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.
-
Sponsored Can health insurance help speed up your Thai visa process?
The Thaiger key takeaways Having the right health insurance keeps your visa process moving without unnecessary hold-ups. Showing proof of coverage early can make approvals and renewals faster. Keeping your insurance active avoids surprises and ensures smooth compliance. Applying for...
-
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…
-
Vanishing act: Thai man’s disappearance sparks monk’s mystical ceremony
A 49 year old Thai man mysteriously vanished from his home in the early hours of October 26 leading to a monk’s mystical ceremony to find him. Residents from Mo 9, Nern Phayom, Thung Pho, Nong Chang, Uthai Thani, and neighbouring villages were joined by over 30 officials in a desperate search that lasted four days. Their journey led them…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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…
-
Suicide of Wild Boar footballer sparks nationwide query into mental health support
The tragic suicide of Dom, a member of the “Wild Boar” football team, has left many with questions. As per a report by the BBC, Dom, full name Duangpetch Promthep, was one of the 13 individuals from the football team who were trapped in the Tham Luang cave and died eight months after his rescue. The cause of his death…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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…
-
Myanmar teenage YouTuber arrested for making explosives
A teenager’s dream of becoming a YouTuber was dashed when police arrested him for attempting to cause mayhem during the end of Buddhist Lent. Mantsak Kaew-on, officer in charge at Mae Sot Police Station in Tak province, today, October 28, dispatched a team of ten officers led by Kritsakon Pho Phong to patrol the Sri Thai road near the Thai-Myanmar…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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…
-
Chiang Mai property stirs online debate, selling dream or reality for 80,000 baht?
A plot of land, measuring just one square wah (equivalent to 4 square metres) and priced at 80,000 baht, has caused a stir on social media. The land, located in a village in Chiang Mai, comes complete with a groundwater system, a water tank, and a steel cage. The online Chiang Mai property post advertising the sale also included a…
-
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…
-
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,…
-
Chiang Mai abbot accused of physically and sexually abusing novices
Police rescued three Lao novices from a temple in Mae Rim district, northern Chiang Mai province after the abbot was accused of physically and sexually abusing them. Sex toys, G-strings and beer were found in the abbot’s accommodation. A 20 year old Lao man, Tawanchai, sought help from officers at Mae Rim Police Station after his 12 year old brother,…
-
Sticky rice bonanza: Thai community in Nakhon Phanom cashes in on Khao Mao harvest
The annual rice harvest has proven to be a golden opportunity for the Thai community in Nakhon Phanom in northeastern Thailand. This is especially true for a group of people who are making a substantial income by producing and selling traditional sticky rice known as Khao Mao. This business generates several million baht every year. One such group is led…
-
Elderly woman in Buriram lives alone without basic amenities for 30 years
An 84 year old woman has been living alone for over 30 years without any basic facilities such as electricity and water in her Buriram home. This distressing scenario unfolded in the Buriram province where the woman lives in a dilapidated house. She is unable to walk and relies on the kindness of her neighbours and leftover food from a…
-
Chanthaburi philanthropist’s Mercedes-Benz sparks lottery frenzy in Roi Et
The generosity of a wealthy philanthropist from Chanthaburi sparked a lottery frenzy in Roi Et province. The benefactor donated a red-plate Mercedes-Benz, valued at 2,540,000 baht, to a revered monk, Phra Khru Udompanyasarn of Wat Ban Nong Ruea in Roi Et. The vehicle’s registration number has now become a hot pick for lottery enthusiasts, hoping to strike it rich in…
-
Elephant’s final stampede: Fearless handler’s mysterious forest demise in Buriram
A 61 year old volunteer elephant handler, known for his fearlessness around elephants, mysteriously vanished and was later discovered dead after being trampled by a wild elephant in the heart of a forest in Buriram Province. The grim discovery was made today by Chakkraphan Sukterm, Deputy Inspector (Investigator) of Non Din Daeng Police Station. The deceased, named Thuep (surname withheld),…
-
Norwegian man murders his Thai boyfriend in Chiang Mai
Police arrested a Norwegian man on Tuesday for the alleged murder of his Thai boyfriend at their home in the northern province of Chiang Mai. A resident of Wang Singha Kham village in Pa Dad district of Chaing Mai province reported the death of a 39 year old Thai man named Charit to Mueang Chiang Mai Police Station on the…
-
Eighth day of search for missing mushroom picker in Khao Kho forest as new clues emerge
A desperate search for a 61 year old mushroom picker lost in the Khao Kho Forest in northern Thailand has entered its eighth day, with over 100 people, including residents and officials from various departments, joining the hunt. Tragically, the man, known locally as Khamphan Sisonkarn or Lod, disappeared on September 27 while foraging in the community forest of Jawa…
-
Chiang Mai bridge collapses amid heavy rain, locals express relief
The Wang Sa Kaeng Bridge, spanning the Ping River and connecting the Chom Thong district of Chiang Mai and Wiang Nong Long district of Lampoon, collapsed after heavy rainfall. The incident, which occurred at 5.31pm yesterday, was captured by locals, who expressed relief at the bridge’s collapse, citing its long-standing disrepair. The collapse of the Wang Sa Kaeng bridge, which…
-
Mun River’s flood tide brings venomous twist to northern Thailand
The continuous rise of the Mun River has resulted in severe flooding, submerging nine districts in Ubon Ratchathani, northern Thailand. Inhabitants scramble to evacuate while also dealing with venomous animals, including snakes and scorpions, that have been displaced by the floodwaters. Agricultural damage is extensive, with an estimated 46,000 acres of farmland affected. The flooding has also impacted tens of…
-
Ele-fantastic fortune: Thai cactus with trunk-like growth attracts good luck-seeking locals
Residents of Phayao province are flocking to a golden chicken ball cactus, believed to be a good luck charm due to its unusual growth resembling a baby elephant’s trunk. The cactus belongs to 46 year old Phatharaporn, who has experienced an influx of customers and a significant increase in income since the peculiar growth appeared. The golden chicken ball cactus,…
-
Tropical storm drenches northeast Thailand but pumps come to the rescue
A tropical storm has swept across northeast Thailand, causing the Mun River to rise, and flooding local communities. In response, the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department hastened to set up water pumps to draw rainwater back into the river, lessening the impact of the floods. Two districts have been affected, forcing residents from 15 communities, totalling 200 households, and 684…
-
Devastating house fire wipes out life savings and home of 67 year old Akha tribe woman in northern Thailand
A 67 year old stateless elderly woman from the Akha tribe had her life savings and property destroyed in a devastating house fire. The incident took place at her residence numbered 185, located in the village of Pa Ka Sukjai, Mae Salong Nok Sub-district, Mae Fa Luang District, Chiang Rai Province. The fire was reportedly due to an electrical short…
-
Undercover scandal: Child prostitution and curfew violations uncovered in northern province
The Department of Provincial Administration last night uncovered underage drinking, curfew violations and child prostitution at two entertainment venues in the northern province of Phayao. As a consequence of this discovery, five officers from Meuang Phayao Police Station have been transferred. Acting on a tip-off from the anti-trafficking Immanuel Foundation, authorities from the Department of Provincial Administration, Phayao Provincial Office…
-
Chiang Mai University professor survives on just 118 baht per month amidst civil servant salary debate
A Chiang Mai University professor revealed he struggled for a year on a monthly wage of just 118 baht, a situation that led to a difficult life, reports Khaosod. He had to use an old motorcycle to commute to work, and there were times when he ran out of fuel midway. The issue of splitting civil servants’ salaries into two…
Don't forget to check out some other things to do in Thailand - get help starting a business or finding a job in Thailand, buy Thailand property, rent a yacht or book a medical procedure worldwide.