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 Is private health insurance in Thailand worth it? Real costs vs risks explained
Thailand has a strong healthcare system with both public and private options. Public hospitals offer affordable care, but many people, including expats, choose private health insurance for faster service, modern facilities, and more treatment choices. To decide if private health...
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Uthai Thani resident scoops 60 million baht in BAAC Gold Bag lottery
A lucky resident of Ban Khok, Uthai Thani, became the latest millionaire after winning the first prize in the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC) Gold Bag lottery. The winner walked away with a staggering 60 million baht in the first draw of the lottery. The BAAC Thailand Facebook page announced the news yesterday. The post congratulated the new red-label…
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Thailand’s Den Chai-Chiang Rai-Chiang Khong railway project on track for 2028
The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) is progressing well with the Den Chai-Chiang Rai-Chiang Khong double-track railway project, a 323.1-kilometre initiative set to be operational by 2028. Construction of the railway started on February 15 last year and is ahead of its schedule with 3% completion while 80% of the required land has been expropriated, as per Nirut Maneephan, the…
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Northeast Thailand: Villagers flock to Ya Kok shrine for lottery luck
Residents of the village of Mab Krad, Khok Krachai, Khon Buri, and Nakhon Ratchasima, are gathering at the Ya Kok shrine to seek good fortune for the upcoming lottery draw. This follows the appearance of the second-prize lottery number. Residents offer worship items including savoury and sweet food like pork heads, boiled chicken, and beverages. They lay their purchased lottery…
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Northeast Thailand: Giant python causes alarm in Surin chicken coop
A colossal python, exceeding 4 metres in length and as thick as a leg, caused a scare in a chicken coop in Surin‘s Khuha Sawan subdistrict. The incident occurred on November 2, leading to the rousing of a rescue team from the Ban Raeng Subdistrict Municipality to assist. The rescue workers, equipped with venomous animal-handling tools, responded swiftly to aid…
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Northern Thailand: National Police Chief resolves longstanding conflict at Wat Hiranyaram
National Police Chief, Sukhawimon Thotsakdi, better known as Big To, led a team to Wat Hiranyaram, also known as Wat Luang Por Ngern Bang Klaan, in Phichit province, aiming to resolve long-standing conflicts. Joined by Jaroonkiat Pankeaw, the Commander of the Central Investigation Bureau, and Phumisak Kasemsuk, the Secretary-General of the National Anti-Corruption Commission, they arrived at the temple around 2pm.…
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Khon Kaen karaoke bar raided: 10 workers arrested for operating without permits
A high-profile karaoke bar establishment in Khon Kaen, Thailand, was stormed by the police, resulting in the arrest of 10 female workers operating without permits. Some of these workers had also entered the country illegally. The business owner was implicated in the operation, which took place at 1pm today, at the Immigration Check Office in Khon Kaen, situated within Passenger…
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Northern Thailand: Tourists flock to Doi Mae U-Kor for stunning blooming Mexican sunflowers
The Doi Mae U-Kor mountain is currently attracting a throng of tourists eager to admire the sprawling fields of blooming Mexican sunflowers. These golden blooms, stretching across 500 acres of hillside, have become a significant draw for visitors, both Thai and international. It is expected that the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) will receive no less than 100,000 visitors this…
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Thai rangers seize 200,000 amphetamine pills after clash with drug traffickers
A deadly clash between Thai rangers and suspected drug traffickers broke out late at night on November 11, at Mae Fah Luang, Chiang Rai. The conflict ended with one trafficker lifeless and the seizure of 200,000 amphetamine pills, as confirmed by officials from the Pha Muang Army. The Pha Muang Army officials explained that their investigative team had received a…
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2 foreigners killed and many injured in minibus accident in Chiang Mai
A minibus overturned on a road in the northern province of Chiang Mai yesterday. Two foreigners were killed and more than 10 passengers were injured in the accident. The minibus was transporting passengers between Chiang Mai province and Pai district in Mae Hong Son province. When the vehicle reached the Pa Pae district of Chiang Mai at 9.30am yesterday, November…
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Mild earthquake shakes Pai district affecting four provinces
A 4.7 magnitude earthquake at a depth of 2 kilometres shook Pai district, Mae Hong Son province, causing tremors that were felt across four provinces. The Geology Department reported that the quake occurred today, with no initial damage found. The earthquake originated in the northern part of Wiang Nuea subdistrict, Pai district, Mae Hong Son province. It was followed by…
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Unusual banana tree phenomenon sparks lottery frenzy in Thai village
A banana tree‘s unusual sprouting of a bud through its trunk has sparked a local phenomenon in the Mae Sai community, Phayao province, as villagers believe it to be a sign of good fortune. Today, residents flocked to Samrit Sameuchue’s house to pay respects and seek their lucky numbers from the banana tree. The 51 year old man has seen…
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Charitable gesture: KFC chicken no-show turns sour, but Thai students cluck their way to happiness
A charitable gesture that went awry ended on a happy note for students at a school in Nan Province, Thailand. An anonymous benefactor had promised to donate educational resources and treat the students to fried chicken. However, the person didn’t show up, leaving the children and their teachers waiting in vain, a situation that quickly went viral online. The students…
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Uthai Thani: Monk driving Mazda causes fatal accident, one dead, four injured
A fatal accident occurred yesterday in Lan Sak, Uthai Thani, when a monk driving a Mazda pickup truck lost control of his vehicle, killing one woman and injuring four others. The accident occurred on the Lan Sak-Thap Than Road, Moo 1, Pradu Yuen Subdistrict, Lan Sak District, Uthai Thani, less than 500 metres from the Pa Ka intersection, near the…
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Fog, light rain forecast in northern Thailand, south braces for heavy rainfall
The Thailand Meteorological Department (TMD) today forecasts foggy conditions and light rain in some parts of northern Thailand, while heavy rainfall continues in some southern areas. The 24-hour forecast suggests that high atmospheric pressure or a cool air mass is gradually weakening and covering the upper northern parts, north eastern region, and the South China Sea. This, combined with the easterly…
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Own goal: Chiang Mai authorities tackle covert football betting operation
A covert football betting operation was raided in Chiang Mai, with police seizing betting slips, cash, and computers. The operation was discovered in a nondescript terraced building near Tonpao Plaza, Tonpao subdistrict, San Kamphaeng district. One suspect was apprehended, who had a previous criminal record for the same offence. The raid on the illegal operation was led by the special…
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National artist Chalermchai Kositpipat retires to enjoy motorcycle travels
Chalermchai Kositpipat, a national artist and creator of Wat Rong Khun, announced his retirement, adding he will spend his remaining days enjoying life on his motorcycle. Born on February 15, 1955, in Rong Khun, Chiang Rai, Chalermchai is best known for his Thai mural paintings in Wat Phuttha Prateep in London, England, and his art at Wat Rong Khun. Chalermchai…
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Artistic intrigue: Thai national artist’s chilly encounter with graffiti mysteries
A compelling story about Chalermchai Kositpipat, a Thai national artist, has been shared on the Facebook page Little Mouse on the Cold Mountain Peak. The narrative unfolds in the chilly Chiang Rai province, near Wat Rong Khun, where an anonymous group painted graffiti on a wall. One night, a group covertly began to create street art on a wall opposite…
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Golden opportunity gone wrong: Burmese man arrested for gold necklace heist
Police arrested a Burmese man for stealing a gold necklace worth 65,000 baht from a Thai woman in the northern province of Chiang Mai. The 42 year old victim, surnamed Oil, filed a complaint at Mueang Chiang Mai Police Station on October 29, saying a man snatched a gold necklace she was wearing and fled at around 4am. The theft…
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Flare for trouble: Thai teen’s homemade firework mishap douses floating lantern festival
An incident at a floating lantern festival in Khelang Nakorn led to a young man severely injuring his hand with a homemade firework. The unfortunate event unfolded yesterday evening around 8pm. Emergency services from Amarin responded swiftly to calls for assistance from the festival, held at the Wang River Sports Field in the Fon Village, Chom Phu, Lampang. The injured…
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Deputy Interior Minister’s whirlwind day: Prayers, fire, and fashion in Bangkok
Deputy Interior Minister Chada Thaiseth started his day with religious activities, then assisted in a fire incident during the day, and ended it at a fashion show in Bangkok, showcasing his versatile persona. The deputy interior minister revealed the incident of rescuing an elderly woman from a burning building in Uthai Thani yesterday. While attending a merit-making event yesterday, he…
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Karen tribe woman gives birth at Tak province border patrol checkpoint
A pregnant woman from the Karen tribe gave birth at a border patrol checkpoint in Tak province, as she was unable to reach a hospital in time due to the remote location of her home. The birth, which took place today, at 7am, was overseen by a team of rangers from the 35th Border Patrol unit and health officers from the…
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Brewing trouble: Khon Kaen coffee shop brews up plea for sugar price control
A renowned coffee shop in Khon Kaen called on the government to regulate sugar prices. Having been in business for over two decades, the shop is now grappling with the highest sugar prices it has ever encountered. This has led to serious concerns about the survival of the establishment. Yesterday at 1pm, a reporter visited several beverage vendors in the…
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Udon Thani: Man in suspicion of girlfriend’s death attempts suicide
A tragic end to a love triangle involving two women and a man unfolded in a Udon Thani city residence yesterday. Two individuals were found in a state of distress, one deceased, another barely alive. The incident was reported around 7.30am today, prompting immediate investigative measures from the local police and medical personnel. The incident transpired in a two-storey dwelling,…
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Social media personality arrested for defrauding women of 10 million baht
High-profile social media personality Krittidet Pongprapas has been arrested on multiple charges, including fraud and computer-related offences. The 27 year old had built an impressive online profile by posing with luxury cars and showcasing ostentatious spending habits, which he used to lure at least 30 women into fraudulent relationships, causing an estimated financial loss of 10 million baht. The arrest…
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Lightning strike tragedy: Thai father killed in bed as family watches in horror in northern Thailand
A family of four experienced a tragedy when a lightning strike hit their home in Wang Chao, Tak province yesterday. The 47 year old father, Jitpol, was struck by lightning while in bed, a fatal strike witnessed by his wife and two daughters. The family’s home, a wooden structure with a zinc roof, was inspected after the unfortunate lightning strike…
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Telephone scammer posing as police officer busted by a real cop on TikTok video
A viral video posted by TikTok user @champ_z9, showing a real-life confrontation between a police officer and a telephone scammer, racked up more than 7.7 million views. The video captures an unusual event where the policeman is contacted by the scammer who pretends to be a fellow officer from Mae Charim Police Station. The video shows a young policeman engaged…
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Foot-and-mouth disease probable cause for Phayao buffalo deaths
A number of buffaloes have been found dead under mysterious circumstances in the Phayao province, in northern Thailand. The livestock department of Phayao province suspected the cause to be foot-and-mouth disease and has expedited investigations to affirm the cause of death. The incident occurred in village number 10 of Champa Wai sub-district, Mueang district, Phayao province, where the local livestock department…
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Unusual golden crab discovery stirs lottery luck hopes in Phayao province
Residents in Phayao province were “claw-struck” when they stumbled upon a rare golden yellow crab. The locals are “pinching” the hope that this quirky catch might be their lucky charm in the upcoming lottery draw. Authorities from Phu Sang National Park have playfully dubbed the crustacean “Cliff Crab” and are delving into whether it falls under the category of protected…
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Elderly man accused of child sex abuse commits suicide in northern Thailand
A 72 year old man accused of child sex abuse committed suicide, escaping the legal consequences of his actions. The mother of the 11 year old girl victim revealed that she too had been molested by the same man when she was a child. The child sex abuse incident came to light when an 11 year old girl sent a…
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Chiang Mai military seize 12.2 million meth pills
Early this morning morning saw the seizure of over 12 million methamphetamine pills by military personnel in the Wiang Haeng district of Chiang Mai. The Pha Muang task force’s rangers of the Royal Thai Army discovered two suspicious pickup trucks parked in a garden along the Ban Mai Muang Jod road in the Piang Luang Tambon at around 5am, today,…
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