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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    Long-term life in Thailand? 5 reasons private health insurance pays off in the long run

    Thailand is a great place for expats and retirees, offering a warm climate, affordable living, and rich culture. However, healthcare can be tricky for foreigners since they aren’t eligible for public health coverage, and private care can be expensive. Private...

  • Elderly man killed by pit bull in Khon Kaen

    Elderly man killed by pit bull in Khon Kaen

    A 70 year old Thai man was attacked and killed by an American Pit Bull Terrier in Khon Kaen province. The man’s 33 year old son, Prasert collected his father’s body from the Srinagarind Hospital morgue. The attack occurred at Kho village, Kud Khon Kaen subdistrict, Phuwiang district yesterday, July 24. Prasert, deeply saddened, urged the dog’s owner to take…

  • Rainy morning crash in Chaiyaphum injures four

    Rainy morning crash in Chaiyaphum injures four

    A road crash in Chaiyaphum province this morning resulted in three heavily damaged pickup trucks and four injuries. A white Toyota Hilux Revo lost control and veered into oncoming traffic, colliding with two other pickups. Chaiyaphum City Police Station received a report at 7.05am today, July 25, of a multi-vehicle collision in front of Chaiyaphum Radiator Shop on the Chaiyaphum-Si…

  • Lottery enthusiasts visit Phayao temple for lucky numbers

    Lottery enthusiasts visit Phayao temple for lucky numbers

    Residents and lottery enthusiasts flocked to the ancient Suan Dok temple, over 1,000 years old, to seek blessings from the revered Phor Suan Dok statue. The temple is located in Ban Huai Luk, T. Tun, Mueang district, Phayao province. Locals brought offerings of flowers, incense, and candles to pay respects to the Buddha statue within the temple. They also sought…

  • Thai man abandons family in roadside hut in Udon Thani

    Thai man abandons family in roadside hut in Udon Thani

    A Thai man deceived his family by promising to buy a birthday cake, only to abandon his wife and four children in a roadside hut. The local villagers, unable to leave the family in distress, stepped in to help and transport them back to their rented home. Local officials received a report at 5pm yesterday from Parida Prasomsri, a member…

  • Thai man severely injured in attack by police officers’ children

    Thai man severely injured in attack by police officers’ children

    A violent altercation involving a group of police officers’ children has resulted in severe injuries for a young man, with the case seeing little progress over the past month. The incident occurred today, July 24, when 45 year old Sanya and his son 20 year old Nattapong, visited Ekaphap Luangprasert, advisor to the Minister of Interior and founder of the…

  • Heartbroken woman rescued from bridge in northeast Thailand

    Heartbroken woman rescued from bridge in northeast Thailand

    A Thai woman, distressed after a breakup, was found crying by the Chi River Bridge in Yasothon province, prompting a good Samaritan to call the police. Officers managed to calm her down after an hour, ensuring her safety and returning her home. A young woman, overcome with sadness from a recent breakup, was found sitting alone on the edge of…

  • Beat drop: Drummer’s collapse rocks live session in Khon Kaen

    Beat drop: Drummer’s collapse rocks live session in Khon Kaen

    A drummer experienced a sudden collapse during a live music session, falling face-first to the ground while his bandmates rushed to his aid. Recalling the incident, the 54 year old drummer, Natthawut Sukkham, shared his perspective on the event, suggesting both health issues and supernatural elements might have contributed to his sudden fainting. The incident occurred during the evening of…

  • Thai man kills 2 month old baby girl after failing to rape her mother

    Thai man kills 2 month old baby girl after failing to rape her mother

    A Thai man killed a two month old baby in a rage by throwing the infant to the ground after he failed to rape the child’s mother at her home in the northern province of Chiang Rai. Officers from Wiang Kaen Police Station arrested the 40 year old alleged murderer, Lee Saeyang, at his home, which was located opposite the…

  • Thai senior police officer disguised as monk arrested in scam probe

    Thai senior police officer disguised as monk arrested in scam probe

    Thai police apprehended a senior police officer, allegedly involved in a call centre scam, who had fled to become a monk in Lampang. The officer denied being the ringleader, claiming he was merely an accomplice. An investigation into a call centre scam led police to a residence in Pa Tan, Mueang district, Chiang Mai, and another apartment within the Baan…

  • Police seize 6 million methamphetamine pills in North Thailand

    Police seize 6 million methamphetamine pills in North Thailand

    Police in Pai district, Mae Hong Son province in northern Thailand seized 6 million methamphetamine pills (meth) and 21 kilogrammes of crystal methamphetamine (Ice) that had been abandoned in the area. However, the individuals responsible for transporting the drugs escaped arrest. Chucheep Pongchai, Governor of Mae Hong Son, instructed Anek Pantayom, the District Chief of Pai, to address the drug…

  • Young girl drowns in Khon Kaen weir tragedy

    Young girl drowns in Khon Kaen weir tragedy

    A young girl drowned in Khon Kaen as she played on a weir with a group of others. Three were rescued after a four-hour search. Police from the Water Operation Unit of the VR Friendship Rescue Association in Phon Mueang mobilised to search for the 12 year old girl, Panadda Nganman, also known as Nong Mai yesterday, July 19. She…

  • Persistent Chiang Mai gang arrested for bird food scam on tourists

    Persistent Chiang Mai gang arrested for bird food scam on tourists

    Police have detained members of a scammer gang at Tha Phae Gate, Chiang Mai, who were scamming tourists by selling bird food and charging them for photos, deemed to be damaging the area’s reputation as a tourist destination. Today, July 19, officers from the Tourist Police Division 2, led by Makara Srisakulpisut and Nithipat Bunmak, conducted a thorough inspection of…

  • Fatal crash on Lampang-Phrae road kills woman, injures two others

    Fatal crash on Lampang-Phrae road kills woman, injures two others

    A tragic accident involving a car and a 10-wheel truck occurred on the Lampang-Phrae road, just before reaching the Wang Ngern shrine, resulting in the death of a woman and injuries to two others, including a one year old child. Police from Mae Tha Police Station reported that the collision happened at 5pm yesterday, July 17. The police, including the…

  • Discover Thai ancient history at Phimai National Museum

    Discover Thai ancient history at Phimai National Museum

    A captivating blend of ancient history and modern exhibition techniques awaits visitors at the newly renovated Phimai National Museum in Nakhon Ratchasima province, 325 kilometres northeast of Bangkok. The museum recently reopened its doors, offering a refreshed and engaging exploration of Phimai’s rich cultural heritage. Located near the Phimai Historical Park, the museum, established in 1993, has long been a…

  • One missing during Maha Sarakham reservoir breach flooding

    One missing during Maha Sarakham reservoir breach flooding

    A significant breach at the Huay Chiang Kham Reservoir in Maha Sarakham led to the release of several million cubic metres of water on Tuesday, affecting vast agricultural areas and resulting in one person missing. Local officials reported that the incident impacted 10,000 rai of farmland across four subdistricts in the northeastern province. The breach, which occurred at 5pm, created…

  • Stateless elderly in Chiang Rai die waiting for Thai citizenship

    Stateless elderly in Chiang Rai die waiting for Thai citizenship

    Numerous stateless elderly individuals in Chiang Rai have tragically passed away before receiving Thai citizenship due to prolonged bureaucratic processes. A Chiang Mai teacher, Daeng, called upon Thai Deputy Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul to visit the area and witness the situation firsthand. Teacher Daeng, whose full name is Tuenjai Deetes, along with Pienporn Deetes, Secretary-General of the Foundation for Community…

  • Heavy rain breach reservoir and bridge in northeast Thailand

    Heavy rain breach reservoir and bridge in northeast Thailand

    Heavy rain wreaked havoc in Maha Sarakham, causing the Huai Chiang Kham Reservoir to develop a significant leak, resulting in a flood that has submerged thousands of rai of paddy fields. The deluge has also led to the collapse of the Huai Chiang Kham Bridge, situated between Ban Kam Pi and Ban Lao Yaw. Continuous downpours in the Non-Rasi subdistrict, Borabue…

  • Thai village health volunteer wins 6 million baht in lottery

    Thai village health volunteer wins 6 million baht in lottery

    A village health volunteer from Yasothon has struck it rich by winning the first prize in the lottery, netting a total of 6 million baht. The lucky numbers were chosen from a ticket she had reserved but not yet paid for. Rungaradee Sriwisat, a 53 year old resident of Ban Hua Kham, Moo 4, Samran subdistrict, Mueang Yasothon district, revealed…

  • Thai lottery vendor wins 24 million baht after funeral ticket sale

    Thai lottery vendor wins 24 million baht after funeral ticket sale

    A lottery vendor in Nong Bua Lamphu has struck it rich, winning 24 million baht from four lottery tickets. The tickets, which included the number 36 matching the age of a deceased individual at a funeral she attended, were initially unsold and kept by the vendor herself. Chantip Anusi, who has been selling lottery tickets for decades, revealed that she…

  • Ancient artefacts found in Phrae to boost tourism

    Ancient artefacts found in Phrae to boost tourism

    The ancient city of Wiang Chiang Chuen in Phrae, northern Thailand, has unveiled numerous historical artefacts, including polished stone axes and objects over 2,000 years old. The Fine Arts Department plans to develop it into a new historical tourist attraction. During a survey today, Warawut Euapinyakul, MP for Phrae’s 3rd district from the Pheu Thai Party, and Director-General of the…

  • Mobile SIM card dispute leads to fatal shooting in Uthai Thani

    Mobile SIM card dispute leads to fatal shooting in Uthai Thani

    A heated argument over a mobile phone SIM card ended tragically when a man shot his uncle dead at the front door of their home. The gunman, a former village assistant headman, had resigned after testing positive for drugs. Wasawat Siphipob, an investigator at Sawang Arom Police Station in Uthai Thani province, received a report yesterday, July 15, at around…

  • Nakhon Ratchasima man orders toolset, gets water bottles instead

    Nakhon Ratchasima man orders toolset, gets water bottles instead

    A man from Nakhon Ratchasima was left disheartened after spending 499 baht on what he believed to be a set of tools but instead received three bottles of water. Nirat Sukboon, a 46 year old resident of Nai Mueang subdistrict, Phimai district, took his complaint to the Phimai Police Station, presenting the evidence of the water bottles. Nirat shared that…

  • State officials implicated in bid-rigging scheme for rubber latex firms

    State officials implicated in bid-rigging scheme for rubber latex firms

    The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) uncovered the involvement of state officials in bid-rigging for rubber latex companies in 10 provinces, leading to significant financial losses for the country. The investigation has been forwarded to the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) for further action. Last year, a group of rubber latex traders submitted a letter to the prime minister, requesting an…

  • Thai couple arrested for illegal wildlife trade in Surin province

    Thai couple arrested for illegal wildlife trade in Surin province

    Police arrested a Thai couple involved in the illegal wildlife trade, confiscating two tiger cubs, two pairs of Thai elephant tusks, and 26 pieces of African elephant tusks worth millions of baht. Efforts are underway to rescue an additional four tiger cubs. The operation, led by Director of the National Parks Office Chaiwat Limlikhitaksorn and officers from Dom Police Station…

  • Students report being misled into bizarre camp in Thailand

    Students report being misled into bizarre camp in Thailand

    Several students from a renowned university in northeastern Thailand have reported being misled by senior students into attending a peculiar camp that deviated from Buddhist teachings. The camp involved strange rituals, including chanting hundreds of times and creating heavenly passports. Students from a well-known university in northeastern Thailand raised concerns about a camp they were taken to by senior students,…

  • Garbage truck crash in Buriram kills worker, injures driver

    Garbage truck crash in Buriram kills worker, injures driver

    A garbage truck skidded on a slippery road and crashed into a village sign and an electric pole, causing the death of a worker who fell from the truck and leaving the driver severely injured. A tragic accident occurred when a municipal garbage truck lost control on a wet road and collided with a village sign and an electric pole,…

  • North Thailand: Police seize 66,000 smuggled e-cigarettes

    North Thailand: Police seize 66,000 smuggled e-cigarettes

    Police seized 66,000 smuggled e-cigarettes valued at over 15 million baht from a warehouse in Mueang, Uttaradit, northern Thailand. The Thai Consumer Protection Police Division (CPPD) and other relevant agencies announced the successful operation during a press conference yesterday. CPPD officers had been investigating illegal online e-cigarette sellers who targeted juveniles by disguising the products as cartoon characters. These toy-like…

  • Khon Kaen fatal collision leaves one dead

    Khon Kaen fatal collision leaves one dead

    A car accident on a road in Ban Phai, Khon Kaen, resulted in a fatal collision, with one man dead at the scene and efforts underway to locate his relatives. The crash involved a sedan spinning out of control and hitting a pickup truck. Police Lieutenant Kittipol Sripan of Ban Phai Police Station received a report of a car accident…

  • Thai cyber police arrest TikTok influencer over gambling links

    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…

  • Ubon Ratchathani melts hearts with divine candle creation to win ice sculpting world title

    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…