fluctuating weather conditions. Representatives from Chiang Rai’s Natural Resources and Environment Office collaborated with Gansheng Shi, an…
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Large cobra invades Thai home, residents rush to buy lottery tickets
A large cobra was found in a house in Thailand‘s northern Phayao province, resulting in local disaster prevention officers quickly arriving to capture and release it. Meanwhile, residents rushed to buy lottery tickets featuring the house number, hoping for good fortune in the upcoming draw today. Officers from the Phayao Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department were alerted by Thanita Chaisukkoson,…
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Retired Thai teacher found safe after 3 days lost in forest searching for mushrooms
Relatives rejoiced as authorities found Jamlong Kheyakan, a 63 year old retired Thai teacher who had been lost in the forest for three days after searching for wild mushrooms. Authorities from various agencies, including Mae Wa National Park officers, soldiers from the 32nd Army Unit Lamphun, and local residents joined forces in search efforts, attempting to locate the last known…
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Thai police foil bribery attempt to free Chinese suspects, fake officer arrested
Thai police arrested four individuals, including a man impersonating a high-ranking officer, who attempted to bribe law enforcement to release detained Chinese suspects. Today, it was reported that the authorities successfully apprehended the four culprits in a sting operation in Chiang Rai. Late in the night, officers from the Chiang Saen Immigration Checkpoint and Chiang Saen Police Station, led by…
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Bangkok Airways to revive flights to Mae Hong Son, northern Thailand
Mae Hong Son Airport in northern Thailand became a ghost town after Nok Air scrapped the only remaining commercial route to the airport last month. But much to the delight of local tourism operators, Bangkok Airways is planning to revive flights to the province. Bangkok Airways is looking to start flying between Bangkok and Mae Hong Son via Lampang thrice…
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Bhumjaithai Party led by Anutin records unofficial win in Buriram
Led by current Deputy Prime Minister and Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, the Bhumjaithai Party unofficially won in Burriam province in the northeastern province of Thailand. In the 2019 General Election Buriram was divided into eight constituencies all of which were won by the Bhumjaithai Party. In this year’s General Election Buriram was divided into 10 constituencies and Bhumjaithai was…
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Body of missing teen found buried in northern Thailand forest
UPDATE #2 The body of 16 year old “Ping Pong” was found buried in the forest in Lampang province, northern Thailand, this morning after a week-long search. Ping Pong went missing on Saturday, May 6, after she did not return from a motorbike ride with 17 year old Woramet “Ben” Taota, a dual Thai-British national, whose body was found in the…
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Two arrested for human trafficking in karaoke bar raid in northeast Thailand
Two individuals were arrested and charged with human trafficking following a raid on a karaoke bar in Warin Chamrap district of the northeast Ubon Ratchathani province last night. A police team from the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Division (ATPD) apprehended the 63 year old owner of the karaoke bar on Pathumtheppakdi Road, named Somporn. They also arrested the bar manager, 45…
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Marine Department official allegedly smuggled Chinese nationals into Thailand
A Marine Department official allegedly smuggled eight Chinese nationals into Thailand. Police arrested the official in Chiang Rai last night. A joint patrol led by the Deputy Chief of Chiang Saen Police Station, Kittiphum Kanjini, and Sub-Lt Vathit Thampradit of the navy’s Mekong Riverine Unit, discovered a suspicious vehicle near the Ban Sob Kok community in Chiang Rai’s Chiang Saen…
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Swarm of giant honey bees cause chaos at Thailand airport
A swarm of giant honey bees caused quite the buzz at Khon Kaen Airport in northeast Thailand yesterday, causing delays to two flights and stinging six members of ground staff who all required hospitalisation. As soon as Thai AirAsia flight FD3260 from Bangkok’s Don Mueang Airport landed on the runway at Khon Kaen Airport yesterday, a colony of giant honey…
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Sex offender confesses to murdering Thai-British teenager, girlfriend still missing
A man formerly imprisoned for sex crimes has confessed to murdering the Thai-British teenager who was found dead in the woods of Lampang province, northern Thailand, on Sunday. The police are still searching for the deceased’s missing girlfriend. Police arrested a 44 year old Thai man named Chaiwat Boonkarin under suspicion of murder and concealing a corpse on Monday. Initially,…
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Thai villagers complain to Election Commission over alleged vote-buying
Thai Villagers from Non Reuang, in the district of Ban Kho in the northeast Khon Kaen province, stormed the Election Commission (EC) office with their lawyer and village headman, accusing a well-known political party’s candidate of engaging in vote-buying activities. The villagers presented video clips and witness statements to the investigative team, along with an official complaint against the alleged…
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Thai villagers plan lottery numbers based on unusual ‘fog-coloured’ calf
Thai villagers flocked to see an unusual “fog-coloured” calf after a cow gave birth to the beautiful grey and unique-looking offspring. Locals believe the calf brings good fortune and are eager to find auspicious lottery numbers for the upcoming draw on May 16. Yesterday, Sanook reporters were informed by the residents of Kud Thong, in the northeast Surin Province, that…
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Pickup truck crashes into house in northeast Thailand, injuring elderly man
A dramatic incident occurred when a speeding pickup truck crashed into a house in the Nang Rong district of northeast Thailand’s Buriram province, leaving an elderly man injured and causing serious damage. The homeowner, 75 year old Sompon Wisetsri, was watching television when the truck smashed through the walls of his house. At around 7pm last night, deputy investigator Vivat…
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Thai rescue volunteer mourns his 4-day old son’s burial
A 20 year old Thai rescue volunteer, Witwattanachan Chanthasri, faced a heartbreaking tragedy when he had to perform the burial of his four-day old son recently. Witwattanachan, who works as a rescue volunteer for the Buriram Provincial Highway Police, is known for his dedication to helping others in need. He often transports patients and deals with a variety of emergencies.…
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Hotel warns of pretty woman who dodges room fees, leaves mess and bloodstains
A hotel owner in Udon Thani province has posted a warning for other hotel operators about a pretty 25 year old woman who has not only avoided paying her hotel bill but also left her room in a miserable state. The owner claims that upon inspection, the room was found to be unclean and damaged to such an extent that…
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Cobra spits venom into Disaster Prevention officer’s eyes in northeast Thailand (clip)
A Siamese spitting cobra spat venom into the eyes of a Disaster Prevention officer in Nakhon Ratchasima province in northeast Thailand yesterday. Rescue officers responded quickly and managed to save his life and eyesight. At 7.40pm, the Hook 31 Rescue Unit was informed that someone was spat at by a cobra at Ban Tanot Village, Moo 2, Ban Pho subdistrict,…
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Spirit or doll’s house? Foreign woman goes viral for Barbie doll photoshoot in northern Thailand
Thai netizens were amused by a viral clip of a foreign woman snapping a pic of her Barbie doll inside a spirit house outside the White Temple in Chiang Rai province in northern Thailand on Monday. Spirit houses – which look like miniature temples – are found in abundance all over the kingdom and are intended to appease ghosts by…
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Suspected murderer of car saleswoman in Thailand charged with 7 serious offences
UPDATE Police pressed seven serious charges against the man who yesterday confessed to raping and murdering a young car saleswoman in Chiang Mai, northern Thailand, on Saturday. Police say it is likely he will be punished with the maximum penalty. Initially, officers at Doi Saket Police Station charged 40 year old Nathapol “Ainat” Panpadungsap with three counts of rape using…
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Drunk cop abandons car blocking traffic in northeast Thailand
Yesterday, a drunk police officer parked his car in the middle of the road in Udon Thani province in northeast Thailand when he needed to pee. Upon his return, his wheel had been clamped. He attempted to drive the clamped vehicle before fleeing. Officers at Mueang Udon Thani Police Station were informed that someone with a police officer’s uniform was…
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Car saleswoman brutally raped and murdered in Thailand, family demands death penalty
The family of a young used car saleswoman who was brutally raped and murdered in Chiang Mai, northern Thailand, on Saturday is calling for the serial rapist responsible to be punished with the death penalty. Police arrested a 40 year old suspect, Nathapol Panpadungsap, in Mueang district at 3.30pm on Sunday. He has a long criminal history and was most…
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Elephant moves fallen tree blocking road in Thailand (video)
An elephant moved a fallen tree blocking the Lampang – Phrae Road in northern Thailand during a storm on Monday, allowing traffic to resume as normal. The moment was captured on Facebook Live. The owner of the elephant, Weerawat Triyot, said that he was on his way back to Chaiyaphum province after taking his 16 year old elephant Dan Siam…
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Tour bus driver flees scene after crash in Thailand, 1 dead, 40 injured
A tour bus driver fled the scene after losing control and crashing in Maha Sahakham province in northeast Thailand this morning. One person was killed in the crash and 40 more people were injured. At 12.05am, officers at Rat Charoen Police Station were informed that a Thai Sriram Company’s tour bus from Ubon Ratchathani to Bangkok lost control and crashed…
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Pregnant elephant tramples mahout to death in northeast Thailand
A pregnant elephant trampled its 60 year old mahout to death in Buriram province in northeast Thailand yesterday. The deceased’s wife said the elephant was moody because of the extremely hot weather. Officers at Satuek Police Station were called to Ban Nong Kaen village in Sanam Chai district after receiving a report that an elephant killed its owner. Police found the…
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Summer storm wreaks havoc on 2 districts of northeast Thailand province
A summer storm wreaked havoc on two districts of Thailand’s northeast Nakhon Phanom province. Around 70 houses in That Phanom and Renu Nakhon districts were damaged yesterday afternoon, according to authorities. In That Phanom district, both Moo 3 and Moo 8 villages of Tambon Phon Phaeng faced heavy showers, strong gusts of wind, and thunderstorms for approximately an hour. As…
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Owner of mansion in Thailand angered at rumours it’s haunted
The owner of a grand, allegedly haunted mansion in northeast Thailand‘s Nakhon Phanom province came out to dispel rumours surrounding the house. The dilapidated building, belonging to the descendants of local nobility, garnered attention after it was reported to be worth millions. The owner has confirmed that the house has never been haunted and has never served as a repository…
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Thai cake shop goes viral for flea, toad, and gecko cakes
A Thai cake shop in the Isaan province of Sakon Nakhon called Vet Mon (magic) gained immense popularity on Thai social media due to its unique desserts: flea, toad, and Tokay gecko cakes. The owner of the cake shop, Charit Kunlasaree, shared a picture of the dog flea cake on the official Facebook page of Vet Mon on April 15.…
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YouTuber finds human skull on banks of Mekong River in Thailand
A YouTuber found a human skull while filming content on the banks of the Mekong River in Nakhon Phanom province in northeast Thailand yesterday. At 6pm, Chanathip Chapuban – aka Mukdahan Moss – was riding a motorbike and filming content for his YouTube channel when he noticed something by the water on Sai Thong Kot Boon Beach (Si Khotrabun Golden…
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