Cold Weather Continues, Chiang Mai Ranks 15 Top Destinations

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3 January 2026, 10:40

Cold Weather Continues, Chiang Mai Ranks 15 Top Destinations

Cold weather continues as temperatures edge up at Doi Inthanon; tourists flock to sea of mist views as Chiang Mai ranks among world’s top destinations

CHIANG MAI, Thailand — At 9 am on Jan. 3, 2026, Doi Inthanon National Park chief Jeeranit Cheangsa-at said the lowest temperature recorded at the summit was 5 degrees Celsius. Temperatures measured 8 degrees at Kew Mae Pan and 9 degrees at the park headquarters.

No frost was reported. Visitors experienced the cold conditions and enjoyed views of morning sunlight cutting through layers of mist at Kew Mae Pan. Later in the morning, a mix of mist and fog was expected to linger in the area.

Park officials reported that on Jan. 2, the park welcomed 7,188 visitors, 5,212 Thai tourists and 1,976 foreign visitors, with 1,865 vehicles entering the park.

Tourism remained strong during the extended New Year holiday, with visitors from China, South Korea, Japan and several European countries continuing to travel across Chiang Mai and its surrounding attractions.

Meanwhile, U.S. News, has released its ranking of the World’s Best Places to Visit 2026. The list was based on expert opinions, reader votes and current travel trends, assessing destinations on tourism appeal, culture, scenic beauty, food and other factors.

Chiang Mai ranked 15th on the list. The publication described the city as calm and relaxed, in contrast to the bustle of Bangkok, and an ideal starting point for experiencing Thailand’s urban culture. It highlighted visits to temples and the old city, shopping for handicrafts at night markets, and noted that Chiang Mai also serves as a perfect base for exploring natural landscapes or planning camping trips.

Mae Yanang Ritual Sparks Fire, Car Goes Up in Flames

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2 January 2026, 18:50

news100178_ggO7s2zifs1767346266 — A car is badly damaged after a fire sparked by a candle used in a Mae Yanang blessing ritual in Phetchabun province, Thailand. (Photos courtesy of Ruamkatanyu Phutoi Rescue Foundation.)

PHETCHABUN — A car was badly damaged by fire in central Thailand after a candle used in a traditional blessing ritual ignited the vehicle’s front bumper and engine compartment, rescue workers said.

The incident occurred on Jan 2 in Phutoi subdistrict, Wichian Buri district, in Phetchabun province. Volunteers from the Ruamkatanyu Foundation were called to a house where a white Isuzu MU-X SUV was on fire while parked inside the property.

Firefighters used foam to extinguish the blaze, which was concentrated at the front of the vehicle. The engine compartment and front bumper were completely destroyed, officials said.

According to initial inquiries, the car’s owner had earlier performed a ritual to honor Mae Yanang, a spirit believed by some Thais to protect vehicles and travelers. As part of the offering, the owner lit incense sticks and candles and placed them on the ground in front of the car near the bumper before going inside the house.

Authorities believe heat from the candle flames ignited plastic components of the front bumper, allowing the fire to spread quickly into the engine area.

The owner noticed the fire only after it had grown intense and immediately called municipal firefighters and rescue volunteers, who arrived in time to prevent the flames from spreading to nearby vehicles.

No injuries were reported.

What is Mae Yanang?

Mae Yanang is a guardian spirit rooted in ancient Thai and Southeast Asian belief systems. Originally associated with boats, the spirit is now widely believed by some people to protect modern forms of transportation such as cars, motorcycles and even airplanes.

Many Thais perform small blessing rituals — especially when buying a new vehicle or during festivals such as Songkran — by offering incense, candles, flowers or food to ask for safety, good fortune and accident-free travel.

Rescue workers cautioned that lighting open flames near vehicles — especially close to fuel lines, plastic parts or engine components — poses a serious fire risk.

The foundation thanked local residents for alerting authorities quickly, preventing further damage.

Thai Opposition Leader Campaigns in Korat, Visits Ya MO Monument

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2 January 2026, 17:55

508888 — Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut poses for photos with supporters at the Ya Mo monument in Nakhon Ratchasima during a campaign visit.

NAKHON RATCHASIMA — Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut, leader and prime ministerial candidate of Thailand’s People’s Party, campaigned in the northeastern province of Nakhon Ratchasima on Thursday, meeting voters and taking part in local cultural rituals as he sought support for the party’s parliamentary candidates.

Natthaphong visited the Thao Suranari Monument — a shrine dedicated to the local heroine known as Ya Mo — where supporters gathered to greet him, take photos and offer him food, flowers and gifts.

He later walked through Chumphon Gate, a historic city gate tied to a local belief that those who pass through it will one day return to the city. Natthaphong said he hoped the ritual would bring him back to Korat again — this time to thank voters if the party gains stronger public support.

Thailand is set to hold a general election on Feb 8, 2026, alongside a nationwide referendum on proposed amendments to the Constitution.

The visit was part of a broader campaign push by the People’s Party to expand its influence in the province and win parliamentary seats in the region.

Foreigner’s Fireworks Exploded Into Passing Vehicles

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2 January 2026, 16:53

Foreigner’s Fireworks Exploded Into Passing Vehicles

BURIRAM, Thailand — Foreigner’s fireworks exploded in the middle of a busy road in Buriram, sending sparks into passing vehicles and causing minor damage, according to local residents and authorities.

The incident occurred at about 8:30 pm on Jan. 1 on the Buriram–Satuek road in Ban Dan district. CCTV footage from a nearby shop, widely shared on social media, showed fireworks firing horizontally across the roadway as cars and motorcycles passed in both directions.

A caption accompanying the video criticised the behaviour, saying the fireworks left burn marks on a parked vehicle and that no immediate apology was offered. “Fortunately, the damage was not serious,” the post said.

An investigation found that a foreigner had placed fireworks on the traffic island. The device toppled over after being lit, causing the fireworks to shoot erratically at ground level without direction.

A local resident said she was inside her home feeding her child when she heard loud explosions outside. When she went to check, she saw fireworks firing toward vehicles across all four lanes of traffic, with smoke spreading over an area nearly 200 metres long.

kaytyfw 1 — Firework’s mortar tube that got knock toppled over.

She said sparks struck several passing cars and motorcycles, as well as her own pickup truck parked by the roadside. The fireworks continued firing for about one minute until all the charges were exhausted.

She later confronted the individual responsible, who apologised and said the fireworks had fallen over unintentionally. The woman said she accepted the apology, explaining that she believed the foreigner simply wanted to celebrate in a similar way to local residents.

Authorities said several vehicles sustained minor scorch marks to their paintwork, but no injuries were reported and no police complaints were filed. The owner of the fireworks declined to comment but said he would compensate anyone who comes forward with damage claims.

Thai Civil Servant Says She Was Denied Entry to South Korea, Shares Frustration Online

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2 January 2026, 16:39

8887752000 — A photo posted by a Thai woman shows a waiting room inside Incheon Airport’s immigration area, where she said she was held before being sent back to Thailand.

A Thai woman who said she is a civil servant has shared an account of being denied entry to South Korea, posting anonymously in a Korean travel group on social media about what she described as an upsetting and unexplained experience at immigration.

In her post, the woman said she had a clear travel plan and brought supporting documents, including proof of her employment and return intentions, but was still refused entry upon arrival.

“I feel very disappointed and hurt by this trip. Korean immigration gave no clear reason for the inspection or the decision,” she wrote. “Especially the female officer at the central desk — I don’t know what she was upset about, but she was rude to me for no reason.”

She added that she had prepared all necessary documents and believed her travel purpose was legitimate.

“I had a clear itinerary, a stable job as a civil servant, and all the documents ready for inspection,” she said. “In the end, I was not allowed to enter. If I had known, I would have gone to Japan instead. I shouldn’t have wasted my time here.”

The woman said she was particularly upset because she had already exchanged Korean won for the trip but was unable to use any of it.

Among Thai travelers, South Korean immigration is widely known to be strict. Tourists are commonly advised to prepare detailed documents — such as hotel bookings, return tickets, proof of employment, and financial statements — to demonstrate that they are genuine visitors and intend to return home after their trip.

Her post, tagged with “#Incheon,” has drawn attention online, with many users discussing entry requirements, immigration discretion, and similar experiences at foreign borders.

South Korean immigration authorities have not publicly commented on the specific case. Under international practice, immigration officers have the authority to deny entry to foreign nationals if they believe entry conditions are not met, even if a traveler holds a valid visa or meets formal documentation requirements.

Thailand To Raise Aviation Passenger Fee to 25 Baht From Feb 1

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2 January 2026, 15:14

Young woman hand holding luggage handle before checking flight t — Passengers arriving in or departing from Thailand will be charged a 25-baht fee starting Feb 1.

BANGKOK — Thailand’s Civil Aviation Authority will raise the passenger fee charged on international arrivals and departures to 25 baht per person per trip starting Feb. 1, up from 15 baht, in a move aimed at stabilizing the agency’s finances.

Air Chief Marshal Manat Chavanaprayoon, director of the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand, said the fee, which is collected from airlines based on the number of passengers entering or leaving the country, has remained unchanged since 2015 despite rising operating costs.

He said the authority is a non-profit regulator responsible for overseeing Thailand’s civil aviation sector in line with domestic law and international standards. It does not receive government budget support and relies mainly on this fee for income.

The agency currently holds about 1.4 billion baht in reserve funds, which are used to pay salaries for more than 500 staff members as well as office rent and technology costs.

Manat said the authority has been operating at a loss because the current fee is below cost. While the charge is 15 baht per passenger per trip, the cost per passenger has risen to 19.34 baht, based on total passenger numbers of 72.42 million.

“As passenger numbers increase, the authority has to draw more from its reserves, which cannot be sustained,” he said, adding that the fee increase is intended only to allow the agency to break even and continue operating, not to generate profit or expand operations.

He said the adjustment to 25 baht is expected to cover expenses for only about three to four years, allowing the authority to reach a break-even position around 2028, and that the agency does not plan a larger increase at this time.

Immigration Adresses Crowded Queues at Suvarnabhumi Airport, Says Passengers Cleared Within 30 Minutes Despite 30 Flights Landing Together

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2 January 2026, 14:05

606383930_1185135347126476_7083560536350868305_n — Foreign tourists queue at immigration on arrival at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport during the year-end travel rush.

BANGKOK – Thai immigration police on Thursday moved to reassure travelers after a photo showing crowded immigration queues at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport went viral on social media, prompting concerns about delays in entering Thailand during the year-end travel rush.

The controversy began after a Japanese tourist posted a photo from the immigration area at Suvarnabhumi Airport showing large numbers of passengers waiting in line to enter the country. The post described entry into Bangkok at the end of the year as congested and was later shared widely by Thai travel-related Facebook pages.

Police Col. Pongthorn Pongrattanant, deputy commander and spokesman for Immigration Division 2, said the photo likely dated from Sunday, Dec 28, one of the busiest travel days of the year.

He said that between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. that day, about 30 international flights arrived at the airport at the same time, sending roughly 5,700 passengers into immigration processing. From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., passenger numbers never dropped below 4,000 per hour, and more than 85,000 travelers passed through the airport over the entire day.

Pongthorn said the visual impression of crowding was intensified by the terminal’s physical layout, particularly the long and relatively narrow walkways leading into the immigration halls, which can make queues appear more congested than they are.

He said congestion occurs mainly during peak arrival windows and that immigration officers are generally able to process arriving passengers within 30 minutes, in line with operational standards.

The spokesman said immigration authorities were operating under the so-called “Sky Plan” ordered by Immigration Bureau chief Lt. Gen. Phanumart Boonyalak to manage the Christmas and New Year travel surge. Under the plan, officers are deployed at full capacity, leave has been suspended, and security screening standards are being maintained.

He said the situation is monitored 24 hours a day through closed-circuit television and hourly reporting, with staff distributed across all three arrival zones to speed up processing and ensure safety.

Pongthorn added that waits of one to two hours at immigration are common in many countries and that a Thai traveler recently reported waiting more than eight hours at a European airport on Dec 29.

He said Thailand’s ability to keep average immigration processing time below 30 minutes while maintaining security reflects the effectiveness of its officers and helps reinforce confidence among tourists and Thailand’s image as a welcoming destination.

Mango Sticky Rice and Khanom Khrok Put Thailand on the World Dessert Map

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2 January 2026, 12:22

Thai mango sticky rice and khanom khrok are officially among the world’s best desserts — and we couldn’t be sweeter about it.

Two of Thailand’s most loved traditional desserts have earned international recognition after being named among the Top 100 Best Desserts in the World for 2025 by TasteAtlas, a global food and culture website.

The ranking, based on more than 97,000 user ratings, celebrates the world’s most popular sweet dishes — and this year it placed khanom khrok at number 24 and mango sticky rice at number 64.

The top spot was claimed by Antakya Künefesi from Turkey, a traditional cheese-filled pastry from the historic city of Antakya, which received the highest average score of 4.51. It was followed by Britain’s clotted cream ice cream, Italy’s pistachio gelato and strudel, and Turkey’s Gaziantep baklava rounding out the top five.

TasteAtlas described khanom khrok as a small Thai dessert made from rice flour and coconut milk, cooked in round moulds in a heavy iron pan. The dish is prepared in two layers — a crisp base and a soft coconut custard topping — and is often flavoured with ingredients such as spring onions, taro, corn or pumpkin.

The website said the dessert is a staple of Thai street food culture and praised its balance of sweet and savoury flavours, calling it “a quick and filling snack that balances sweet and savory flavors extremely well”.

The second Thai entry, mango sticky rice, was described as a classic way to end a Thai meal. The dish combines steamed glutinous rice soaked in sweetened coconut milk, served with slices of ripe mango. TasteAtlas said the dessert is “incredibly popular” and can be found at almost any eatery across Thailand.

Food experts say the appearance of Thai desserts on the list reflects growing global interest in Southeast Asian cuisine and its distinctive use of coconut milk, tropical fruit and rice-based ingredients.

For Thai food lovers, the rankings offer international confirmation of what they already know — that some of the world’s best desserts can be found not in fine-dining restaurants, but at humble street stalls and family kitchens across the country.

75-Year-Old Man Became First Fatality to the Cold Weather

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2 January 2026, 12:02

75-Year-Old Man Became First Fatality to the Cold Weather

BURIRAM — A 75-year-old man has become the first reported fatality linked to the recent cold weather, after temperatures dropped to 18 degrees Celsius overnight, police said.

Officers from Ban Dan police station were notified at about 7:30 am on Jan. 2, 2026, that a villager had been found dead inside his home in Ban Pho Thong village, Ban Dan district. Police and local rescue workers went to investigate.

The victim, identified as Wa Chamram, 75, was found dead on a mattress in the middle of his single-storey concrete house. Police said there were no signs of assault, and he was believed to have died at least three hours before his body was discovered.

His wife, Jampii Cherngram, 69, told police the household consisted of herself, her husband and their 9-year-old grandson. She said her husband normally woke around 5 a.m. to light a fire outside the house to keep warm during cold weather.

When he did not wake as usual, she went to check on him and found him unresponsive, with his body already stiff. She said her husband had no underlying medical conditions and did not drink alcohol. She believed the sudden cold overnight, combined with sleeping in an open area of the house, may have caused him to go into shock.

A neighbour, Thongsuk Tansiaidee, 67, said the man had visited him the previous evening to compare fighting cockerels and appeared normal at the time. He also believed the cold weather was a contributing factor.

Police said the cause of death would be further examined, but relatives did not suspect foul play. The body was released to the family for funeral rites according to local tradition.

Temperatures in Ban Dan district dropped to around 18 degrees Celsius overnight as a cold air mass continued to affect parts of northeastern Thailand.

Doi Inthanon Temperatures Dropping to 3 Degrees Celsius

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2 January 2026, 11:03

Doi Inthanon Temperatures Dropping to 3 Degrees Celsius

CHIANG MAI — Cold weather continued at Doi Inthanon National Park, Thailand’s highest peak, with temperatures dropping to 3 degrees Celsius at the summit and below freezing at ground level, officials said.

Grass-top temperatures fell to minus 0.4 degrees Celsius and as low as -2.2°C in some areas, creating widespread frost, known locally as mae khab. The phenomenon occurred for the 25th time this winter, park authorities said.

At 9 a.m. on Jan. 2, 2026, Doi Inthanon National Park chief Jeeranit Cheungsard reported that cold conditions persisted across the mountain. Temperatures measured 3 degrees at the summit, 4 degrees at Kew Mae Pan nature trail and 9 degrees at the park headquarters.

doi temp 2126 — Grass-top temperatures at -2.2°C.

Frost was observed in several locations, including near ranger units, where visitors were able to see and photograph the icy formations. Tourists also enjoyed sunrise views above a sea of mist and explored natural attractions throughout the park. Officials said staff were deployed at key sites to assist and advise visitors.

Tourism remained strong during the New Year holiday. On Jan. 1, 2026, the park recorded 9,043 visitors, including about 8,000 Thai tourists and 1,043 foreign visitors, with 3,373 vehicles entering the area.

Doi Inthanon ranked first among the five most visited national parks in Chiang Mai and Lamphun provinces on that day. It was followed by Doi Pha Hom Pok National Park in Fang district with 5,118 visitors, Sri Lanna National Park with 3,774, Bua Tong Waterfalls with 3,503 and Doi Suthep–Pui National Park with 3,417 visitors.

The Northern Meteorological Centre in Chiang Mai said cool to cold weather would continue across northern Thailand, with morning fog and temperatures expected to drop by 1 to 2 degrees Celsius.

doi temp 2126 crowd — Tourists enjoying sunrise views above a sea of mist.

Forecaster Noppaphan Ritmahan said a new moderate to strong high-pressure system from China had spread across northern Vietnam and Laos and was expected to cover upper Thailand and the South China Sea on Jan. 2.

Residents were advised to take care of their health due to colder conditions and to exercise caution when travelling in foggy areas.

In Chiang Mai province, temperatures were forecast to range from 17 to 31 degrees Celsius, while mountain areas were expected to see cold to very cold conditions, with lows of 4 to 9 degrees Celsius. Easterly winds were forecast at speeds of 10 to 20 kilometres per hour.

What is Mae Yanang?

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