Northern Thailand News

Stay updated with the latest Northern Thailand news at The Thaiger, your ultimate source for regional information. Keep informed on local events, business developments, and lifestyle stories in popular locations like Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, and Pai.

Our in-depth coverage includes famous monuments such as the White Temple and Doi Suthep. Whether you’re a resident or a visitor, The Thaiger’s Northern Thailand news page is your essential guide to exploring this culturally rich region. Delve into the vibrant community and diverse culture with our expertly curated content, designed to keep you connected and well-informed.

  • Sponsored

    The Four Twenty experience: From seed to sale at one of the most famous cannabis dispensaries in Thailand

    Four Twenty is already a household name in Thailand’s relatively new legal cannabis scene, and for good reason. Their meteoric rise can be attributed to a combination of factors, mainly their top-quality cannabis and their dedication to providing a unique...

  • Elephant tussle in Khao Yai ends with broken tusk

    A dramatic clash for dominance between two male elephants yesterday left one with a broken tusk in Khao Yai National Park, Nakhon Ratchasima province. The incident occurred after Plai Khrut, the young elephant who previously made headlines for raiding a statue at Wat Mu Si and consuming all the sugar cane grown by the temple for religious ceremonies, challenged his…

  • Muay Thai might: Burmese brawlers flee Chiang Mai showdown

    Seven men, believed to be Burmese nationals, picked a fight with four Thai men at a popular attraction in Chiang Mai. However, they quickly apologised and ran away when they discovered two of the victims were Muay Thai boxers. Muay Thai boxer and trainer, 34 year old Prawit “Ter” Petboribundee, shared a video and photos of the incident on Facebook,…

  • Massive drug bust: Heroin seized in river smuggling operation

    Local officers from Na Ngiew Police Station and border patrol police swooped down on Phukhao Thong village in Ban Mueang subdistrict, uncovering a labyrinthine web of drug smuggling. Nestled in the Sangkhom district of Nong Khai province, this clandestine operation bordered Laos. Upon arrival, the officers stumbled upon four shadowy figures ferrying cardboard boxes into a nondescript house. Police Lieutenant…

  • Lucky in lottery: Religious ceremony in Udon Thani promises wealth

    At a revered ritual site in Udon Thani, a large crowd gathered for a ceremony believed to unlock wealth and prosperity. Participants fixated on numbers they hoped would bring luck in the next lottery draw on May 16. In the serene precincts of the Naga King’s land at Ban Non-Mueang in Udon Thani, a grand ceremony took place yesterday, invoking…

  • Coach carrying Chinese tourists crashes in northern Thailand

    A late-night journey turned deadly as a coach carrying 33 Chinese tourists met with a horrific accident on Phahonyothin Road, Thoen, Lampang in northern Thailand. Thoen police officers rushed to the scene after receiving a fatal accident report at 11.20pm on Tuesday, May 7. They found the coach severely damaged, having crashed into roadside trees. Tragically, the driver, identified as…

  • Froggy forecast: Rain brings ‘eung pao’ craze, hopping sales in Phayao

    The onset of rain in Phayao province sparked a flurry of activity as the local delicacy, eung pao, better known as balloon frog, became available for a limited time, leading to bustling markets and a significant boost in income for local villagers. Selling for as much as 600 baht per kilogramme, these creatures are a source of culinary delight and…

  • School van driver confesses to murder of woman in Roi Et

    Investigations concluded yesterday as police made a definitive arrest of a school van driver for the murder of a 23 year old woman whose body was found handcuffed, abandoned in a scrubland by the Chi River in Roi Et province. After a meticulous search, authorities apprehended a 67 year old school van driver, named Ken, from the same village as…

  • Teen dies after brutal assault at Nakhon Phanom temple

    A 16 year old boy fell victim to a brutal assault by a group of eight teenagers after helping out at a temple in Phon Sawan, Nakhon Phanom. The culprits, aged between 16 and 18, were later apprehended by the police. The victim and a friend were returning from their temple duties at Wat Phra That Phon Sawan when they encountered…

  • Magical mishap: Parents sue Monk after amulet test injures children

    The parents of five children filed a lawsuit against a monk from Khao Rae Temple in the northern province of Sukhothai, after the monk injured the children while testing the magical powers of his amulets. The father of one of the children took to Facebook to share his 13 year old son’s story and pressured the monk, later identified as…

  • British man to face deportation over negative Thailand comments

    Thai Tourist Police officers urged the Immigration Bureau to deport a British man due to negative comments he made about Thai authorities, laws, and people on YouTube and other social media platforms. The British man, identified only as Thomas, posted videos of himself talking about Thailand on YouTube and several other social media platforms. In the videos, Thomas reportedly made…

  • Khon Kaen school deputy caught for soliciting mid-term bribes

    A school deputy director in Khon Kaen has been apprehended by the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) on the grounds of soliciting tea money from parents for mid-term admissions. The arrest was a result of a parent’s complaint against the deputy director. The school director, according to the complaint, is associated with a school under the Khon Kaen Primary Educational Service…

  • Mysterious stone turtle discovered in Thai cassava field

    A colossal stone turtle, resembling a mythical creature under a spell, has been found nestled in a cassava field in Nakhon Ratchasima, sparking curiosity and awe among local cyclists and villagers. This natural marvel, discovered today, by a cycling group exploring the Khonburi region, has become a subject of fascination and speculation, with some even drawing lottery numbers from the…

  • Thai monks implicated in illicit wildlife sanctuary encroachment

    Phu Khiao Wildlife Sanctuary officers yesterday unveiled a case of alleged illicit encroachment involving monks from a highly revered temple in Chaiyaphum. The monks and their accomplices are suspected of violating the sanctity of the wildlife sanctuary’s protected grounds. The Suomi NPP satellite pinpointed 14 hotspots in a forest located in Nong Bua Daeng, Chaiyaphum on Tuesday. Responding swiftly, the…

  • Thai-Lao friendship bridge to open in November

    The fifth Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge, connecting Thailand’s Bueng Kan province and Laos’ Pakxan town, has been scheduled to open in November. The announcement was made by Deputy Transport Minister, Manaporn Charoensri. The bridge will span from Bueng Kan, Khai Si and Wisit subdistricts in the Mueang Bueng Kan district, situated across the river from Pakxan. The construction project features a…

  • Ammonia leak in Udon Thani ice factory prompts evacuation

    An ammonia gas leak at an ice factory near a fresh market in Udon Thani caused panic and led to the evacuation of approximately 20 homes in the vicinity. With temperatures soaring to 44 degrees Celsius, it is suspected that the heat and outdated equipment contributed to the incident, which occurred early in the morning. Chaos ensued when an ice…

  • Lampang drug bust nets 400,000 meth pills worth 500,000 baht

    Thai authorities in Lampang successfully intercepted a significant drug trafficking operation, seizing 400,000 methamphetamine pills hidden within a vehicle’s spare tyre. The arrest took place following a meticulously planned operation that culminated in a routine traffic stop that turned into a major drug bust. The Governor of Lampang Province Chatchawal Chayabutr and Police Major General Phumipat Nawatrakulphisit, the Provincial Police…

  • Malaria on rise in Thailand: Tak province tackles ticklish trouble

    Thailand’s Department of Disease Control (DDC) reports a surge in malaria cases, notably in the Tak province, where the majority of the 2,913 infections have been identified since January. Other areas affected include Mae Hong Son, Kanchana Buri, Ranong, and Prachuap Khiri Khan, with 60% of the patients being foreigners, as per the department’s data. The DDC Chief, Thongchai Keeratihuttayakorn,…

  • Supachai Phosu found guilty of serious ethical misconduct

    The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) of Thailand declared former Deputy Agriculture Minister Supachai Phosu, culpable of serious ethical misconduct. The charges stem from his unlawful occupation of a forest reserve in Nakhon Phanom province. Niwatchai Kasemmongkol, the NACC spokesman, declared that the case will be forwarded to the Supreme Court for political office holders to determine the final verdict. Investigations…

  • Thai gold shop owner saves parents hundreds on student uniforms

    A gold shop owner in Roi Et province has become a local hero by offering a unique solution to parents struggling with the cost of student uniforms. Wimol Archasantisuk, the brains behind this heartening initiative, turned heads with his generosity. Wimol, the compassionate owner, embarked on a mission to ease the financial burden on parents gearing up for the new…

  • Chiang Rai province battles wildfire

    The lush province of Chiang Rai was at the mercy of a raging wildfire on Tuesday which incinerated over 400 rai (640,000 square metres) in the vicinity of the Golden Triangle, a renowned region in the district of Chiang Saen. The incident demanded the immediate action of the Chiang Saen District Administration and other responsible officers. The wildfire initially reared…

  • Volunteer firefighter attacked by Asian black bear in Lampang

    An Asian black bear attacked a volunteer firefighter while putting out a forest fire at Chae Son National Park in the northern province of Lampang on April 21. The victim is currently in a stable condition. The volunteer firefighter, 56 year old Sarm Mungtrong, sustained injuries to his head and arm after being attacked by the Asian black bear during…

  • Burmese man commits murder-suicide killing wife and son

    A Burmese man carried out a murder-suicide in a rented house in the Sankampaeng district of Chiang Mai province. He stabbed his wife to death and hanged their nine year old son from a bedroom door before hanging himself. The family of three was found dead inside the one-storey house in the Sankampaeng district of Chiang Mai province yesterday, April…

  • Police uncover illegal gambling ring in Ubon Ratchathani

    A covert sting operation led to the raid of an online lottery operator’s residence, uncovering an illegal gambling ring and revealing a flow of approximately 10 million baht per month through 12 interconnected bank accounts. This incident aligns with the Thai government and the Royal Thai Police’s crackdown on all forms of technology-driven crime, particularly illegal online gambling. Following orders…

  • Mae Fah Luang Chiang Rai Airport joins customer experience elite

    Mae Fah Luang Chiang Rai International Airport (CEI) clinched the coveted spot as the 100th accredited airport in ACI World’s Customer Experience Accreditation Programme. In a groundbreaking collaboration with Amadeus, ACI World’s Customer Experience Accreditation Programme is revolutionising the way airports worldwide approach passenger satisfaction. By equipping them with cutting-edge tools and strategies, this initiative is propelling airports towards new…

  • Debt woes: Woman found dead in pond in Nong Bua Lamphu

    A 57 year old woman was found dead in a pond in Nong Bua Lamphu province, following a period of severe stress due to her tenants failing to pay three months’ worth of rent. Children playing nearby initially spotted the body floating in the water and alerted adults yesterday. The deceased, later identified as Sumalee, had expressed to her mother…

  • Northern Thailand braces for 44 degrees celcius heatwave

    A heatwave accompanied by strong winds and hail is forecasted to hit northern Thailand starting tomorrow, with temperatures expected to soar to a sweltering 44 degrees Celsius, breaking records previously held by Mae Hong Son province in 2016 and Tak province last year. The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) warned of extreme weather conditions due to a low-pressure area caused by an…

  • Thai boxing camp owner executed at religious festival in Buriram

    A shocking execution-style murder in the early hours of yesterday morning has left the Thai boxing community in mourning. The 56 year old, owner of a boxing camp, known as Sia Dam, was brutally shot in the head and neck by an unidentified gunman, resulting in his immediate death. The incident, which took place around 4am yesterday, April 22, unfolded…

  • Elderly rice farmer dies in field blaze in Udon Thani

    A tragic incident occurred yesterday in Udon Thani province where a 73 year old rice farmer perished in a blaze that swept through his field. Police Deputy Inspector Niwat Jaengkrathok of Huai Luang Police Station, alongside medical personnel from Udon Thani Hospital Center and the Sawang Metha Tham rescue team, responded to the distress call at Ban Naklong, in the…

  • Two pickup trucks collide in fatal crash in Buriram

    Tragedy struck on the festive return home during Songkran as two pickup trucks collided head-on, resulting in both vehicles being crumpled and three people killed instantly. The accident occurred at 11pm yesterday in Buriram province where a six year old girl was among four others injured. Responding swiftly to the crash site in the Donmont Subdistrict, Buriram province, police and…

  • Army private drowns in reservoir during Songkran festivities

    Tragedy struck a family during the joyous period of Songkran, as a 22 year old army private who was returning home for the festivities drowned in a reservoir in Nakhon Ratchasima. The incident occurred yesterday at approximately 3.50pm, when Anuchit, visiting his girlfriend’s family, decided to cool off from the heat by swimming across the Huay Yang reservoir in Pak…