Be Safe in Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai is a fairly safe place to visit; however, because the city has a contrast of wealthy tourists and poor locals, petty theft does occur. There is also an increasing number of tourist touting and scams - as in Bangkok - occurring. All this means that visitors should take certain precautions in order to keep their trip trouble-free.

Safety

Most visits to Chiang Mai are trouble-free, but travellers should always be aware of the continuing threat to westerners of terrorism throughout Southeast Asia. Don’t carry around large amounts of money and avoid wearing expensive jewellery or looking flashy. Drawing unneeded attention to one’s self is never a good idea. Always keep your passport or a photocopy with you; Thai law requires that you carry your actual passport at all times; however, in practice, a photocopy will suffice.

Leaving irreplaceable items in hotel rooms or guesthouses is not a wise decision. Instead, see if a security lock box is available. If not, store your valuables at the hotel’s front desk, making sure to obtain an itemised receipt before leaving them behind. And avoid travelling alone at night. This is a general recommendation for travel in any unfamiliar area, but should be followed here as well.

Tourist Police: 1155

Health

Temperatures in Chiang Mai can reach as high as 40°C during the hot season, so be sure to drink loads of water, four or five litres a day, even if you don’t feel thirsty, to avoid dehydration. However, drinking tap water is not recommended. Some hotels have good filtration systems, but it is better to purchase bottled water, available at any convenience store.

Contact with live birds should be avoided and all poultry and egg dishes well-cooked, as there have been reported outbreaks of bird flu among poultry and a number of human deaths in Thailand. The risk of visitors contracting the disease is slight, but precautions are necessary. Incidents of HIV/AIDS in Chiang Mai are very high and safe sex is strongly advised. Chiang Mai has a high population of foreigners, so medical facilities here are excellent, but as with most cities in Thailand, without insurance, cash or credit card, tourists will not receive medical treatment.

Emergencies: 191
Chiang Mai Ram Hospital: +66 53 224 851