Is the smog in Chiang Mai really serious for retirement plans?

@Giorgio *****

I am talking about my experiences and knowledge of the area.

I acknowledged that quite a lot of the smoke comes from Myanmar and Laos, so what's your point?

The Chinese government is very strict on burning, whereas the Vietnamese is kinda like it's neighbors - carefree and lots of burning goes on there, which drifts east and west depending on the wind direction BUT is generally too far away (and there are too many mountains in between) to affect northern Thailand.

I can guarantee you the majority of the smoke in Chiang Mai is from 1) ignorant mushroom foragers who burn the forest searching for mushrooms just outside of Chiang Mai 2) farmers and corporations burning the remains of their harvested rice paddy/corn/sugar cane fields in Chiang Mai/Lamphun and other nearby provinces 3) smoke drifting over from Myanmar (Shan State) and Laos (Bokeo, Saiyabuli) by farmers doing the same thing as their Thai counterparts.

This is combined with Chiang Mai's position in a valley surrounded by quite high mountains (Doi Suthep is 1700m high), construction dust/vehicular emissions and all of this combined creates the problem during the dry season.

@Paul ******

Î i thought I read " Myanmar and Laos .... but that's too far to affect Thailand ," .,

So I guess I was mistaken by 🤔🤔🤔🤔.

Thank you for spending time to explain everything I already know 👍👍👍

@Giorgio *****

No, you didn't know these things hence I had to explain them to you. You couldn't get past my first sentence.

@Paul ******

funniest guy I've met recently

You can add up one thing and its contrary in ince sentence , znd full of your wikipedia knowledge

@Giorgio *****

Yes you must be referring to yourself there. Anyway, peace out. Have a nice day.

@Paul ******

I never go on wikipedia, I talk only about what I know ,.and what I see . I've been living in northern Thailand for more than 20 years , so I don't need you to teach me about it .

Have a nice year

@Giorgio *****

I know what I see and what I have researched based on many years of residence. I know about the rules in China, both in practice and reality. You just make assumptions.

Anyway, let's end this petty bickering.

@Giorgio *****

Chiang Mai wasn't too bad this last season, but yes I remember when it was so bad they had to cancel flights.

@Tony ********

2015 was the last time that happened.

@Tony ********

Î miss it soooo much , should be back soon

@Charlie *********

did you actually even go this year? Sounds like someone is joining the bandwagon because they’ve watched a Thaigar episode…. This year there was no recognisable smog. I think you’re talking out of your ar5e.

@Karim **************

I did actually go. WTFAUY anyway! You look about 20. I know it's awful as I've been frequently visiting for the past 13 years. Seems like you are typical self-entitled AH who just because he lives in Thailand, thinks he knows it all.

@Charlie *********

I’m 40, I just look better for my age than you, apparently 😂 And yes, I live in Chiang Mai and have for many years so, of course I know it better.

@Karim **************

zzzzz

@Paul ****************

This year, best year on record since records began. Having lived there through supposedly bad years too, it’s not actually that bad. Experienced worse in other Thai cities. Chiang Mai is a great place to live and you can always go to Ao nang or Phuket for what they call the Smokey season.

@Iris **********

buring season proper starts towards the end of February as the weather changes and traditionally ends around Songkran in April - can be early or late April, though depending on the year.

You can see the bad months in the pollution data. March everyone agrees is best avoided although this year was just weird due to the early rain.