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.

  • Chiang Rai shaken but not stirred

    Chiang Rai shaken but not stirred

    Three minor earthquakes hit the Chiang Rai area this morning according to the Meteorological Department’s Seismological Bureau. The first quake was just before 9am with a magnitude of 3.3 with an epicentre 3.3 kilometres underground at latitude 19.70 and longitude 99.72. People say they felt the tremor but there were no injuries or damage to be reported. A 2.0-magnitude tremor followed…

  • Ex-soldier on the run after shooting girlfriend in Prachin Buri

    Ex-soldier on the run after shooting girlfriend in Prachin Buri

    A former Saraburi-based cavalry soldier, Corporal Panuwat Pancheun, who was reportedly fired from service three months ago for assaulting his superior, has allegedly shot and injured his 28 year old girlfriend at her family’s home/grocery shop in Prachin Buri province this morning as he tried to drag her out to his car. Prachin Buri is two hour’s drive north-east of Bangkok.…

  • Buri Ram teacher probed after boy’s beating

    Buri Ram teacher probed after boy’s beating

    A Buri Ram school has set up a committee to investigate a parent’s allegation that one of its teachers made a Prathom 6 pupil do 50 jumping jacks in the hot sun and then whipped him 10 times with a wooden stick wrapped in duct tape. The 12 year old’s mother revealed Friday’s incident and says her son had merely…

  • Thai soldier accused of raping 75 boys

    Thai soldier accused of raping 75 boys

    A 43 year old former Thai soldier has been arrested for raping 75 boys, many of whom were aged under 15 at the time of the alleged crimes. It is claimed he lured his victims by using the photo of a handsome younger man as his own profile picture in a gay chat application and then Facebook. Authorities are now…

  • Drought declared in five Khon Kaen districts

    Drought declared in five Khon Kaen districts

    Whilst parts of Thailand suffered floods and overflowing dams during August and September, other parts of the country are now facing drought conditions as we head into the dry season. Khon Kaen Governor Somsak Jungtrakul has declared five districts drought disaster zones. Somsak said on Friday there had been no rain for months in Pol, Nong Song Hong, Ban Had, Waeng…

  • A tonne of marijuana seized on the banks of the Mekong

    A tonne of marijuana seized on the banks of the Mekong

    Thai authorities have seized 1,000 kilograms (1 tonne) of marijuana from a spot along the Mekong River in Nakhon Phanom province around midday yesterday (Sunday). The Tha Uthen district chief Bhumisak Khampu conformed the discovery. He joined the officials in inspecting the drug stored in 25 black plastic parcels. Patrol police and Mekong naval patrol officers found the items along…

  • When the family goes for a walk

    When the family goes for a walk

    The Khao Yai National Park is always a great place for elephant-spotting but spotting this thundering herd coming towards you, we’d recommend an early retreat. This herd went for a stroll this morning. The Khao Yai National Park is in the inner north-east, about three hours drive from Bangkok. Officials say the local elephants have become used to using the main road as…

  • One killed and 29 injured as bus overturns in Khon Kaen

    One killed and 29 injured as bus overturns in Khon Kaen

    A bus overturned in Khon Kaen province yesterday morning (Sunday), resulting in one death and injuring 29 others. The 51 year old bus driver, identified only as Sarawut, has sustained injuries to his ears and face from the crash. “It was raining heavily at the time the accident occurred,” he said He told police that the bus overturned as soon…

  • Mu Pa – The Movie. The frenzy for rights.

    Mu Pa – The Movie. The frenzy for rights.

    “The Wall Street Journal reported that Universal had offered $1.5 million (49 million baht) to be split among the boys and Ekkaphol.” Stampede for the cave drama scoopnational October 20, 2018 01:00 By The Nation Weekend Producers of movies, games, and books are queuing to see who gets a share in the Tham Luang story After Hollywood studio Universal Pictures…

  • Mu Pa 13 have 22 film offers awaiting appro

    Mu Pa 13 have 22 film offers awaiting appro

    Looks like we’re going to see many screen adaptions of the ‘Miracle at Tham Luang’ (and whatever other titles they come up with). 22 movie, documentary and book project and ideas, about the Tham Luang cave rescue and life of the 13 young men, have been proposed by both local and foreign studios to the Creative Media Committee. This was…

  • Mu Pa make their American TV debut and get a surprise visitor

    Mu Pa make their American TV debut and get a surprise visitor

    In their first in-studio interview since their harrowing time in the Tham Luang caves in June/July, the coach and 12 members of the Mu Pa soccer team sat down with American chat show queen, Ellen Degeneres to talk about their experience and how they stayed hopeful for 10 days trapped in the cave. Plus, the boys’ soccer idol, Zlatan Ibrahimovic,…

  • Chiang Rai’s Suwit Jaipom unveils charcoal portrait of HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej

    Chiang Rai’s Suwit Jaipom unveils charcoal portrait of HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej

    PHOTOS: localnews2010.com A Chiang Rai Artists, Suwit Jaipom, has unveiled a portrait of the late HM King Rama IX, that he has recently created to mark the second anniversary of King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s passing. At his studio in Ban Pang Lao in the capital district of Chiang Rai, Suwit Jaipom, the president of ArtBridge Chiang Rai and local artist, has created…

  • Mu Pa – from Mae Sai to Ellen Degeneres Show in LA

    Mu Pa – from Mae Sai to Ellen Degeneres Show in LA

    by The Nation/Asian News Network US daytime talk-show queen, Ellen Degeneres, posted on her Facebook page that the Mu Pa soccer team will be appearing on her program tomorrow (US time). “There was no story more captivating this summer than the Thai soccer team trapped in a cave.” She also posted a picture of herself with all the 13 Mu…

  • An inspiration for the world – Mu Pa mission chief in New York

    An inspiration for the world – Mu Pa mission chief in New York

    “The recent multinational rescue operation to free the Mu Pa football team members from Tham Luang cave in Chiang Rai province should be an inspiration for people around the globe to help one another.” – Mission’s chief, Narongsak Ostanakorn “I hope this experience inspires people to start living for others,” Narongsak said. “That would be a game changer for the…

  • First Thai MotoGP earns profits and widespread praise

    First Thai MotoGP earns profits and widespread praise

    by Lerpong Amsa-ngiam “The attendance is the highest for any of the 15 MotoGP races so far this year.” The Minister of Tourism and Sports Weerasak Kowsurat has claimed the inaugural Thailand MotoGP “successful beyond expectations” after it was attended by an estimated 220,000 fans and generated revenue of 3 billion baht. The three day event, another victory for four-time…

  • Mu Pa 13 get a warm welcome at Youth Games in Argentina

    Mu Pa 13 get a warm welcome at Youth Games in Argentina

    PHOTO: Mu Pa, who were rescued from Tham Luang cave in Thailand, stand during the Opening Ceremony of The Youth Olympic Games, in Buenos Aires, Argentina – EPA “When they arrived at the Buenos Aires international airport, liaisons of international athletes waiting for their teams at the airport also greeted them warmly.” The 13 members of the Mu Pa football…

  • Thailand MotoGP starts today in Buri Ram

    Thailand MotoGP starts today in Buri Ram

    PHOTO: Jorge Lorenzo (99) of Spain and Ducati Team in Turn 7 during FP2 at the MotoGP PTT Thailand Grand Prix 2018, Chang International Circuit, Thailand on October 05, 2018. Naratip Golf, Srisupab/SEALs Sports Images The ‘PTT Thailand Grand Prix 2018’ MotoGP is being held from today until Sunday, October 7, at the Chang International Circuit in Buri Ram, north-east Thailand.…

  • Pit stops laid on for race fans at MotoGP in Buriram

    Pit stops laid on for race fans at MotoGP in Buriram

    It’s on next weekend and Buriram is gearing up for the arrival of 100,000+ visitors. Thailand Immigration officials are also setting up home this week to handle the influx of international visitors and the teams as they arrive. But if you’re driving, take your Honda. AP Honda has agreed to provide special hospitality services and activities for visitors to the…

  • Chiang Rai hit with mild earthquake

    Chiang Rai hit with mild earthquake

    A minor 3.4-magnitude earthquake hit Chiang Rai’s Phan district this morning. The confirmation from the Seismological Bureau of the Meteorological Department. The bureau said the earthquake had an epicentre situated about 15 kilometres underground at latitude 19.45 degrees and longitude 99.60 degrees. The epicentre was in the Doi Luang National Park. The quake was felt by residents of Phan and nearby…

  • Loei mothers file complaint about local abbot sexually abusing their sons

    Loei mothers file complaint about local abbot sexually abusing their sons

    Four Loei mothers have filed a complaint with police today accusing the local abbot of a monastic centre of sexually abusing their sons. They told Khok Ngam police that the abbot in Tambon Phone Sung, Dan Sai district, had molested their sons while they were novices there. One woman (name withheld by police) says her 17 year old son was…

  • 12 million meth pills, half tonne of ‘ice’ seized in Chiang Rai

    12 million meth pills, half tonne of ‘ice’ seized in Chiang Rai

    Been a busy day in northern Thailand as police grapple with the transporting of drugs across the borders. First, this morning there was a motorcyclist with a backpack full of meth pills. Now a much larger shipment has been intercepted. The Nation reports that Chiang Rai police have foiled an attempt to smuggle 12 million methamphetamine pills and 521 kilograms…

  • TAT plan to boost tourism to secondary locations, and Thai Airways’ bottomline

    TAT plan to boost tourism to secondary locations, and Thai Airways’ bottomline

    The TAT – Tourism Authority of Thailand – is coming to the rescue of the beleaguered national carrier, Thai Airways. They are going to promote 20 flight routes in 10 provinces for the rest of this year. This is in response to instructions from the Thai government for state-owned enterprises to work together to boost income for the airline which…

  • Australian expat and Thai wife go missing

    Australian expat and Thai wife go missing

    PHOTO: Sanook – Alan Hawk and his wife Nott Suddaen A man has been released on bail as police continue their investigation into the mysterious disappearance of an Australian man and his Thai wife in northern Thailand. Alan Hawk (name transliterated from Thai) and his wife Nott Suddaen, both 61, were reported missing on Thursday by a concerned friend. The friend…

  • Unsworth sues Musk over ‘pedo’ slur

    Unsworth sues Musk over ‘pedo’ slur

    The British cave expert who was part of the international rescue team helping to bring the 13 Mu Pa footballers out of the Tham Luang caves in July, has sued Tesla founder Elon Musk for calling him a “pedo guy” and a “child rapist”, amongst other insults in a series of Tweets.” The defamation suit has been filed in LA…

  • Order a 37K brand name bag online – a 100 baht plastic bottle arrives in the mail

    Order a 37K brand name bag online – a 100 baht plastic bottle arrives in the mail

    INN are reporting that a 25 year old Khon Kaen woman has made a complaint to police saying that she had ordered a 37,000 baht second-hand brand name bag online but all she received was a plastic bottle. The woman says that hen she opened the package all she found was a plastic bottle with a Kung Fu Panda logo…

  • Police in Phayao chase an ambulance loaded with illicit drugs

    Police in Phayao chase an ambulance loaded with illicit drugs

    A dramatic chase in Phayao’s Dok Khamtai district last night (Sunday) has resulted in police seizing half a million methamphetamine pills, a large amount of crystal methamphetamine and ketamine… from an ambulance. The twist is that the ambulance was being used by the drug-trafficking gang as a cover-up for their operation. The Nation reports that Phayao police were alerted at…

  • Cave film starts shooting in November

    Cave film starts shooting in November

    A Thai film telling the story of the Tham Luang cave rescue is due to begin rolling cameras in November. It’s working title is ‘Nang Non’ in Thai (The Cave in English) Tom Waller, an Irish/Thai filmmaker, gave a presentation about the project at the Toronto International Film Festival. ‘Nang Non’ is the working title of the film, also the…

  • Royal Gala Dinner ‘like a big family reunion’

    Royal Gala Dinner ‘like a big family reunion’

    PHOTO/VIDEOS: Thai PBS Thai PBS spoke to a number of the attendees at last Thursday night’s Royal Gala Dinner to commemorate and thank international and Thai volunteers who contributed to the amazing rescue of the 13 young football players from the Tham Luang caves in Mae Sai, Chiang Rai early July. Nothing would overwhelm Maj Hodges from the United States…

  • 2 dead and 11 injured in Udon Thani road crash

    2 dead and 11 injured in Udon Thani road crash

    PHOTO: Chiang Rai Times Two people have been killed and 10 injured after their passenger van smashed into a trailer-truck in Udon Thani yesterday (Monday). The accident happened on Dong Rai-Ban Phue Road in Ban Khao around midday. A 38 year old truck driver, Aniroot Jadpong, from Udon Thani, fled the scene following the incident but later reported to police. He…

  • Truck carrying gas cylinders flips over in Udon Thani

    Truck carrying gas cylinders flips over in Udon Thani

    Cooking-gas cylinders have toppled out of an overturned six-wheel truck on the Mitraparp Highway in Udon Thani’s Mueang district. The incident happened yesterday prompting the police to seal off the scene as a safety precaution. The fully loaded truck lost control while heading towards the Muang Udon Thani Museum. The crash injured two people on board. The potential of a…