Chiang Mai Buddhist Monks Caught Hosting Secret Parties
Monks at multiple Chiang Mai temples have been secretly hosting parties with hired entertainers during Buddhist Lent, according to an investigation by the provincial Sangha Committee that has gathered photographs and evidence implicating bo
At 8:50 a.m. on August 1, 2026, a reporter received a briefing from the Chiang Mai Sangha Committee's investigation panel confirming that monks at various temples have been secretly organizing parties in monastery quarters and hiring entertainment workers to provide services at night. Those involved reportedly range from junior monks to temple abbots, and the committee now possesses photographs and evidence of these activities.
The provincial ecclesiastical office has received substantial documentation and photographs. Monks identified in the investigation have been organizing regular meetups to host these parties. Monks from temples with named individuals use private vehicles—including black Toyota Camrys, black Toyota Viosses, white Ford vehicles, and at senior abbot level, Toyota Fortuners—to reach meeting points. Some monks have used ride-hailing services, while junior monks from surrounding districts use pickup trucks but avoid using temple drivers to prevent word leaking out, opting instead to drive themselves or take rides.
These gatherings involve hiring entertainment workers to serve, with alcohol readily available in refrigerators and coolers. Photos have been shared in group LINE chats, with some images leaking to the provincial ecclesiastical office. Incidents have reportedly occurred where workers grew concerned about their safety and sought health checks, with one threatening to file a complaint if they contracted an illness. The group of monks involved have been openly defiant of monastic discipline.
Chiang Mai's ecclesiastical authorities have compiled a list of these monks at both junior and senior levels, including specific temples involved. Vallop Namwongporn, cultural development committee member for Chiang Mai Province and advisor to the Chiang Mai Sangha, revealed that during Buddhist Lent—when monks are supposed to remain in their temples during the rainy season—some groups secretly leave their monasteries to host parties in various temple quarters. While such conduct would constitute only a minor disciplinary offense if discovered, it remains inappropriate. He urged all monks engaged in such behavior to stop immediately, warning that if caught or exposed, it will harm Buddhism's reputation significantly. He called for all to cease this conduct during the current Lent period for the benefit of the Buddhist faith.
