Thai authorities are searching for a foreign couple filmed tagging a centuries-old Buddhist temple in Chiang Mai .
These repeated acts of vandalism are causing concern among monks and residents, as the city hopes to obtain UNESCO World Heritage status.
An ancient temple targeted by repeated graffiti
Photo taken from a surveillance video showing the two foreign graffiti artists.
The abbot of the Buddhist temple, Phra Kru Palad Preeda Jaiboon, filed a complaint on Tuesday, February 3, after CCTV footage identified a couple, presumably foreigners, tagging the perimeter wall of Wat Dok Euang.
The events reportedly took place around 1 a.m. on January 30th, in the commune of Sri Phum, Chiang Mai district.
Graffiti that leads to costly expenses
A monk points out the graffiti on the wall of Wat Dok Euang temple in Chiang Mai.
Phra Apiphu Boonthalu, a monk at the temple, said the wall had been targeted several times in recent months, with vandals leaving foreign language tags and painted symbols.
The temple has already spent tens of thousands of baht repainting the wall, but new graffiti appeared soon after.
"We really want the police to find the vandals and take legal action to set an example and prevent this from happening again," said Phra Apiphu.
Graffiti reported throughout Chiang Mai
View of Chiang Mai at night. Photo: Nuwat Chanthachanthuek
The problem extends far beyond the temple.
Graffiti has been reported on residential fences, shop shutters and public buildings throughout the city.
Chiang Mai has 38 temples, many of which are centuries old and considered culturally important, the monk said.
However, almost all of them have been targeted by vandals who have tagged their walls.
See also: Tourists accused of vandalizing an ancient wall in Chiang Mai, Thailand will not go to prison
Police are increasing surveillance throughout the city
A monk stands before the graffiti on the wall of Wat Dok Euang temple in Chiang Mai. Photo: Bangkok Post
Major General Yutthana Kaenchan, commander of Chiang Mai provincial police, ordered city patrol units to increase surveillance.
He also called for an urgent search for those responsible in order to prevent further offenses and similar behavior.
Siwa Thamikkanon, deputy vice-governor of Chiang Mai, said the province had received numerous complaints about vandalism at temples and had coordinated its efforts with the Bureau of Buddhism, the police and other agencies to combat the problem.
Mr. Siwa warned that this problem could lead to similar behavior, particularly in the old city where many temples are located near tourist areas.
A threat to Chiang Mai's image and its UNESCO bid
Wat Phra That Doi Suthep is the most iconic and sacred temple in Chiang Mai. Photo: Wat Phra That Doi Suthep
According to Siwa, the graffiti is not only visual pollution and a source of discontent for Buddhist residents, but it could also damage Chiang Mai's reputation at a time when the city is a candidate for UNESCO World Heritage status.
In January 2026, the Thai government approved the proposal to nominate Chiang Mai for inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List as a "cultural landscape".
This decision paves the way for the official submission of the dossier to UNESCO, with the aim of highlighting the historical, cultural and landscape richness of the ancient city, capital of the ancient Lanna civilization.
The authorities have authorized the signing of the dossier by the relevant national committee and launched preparations to meet the filing deadlines before the international review.
See also:
Thailand: controversy after photos of tourists in bikinis in front of a temple
A tourist causes a scandal in Thailand after a simple bus ride
Do's and Don'ts when visiting a Buddhist temple in Thailand
Source: Thai Rath , Bangkok Post
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2 comments
The number of tourists/farangs who consider Thailand as a giant amusement park or their personal playground is still as impressive as ever.
And yes, Bob…
The danger is that this phenomenon of "Tagging" in public spaces, with artistic tastes that rarely fall under graphic art (there are exceptions like Banksy whose speculative "street art" works are recognized worldwide), will be the subject of widespread publicity on social networks, and that Thailand will become, as has been the case in our European countries for several decades, a gaping and uncontrollable urban wound, disfiguring mostly public and urban spaces for which renowned designers and architects have been paid handsomely to offer an environment that is both functional and visually and socially pleasing.
If the country's political and police authorities do not nip the "tagging" embryo developing in the Thai egg in the bud, they will, within a few years, be overwhelmed by the phenomenon and will no longer be able to control it…
Consequently, a growing impunity will take hold, encouraging crime in an exponential curve that will grant its perpetrators increasingly comfortable criminal immunity…
It is important to act now if, in the long run, Thai urban centers, and primarily Bangkok, Pattaya, Phuket and Chiang Mai, do not end up resembling certain districts of Paris where the authorities of the French capital can no longer suppress the phenomenon and must "settle," at great expense to the community, for cleaning more than 600 m² of graffiti EVERY DAY with pressure washers and detergents!!!
An endless struggle that Thailand must avoid at all costs, and which is 99.9% imported…!!!