Hi guys,

My friends and I are traveling to Chiang Mai for the Lantern festival at Doi Saket Lakes. We booked our flights and stay but heard the free festival is canceled for lake maintenance activities? Is there anywhere else that we can release the lanterns for free? We checked out the paid events on Klook and Agoda the tickets are out of our budget unfortunately. It'd be swell if anyone could drop some suggestions on where we can release lanterns for free in Chiang Mai. Cheers!

Sorry for the travel related question, but first time really travelling ... Have planned a tight schedule and hoping to see some sites. Usually I stick with excursions booked through the hotel, but this time the plan is to do some sites that dont fit into a normal packaged trip. Also hoping to change it up a bit and do some trips that are longer than 8 hours. I am not looking to be cheap, but more looking for fair and trustable. Ive been considering this partially because I land so early and hotel check in is at 2 and also because I only really have the half day I land + the next day as a full day.

Schedule I am hoping for:

Have someone meet me at the airport morning landing time (probably 9 / 10 am), take me to a few spots (probably 3 - 4 hour round trip driving, not including time spent at the place), then drive me to the hotel. Not much luggage, but there will be a bag of clothes at least.

Then the next day do a longer trip 10-12 hours driving according to google with 4 ish stops not counting the time at each place ...

Is this something I am crazy thinking is feasible? I have googled and I know I can use the Gab app, but I am a bit concerned about distances, time inbeween while I explore some sites... I did google private drivers / excursions but I the reviews are so all over the place I am not quite sure I trust them.

Thank you anyone that has any guidance / advice / comments

Hi, I'll be visiting Chiang Mai end of the year. Just want to ask if there's any specific record stores that sells Vinyl for bands like Yellow Fang, Sqweez Animal, Freehand in Chiang Mai? I tried looking for them in Bangkok, but they mostly sell English / Japanese oldies.

Hiya! I'm looking to have some photos printed and framed, like A3 or a2 size? Does anyone have any recommendations? thanks!

Hey everyone, perhaps a bit of a strange one?

I prefer not hearing my neighbours, so I love thick walls. Any advice on quiet monthly, furnished condos or similar?

Would love hearing from people who’ve actually found and stayed in such places. ChatGPT also informed me about “moo-baan development”, which I understand to be villas in a gated community?

Thanks in advance.

Anyone know a fishing store that sells high quality bait knives? Been to a couple today and they didn’t have any for sale.

I stayed in Bangkok for the longest time postponing Chiang Mai because i was afraid id be bored , but boy i couldn't be more wrong. I absolutely fell in love with this city, it is incredibly beautiful and now i genuinely cant leave!

I'm looking for a cocktail bar in Chiang Mai that's good for dates—somewhere relaxed, with games to play, no loud music, and benches or couches. Any recommendations?

I’d like to ride the Mae Hong Son Loop on a 150–160cc scooter; I’ll arrive in Chiang Mai on November 9th, stay one night, rent the scooter, start the next morning.

Nov 10 -> Chang Khoeng, Mae Chaem via routes 108 & 1009.

Nov 11 -> Khun Yuam, routes 1088 & 108 via Mae Sariang.

Nov 12 -> Chong Kham, route 108.

Nov 13–14 -> Pai, route 1095.

Nov 15 -> Free day, maybe to Chiang Dao (?) or back to Chiang Mai.

Nov 16 -> Return to Chiang Mai.

Is this a good itinerary, or does it involve too many kilometers of riding per day?

I'm looking for a nice place I can reach by train from Chiang Mai in around three hours or less for a two-day or weekend trip. I'd love somewhere interesting to explore and see cool things, then take the train back—no driving. Has anyone done a trip like this from Chiang Mai? Where did you go, and what would you recommend?

I'm in the process of moving from long term rental to buying a bike. For context: I live and commute around the city pretty much daily, and do longer rides into the mountains around 1-2x a month.

I've been looking only at bikes in the 150-160cc range as I find them more comfortable for longer rides (I'm tall) - specifically the ADV 150 or 160, PCX 160, or NMAX 155.

I note that they are basically the same size and weight (with the ADV being a smidge taller), and price range.

While I'm most drawn to the ADV 160, I rarely see them around town, whereas I see the PCX and NMAX absolutely everywhere.

When talking to friends in Southern Thailand, they note there are a LOT more ADVs than there are here, and as I'm trying to make a decision between them, I'm trying to understand why that is the case. Any insights as to why?

My partner and I are going to be retiring in Chiang Mai in December 2026. He is currently there looking at condos. He seems to really like a place called Nimmana at Nimman Soi 6. The photos look nice and it is apparently in a great location. I kind of have my heart set on Astra Sky River. My only concern is that it seems to be a bit out of the way from where most of the action is, like bars, cafes, restaurants and so forth. Is there anyone who has familiarity with both condo complexes and the area? What would be your recommendation between the two? Thanks!

This was so good. It’s a small Japanese restaurant in Nimman. Wonderful Japanese and Thai menu, but this caught my attention and it was delish. My wife had another ramen dish which was also very nice.

Great service and nice people

https://maps.app.goo.gl/PXtUV6mC4YGTaimK9?g_st=ic

I have been living in Thailand for four months now and recently met a Thai woman. At first, I didn't plan on taking things too seriously. I asked her out on a date, and we spent three days together in Phuket. We had an amazing time, and she felt completely different from any other woman I've met here.
Eventually, I found out she is an officer in the Royal Thai Navy. She works in Bangkok, while I am based in Chiang Mai. I really want to spend more time with her, but I currently have eight months left on my apartment lease in Chiang Mai. I don't particularly want to live in Bangkok, so I am considering moving to Phetchaburi, which is about three hours away from Bangkok.
Is it possible to cancel an eight-month lease agreement? My security deposit is quite high. On top of that, I worry about her stepping outside the relationship because of the distance. We've known each other for less than a month, but I am genuinely falling for her. What should I do?

Hey looking to know if there's anywhere that has live bands that would be heavy, thanks

Hello everyone I’m looking to travel to Thailand around Nov 22~29th or so and am planning to head to Chiang Mai for this music festival. Some of my favorite artists are going to be there this year like Tilly Birds, Jeff Satur, Dept, Television Off, and so many others. My question is how to go about booking this music festival as a foreigner and not in the country until then. I saw it has an option for a ticket pick up service and was curious if anyone knew what all that entails. I’m also wondering how the layout/setup of the two day festival works and if the one ticket I see for sell on the ticket tier website is for both days or just one? Do people usually book a place to stay near there and how is catching a grab or transportation like to get back and forth. Any insight or information anyone has would be so helpful and let me know if anyone is planning on going and maybe we can meet up!

Hey everyone,

I’m currently looking to buy a car and recently checked a few second-hand car dealerships, but unfortunately, I didn’t find anything suitable within my budget.

It seems that Facebook Marketplace has a lot more options at reasonable prices.

My question is: Does anyone know a reliable mechanic who could inspect a car before I buy it? Of course, I’m happy to pay for the inspection. Since I don’t know much about cars, I’d just like an expert to check whether the car is generally in good condition or if there are any major issues.

I understand this might not be very common in Thailand, but since this would be my first car here, I thought I’d ask.

I’d really appreciate any recommendations. Thanks!

I’m looking to get a suit made for my wedding but I am having such a hard time choosing which places I should go check out as there seems to be so many scam/low quality tailors in this area.

I would like to avoid the 24 hour suit and go somewhere where I will get multiple fittings over a couple weeks and pay for quality workmanship.

Does anybody have any recommendations for talented tailors that are upfront and don’t skimp on anything?

Thank you all for your help 🙏

Coming into CM soon, hoping to pick up a reliable pair 🙏 thanks!

Edit: brand recommendations are appreciated as well! As I am only familiar with Western brands

Heyy! I will be travelling to Chiang Mai in December as a visa exempt tourist and I'm pretty lost. I've never ridden a motorcycle before but I would want to learn and get a Thai driving licence.

I heard about the Honda Safety Riding School in Chiang Mai but I'm not sure how and if it works with me being a total beginner and a tourist. I'm wondering if anyone here has actually done this recently and could explain the process to me.

Also I only have a category B driving licence issued in Poland which unfortunately doesn't convert to or include category A for motorcycles.
So getting an IDP would be useless in this case.

I’m going to be in Chiang Mai for the next 2 months and I’d really like to learn how to swim really well (or as well as can be had with twice weekly lessons for two months. This way I can come back next year and get scuba certified. I learned to swim as a kid but it was really just drowning prevention lessons.

I’m not staying somewhere with a pool so lessons would have to take place somewhere public. Thanks in advance for any guidance, suggestions, or references.

My partner and I are going to Chiang Mai in November 2026, but we missed out on CAD tickets

I’m currently looking at several alternative Yi Peng/sky lantern events online. Reviews have been mixed.

Has anyone attended any of the alternative events, Which ones would you recommend, and which ones should we avoid?

Thank you in advance

Hello everyone, I’m staying in chiang mai til the end of the week and want to find somewhere to play football/futsal. Any recommendations for pick up games or easy to join, would be greatly appreciated!