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 Why retirees in Thailand are choosing long-term health insurance over quick fixes
Retirees in Thailand are increasingly seeing the importance of health insurance in protecting their well-being during retirement. With insurance requirements for retirement visas and rising healthcare costs, many are moving away from short-term plans and choosing long-term coverage. Long-term health...
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Suspicious van packed with explosives found near Thai-Myanmar border
Police discovered 119 sticks of explosives in a van parked near a shopping mall in the northern province of Chiang Rai on Sunday, September 7. The vehicle is reported to have been parked there for more than six months. Officers from Mae Sai Police Station, together with administrative officials and soldiers from the Pha Muang Task Force, received a report…
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Udon thief caught after stealing beer for early new year bash
Police in Udon Thani arrested a 30 year old man after he was caught stealing beer and snacks from a Lotus store, claiming he wanted to celebrate the new year early despite having no money. The 191 radio centre received a call from staff at the store in front of Fort Prachaksinlapakom Hospital in Nong Khon Kwang subdistrict, Mueang Udon…
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British pensioner’s prized tricycle swiped in Northeast Thailand
An 81 year old British man in Udon Thani has been left heartbroken after thieves made off with his treasured tricycle motorcycle in a daring early-morning theft caught on CCTV. Wayne, a retired restaurateur from UK’s Liverpool, filed a report at Mueang Udon Thani Police Station yesterday, September 2, through a translator. He told officers the blue and bronze three-wheeler,…
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Lamphun lottery luck: Pork sellers win 12 million baht jackpot
It was a dream come true for pork sellers in Lamphun province as they struck the jackpot, winning a staggering 12 million baht in the national lottery. The lucky vendors at Pa Heo Market couldn’t believe their eyes when they saw the winning numbers announced by the Government Lottery Office yesterday, September 1. The first prize was claimed by ticket…
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Surin father pleads for return of son taken for deportation
A devastated father in Surin has pleaded for the return of his Cambodian wife and 13 year old son after immigration police removed the boy from school and placed him in a shelter for deportation. The incident unfolded yesterday, August 29, in Bua Chet district when officers arrived at the school and escorted the boy away, citing a lack of…
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‘Naga coconut tree’ in Phetchabun sparks lucky number frenzy
It’s not every day a coconut tree grows into the shape of a mythical serpent, but villagers in Phetchabun believe they have found one that could change their fortunes. As the next national lottery approaches on September 1, residents of Bueng Sam Phan district in Phetchabun province rushed yesterday to witness a bizarre phenomenon: a five year old dwarf aromatic…
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Shaky start: Twin tremors jolt Chiang Rai and Mae Hong Son
Northern Thailand had a shaky wake-up call this morning when twin microearthquakes rattled Chiang Rai and Mae Hong Son within minutes of each other, startling residents. The Earthquake Observation Division of Thailand’s Meteorological Department (TMD) reported two separate microearthquakes in the early hours of today, August 27, both striking at shallow depths of 3 kilometres. The first tremor, a 1.5-magnitude…
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Court rejects plea to block bail for woman who fatally stabs restaurant owner
A woman accused of fatally stabbing a Kamphaeng Phet restaurant owner was released on bail after the victim’s family failed to object. The attack reportedly stemmed from an incident in which the deceased was blamed for not protecting the suspect from a sexual assault. Officers from Khlong Khlung Police Station arrested 32 year old Jaruwan Jaifai for stabbing to death…
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Chiang Rai drug bust uncovers 3.5 million meth tablets
Police, military, and administrative officials collaborated in Chiang Rai to dismantle a major drug trafficking gang, seizing 3.5 million methamphetamine tablets and 60 kilogrammes of crystal meth at a petrol station. The operation led to further asset seizures, including cash and properties. On August 24, law enforcement agencies, including the Office of the Narcotics Control Board and regional police, conducted…
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Chiang Rai airport gets 5.7 billion baht mega upgrade
Chiang Rai is set to soar with a massive 5.7-billion-baht terminal upgrade aimed at transforming the northern province into Thailand’s next aviation hub. Airports of Thailand Plc (AoT) has greenlit a bold expansion plan for Mae Fah Luang Chiang Rai International Airport, including the construction of a new passenger terminal to support a dramatic increase in air traffic. Announced by…
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Frontline soldier returns home after mother fatally stabbed by her customer
A frontline soldier returned from duty at the border to attend the funeral of his mother, who was fatally stabbed by a female customer at her restaurant in Kamphaeng Phet province on Wednesday, August 20. Police arrested the 32 year old suspect, Jaruwan Jaifai, at her family home on Wednesday after she stabbed 62 year old restaurant owner Meena Pattatha.…
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Thai vendor offers 50,000 baht reward after 10 million baht amulet heist
A Thai amulet vendor is offering a reward of 50,000 baht for information that could lead to the arrest of a thief who stole amulets worth more than 10 million baht from his shop in the northern province of Nakhon Sawan. The well-known amulet vendor, Parkpoom “Bung” Watcharayu, appealed to news agencies and the online community after his police complaint…
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Ancient cave unearthed in northern Thailand jungle
Thailand’s archaeological map has just grown richer after forest rangers stumbled upon a mysterious cave in the remote wilds of Phitsanulok province. The three-day patrol, carried out from Thursday, August 14, to Saturday, August 16, in the Khwae Noi forest watershed, was initially intended to monitor wildlife in the Phu Khat Wild Animal Protection Area. But instead of just tracking…
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Cockfighting champ: Korat rooster sold for 6.5 million baht
A record-breaking cockfight has rocked Thailand’s underground scene after a champion rooster, fresh off a multimillion-baht victory, was sold for a staggering 6.5 million baht. The feathered fighter, Fakhamram, earned his reputation on Sunday, August 17, after defeating rival bird Jao Kaotao in a high-profile showdown at the Kaew Khok Krot cockfighting stadium in Nakhon Ratchasima province. The prize pot?…
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Flood alert in Mae Sariang after car swept away by creek
Officials in Mae Sariang district, Mae Hong Son province, have issued a flood alert following an incident where a car was swept away while crossing the Mae Ngae creek in Tha Mae Che, Saohin subdistrict. Today, August 17, locals were able to assist in time, preventing any injuries. Worasak Panthong, the district officer of Mae Sariang, has instructed village heads…
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3 teenagers arrested for burning disabled dog in Lampang temple
Police arrested three Thai teenagers for burning a disabled dog alive in a temple bathroom in the northern province of Lampang. Locals in the Ko Kha district of Lampang reported the cruel act by the 14 year old suspects to the Watchdog Thailand Foundation (WDT) yesterday, August 14. The incident had occurred the previous week in the abandoned bathroom of…
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Thai teacher fatally shoots student’s uncle after sexual assault accusation
A Thai teacher in the northern province of Phetchabun fatally shot his student’s uncle after being attacked by the victim over an alleged sexual assault on the young girl. Officers from Mueang Phetchabun Police Station were called to investigate the death of a 43 year old Thai man, Thaweesak, at a house in the Napa district of Phetchabun on August…
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Yom River floods force urgent evacuations in Phichit
A sudden surge of water from the Yom River, flowing down from Sukhothai and Phitsanulok in northern Thailand, has caused flooding in Phichit, prompting urgent evacuations in low-lying areas. The river’s unexpected early rise has caught residents off guard, forcing many to quickly move valuables and livestock to higher ground. Yesterday, August 8, the Yom River’s overflow was first reported…
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Thai evacuees set to return as tensions with Cambodia ease
Thai officials are preparing to assist thousands of evacuees in returning home as tensions along the Cambodian border subside. Surin Governor Chamnan Chuentha confirmed that stability has returned to most border areas following Thursday’s General Border Committee meetings in Kuala Lumpur, where Thailand and Cambodia agreed on a 13-point ceasefire. Transportation arrangements are being coordinated with shelters and the Department…
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Car wreckage with human skeleton found in Phitsanulok ravine
A rescue team on Wednesday, August 6, unexpectedly discovered the wreckage of a car containing a human skeleton in a ravine in the northern province of Phitsanulok while rescuing a truck driver who had crashed his vehicle at the same spot. The truck driver crashed his vehicle, which was carrying eucalyptus logs, into the ravine in the Chat Trakan district…
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Phayao lottery vendor helps friend win 12 million baht prize
In a heartwarming tale of fortune and friendship, a lottery vendor in Phayao province witnessed an extraordinary event when a close friend won the top prize in the national lottery. Yesterday, August 1 at 5pm, 44 year old lottery vendor Yaowanut reported the astonishing news to Police Lieutenant Colonel Sonthaya Pathawi of Mueang Phayao District Police Station—her customer had won…
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Thailand deluge: Nan province hit by worst flood in 40 years
A province in northern Thailand has been left reeling from catastrophic floods, but in the darkest hours, help came from unexpected places. Volunteers braved rising waters to save lives, leaving one woman grateful for the anonymous heroes who rescued her. On July 23, Diane Francheska Ruiz, a Filipina English teacher in Nan province, noticed something was off. While she couldn’t…
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Chiang Rai MP booted over budget scandal
In a major political shake-up, the first deputy House speaker and MP for Chiang Rai, was disqualified by the Constitutional Court. Found guilty of misusing public funds to influence budget decisions for personal gain, Pichet Chuamuangphan is now barred from holding office for 10 years and faces a by-election. Yesterday, August 1, the Constitutional Court delivered a bombshell ruling, disqualifying…
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Dad killed in Uthai Thani crash seeking missing daughter
A frantic father’s desperate search for his missing teenage daughter ended in heartbreak late yesterday, after he and his companion died when their pickup truck crashed into a utility pole in Uthai Thani province. Police in Lan Sak district received a distressing report at around 10.30pm yesterday, July 31, that a white Toyota pickup truck had flipped onto its roof…
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Chiang Rai residents brace for floods as Kok River rises
Residents along the Kok River in Chiang Rai are being urged to prepare for potential flooding as water levels rise. Warnings have been issued for areas such as Huai Chomphu, Mae Yao, Doi Hang, Wiang, Rim Kok, and the Chiang Rai City Municipality to move belongings to higher ground. Eight temporary shelters have been established by the city municipality. Yesterday,…
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Chiang Rai on alert as rising waters flood communities
Heavy rainfall in upstream areas has triggered severe flooding in parts of Chiang Rai’s Mae Sai district, with the Sai River overflowing and submerging several at-risk communities early yesterday, July 28. Officials reported that the Thai–Myanmar Friendship Bridge No. 1 was partially blocked after a large volume of debris, including logs and garbage, was swept downstream, obstructing the river’s flow.…
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Chiang Rai declares red alert amid severe flooding crisis (video)
Emergency measures have been initiated in Chiang Rai as a red-level alert has been declared due to severe flooding in the north of Thailand. Officials have issued warnings for four high-risk areas in Mueang Chiang Rai district, urging immediate evacuation to safer locations. At approximately 7.30am on July 28, a Facebook page, Rak Chiang Tung, shared a video showing the…
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Cambodia urges ceasefire in Thailand border standoff
Cambodia has called for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire with Thailand, as tensions have escalated with deadly exchanges for a second day. The dispute, which has involved jets, artillery, tanks, and ground troops, prompted an emergency United Nations Security Council meeting. Phnom Penh’s UN ambassador Chhea Keo emphasised the need for a peaceful resolution following a closed council meeting attended…
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Thai king steps in as Thai-Cambodia border erupts
A royal lifeline has been thrown to victims of the violent Thai-Cambodian border clashes, with His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua pledging aid for the injured and support to rebuild shattered lives. As artillery fire rattled Thailand’s eastern provinces, the monarchy stepped in to assist those caught in the escalating conflict. The king extended royal patronage to all injured…
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Transport company halts bus services amid flooding in northern Thailand
The Transport Company, also known as Bor Kor Sor, temporarily suspended services on two northern routes due to torrential rainfall and flooding caused by Tropical Storm Wipha. In an announcement on its official Facebook page today, July 25, the company confirmed the temporary suspension of Route 47 (Bangkok–Thung Chang) and Route 910 (Bangkok–Nan), citing severe flooding in Thailand’s northern provinces,…
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