Chiang Mai braces for a much quieter Songkran than anticipated, as bookings lag and air quality fears persist. Golden cassia trees are blooming along Chiang Mai’s moat, their yellow flowers a familiar signal that Songkran is approaching — but this year, the festive mood is tempered by concerns over tourist numbers, air quality and the state of the moat water itself. Hotel bookings for the long So … Continued
Chiang Mai has declared an additional three districts as wildfire disaster zones, bringing the total number of affected districts to nine, as fires continue to spread across the province with no sign of abating. The province had previously designated six districts — Hot, Samoeng, Chiang Dao, Doi Saket, Mae Taeng and Mae Wang — as public disaster areas covering 38 sub-districts, 324 villages and 27 … Continued
Senior officials from multiple agencies conducted an inspection of Mae Kha Canal yesterday, visiting the Atthada and Rakaeng bridges to assess wastewater discharge points and drainage systems. The delegation included the secretary-general of the Office of National Water Resources, the director-general of the Pollution Control Department, Chiang Mai governor Rattaphon Naradit and the deputy mayor o … Continued
A 36-year-old man was arrested on the evening of 4th April after being found standing at the scene of an active forest fire within Pha Daeng National Park. The arrest was carried out by park chief Prakaasit Rawiwan, leading a joint operation with forestry officials, soldiers from the 33rd Military Area Command and administrative officers from Chiang Dao and Chai Prakan districts. The suspect, Pong … Continued
A new community mall has opened on Mahidol Road with an ambition that goes beyond retail. The Backyard Mahidol positions itself as a wellness destination for Chiang Mai’s health-conscious residents, built around the concept of “Live Well, Be Well” — a phrase the developers translate as อยู่ดี ใช้ชีวิตดี, or living well in every dimension. The project’s pitch is holistic rather than transactional. … Continued
The “Songkran Lanna Tha Tamnak 2026” is set to become one of the key highlights of the Songkran Festival in Chiang Mai for 2026. Taking place from April 13–17, 2026, the event aims to promote tourism while showcasing the charm of Lanna culture in an accessible and family-friendly setting. Visitors can enjoy a wide range of activities throughout the day, including family-oriented entertainment, tra … Continued
DIY air purifiers available on loan for northern hospitals and vulnerable residents As the air pollution crisis continues, a practical initiative is making clean air more accessible to those who need it most. Pak Kret Municipality in Nonthaburi has partnered with Boonthavorn Chiang Mai to assemble and distribute DIY air purifiers to medical facilities and vulnerable groups across the north — inclu … Continued
Patient numbers at Maharaj Nakhon Chiang Mai Hospital have risen to 1.5 times their normal level as the city’s prolonged air pollution crisis takes its toll, with doctors warning of both immediate and long-term health consequences. Professor Dr. Arintaya Phrommintikul, director of Maharaj Nakhon Chiang Mai Hospital, confirmed that PM2.5 levels exceeding safety standards are having a measurable imp … Continued
Chiang Mai has been blanketed in toxic smog for more than a week with no signs of improvement, as PM2.5 levels continue to far exceed safe thresholds and most residents are left to manage the health risks on their own. The Climate Change Data Centre at Chiang Mai University recorded an hourly peak reading of 742 micrograms per cubic metre at the Thung Khao Phuang subdistrict health post in Chiang … Continued
A late-night act of unsolicited street art at a Chiang Mai pizza shop ended on a surprisingly heartwarming note this week, after the French man responsible returned to the scene of the crime — this time wielding a paintbrush instead of a spray can. At around 11pm on 30th March, French National Daniel, 28, was caught on camera spraying the word “IMMA” — meaning “mother” in Hebrew — onto the front d … Continued
