Northern Thailand News
Stay updated with the latest Northern Thailand news at The Thaiger, your ultimate source for regional information. Keep informed on local events, business developments, and lifestyle stories in popular locations like Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, and Pai.
Our in-depth coverage includes famous monuments such as the White Temple and Doi Suthep. Whether you’re a resident or a visitor, The Thaiger’s Northern Thailand news page is your essential guide to exploring this culturally rich region. Delve into the vibrant community and diverse culture with our expertly curated content, designed to keep you connected and well-informed.
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Sponsored Do foreigners get free healthcare in Thailand?
Thailand’s healthcare system is well-regarded across Southeast Asia, with options ranging from public hospitals to world-class private facilities. But when it comes to foreign residents or tourists, healthcare access isn’t as straightforward. So, do foreigners get free healthcare in Thailand?...
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Sakon Nakhon headman caught in 9 million baht heroin bust
In a major drug bust, authorities in Bueng Kan Province apprehended three individuals, including a prominent subdistrict headman from Sakon Nakhon, for smuggling nearly 10 kilogrammes of heroin. The arrest took place yesterday afternoon at a border patrol police company in Bueng Kan, following a covert operation led by the local law enforcement and border patrol units. The suspects were…
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Northeast Thailand: Son murders father in family dispute
A family tragedy unfolded in Non Sang, Nong Bua Lamphu province when a son murdered his father in a moment of apparent self-defence. The harrowing incident, which took place yesterday evening, resulted in an urgent manhunt for the perpetrator, who is now urged to surrender to the authorities. The deceased, Songsakran, was known by locals for his drastic change of…
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Tinder ad slammed as an insult to Isaan women and Korat cuisine
The leader of a women’s rights protection organisation in the Isaan province of Nakhon Ratchasima condemned an advertisement by the Tinder dating application for insulting women in the province and depreciating Korat’s signature dish. Tinder, one of the world’s most popular dating applications, recently launched a new advertising campaign across various provinces in Thailand. The campaign encourages visitors of each…
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Phayao to become Thailand’s next eco-tourism hotspot
In a move set to transform Phayao into Thailand’s next eco-tourism hotspot, the Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, unleashed a whopping 300 million baht across 13 projects. This ambitious blueprint not only aims to catapult Phayao onto the global sustainable travel map but also promises a future where rubber farmers rejoice over record-breaking profits. PM Srettha, who also…
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Thai police colonel commits suicide in Uthai Thani
A high-ranking Thai police officer committed suicide yesterday evening, sparking an investigation into the circumstances that led to the drastic move. The incident, involving Police Colonel Kosol Jaipechdee, took place at a busy intersection in Uthai Thani province, directly in front of a well-known shopping complex. The provincial police chief, Major General Narongdech Saksumboon, visited the scene to oversee the…
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Elderly woman fatally crashes into rice field in Udon Thani, two injured
An elderly woman fatally crashed into a rice field yesterday afternoon in the Kum Pha Wa Pi district of Udon Thani province, leaving two seriously injured. The 70 year old woman driving to a medical appointment yesterday, March 19, suddenly lost control of her vehicle, which veered off the road and overturned several times before coming to a stop in…
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10 teenage boys allegedly gang rape 13 year old girl in Sukhothai
Ten teenage boys allegedly gang raped a 13 year old girl in a rice field hut in the northern province of Sukhothai. Five of the gang surrendered to police and confessed to the crime. A 56 year old woman, Naphatcha, filed a complaint with Ban Dan Lan Hoi Police Station after a group of boys sexually assaulted her 13 year…
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Fatal bus crash in northern Thailand kills two drivers, injures 44
A fatal bus crash involving a long-haul vehicle claimed the lives of its two drivers and injured 44 passengers early today in the Mueang district of Nakhon Ratchasima. The double-decker bus, run by Lotusphibul Tours, was travelling from Bung Kan to Bangkok when it collided with a steel support for a road sign. The accident occurred around 2am, today, March…
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Forest fires in northern Thailand increase dangerous PM2.5 levels
Forest fires in the northern provinces of Thailand have sparked an increase in atmospheric PM2.5 levels, leading to a stern warning from the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation. The department stated yesterday that severe legal consequences will be faced by those who illicitly ignite fires in forest lands. Department chief Athapol Charoenshunsa unveiled that they have recently…
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Man physically assaulted by teens after Korat festival
A 55 year old man was physically assaulted by a group of teenagers in Nakhon Ratchasima, sparking outrage from his daughter who demanded justice and called for witnesses. The incident occurred on Wednesday, March 13 at approximately 3.30am, during the final night of the Thao Suranari victory celebration in the Korat region. The man fell victim to a brutal attack…
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Decade-old Thai rice from controversial scheme found fresh
Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Phumtham Wechayachai conducted a rice inspection following an invitation from the Association of Thai Agricultural Product Surveyors. The association, keen to dispel allegations regarding the quality of rice held under the contentious rice-pledging scheme, orchestrated an eventful visit to warehouses owned by Poonpon Trading Ltd and Kittichai Ltd in different districts of the northeastern…
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Nearly a million pay respects to Buddha relics in northern Thailand
Nearly one million devotees paid homage to the sacred Buddha relics over four days, as the revered artefacts were temporarily enshrined in Ubon Ratchathani before being transferred to Krabi province on March 14, as part of a ceremonial procession. This event marked a significant moment in Thai religious history, showcasing the deep reverence the population holds for such important symbols…
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iCare Foundation transforms lives in northern Thai villages
iCare Thailand Foundation, founded by Danish-Norwegian visionaries, unveils its latest endeavour in the northern Thai countryside. Led by Michael and Karin Andreassen, the iCare Thailand Foundation sets out on a poignant mission to uplift remote communities, one dormitory at a time. Arriving at Huay Pu Kaeng Village, nestled along the Myanmar border, the team’s dedication radiates amidst the sweltering Thai…
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Triple murder-suicide stuns community in northern Thailand
In a shocking discovery at a newly built residence in Udon Thani, Thailand, a gardener found three bodies lying side by side, in the aftermath of an apparent murder-suicide involving a retired police officer. The deceased included the homeowner, her sister, and the ex-officer, who were to celebrate a housewarming and birthday tomorrow, March 14. Police Colonel Pattanawong Janphol, the…
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Buriram issues health alert over anthrax after Laos cases
The province of Buriram in Thailand issued a health warning over the threat of anthrax, a severe bacterial disease, following the identification of three cases in neighbouring Laos. The disease, which can spread from animals to humans, particularly through the consumption of raw bovine and buffalo meat, prompted heightened surveillance and precautionary measures. Today, the provincial livestock office, led by…
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Father discovers daughter’s body in Udon Thani, sparking village fears
A father found his daughter dead in a storeroom at their home in Udon Thani, sparking fear among villagers of a malevolent spirit after a series of unsettling incidents. The 48 year old woman from Udon Thani, known only as Orawan, appeared to have taken her own life by hanging, leaving the community in shock and prompting an investigation into…
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Fisherman shot by friend with harpoon in northern Thailand (video)
A Thai fisherman shot through the head by a friend with a harpoon after a row over who caught the biggest fish said he felt better after a cigarette, despite the spear being lodged in his head. The 45 year old fisherman, Sujit Klingtalay, had a spat with a friend while enjoying a drink in Nakhon Ratchasima province on Sunday, March…
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Buriram shooting: Teenagers injured in revenge attack
A violent encounter last night left two high school students injured after being shot by a younger peer. The incident, which took place near a petrol station in Buriram province, was reportedly an act of revenge on behalf of a friend. The two victims, both Grade 9 students, were attacked as they rode their motorcycle in the vicinity of Nong…
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Northeast Thailand: Former boxer’s son kills father over farming dispute
A former boxer’s son murdered his father yesterday in a fit of dissatisfaction over a farming dispute. The son, after finding only two plots ploughed instead of the expected complete field for vegetable farming, locked his father’s neck and used a steel rod, typically carried by oxen, to stab him multiple times in the neck and abdomen, leading to the…
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Man on rampage in Sisaket injures cop and residents with crowbar
A 50 year old Thai man’s violent rampage in Sisaket Province ended with a police officer seriously injured and the assailant subdued by an electric gun. The incident unfolded in the small community of Ban Kradaw, where the man, identified as Boonyiam, attacked an elderly man on a motorcycle with a metal crowbar, breaking his arm. A female village head…
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Phetchabun residents petition over Khao Kho land dispute
A heated land dispute in Phetchabun’s Khao Kho district led residents of 35 local communities to petition two House committees for intervention. Opposition leader and member of the House of Representatives committees on the military and natural resources and environmental affairs, Chaithawat Tulathon, received the petition yesterday. Buppha Chanpheng, representing the locals living within the Khao Kho forest complex, submitted…
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Chiang Mai flower festival blooms success with record visitors
Chiang Mai is basking in the success of its 47th Flower Festival, which attracted a staggering 668,000 visitors, both Thai and international, generating over 80 million baht (US$2.25 million) in revenue. As a result, the province is preparing to enhance the event’s float parade, focusing on innovation and interest for future festivals. On March 8, the deputy governor of Chiang…
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Woman’s body found floating in Rayong pond prompts police probe
A grim discovery was made at dawn today when a woman’s body was found floating in a durian orchard pond in Rayong province, triggering a police investigation. The unidentified victim, estimated to be between 35 and 40 years old, was found naked and bound, with her head covered by a pair of black and white striped trousers and encased in…
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Kalasin celebrates temple land title deed with traditional procession
A ceremonial procession in Kalasin province involving over a hundred participants in traditional attire recently celebrated the issuance of a land title deed for a local temple. The event honoured the revered monk Luang Pu Ha Supharo, affectionately known as Dinosaur Monk, whose passing on November 24 last year marked the end of an era. The procession, which spanned 25…
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Will Thaksin return to Chiang Mai home?
In an exclusive statement, Thaksin Shinawatra’s youngest daughter debunked rumours, stating that while her father expressed a desire to visit Chiang Mai, there are no concrete travel arrangements yet. Thaksin’s youngest daughter, Paetongtarn, made known that nothing had been planned. “As of now, no specific itinerary has been planned. He said he’d like to visit his ancestors’ graves. And his elder…
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Khon Kaen plans for state-of-the-art light rail transit system
Khon Kaen province declared its intention to kickstart the construction of a cutting-edge Light Rail Transit (LRT) system. Planned to begin in 2025, this ambitious LRT project, the first of its kind outside Bangkok, promises to usher in a new era of modernised transit, with its inaugural route encircling the Bueng Kaen Nakhon Reservoir. The maiden phase of this visionary…
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DSI grills teacher candidates over Khon Kaen exam scam
The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) has initiated an extensive interrogation of candidates for assistant teacher positions at the Primary Educational Service Area Office 2 in Khon Kaen, following allegations of widespread exam fraud. Investigators have discovered that exam materials were being sold for 600,000 baht each. The probe, which took place today at the Learning Promotion Office in Ban…
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US Army captain defying tradition with a Buddhist twist
In a bustling Southwestern bar at a Royal Thai Navy (RTN) base, a US Army captain stood out, not just for his uniform but for the emblem adorning his cap, the Buddhist wheel of dharma, a rare sight in military circles. Chaplain (Captain) Songkran Waiyaka, one of only 10 Buddhists among over 3,000 religious leaders in the Army, often finds…
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Shooting spree at Terminal 21 Korat unveils workplace vendetta
Nakhon Ratchasima police raced to Terminal 21 Korat following a shooting report at 7.15pm on Saturday, March 2. Amidst bustling shoppers, panic gripped the air as echoes of a previous massacre resurfaced, casting a shadow of fear over the scene. Arriving swiftly, emergency responders discovered Natdanai Leklak, a 30 year old security guard at the hotel, bearing six gunshot wounds…
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Northeast Thailand bus crash leaves students injured, driver dead
A bus crash on Si Kew-Chaiyaphum Road near Nakhon Ratchasima on Friday left 47 students and teachers injured and the driver dead. The bus crash occurred at approximately 10.30pm, with the vehicle carrying 39 students and 12 staff members on a field trip from Chaiyaphum province to the revered Temple of the Emerald Buddha in Bangkok met with tragedy. Eyewitnesses…
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