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 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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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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Elderly man in Lampang loses winning lottery ticket
A 74 year old man in Lampang found himself at the centre of a lottery ticket dispute after discovering his winning ticket was missing. Later, the ticket was found torn into pieces, raising questions about its authenticity. A reporter visited a home in Serm Sai Subdistrict, Serm Ngam District, Lampang Province, yesterday, July 3, following reports of a lottery ticket…
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Police warn of AI scam using fake video calls in Lamphun
Police in Lamphun issued a public warning about con artists using artificial intelligence (AI) to create convincing video calls impersonating police officers. A recent incident involved scammers using the image of a female officer, Ploy, to deceive the public. The police reported that fraudsters took a still image of Ploy, who manages a social media page called Accountant Aspires to…
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Khon Kaen man decapitates grandfather in drug-fuelled frenzy
A truly gruesome scene unfolded in Khon Kaen when a 22 year old drug addict, experienced a severe withdrawal episode, and decapitated his grandfather with a machete, leaving his father in shock upon discovering the horrific scene. Police were alerted to a frenzied attack at 4pm yesterday, July 3, involving a young man using a machete to behead his grandfather…
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Lamphun dorm owner seeks media help to recover rent
A distressed dormitory owner in Lamphun reached out to the media for help to recover rent, a loan, and a missing wall fan after police delays. Porntip Kamfubut, the owner of a dormitory in Mueang Nga subdistrict, Mueang district, Lamphun province, reported that a tenant, Chatchai, had taken a wall fan from the dormitory and failed to pay 1,500 baht…
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Thai singer battle swarm of termites while on stage (video)
A young singer found himself battling a swarm of flying termites while performing on stage, a bizarre situation captured and shared widely online, earning him considerable support from online users. In a viral clip posted on the Mongkhon Sound & Studio Facebook page, the singer, identified as 29 year old Witthaya Siwakrothok from Mueang district, Buriram Province, can be seen…
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Elderly man arrested for transporting nearly 300,000 meth pills
A 77 year old man was arrested for transporting drugs for a Laotian network, with police seizing 288,000 methamphetamine pills. Police disclosed the man was paid to deliver the drugs, which were bought for 5 baht per pill and sold for 20 baht each. Police in Amnat Charoen, northeast Thailand announced the arrest of Atthapol Wanthaprom, who was found in…
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Korat locals protest against potash mining expansion
Korat locals gathered in force to protest against the government’s controversial plan to grant additional mining concessions in their province. Amid growing tensions and heartfelt pleas, the demonstrators demanded compensation for the devastating impacts existing mines have already had on their lives. The protesters, arriving at Rajabhat Nakhon Ratchasima University at 9am, were determined to deliver their message to Prime…
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Heavy drought leaves Lamphun houseboats stranded
Heavy drought has struck the famous freshwater Kaeng Kor Lake in Lamphun, causing a significant drop in water levels and leaving houseboats stranded on land. Tourism services have been temporarily halted until conditions improve. Operators of houseboat services at Kaeng Kor Lake, located in Mae Ping National Park, Li District, Lamphun province, announced the suspension of their boating and restaurant…
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