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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Mobile SIM card dispute leads to fatal shooting in Uthai Thani
A heated argument over a mobile phone SIM card ended tragically when a man shot his uncle dead at the front door of their home. The gunman, a former village assistant headman, had resigned after testing positive for drugs. Wasawat Siphipob, an investigator at Sawang Arom Police Station in Uthai Thani province, received a report yesterday, July 15, at around…
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Nakhon Ratchasima man orders toolset, gets water bottles instead
A man from Nakhon Ratchasima was left disheartened after spending 499 baht on what he believed to be a set of tools but instead received three bottles of water. Nirat Sukboon, a 46 year old resident of Nai Mueang subdistrict, Phimai district, took his complaint to the Phimai Police Station, presenting the evidence of the water bottles. Nirat shared that…
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State officials implicated in bid-rigging scheme for rubber latex firms
The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) uncovered the involvement of state officials in bid-rigging for rubber latex companies in 10 provinces, leading to significant financial losses for the country. The investigation has been forwarded to the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) for further action. Last year, a group of rubber latex traders submitted a letter to the prime minister, requesting an…
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Thai couple arrested for illegal wildlife trade in Surin province
Police arrested a Thai couple involved in the illegal wildlife trade, confiscating two tiger cubs, two pairs of Thai elephant tusks, and 26 pieces of African elephant tusks worth millions of baht. Efforts are underway to rescue an additional four tiger cubs. The operation, led by Director of the National Parks Office Chaiwat Limlikhitaksorn and officers from Dom Police Station…
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Students report being misled into bizarre camp in Thailand
Several students from a renowned university in northeastern Thailand have reported being misled by senior students into attending a peculiar camp that deviated from Buddhist teachings. The camp involved strange rituals, including chanting hundreds of times and creating heavenly passports. Students from a well-known university in northeastern Thailand raised concerns about a camp they were taken to by senior students,…
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Garbage truck crash in Buriram kills worker, injures driver
A garbage truck skidded on a slippery road and crashed into a village sign and an electric pole, causing the death of a worker who fell from the truck and leaving the driver severely injured. A tragic accident occurred when a municipal garbage truck lost control on a wet road and collided with a village sign and an electric pole,…
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North Thailand: Police seize 66,000 smuggled e-cigarettes
Police seized 66,000 smuggled e-cigarettes valued at over 15 million baht from a warehouse in Mueang, Uttaradit, northern Thailand. The Thai Consumer Protection Police Division (CPPD) and other relevant agencies announced the successful operation during a press conference yesterday. CPPD officers had been investigating illegal online e-cigarette sellers who targeted juveniles by disguising the products as cartoon characters. These toy-like…
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Khon Kaen fatal collision leaves one dead
A car accident on a road in Ban Phai, Khon Kaen, resulted in a fatal collision, with one man dead at the scene and efforts underway to locate his relatives. The crash involved a sedan spinning out of control and hitting a pickup truck. Police Lieutenant Kittipol Sripan of Ban Phai Police Station received a report of a car accident…
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Thai cyber police arrest TikTok influencer over gambling links
Thai cyber police arrested a popular TikTok influencer for posting links to online gambling sites, earning 30,000 baht per month. Police led by Worawat Watnakornbancha and Sathit Promuthai, along with Adichat Amornpradit, carried out a search warrant at the home of the owner of the Ara Tae page in Khon Kaen. The search revealed 34 year old Phusanisa, known as Ara…
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Ubon Ratchathani melts hearts with divine candle creation to win ice sculpting world title
Ubon Ratchathani province clinched the world ice sculpting championship title, showcasing its skill by carving a candle into the figure of Phra Mae Thorani squeezing her hair. This reflects a Buddhist narrative, blending the identity of the ancient cave paintings of Pha Taem with symbols of prosperity and success. The masterpiece will be displayed at the Miracle of Candle 2024…
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Udon Thani residents offer reward to stop nightly disturbances
Residents in Ban Dung, Udon Thani have reached their limit with local teenagers causing nightly disturbances by ringing doorbells. They are offering a 5,000 baht reward for information leading to their capture. Weeraphon Rak Samerwong, administrator of the Ban Dung Update Facebook page, reported receiving numerous complaints from residents in the municipal area of Ban Dung. The complaints involve three teenagers,…
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Three women injured after motorcycle runs red light in Udon Thani
Four young women riding a single motorcycle ran a red light and collided with a car in Udon Thani, resulting in three of them suffering broken legs and requiring immediate hospitalisation. The accident occurred while they were on their way to get food. Ekaphan Laiking, head of the Udon Thani Songserm Dharma Rescue Foundation, received a report of the accident…
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Thailand govt defends Buriram graduates amid cheating claims
The Thai government fiercely defended 40 Buriram Rajabhat University graduates against allegations of cheating in their competitive exams for assistant teaching positions. Rumours have been swirling that the graduates were aided by leaked exam papers, a suspicion magnified by the fact that the Minister of Education, Permpoon Chidchob, is from Buriram province. Addressing the controversy, Deputy Spokesperson for the Prime…
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Northern Thailand: Fire destroys home, injures elderly woman
A devastating fire destroyed a home in Phrae province, leaving an elderly, disabled woman injured. Police and local agencies swiftly moved to assist following the incident, which occurred at noon today. The tragedy unfolded when a fire broke out at a single-story wooden house in Village 6, Taopoon subdistrict, Song district. Police Lieutenant Colonel Krittipoom Thaboon received the alert and…
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Udon Thani guard breaks up with girlfriend after suspected cheating
A security guard in Udon Thani locked his room and called the police after suspecting his girlfriend was with another man, only to discover a misunderstanding. The couple decided to part ways following the incident. Police Lieutenant Wikanes Suetrong, Deputy Inspector of Mueang Udon Thani Police Station, received a report at 7.30am, July 9, of a man being in a…
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Buriram official fires gun three times to stop teen brawl (video)
A local council member in Buriram has been called in for questioning after a video surfaced showing him firing several shots into the air during a brawl between teenagers at a parade yesterday, July 8. He admitted he did it to stop the fight. The incident took place in front of a parade vehicle at Ban Nong Makhuea Mai village…
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Buriram locals spooked as possessed medium pigs out on raw pork
Villagers in Buriram held a traditional ceremony at an over 100 year old shrine, offering various foods to honour ancestral spirits. During the event, an 80 year old medium, believed to be possessed, startled attendees by eating raw pork. A video posted by a Facebook user named Khun Chai Khun Chai Nimsuwan captured the unusual ceremony. “This belief has been…
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Thai man missing in national park in northern Thailand
A Thai man went missing four days ago while trekking in Phu Soi Dao National Park in the northern province of Uttaradit. A search mission continues for 27 year old Thanwarit Mateema, who disappeared while walking up to the camping area on Phu Soi Dao Mountain. Thanwarit was the last person to register to stay at the national park office’s…
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Chinese couple remains at large after public sex show in Thailand
Police are searching for a Chinese couple after they were caught having sex in public in a university car park in the city centre of the northern province of Chiang Mai. Photos of the naked Chinese couple were shared in a local Facebook group in Chiang Mai yesterday, July 7. The photos showed two Thai police officers intervening in the…
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Motorcyclist’s leg severed in Nakhon Ratchasima bridge crash
A young man riding a big bike lost control of his vehicle, crashing into a bridge railing, resulting in a severe injury where his leg was severed and he fell 7 metres. He remains in ICU in critical condition. The motorcycle accident occurred in Nakhon Ratchasima, northeast Thailand yesterday, July 5. The incident was reported by local journalists who detailed…
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YouTubers’ motorbikes spotted on Chiang Mai route on Google
Google Street View captured two stylish motorbikes on the Chiang Mai–Mae Hong Son route, instantly recognised by netizens as belonging to popular YouTubers. The sighting has delighted fans who spotted their idols on the virtual map. Google Street View vehicles, known for capturing 360-degree panoramic images of locations for Google Maps, have a reputation for documenting everything in their path.…
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Tourists swarm first durian café in Nakhon Ratchasima
Tourists flocked to Wang Nam Khiao’s first durian café in Nakhon Ratchasima, eager to sample 38 varieties of the fruit amidst cool, rainy weather. The Ploenchit Durian Garden, located in Ban Khlong Sai Village within Wang Nam Khiao district, saw a bustling atmosphere throughout the day. Visitors drove to the renowned garden, situated in the heart of the village, which…
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Haunted spirits: Nakhon Sawan villagers seek mystic’s help
Residents of a village in Nakhon Sawan called on a local mystic, known as Mor Pla, for urgent assistance after experiencing nightly disturbances since a 70 year old woman brought an item home from a rubbish pile. Stones have been thrown at homes, and unexplained fires have erupted, leaving villagers on edge. Reporters visiting the village in Mueang district found…
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Lizard lolly: Thai café’s popsicle takes social media by storm
An ice popsicle inspired by Thailand’s iconic monitor lizard has taken social media by storm. A peculiar treat named “I’m Here,” created by Sai Sook Khao Yai Wildlife Learning Ground & Local Treats, a café in Nakhon Ratchasima’s Pak Chong district, mimics the lizard’s distinctive appearance with homemade caramel and sesame skin. The name is a phonetic derivation from the…
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Dam it all! Khon Kaen’s concrete defence crumbles
A concrete-reinforced dam in Khon Kaen, in place for over 18 years, has broken due to water erosion from a large reservoir, creating a 20-metre gap. Officials are now rushing to repair the breach to prevent further damage. The dam, located in Ban Loeng, Khon Kaen, was built in 2006 and has been maintained by the local administration. The recent surge…
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When it rains, it bugs: Phayao’s Jing Kung season is cracking good
The rainy season brings a unique culinary delight to Phayao – the “Jing Kung” or egg-laden mole cricket, which is now in abundance. Prized for its delicious taste and high nutritional value, locals eagerly dig them up for consumption and sale. During the rainy season, the egg-laden mole cricket, also known as “Jing Kung” or “Ji Khrong,” becomes a sought-after…
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Love bug: Rare blue beetle blooms in Phayao village
A rare blue love flower beetle was discovered in Mae Sai Village, Phayao province, feeding on the leaves of a climbing plant. This small, shiny insect with distinctive features is increasingly hard to find. Phan Yudee from Mae Sai Village, Phayao Province, recently encountered a blue love flower beetle, a rare insect, feeding on the leaves of a climbing plant.…
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Lighting up history: Ubon Ratchathani’s grand candle sculpture shines
A grand candle sculpture in Ubon Ratchathani is set to be showcased this year, featuring the tallest, widest, and longest candle ever made, costing 1.2 million baht. The intricately carved candle tells the story of Buddhist history. With the Candle Festival in Ubon Ratchathani fast approaching, many temples are facing a shortage of new artisans, leaving older craftsmen to work…
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Durian vendors reduce sizes to segments amid price surge
Durian prices have surged in Nakhon Ratchasima, prompting vendors to adapt by selling the fruit in segments instead of whole, as local purchasing power dwindles and sales plummet more than 50%. At the fruit sale zone within a local market in Mueang Nakhon Ratchasima, durian sellers have shifted from selling the fruit by kilogrammes to selling it in segments, measured…
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Nakhon Ratchasima braces for flooding in five districts
Officials in Nakhon Ratchasima are on high alert for potential flooding in five districts, with the Department of Rural Roads holding a meeting to prepare for the rainy season and ensure the safety of road users. Director of the Nakhon Ratchasima Rural Roads Department Phaivarn Kheaw-on convened a meeting with staff to prepare personnel, tools, and machinery. The meeting focused…
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