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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Former Lotus Go Fresh employee steals 298,000 baht from supermarket in Isaan
A former Lotus Go Fresh employee turned from gamekeeper to poacher to steal 298,000 baht from the supermarket in the Isaan province Sa Kaeo. A 21 year old Thai man was arrested yesterday in connection with the theft. The robbery took place at a supermarket located on Thetsaban 6 Road in the Mueang district of Sa Kaeo. One of the staff members…
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Thai monk does goal celebration after escaping military conscription (video)
A Buddhist monk ran around the room like a celebrating footballer upon drawing a black card at a military conscription draftee selection event in Nakhon Ratchasima in northeast Thailand on Sunday, meaning that he won’t be required to serve in the military. Cheers erupted from the crowd when a black card was drawn for 24 year old Phra Phuwanai Gayputsa…
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Thai man fatally electrocuted trying to steal electrical cable in Khon Kaen
The dead body of a Thai man was found wedged in a small crevice beneath a commercial building on Lang Mueang Road in the Isaan province of Khon Kaen on Monday. According to reports, the man was attempting to steal the electrical cable and was fatally electrocuted during the act. Residents living near a commercial building notified Mueang Khon Kaen…
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Forest fire kills another firefighting volunteer in northern Thailand
A firefighting volunteer was tragically caught in the flames while extinguishing a forest fire in Nan province in northern Thailand yesterday, where a thick layer of smog continues to blanket the region. The body of 62 year old Sriwan Mirayot was found in the forests surrounding Doi Sa-ngud mountain in the Bor Suak subdistrict in Mueang Nan district. His fellow…
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Palang Pracharath MP candidate’s king cobra stunt hisses off Thailand’s Election Committee
Thailand’s Election Committee (EC) swiftly removed a Palang Pracharath Party (PPP) MP candidate from Khon Kaen Community Hall in northeast Thailand when he paraded around the busy hall with a deadly venomous king cobra around his neck during a registration event yesterday. At 8.30am, MP candidates from all 11 political parties, from the 11 districts of Khon Kaen province, travelled to…
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Mystery surrounds death of man with stab wounds found at community college
Phitsanulok Provincial Police are investigating the mysterious death of a man found dead with stab wounds at a community college this morning. The unidentified man with long hair, a tattoo, and two stab wounds was discovered dead at approximately 8.30am today at a well-known college located in the Mueang district. According to Pol. Capt. Chayanan Chaikawin, deputy investigation chief at…
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Chiang Mai ranks as most polluted city in the world for 9 days running
Northern Thailand continues to battle a thick layer of smog with Chiang Mai being ranked as the world’s most polluted city by PM2.5 rating for nine days in a row, according to the IQAir website, reports ThaiRath. The highest air quality index (AQI) value was found at the Health Hospital in Ban Khai Hospital in Mae Na Wang subdistrict, Mae…
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Raging wildfire engulfs mountains in northeast Thailand
A wildfire that started on Khao Chaplu mountain in Nakhon Nayok province in northeast Thailand on Tuesday has spread to engulf 700 rai of land on several mountains in Khao Laem, Khao Kaew and Khao Tabak. Strong winds blew the flames to the peak of Khao Laem mountain yesterday, which looks like an erupting volcano in photos taken from behind…
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3 police in northeast Thailand arrested for taking bribe to free drug suspect
Three police officers in Thailand‘s northeast Kalasin province were arrested on charges of soliciting a bribe to free a drug suspect. The crooked cops were officers at Mueang Kalasin Police Station. Police launched a sting operation to bust the crooked cops after ‘A,’ the sister of the drug suspect, reported that the crooked cops had contacted her and demanded 500,000…
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Thai police bust suspects over Ponzi scheme of over 1 billion baht
Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB) Pol. Col. Krisana Pattanacharoen reported a group of suspects involved in a Ponzi scheme was busted by Thai police. He added that over 1,000 individuals had invested more than 1 billion baht in the scheme. The CCIB arrested seven people and seized several assets from two companies that allegedly operated a Ponzi scheme luring people…
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Gold mine reopens in northern Thailand to the dismay of residents
A gold mine has reopened in northern Thailand shocking locals who say the mine had poisoned their livestock, produce, and themselves. According to the Straits Times, the Chatree complex in Pichit province was closed more than six years ago due to health and environmental concerns. Now, despite legal disputes and protests by villagers, the controversial gold mine is back in…
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Angry Thai man stabs wife to death after dispute over saving water
An angry Thai husband stabbed his wife to death at their home in the northern province of Mae Hong Sorn. The man was reportedly angry after the woman advised him to conserve the water for the upcoming dry season. Police officers and locals are now on the hunt for the murderer who fled into the forest after the incident. Officers…
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Phuket and Isaan make TIME’s Top 50 World’s Greatest Places of 2023
Iconic New York-based news magazine Time released their ‘World’s Greatest Places‘ list of 2023, including two Thai locations: Phuket and Isaan. Phuket making the cut might come as no surprise given the island’s reputation as a much sought-after holiday destination. Isaan, however, is not hot on tourists’ radars despite its rich culture and temples, vast landscape, amazing traditional music and…
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Bones found behind man’s house who committed suicide suspected to belong to missing wife
Police believe that bones and “human-like body parts” discovered behind a man’s house yesterday who committed suicide in Nakhon Ratchasima province in northeast Thailand could belong to his wife who has been missing for over one week. The missing woman’s parents believe their daughter was murdered by her husband before he hanged himself. At midday on March 13, 30 year old…
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TURN IT DOWN! Bees attack temple over loud music
Most people get annoyed when their neighbours blast loud music but have you ever become so angry that you wanted to stab them with your butt? No? Then you mustn’t be a bee! A swarm of bees did just that at a temple in the Nakhon Ratchasima province. A temple in Phimai District was holding an ordination ceremony on Friday…
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Buffalo gores 4 siblings in northeast Thailand
A buffalo went on a rampage and gored four siblings today in Uthai Thani province in northeast Thailand. Three are seriously injured and one sustained a minor injury. At 10am, officers from Thap Than Police Station were called by residents of Ban Nong Ya Sai village who said a buffalo (kwai) had “gone crazy” and gored four people. Villagers told…
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Man goes viral for resemblance to PM Prayut
Many of us – especially the more homely amongst us – have probably wished they looked like a celebrity. But be careful what you wish for because one man has shot to viral fame for his uncanny resemblance to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha. Thai social media users were stunned after seeing images of a vocational education expert online who happens…
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Thai man accuses wife of hiding 12 million baht lottery prize
A Thai man sought help from a well-known lawyer to file a lawsuit against his wife after he accused her of hiding a 12 million baht lottery prize from him. The woman insists she broke up with her husband several years before she scooped the windfall and remarried. He claims he had no idea about the breakup. The 47 year…
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Loei festival next week features international masks
The northeastern province of Loei is set to host an international mask festival from March 17 to 19. The festival will showcase the cultural attractions of the province that borders Laos. Organisers hope to show visitors the charming atmosphere and vibrant colours of Loei at the three-day event. Naga courtyard will host the opening ceremony on March 17 at 6pm.…
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Thailand’s air pollution leads to 200,000 hospital admissions in past week
Thailand’s current air pollution levels have led to 200,000 hospital admissions over the past week. As heavy find dust blankets the north, northeast and greater Bangkok, the Health Ministry says dust levels are at an unsafe level. The Ministry says those who were admitted to the hospital are suffering from pollution-related respiratory problems. Since the start of 2023, more than…
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Thais on Lao border bear the brunt of haze crisis
Residents living along the border of Laos in Thailand’s northeast Nakhon Phanom province are facing the brunt of the country’s haze crisis. PM2.5 levels reached 167 micrograms (MCG) per cubic metre in four districts yesterday, according to the city’s Office of Natural Resource and Environment. These districts include Muang, Bang Phaeng, Tha Uthen, and That Phanom. Any level above 50…
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Thai police find large lot of drugs in Chiang Rai, Lampang provinces
Thai police have reportedly found a large lot of drugs in the northern provinces of Chiang Rai and Lampang. The police say they confiscated nine million methamphetamine tablets, 20 kilogrammes of ketamine, and 297 kilogrammes of crystal methamphetamine (Ice) in three separate seizures. The first seizure saw police finding 12 plastic boxes with two million methamphetamine pills, 297 kilogrammes of…
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Irate Thai man who set his own car on fire has absolutely no regrets
An irate Thai man who set his car on fire in the northeast Udon Thani province has absolutely no regrets. The man, 58 year old Panya, set fire to his sedan on Sunday after continuing to experience problems with the car’s electrical system and trouble getting the car to start. The issues really ground Panya’s gears. When he wanted to…
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High-ranking Thai police officer dies in paramotor accident
A high-ranking Thai police officer died in a paramotor accident near the Ubol Ratana Dam in Khon Kaen province in northeast Thailand on Sunday. At 4pm, staff at Ubol Ratana Hospital were informed that someone was seriously injured after a paramotor crash near a famous restaurant in Ban Non Sawan village in the Kluan Ubol Rat subdistrict. Pol. Col. Nattadej…
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Thai man buys gold with 30,000 baht in coins
A Thai man has used nothing but coins to buy 30,000 baht of gold at a shop in the northeast province of Maha Sarakham. Tangmo Konrakkwai, the shop owner, said the customer called and asked if the store accepted coins as payment for gold. She told the customer yes but didn’t think the payment would only consist of coins. According…
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SRT unveils progress on Den Chai-Chiang Rai Tunnel excavation
The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) public relations chief yesterday revealed excavations on the Den Chia-Chiang Rai tunnel is underway. Ekkarat Sriarayanpong announced that work has begun on the 6.2-kilometre tunnel which will connect Den Chai in Phrae with Chiang Rai’s Chiang Khong district. The five-year project, situated on the banks of the Mekong River, is an ambitious plan that…
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Thief steals Thai singer’s license plate to nick diesel in NE Thailand
A Thai singer took to social media to appeal to fans to help find a number plate stolen from his car after an inventive thief used it to steal diesel from a petrol station in northeast Thailand. Buriram Police are on the lookout for the light-fingered tealeaf who stole the license plate and attached it to his vehicle before travelling…
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Hit-and-run crash kills Move Forward candidate in northern Thailand
A hit-and-run crash killed a Move Forward candidate in northern Thailand, who was expected to seek a constituency seat in Phrae province. The prospective candidate, Tiranon ‘Lawyer Ken’ Wiantham, was hit by a speeding truck in the province after campaigning on Sunday, February 26, according to witnesses. He died from his injuries yesterday morning. Tiranon was a volunteer lawyer known…
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Drunk lawyer tries to flee after causing 9 vehicle crash
A drunken lawyer attempted to flee the scene of a crime in his damaged car after he crashed his Isuzu MU-7 SUV into nine cars on the road in the Isaan province of Udon Thani. The blood alcohol content in the alleged drunk registered at a staggering 219 milligrammes. This is significantly higher than the legal limit of 50 milligrammes, indicating…
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Man robbed at gunpoint by prostitute’s husband in Isaan
A man highlighted the dangers of booking a prostitute after he was robbed at gunpoint by the sex worker’s husband in the Isaan province of Khon Kaen. The criminal couple was arrested on Monday, which also led to the arrest of ten other prostitutes, but because the victim did not file a complaint with the police the couple got off…
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