Interior Ministry Approves Name Changes for Two Villages in Chiang Mai
The Interior Ministry approved name changes for two Chiang Mai villages to eliminate duplication and preserve local heritage, including reverting Ban Pa Dang to its original name after a printing error and renaming Ban Om Long to reflect Ka
On September 11, 2026, the Interior Ministry's committee on place name changes held its third meeting of the year at the office of the permanent secretary. The committee approved three name change requests to eliminate duplication and align names with local heritage.
In Chiang Mai, the Department of Local Administration requested two village name changes. Moo 2 Ban Pa Dang in Ban Luang Subdistrict, Mae Ai District, will revert to its original name "Ban Pa Daet" after a printing error in the ministry gazette created duplication with another village in the same subdistrict. Moo 2 Ban Om Long in Bo Sali Subdistrict, Had District, will be renamed "Ban Mae Om Long" to match significant geographic features and reflect Karen language etymology meaning "mother who gave birth," preserving over 200 years of community history.
The National Buddhism Office also requested renaming Wat Ban Siao (located in Moo 11, Sam Kha) in Siao Subdistrict, Phi Si Suwan District, Sisaket Province, to "Wat Pa Siao Kao" to resolve duplication with another Wat Ban Siao in the same subdistrict and reduce public confusion.
All three proposals passed community consultations, local government council votes, and approvals from district officers and provincial governors before receiving final authorization.
