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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    Thailand vs. the West: What expats save on healthcare each year

    Healthcare in Thailand is much cheaper than in Western countries, making it a great choice for expatriates looking for affordable medical care. Both public and private healthcare options offer high-quality services, with savings of up to 80% on procedures like...

  • 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…

  • Rev your engines: The ultimate motorcycle tour in Thailand

    Rev your engines: The ultimate motorcycle tour in Thailand

    The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and Royal Enfield have teamed up to put the Land of Smiles on the map as a premier destination for motorcycle enthusiasts. The Royal Enfield Amazing Thailand Ride, which began its inaugural tour from July 18 to 23, promises an adventure like no other, showcasing the country’s rich cultural tapestry and stunning landscapes. Nithee…

  • 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…

  • Wildlife tragedy: Thailand mourns as serow and tiger bite the dust

    Wildlife tragedy: Thailand mourns as serow and tiger bite the dust

    A serow was discovered shot dead in Phetchabun province, while an injured tiger succumbed to its wounds in Buriram, according to reports from Thai officials yesterday. Chanyaphak Thanachatakkarakun, the chief of Phupha Daeng Wildlife Sanctuary, revealed yesterday, July 21, that a worker from the Silarat Lom Sak stone crushing plant heard gunshots emanating from a mountaintop and subsequently witnessed a…

  • 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…

  • Knife-wielding man shot dead after attacking police in Chiang Rai

    Knife-wielding man shot dead after attacking police in Chiang Rai

    A man wielding a knife caused chaos in Santat village, Mae Chan district, Chiang Rai province, injuring a police officer before being fatally shot. A subsequent search of his home revealed drug paraphernalia. Local police received a report at 9.30pm yesterday that a man was wreaking havoc in the village. Upon arrival, the officers found 28 year old Toon walking…

  • 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…

  • Thai AirAsia flights between Bangkok & Lampang take off in October

    Thai AirAsia flights between Bangkok & Lampang take off in October

    Thai AirAsia announced a new route connecting Bangkok’s Don Mueang International Airport (DMK) and Lampang, marking the airline’s 25th domestic destination in Thailand. Starting October 1, travellers can look forward to daily flights on this new route, operated by the airline’s trusty Airbus A320 aircraft. Flight FD3923 will leave Bangkok (DMK) at 11.10am, touching down at Lampang Airport (LPT) by…

  • 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…

  • Escort scam: Thai man assaulted & robbed in Chiang Mai hotel trap

    Escort scam: Thai man assaulted & robbed in Chiang Mai hotel trap

    A Thai man filed a complaint against a male escort and his four friends after they lured him to a hotel in the northern province of Chiang Mai before physically assaulting and robbing him. The victim, 31 year old Korn, told officers at Doi Saket Police Station that he lost cash, a mobile phone valued at about 20,000 baht, and…

  • 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…

  • Udon Thani hotel calls for delay in electricity rate hike

    Udon Thani hotel calls for delay in electricity rate hike

    A prominent hotel in Udon Thani urged the government to delay the planned electricity rate hike, citing concerns about the current purchasing power of consumers. They argue that customers are only spending on necessities, and an increase in electricity costs could further impact the number of patrons using their services. Apicha Veerachatiyanukul, the managing director of Udon Plaza Co., Ltd.,…

  • 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 monk’s mention of 730 kip per baht stirs lottery excitement

    Thai monk’s mention of 730 kip per baht stirs lottery excitement

    A renowned Thai monk caused a stir among his followers by unexpectedly mentioning a three-digit number, though he wasn’t discussing the lottery. Phra Ratchawat Wajratam Sopon, better known as Luang Pu Sila Sirichanto, the abbot of Wat Phra That Muen Hin in Khon Kaen province, has become a widely talked-about figure. In recent lottery draws, numbers associated with Luang Pu…

  • 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…

  • Udon Thani residents offer reward to stop nightly disturbances

    Udon Thani residents offer reward to stop nightly disturbances

    Residents in Ban Dung, Udon Thani have reached their limit with local teenagers causing nightly disturbances by ringing doorbells. They are offering a 5,000 baht reward for information leading to their capture. Weeraphon Rak Samerwong, administrator of the Ban Dung Update Facebook page, reported receiving numerous complaints from residents in the municipal area of Ban Dung. The complaints involve three teenagers,…