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Radio Reborn: Happy Radio 98.5FM takes a new direction

As the only English-language FM-frequency radio station in northern Thailand, Happy Radio fills a unique and growing niche in Thailand’s media scene. It reaches a diverse audience and its programming reflects that. That’s also a formidable challenge.

Drowning in Debt

A report by the National Statistical Office of Thailand (NSO) revealed that the average national household debt in 2017 was over 170,000 baht. Puchapong Nodtaisong, director of the NSO stated that although household income is increasing, expenditure and debt is also increasing accordingly, the past ten years seeing a steady increase in household debt annually. A report by the Bank of Thailand showed that the household debt to GDP ratio had increased from 41% in 2003 to 60.3% in 2011, spiking over the next four years to 81.2% by the end of 2015.

Sweet Tooth?

The taste of childhood served up with a twist? A dizzyingly varied dessert buffet? Small-batch, crafted yoghurts? Yes, please! With these crowd-pleasers, life is sweet.

Editorial: October 2018

At what point do religions examine themselves and realise that they have become venal tools wielded by the unworthy and serving the undeserved? And when are they going to seriously address these issues?

Thai Buddhism’s Struggle for Relevance

On the morning of this year’s Asanha Bucha Day, Pat prepared an assortment of delicacies and necessities, packing them into a basket with a big jaunty bow and corralled her family into a car to drive to Wat Pong Yang Chalerm Phra Kiet in Mae Rim to make merit.

Non Invasive Pain Relief with Absolute Health

Shockwave therapy is a non-invasive treatment that is frequently used in physiotherapy, orthopaedics and sports medicine in assisting chronic muscular and tendon disorders, back and cervical pain.

Lanna Thai Coffee Development Centre

At the beginning of this year, the Faculty of Agriculture, Chiang Mai University, which has been conducting research and development into coffee growing and processing for the past thirty years, set up the Lanna Thai Coffee Hub, aimed at elevating the standards of Arabica in the region, and positioning its production to meet market requirements as well as to better the standards of living for highland farmers.

Game On: Getting to know eSport

I found myself sitting in a nearly all-male audience in a dim hall bathed in a glow of LED lights shining from a big bright stage. Facing one another were players fighting to win the northern round of the ESport Thailand Championship. My eyes, along with the buzzing crowd’s, were fixed on a huge screen at the centre of the stage displaying a virtual football stadium.

Me Time

Sometimes it’s hard to remember to take a pause and step aside the whirligig of life. Take a day off, do something to indulge your nostalgia or go and blow off some steam/cash!

The Sop Moei Mission: Weaving a Community’s Future

Taciturn Kent Gregory, the man behind one of Chiang Mai’s most well-known luxury brands Sop Moei Arts, is impossible to pigeon-hole; his life-story (so far) reads like a an extraordinary swashbuckling tale from the 19th century yet he helms a non-profit enterprise which has been lauded world-wide for its high quality ethnic textile and basket weaving which have graced runways and magazine covers.

Chiang Mai Confidential: A look at the local dating scene

Plentiful. Confusing. Nonexistent. Experimental. These are the words Chiang Mai’s singles used when asked to describe the Chiang Mai dating scene. As the interviews stacked up, of course I realised that dating is a very individual experience and results certainly vary, but there were themes that emerged, and that’s where our exploration of the dating scene begins.

Coffogenic: Hillkoff’s New Superfood

“Coffogenic is functional and consumers can expect clear results. It benefits those especially with diabetes and those who are struggling with cholesterol. It’s a super food.” On the other end, this is another channel of income for the coffee farmers which is way better than just making fertiliser.

Nana Jungle Café and Restaurant

The popular bakery shop, known for the wafting scent of fresh baked pastries that attracts daily crowds, has taken the next big step to running a proper restaurant. Tucked away at the back of 89 Plaza where the owners just opened their latest bakery branch last year, the restaurant now occupies a roomy space, evoking the vibes of the famous Nana Jungle.

The Imperial Spa

The healing massage presented by The Imperial Mae Ping promises to caress away your weariness. There are a variety of treatments available to soothe each individual, giving the ultimate experience at a cost effective price.

A Tipple of Two

Bars are not hard to find in Thailand, in spite of the Five Buddhist Precepts, so you hardly have to do more than walk down your soi to find a thirst-quencher. But this month we put some pressure on our livers for you to find you some cool venues we thought you might enjoy.

7 Unique First Dates around Chiang Mai

The idea of seven first dates is enough to wilt the smoothest dater. Citylife is here to help, with this list of unique and memorable first dates that should take some of the anxiety out of impressing. Whether or not they actually look like their profile pics is entirely up to chance; sorry, can’t help you there! Start on the right foot with these fun date locations.

More From Citylife

Border police teacher injured by firecracker flown to Bangkok on police chief’s orders

Fri 30th Oct

A Border Patrol Police teacher in Mae Hong Son was flown to Bangkok today after a firecracker exploded in her face, the national police chief ordering that she get the best care available. Pol Lt Col Bunyanut Phongitsawarannan, deputy spokeswoman of the Royal Thai Police, said today (October 28) that Pol Gen Samran Nuanma has taken a personal interest in the case of Pol Cpl Nareerat Pairotniyomcha … Continued

Halloween Celebration Takes Over Jing Jai Central Chiang Mai with Outdoor Movies and Family Activities

Fri 30th Oct

Jing Jai Central Chiang Mai invites families, residents, and visitors to celebrate the spooky season with a two-day Halloween event packed with outdoor cinema screenings and creative activities from October 30 to 31, 2026.   Halloween Movie Nights at Jing Jai Market The festivities kick off with Halloween Movie Nights at [Jing Jai MarketJing Jai Market, featuring free admission to open-air film sc … Continued

MAYA LANNA LANTERN 2026 Celebrates the Magic of Lanna Yi Peng in the Heart of Chiang Mai

Tue 27th Oct

MAYA Lifestyle Shopping Center invites locals and visitors to experience the enchanting beauty of Lanna culture at “MAYA LANNA LANTERN 2026.” The area in front of the shopping center will be transformed into an artistic showcase featuring “Long Sapao” (the traditional Lanna floating boat ritual), a captivating installation created by VASSANA (Ajarn Wassana Saima), an internationally recognised Lan … Continued

Celebrate Loy Krathong by the Ping River at Kham Dara Restaurant

Tue 27th Oct

Celebrate Loy Krathong by the Ping River at Kham Dara Restaurant 24 November 2026 | Kham Dara Restaurant, Wat Ket, Chiang Mai Experience the magic of Loy Krathong along the banks of the Ping River as Kham Dara Restaurant invites guests to its “Loy Krathong Riverside Experience 2026” on Tuesday, 24th November 2026. Set in the charming Wat Ket neighbourhood on Charoen Rat Road, the restaurant offers … Continued

Doi Suthep has a twin in the old city, and it comes without the mountain

Tue 27th Oct

The bells and incense smoke drifting over Wat Phra That Doi Suthep Ratchaworawihan are familiar to anyone who has made the trip up. For the people of Lanna, the mountain is more than a landmark. It is where the city keeps its faith, handed down through generations. Fewer people know that inside the moat, at Wat Chomphu, stands a chedi more than 600 years old, often described as the twin of the one … Continued

Officials return to Doi Pui over felled wild Himalayan cherry trees, vow to pursue the culprits

Mon 26th Oct

Officials from several agencies went back to Ban Hmong Doi Pui in Chiang Mai this morning (October 26) to look at the damage from the illegal felling of wild Himalayan cherry trees, and said they will pursue the case “to the fullest extent.” Krisayam Khongsatri, director of Protected Area Regional Office 16 Chiang Mai, was there with Thongchai Narat, chief of Doi Suthep-Pui National Park, and Sura … Continued

Chiang Mai vendors unbothered by holy basil registration row: “Ours is a different variety”

Mon 26th Oct

Vegetable sellers in Chiang Mai say they are not losing sleep over the uproar about CP Ram registering holy basil varieties, and every stall at the city’s biggest produce market was selling the stuff as usual. CP Ram Co Ltd has applied for protection of four holy basil varieties, Kaew Churi 01, 02, 03 and 04. That set off worry among the public and farmers that a private company registering “holy … Continued

Irish Film Festival returned to Chiang Mai for eighth year

Mon 26th Oct

The Irish Film Festival returned to Chiang Mai from 23rd–25th October, bringing five contemporary Irish films to SFX Cinema at MAYA for its eighth edition in Thailand. Organised by the Embassy of Ireland in Thailand, the festival celebrated Ireland’s distinctive storytelling tradition with a programme of drama and documentary, presented in their original languages with Thai subtitles. This year’s … Continued

Monk takes in 13 chained dogs after Chang Khlan noise complaints

Mon 26th Oct

A Chiang Mai monk has offered to take over the care of 13 dogs whose barking and howling had worn down the neighbours on Charoen Prathet Road, with the move to a shelter planned for October 26. Phrakhru Sangkharak Weerawat Weerawatthano, better known as Phrakhru Ord of Wat Chedi Luang Worawihan, visited the Chang Khlan neighbourhood in Mueang district with Chiang Mai municipal officials from Mengr … Continued

Waa Wellness Launches in Chiang Mai, Connecting Holistic Wellbeing with Local Experiences

Sun 25th Oct

Waa Wellness, a new digital platform connecting people with holistic health and wellness experiences, has officially launched in Chiang Mai, with plans to expand to other major tourist destinations across Thailand. On 24 October 2026, Arinda Buawiratlerd, Director of Waa Wellness Co., Ltd., joined Paisan Sukcharoen, Chairman of the Federation of Thai Industries Chiang Mai Chapter, and Dr. Kobkit I … Continued

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