Construction projects in Chiang Mai, including public spaces, apartments, light rail transit, high-speed railway, and the new airport.
Chiang Mai is the second largest city in Thailand (by metropolitan area) and the largest city in northern Thailand. Despite it’s size, it’s a relatively low-rise city.
The Old City area (inside the historic moat) is off limits to major developments, and it still feels like a village in some parts. The airport has also kept a cap on building up. The flight path goes over the Nimmanhaemin Road area, which has become a sought-after neighbourhood to live. Most of the tall apartment towers are in the east of the city.
This page is an archive of construction projects and future transport plans for Chiang Mai.
Chiang Mai projects map
Projects listed on this page are pinned on this map.
[Map of Chiang Mai projects.]
Chiang Mai Projects
Chiang Mai Women’s Prison redevelopment
The former Chiang Mai Women’s Prison is located in the middle of the Old City area. Looking on the Google Satellite view, the site is the largest block of land inside the moated area.
The prison closed in 2013 and was moved to Chiang Mai’s male prison after the male prison was moved to Mae Rim. The site had been left abandoned for years, becoming a favourite place for urban explorers.
The prison has now been demolished, apart from a few historic buildings inside the compound. The plan is to turn the land into a public park.
If this was anywhere else, the land would have been turned into a mixed-use development (Pudu in KL is probably the largest prison redevelopment in Southeast Asia). The Chiang Mai Women’s Prison is inside the historic city area, so there are restrictions on what can be built. Even with height restrictions, it is unusual to see such a large block of land being turned into a park.
Chiang Mai Women’s Prison photos
Photos from my visit (14/07/240.
[Guard tower of old Chiang Mai Women’s Prison.]
[Prison site closed for redevelopment.]
[Prison redevelopment plan.]
[Prison redevelopment plan.]
[Cleared land inside former prison.]
Chiang Mai Women’s Prison news
Old prison getting demolished, will the promised park come? – [10/08/20]
“The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) has raised the question of why there has been no development in the plan to turn the old prison into a park, leading to instant action last week.”
Breaking ground: Chiang Mai to get a new park – [01/11/16]
Archaeological dig finds coins and pottery at women’s prison – [08/02/16]
“An archaeological dig at Chiang Mai Women’s Correctional Institution on February 5 discovered a collection of ancient coins and pottery.”
Kad Suan Kaew
The Kad Suan Kaew shopping complex is located near the Old City on Huay Kaew Road. The mall opened in 1992 and it featured a cineplex, office building and Hotel. Kad Suan Kaew struggled during the pandemic, and it closed in 2022.
The interior of the mall was looking old and dated by 2020, especially compared to modern shopping malls such as Central Festival. The building itself though should be preserved as its a unique sight to see such a large brick building.
Chiang Mai’s Lotus Pang Suan Kaew Hotel closes after 33 years – [01/02/25]
“The closure leaves a large vacant building in the heart of Chiang Mai, a stark reminder of the once-bustling hotel and its associated Kad Suan Kaew shopping centre, which closed in July 2023.”
Kard Suan Kaew, former iconic Chiang Mai mall, listed for sale at 3 billion baht – [07/09/24]
Arise Charoen Mueang
Location: 79 Lampang – Chiang Mai Superhighway, Tambon Nong Pa Khrang, Amphoe Mueang Chiang Mai.
Developer: Ornsirin.
Apartment development east of the railway station, near the Chiang Mai Superhighway.
Supalai Monte at Viang (completed)
Location: 18 Hwy Chiang Mai-Lampang Frontage Rd, Tambon Wat Ket, Amphoe Mueang Chiang Mai.
Developer: Ornsirin.
32-storey condominium; 734 residential units and 4 shops.
THE BASE Height Chiang Mai (completed)
Location: 333 Kaeonawarat Rd, Tambon Wat Ket, Amphoe Mueang Chiang Mai.
Developer: Sansiri.
THE BASE Height Chiang Mai is a 31-floor apartment tower.
The Astra Sky River (completed)
Location: Changklan Rd, Tambon Chang Khlan.
Developer: Ornsirin.
The Astra Sky River is an apartment block with 520 units across 17 floors. The building is longer than it is high, and it has a rooftop pool that gives its name of sky river.
Transport
Chiang Mai Mass Transit
The Chiang Mai Mass Transit is a proposed 3-line tram system. There have been different proposals that go back to the early 2000s, but nothing has begun yet.
The Red Line is supposed to be the first line to begin construction. There is a sign near the North Gate market that shows the route, which goes by the North Gate before heading north.
[Map of Red Line route in Chiang Mai.]
Read more about the proposed Chiang Mai Mass Transit.
Bangkok-Chiang Mai High-Speed Railway
[Chiang Mai High Speed Railway Station – Concept design by Phichak Wirotchanaphirom.]
The Bangkok-Chiang Mai High-Speed Railway was proposed in 2011, and it has been on-again off-again ever since. The railway was supposedly going to be a Japanese-built Shinkansen-style railway, which would be a different system to the Thai-China HSR from Bangkok to Nong Khai.
I keep a complete archive of news updates at the Bangkok-Chiang Mai High-Speed Railway page.
Railway double tracking
In addition to planning for a high-speed railway, the State Railway of Thailand is also pushing ahead with the double-tracking project of the current metre-gauge network. The double-tracking of the 189km Denchai-Chiang Mai section was approved in June 2024.
If the high-speed railway is built, then there would be a metre-gauge and standard-gauge railway serving the same rail corridor. I have written about Thailand’s mixed-gauge problem.
Chiang Mai International Airport expansion
In 2023, Airports of Thailand Plc (AOT) launched a 10-year development project of Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX). The plan is to increase the airport capacity to serve 20 million passengers per year by 2033.
Lanna International Airport (Second Chiang Mai International Airport)
In addition to expanding the old airport, a new airport is being planned. Lanna International Airport (Second Chiang Mai International Airport) will be located on land in San Kamphaeng (Chiang Mai Province) and Ban Thi (Lamphun Province). I have placed pins of these districts on the map as a general guide. The pins on the map aren’t official locations.
Read more about Lanna International Airport.
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