Lead story
Yi Peng & Loy Krathong 2026: Dates, Events and What to Know
Chiang Mai's lantern festivals are approaching. Here are the 2026 dates, the main ticketed and free events, and practical tips for seeing them well.
7 Sept 2026
Chiang Mai, Thailand
The Chiang Mai Brief
An independent, locally-informed guide to living in and visiting Chiang Mai
What's worth knowing right now, plus deep evergreen guides when you need them. Written for people who actually live here, and for anyone planning to.
Twice-monthly. New openings, events, changes & guides.
Independent & locally informed
Practical & Chiang Mai-specific
Updated regularly
For locals, expats & visitors
Featured
What we're covering
News
Chiang Mai Cool Season 2026–27: New Openings & What's Worth Knowing
As Chiang Mai's cool season begins, here's a round-up of new cafés, restaurants and openings worth knowing, plus what's changed around town this year.
5 Sept 2026
News
Introducing The Chiang Mai Brief: A New Guide to the City
We're launching The Chiang Mai Brief — an independent English guide combining current local news with deep evergreen guides to living in and visiting Chiang Mai.
20 Aug 2026
Explore
Explore Chiang Mai by category
Six sections covering everything from visas and air quality to khao soi and the Samoeng Loop.
Living in Chiang Mai
Air Quality & Burning Season
The authoritative evergreen hub on Chiang Mai air quality and burning season.
Eat & Drink
Cafés & Coffee
Specialty coffee and work-friendly cafés across Chiang Mai.
Living in Chiang Mai
Cost of Living
Realistic budgets and spending breakdowns for living in Chiang Mai.
Living in Chiang Mai
Coworking & Remote Work
Coworking spaces, work cafés and connectivity for remote workers.
Events
Festivals & Events Calendar
Festivals, seasonal highlights and the annual events cycle.
Travel
Getting Around
Local transport options and how to use them in Chiang Mai.
Neighbourhoods
Neighbourhood Guides
In-depth guides comparing Chiang Mai's core inner neighbourhoods.
Eat & Drink
Restaurants & Thai Food
Where and what to eat across Chiang Mai's food scene.
Things To Do
Temples & Culture
Temples, cultural sites and etiquette in Chiang Mai.
Living in Chiang Mai
Visas & Immigration
Everything you need to handle visas and immigration in Chiang Mai.
Guides
Chiang Mai guides people read most
Evergreen, updated, and specific to Chiang Mai. These are the questions we get asked more than any others.
How often
When Is Chiang Mai's Burning Season? (Dates)
When Chiang Mai's smoke season starts, peaks and ends — a month-by-month timeline, the historical AQI pattern and year-to-year variation.
6 min read
Decision guide
Which Chiang Mai Neighbourhood Should You Stay In?
Match yourself to the right Chiang Mai area by priority — nightlife, quiet, budget or family — with a quick-pick decision guide.
6 min read
Comparison
DTV vs Retirement vs Education Visa: Which Fits You
Compare the main long-stay visa routes for Chiang Mai — DTV, retirement and education — by eligibility, cost, duration and who each suits.
7 min read
Explainer
Monthly Budget for Living in Chiang Mai
Realistic Chiang Mai monthly budgets across frugal, comfortable and premium tiers, with a category breakdown and dual-pricing notes.
6 min read
Scenario
Where to Eat Khao Soi in Chiang Mai
The best Khao Soi spots in Chiang Mai by area, with prices and what makes a great bowl — from famous names to local favourites.
5 min read
Step by step
Songthaew (Red Truck) Fares & Etiquette
How to use Chiang Mai's songthaew red trucks — flagging one, standard fares, routes, negotiating and dual-pricing notes.
5 min read
Neighbourhoods
Where to stay, where to live
Nimman, the Old City, Santitham, the riverside and the northern fringe, each covered properly, plus a decision guide if you're weighing them up.
Cost of Living
How much does it really cost to live in Chiang Mai?
There isn't one answer. What you spend depends heavily on how you choose to live.
The question isn't simply what Chiang Mai costs. It's what your version of Chiang Mai costs.
Newsletter
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Twice a month: new openings, events, changes worth knowing about, and our latest guides. No filler.
About the Brief
What The Chiang Mai Brief is for
Most English-language writing about Chiang Mai falls into two camps: travel-blog listicles that haven't been updated since 2019, and forum threads where the answer you need is buried on page four. Neither is much use when you're trying to work out which visa fits, whether March is really that bad, or where to actually eat.
The Chiang Mai Brief exists to fill that gap. We cover current local developments, new openings, transport changes, events, alongside deep evergreen guides on the things that don't change: neighbourhoods, burning season, visas, transport and Northern Thai food.
The word "Brief" is the point. We want you to be able to skim a page and come away knowing what matters, and then go deeper when you need to.
Got questions?
Frequently asked questions
What is The Chiang Mai Brief?
The Chiang Mai Brief is an independent English-language publication and city guide for people who live in, spend extended time in, or plan to visit Chiang Mai. It combines timely local news with high-quality evergreen guides.
Who is The Chiang Mai Brief for?
It's written primarily for expats, long-term visitors, digital nomads, retirees and frequent visitors — as well as travellers who want practical, locally-informed guidance rather than generic tourism content.
When is Chiang Mai's burning season?
Chiang Mai's smoke season typically runs from roughly February to April, peaking in March. Our Air Quality & Burning Season hub covers the exact timeline, how to check AQI, and how to protect yourself.
Which area of Chiang Mai should I stay in?
It depends on your priorities — Nimman for cafés and nightlife, the Old City for temples and walkability, Santitham for budget long stays. Our Neighbourhood Guides compare each area and include a 'which area suits you' guide.
Which visa do I need for a long stay in Chiang Mai?
The main long-stay routes are the Destination Thailand Visa (DTV), retirement visas (Non-O/OA) and education visas. Our Visas & Immigration hub compares them and walks through local procedures like 90-day reporting and TM30.
The Chiang Mai Brief
Keep up with Chiang Mai
Twice a month we send the openings, changes and guides worth knowing about. It takes two minutes to read.