Chiang Rai

  • Northern Thailand NewsDriver of gas tanker falls asleep, ploughs into building in Chiang Rai

    Driver of gas tanker falls asleep, ploughs into building in Chiang Rai

    A driver of a gas tanker carrying nearly 50,000 litres of fuel had a lucky escape after he managed to plough the vehicle into a three-storey building in Chiang Rai province. The story, reported by Thai news outlet 77kaoded and shared by ThaiVisa, says the man fell asleep at the wheel of the tanker before crashing into Mekong View Plaza,…

  • Things To DoTop 10 places to visit around Chiang Mai, on a motorbike

    Top 10 places to visit around Chiang Mai, on a motorbike

    by Ryan Astaphan from Panumart Tattoo One of the joys of visiting Chiang Mai is travelling around on a scooter or motorbike (as long as you have a license) as you explore the countryside. By doing so you’ll get to take in the natural wonders and local culture that northern Thailand has to offer. The main roads are mostly excellent. But do…

  • Northern Thailand NewsFirst chamber of Chiang Rai’s Tham Luang Cave now open to visitors

    First chamber of Chiang Rai’s Tham Luang Cave now open to visitors

    The first chamber of the cave where twelve Thai footballers and their coach became trapped for seventeen days last year, is now open to visitors in Chiang Rai. The Chiang Rai Times reports that, along with the entrance to the Tham Luang cave in Chiang Rai being open, the first chamber and the Nang Non spirit house are also accessible…

  • Northern Thailand NewsTham Luang Cave reopens to visitors in November

    Tham Luang Cave reopens to visitors in November

    The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation says it is reopening the Tham Luang Cave in Chiang Rai on November 1. The cave had a test opening on October 27 and everything went as planned. It will be the first time visitors have been allowed into the caves since the famous Tham Luang Cave Rescue nearly 18 months…

  • Northern Thailand NewsTourism Council of Thailand cites Thai baht as biggest challenge to tourism

    Tourism Council of Thailand cites Thai baht as biggest challenge to tourism

    The strong Thai baht is proving to be the biggest obstacle in trying to lure tourists, according to The Tourism Council of Thailand who have had to lower its projection of over 40 million foreign visitors this year down to 39.7 million. The president of the council says the surging baht is the main reason for the decline. “It’s frightening…

  • Northern Thailand NewsItalian busted in Australia smuggling heroin

    Italian busted in Australia smuggling heroin

    An 49-year-old Italian has been charged with drug smuggling after arriving at Perth Airport from Chiang Mai. He allegedly had about 300 grams of heroin, worth about 135,000 Australian dollars, hidden inside his body. After trace technology during a baggage examination showed positive for narcotics, Australian Border Force officers referred him to the Australian Federal Police for an internal exam.…

  • Northern Thailand NewsEarthquake could hit Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai

    Earthquake could hit Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai

    A magnitude 4.1 tremor shook seven districts of Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai on Friday night, prompting the Department of Mineral Resources to warn that the two northern provinces could face a magnitude 5 earthquake within ten years. The prediction is based on analysis of movements in the Mae Tha fault lines, including the 5.1 ML quake in December 2006,…

  • Northern Thailand NewsJourney back to Tham Luang in ‘The Cave’ – VIDEO

    Journey back to Tham Luang in ‘The Cave’ – VIDEO

    PHOTO: Tom Waller on site during the filming of The Cave – AFP Determined divers racing against time. Rising waters threatening lives. 12 teenagers and their soccer coach trapped inside for two weeks. A remote cave that most had never heard of. The stuff of a Hollywood drama, except that it’s all true and happened in Chiang Rai last year. Now…

  • Northern Thailand NewsMore rain on the way for the north and north-east

    More rain on the way for the north and north-east

    The Thai Meteorological Department has issued a weather warning that on July 29 and 30 a monsoonal trough will lie across Myanmar, Laos and upper Vietnam, while the moderate southwest monsoon prevails over the Andaman Sea, Thailand and the Gulf. In other words, more rain on the way. They forecast that this will lead to more rain in the North and…

  • Northern Thailand NewsMiracle at Tham Luang – The Thailand cave drama unfolds, a year on

    Miracle at Tham Luang – The Thailand cave drama unfolds, a year on

    On June 23, a year ago, only a few northern Thai locals and serious cave enthusiasts knew much about the Tham Luang Caves in Mae Sai district, about an hour’s drive from Chiang Rai. But on that sunny afternoon, following their regular football practice, a group of 12 players and their coach, decided to have a quick excursion to the…

  • Northern Thailand NewsTham Luang caves to be properly explored and mapped

    Tham Luang caves to be properly explored and mapped

    Local and foreign cave experts have been mapping the Tham Luang-Khunnam Nang Non cave, in the Mae Sai district in Chiang Rai, to create the first detailed map of the cave complex. The mapping follows confusion during the rescue, and mentioned last week by Vernon Unsworth, over the exact location where the boys were found. Mr. Chaiporn Siripornpaibul says the project will take about two years and is intended to discover more…

  • Northern Thailand NewsUS Court gives go ahead for Musk to face defamation charges over cave spat

    US Court gives go ahead for Musk to face defamation charges over cave spat

    PHOTO: Vernon Unsworth v Elon Musk. by ThaiVisa American tech entrepreneur, investor, and engineer, Elon Musk, is likely to face a lawsuit in the US over defamation after he described a British cave diver as a “pedo guy” on Twitter last year. Musk also described Vernon Unsworth, who was one of the divers who first discovered the Mu Pa football team…

  • Environment NewsFix the smoke haze problem in 7 days – PM

    Fix the smoke haze problem in 7 days – PM

    “Go and hit the fires with this spade!” The Thai PM in Chiang Mai today by Saksit Muttafa, Krissana Porjit PM Prayut Chan-o-cha says the government was ready to support the integration of related agencies’ work to tackle the north’s smoke and haze problem within seven days. Prayut, who visited Chiang Mai today, also said HM the King was concerned about…

  • Northern Thailand NewsSpecialist clinics for pollution-related symptoms to be set up around the country

    Specialist clinics for pollution-related symptoms to be set up around the country

    The Public Health Ministry says they are now preparing to set up specialised clinics to treat patients suffering from pollution-related symptoms in the northern parts of the country. “At present, we have just one such clinic in the country. So, we have decided to introduce many more,” according to permanent secretary Dr Sukhum Karnchanapimai. He made the pledge in response…

  • Northern Thailand NewsAlleged drug mule shot dead in clash with troops in Chiang Rai

    Alleged drug mule shot dead in clash with troops in Chiang Rai

    PHOTO: Chiang Rai and Myanmar border at Mae Sai A drug mule has been shot dead on the border between Chiang Rai and Myanmar, and 350,000 methamphetamine pills were seized following a clash between an Army task force and a group of drug smugglers. The commander of the Pha Muang Taskforce says the incident happened at 12.30am along the Myanmar…

  • Northern Thailand NewsFlood watch on Phetchaburi, Nan, western provinces

    Flood watch on Phetchaburi, Nan, western provinces

    An update on the flood situation in many parts of the country. PHOTOS: The Nation Phetchaburi Water levels in the Phetchaburi River are rising dangerously from the overwhelmed Kaeng Krachan Dam. The dam is now 109 per cent full and 22.46 million cubic metres of water are being released every day into the river. “The river’s water level has already…