# The Chiang Mai Brief | Your Independent Guide to Chiang Mai > An independent, locally-informed English guide to Chiang Mai. What URL: https://chiangmaibrief.com/ ![Chiang Mai at golden hour with temple roofs and Doi Suthep behind](/images/misc/wide-view-across-chiang-mai-at-golden-hour-with-te.webp) 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. Subscribe to the Brief [/newsletter/ →](/newsletter/) Explore the Guides [/guide/ →](/guide/) Twice-monthly. New openings, events, changes & guides. Independent & locally informed 80+ guides & articles Updated regularly Practical, current, Chiang Mai-specific Featured ## What we're covering All news & updates [/blog/ →](/blog/) ![Paper lanterns drifting up over Chiang Mai at night during Yi Peng](/images/featured/paper-lanterns-drifting-upward-over-chiang-mai-at-.webp) 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. 15 Oct 2026 [Yi Peng & Loy Krathong 2026: Dates, Events and What to Know →](/blog/yi-peng-loy-krathong-2026-what-to-know/) ![A Chiang Mai condo interior during rainy season with visible humidity on windows](/images/featured/chiang-mai-condo-interior-during-rainy-season-with.webp) News ### Do You Need a Dehumidifier in Chiang Mai? Chiang Mai's rainy season pushes indoor humidity well above comfortable levels. Here's how to tell if your space needs a dehumidifier. 8 Sept 2026 [Do You Need a Dehumidifier in Chiang Mai? →](/blog/do-you-need-a-dehumidifier-in-chiang-mai/) ![A Chiang Mai street at the start of cool season with clear skies and outdoor café tables](/images/featured/chiang-mai-street-in-early-cool-season-with-clear-.webp) 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 [Chiang Mai Cool Season 2026–27: New Openings & What's Worth Knowing →](/blog/chiang-mai-cool-season-2026-2027-whats-new/) ![A view across Chiang Mai rooftops toward Doi Suthep at dusk](/images/featured/view-across-chiang-mai-rooftops-toward-doi-suthep-.webp) 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 [Introducing The Chiang Mai Brief: A New Guide to the City →](/blog/introducing-the-chiang-mai-brief/) Explore ## Explore Chiang Mai by category Six sections covering everything from visas and air quality to khao soi and the Samoeng Loop. ![Chiang Mai under seasonal haze with Doi Suthep barely visible](/images/misc/chiang-mai-skyline-seen-through-thick-seasonal-haz.webp) Living in Chiang Mai ### Air Quality & Burning Season The authoritative evergreen hub on Chiang Mai air quality and burning season. [Air Quality & Burning Season →](/air-quality-and-burning-season/) ![A barista pouring filter coffee at a specialty café counter in Chiang Mai](/images/misc/barista-pouring-a-filter-coffee-at-a-wooden-counte.webp) Eat & Drink ### Cafés & Coffee Specialty coffee and work-friendly cafés across Chiang Mai. [Cafés & Coffee →](/cafes-and-coffee/) ![Thai baht notes and a market receipt on a wooden table in Chiang Mai](/images/misc/thai-banknotes-and-coins-beside-a-market-receipt-a.webp) Living in Chiang Mai ### Cost of Living Realistic budgets and spending breakdowns for living in Chiang Mai. [Cost of Living →](/cost-of-living/) ![A busy open-plan coworking space in Chiang Mai](/images/misc/open-plan-coworking-space-in-chiang-mai-with-peopl.webp) Living in Chiang Mai ### Coworking & Remote Work Coworking spaces, work cafés and connectivity for remote workers. [Coworking & Remote Work →](/coworking-and-remote-work/) ![Paper lanterns rising into the night sky over Chiang Mai during Yi Peng](/images/misc/paper-lanterns-rising-into-the-night-sky-above-chi.webp) Events ### Festivals & Events Calendar Festivals, seasonal highlights and the annual events cycle. [Festivals & Events Calendar →](/festivals-and-events-calendar/) ![A red songthaew picking up passengers on a Chiang Mai street](/images/misc/red-songthaew-truck-picking-up-passengers-on-a-chi.webp) Travel ### Getting Around Local transport options and how to use them in Chiang Mai. [Getting Around →](/getting-around/) ![A quiet Chiang Mai soi with cafés, scooters and the old city wall behind](/images/misc/quiet-chiang-mai-soi-lined-with-low-buildings-cafe.webp) Neighbourhoods ### Neighbourhood Guides In-depth guides comparing Chiang Mai's core inner neighbourhoods. [Neighbourhood Guides →](/neighbourhood-guides/) ![A bowl of khao soi with crispy noodles, lime and pickled greens in Chiang Mai](/images/misc/bowl-of-khao-soi-curry-noodles-with-crispy-noodles.webp) Eat & Drink ### Restaurants & Thai Food Where and what to eat across Chiang Mai's food scene. [Restaurants & Thai Food →](/restaurants-and-thai-food/) ![A golden chedi and brick temple walls in Chiang Mai under morning light](/images/misc/golden-chedi-of-a-chiang-mai-temple-with-worn-bric.webp) Things To Do ### Temples & Culture Temples, cultural sites and etiquette in Chiang Mai. [Temples & Culture →](/temples-and-culture/) ![A passport with Thai visa stamps open on a café table in Chiang Mai](/images/misc/thai-passport-with-visa-stamps-open-on-a-wooden-ta.webp) Living in Chiang Mai ### Visas & Immigration Everything you need to handle visas and immigration in Chiang Mai. [Visas & Immigration →](/visas-and-immigration/) Living in Chiang Mai [/living-in-chiang-mai/ →](/living-in-chiang-mai/) Neighbourhoods [/neighbourhoods/ →](/neighbourhoods/) Eat & Drink [/eat-and-drink/ →](/eat-and-drink/) Things To Do [/things-to-do/ →](/things-to-do/) Travel [/travel/ →](/travel/) Events [/events/ →](/events/) 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. All guides [/guide/ →](/guide/) ![Reading on a phone at a quiet Chiang Mai café table](/images/misc/person-reading-on-a-phone-at-a-quiet-chiang-mai-ca.webp) 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 [When Is Chiang Mai's Burning Season? (Dates) →](/guide/when-is-chiang-mai-burning-season/) 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 [Which Chiang Mai Neighbourhood Should You Stay In? →](/guide/which-chiang-mai-neighbourhood-to-stay/) 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 [DTV vs Retirement vs Education Visa: Which Fits You →](/guide/dtv-vs-retirement-vs-education-visa/) 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 [Monthly Budget for Living in Chiang Mai →](/guide/monthly-budget-chiang-mai/) 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 [Where to Eat Khao Soi in Chiang Mai →](/guide/where-to-eat-khao-soi-chiang-mai/) 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 [Songthaew (Red Truck) Fares & Etiquette →](/guide/songthaew-fares-etiquette/) ![A narrow Chiang Mai soi lined with shophouses and scooters](/images/misc/narrow-chiang-mai-soi-lined-with-shophouses-parked.webp) Neighbourhoods: where to stay and live ![A street food vendor grilling skewers at a Chiang Mai evening market](/images/misc/street-food-vendor-grilling-skewers-over-charcoal-.webp) Eat & Drink: Northern Thai food and coffee 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. All neighbourhoods [/neighbourhoods/ →](/neighbourhoods/) Explainer ### Nimman (Nimmanhaemin) Neighbourhood Guide [Nimman (Nimmanhaemin) Neighbourhood Guide →](/guide/nimman-neighbourhood-guide/) Explainer ### Old City Neighbourhood Guide [Old City Neighbourhood Guide →](/guide/old-city-neighbourhood-guide/) Explainer ### Santitham Neighbourhood Guide [Santitham Neighbourhood Guide →](/guide/santitham-neighbourhood-guide/) Explainer ### Wat Ket & Riverside Neighbourhood Guide [Wat Ket & Riverside Neighbourhood Guide →](/guide/wat-ket-riverside-neighbourhood-guide/) Explainer ### Chang Phueak & Jed Yod Neighbourhood Guide [Chang Phueak & Jed Yod Neighbourhood Guide →](/guide/chang-phueak-jed-yod-neighbourhood-guide/) Neighbourhood Guides [/neighbourhood-guides/ →](/neighbourhood-guides/) Suburban & Outer Areas [/suburban-and-outer-areas/ →](/suburban-and-outer-areas/) Free tool ## Chiang Mai Cost of Living Calculator Estimate your realistic monthly budget for living in Chiang Mai based on your lifestyle, housing choice and transport. Try the calculator [/tools/chiang-mai-cost-of-living-calculator/ →](/tools/chiang-mai-cost-of-living-calculator/) Newsletter ## Get the Brief in your inbox Twice a month: new openings, events, changes worth knowing about, and our latest guides. No filler. You're on the list Check your inbox: the next Brief goes out within a fortnight. 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 [/neighbourhood-guides/ →](/neighbourhood-guides/) , burning season [/air-quality-and-burning-season/ →](/air-quality-and-burning-season/) , visas [/visas-and-immigration/ →](/visas-and-immigration/) , transport [/getting-around/ →](/getting-around/) and Northern Thai food [/restaurants-and-thai-food/ →](/restaurants-and-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. More about us [/about/ →](/about/) Send us a tip [/contact/ →](/contact/) ![A notebook, phone and iced coffee on a table in a Chiang Mai café](/images/misc/notebook-phone-and-iced-coffee-on-a-wooden-table-i.webp) 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. ![Evening view across Chiang Mai rooftops toward Doi Suthep](/images/misc/evening-view-over-chiang-mai-rooftops-with-doi-sut.webp) 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. Subscribe to the Brief [/newsletter/ →](/newsletter/) Explore the Guides [/guide/ →](/guide/)