US Tourist's Temple Graffiti Sparks Outrage in Chiang Mai

[webfact]

Wat Lam Chang. Picture courtesy of Wikipedia

 

A US tourist has sparked controversy by defacing a historical temple wall in Chiang Mai. Police are racing to track the traveller who allegedly vandalised Wat Lam Chang with graffiti, leaving by plane shortly after the incident.

 

The temple’s abbot discovered the damage to the wall on Ratchapakhinai Road early Tuesday. This centuries-old site, dating back to the Lanna kingdom's founding, has faced repeated acts of vandalism. The recent offence involved black spray paint defacing a mural with English text and a house design.

 

Picture courtesy of Bangkok Post

 

Wat Lam Chang's long history is intertwined with the heritage of Chiang Mai, making its desecration a significant issue for locals. The temple, over 650 years old, has been a repeated target, leading to increased security measures, including the installation of CCTV cameras. This latest incident, caught on video, revealed the perpetrator arriving on a motorcycle.

 

The police confirmed that the suspect, an American national, has fled Chiang Mai, prompting coordination with immigration to trace his whereabouts. This case follows a troubling trend of international visitors disrespecting Thailand’s cultural sites, frequently resulting in legal action.

 

The abbot of Wat Lam Chang insists on pressing charges without any negotiations, aiming to uphold the site's sanctity. Meanwhile, Chiang Mai Police have yet to solve previous vandalism cases, highlighting an ongoing challenge in protecting such heritage sites.

 

This incident underlines growing concerns over the safeguarding of Chiang Mai's cultural treasures amid a surge in tourism. Calls for tougher regulations and preventive strategies intensify as similar cases continue to emerge nationwide.

 

Authorities emphasise the importance of preserving the rich cultural legacy against the backdrop of increasing vandalism by foreign visitors.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from Bangkok Post 2025-06-05

 

 

[kuzmabruk]

It’s Banksy.  I had a beer with him yesterday and he said he was so stoned and the result is that it is some of his best work.  

[Nickcage49]

As an American I can say this...man there are a lot of stupid Americans.

 

Otherwise we wouldn't have jackoff as President.

[NorthernRyland]

I'm seeing a massive increase in dodgy looking tourists in Chiang Mai. Are they getting pushed out of other areas? Really sad to these people are coming to Chiang Mai now.

 

Looks like it was biker gang loser. Obviously this guy needs some jail time.

 

[Watawattana]

Reminds me of Michael Fay.  When caught he should have the same outcome, as well as paying 100% of the cost of fixing the damage.  Plus some tea money for the Abbot.

 

 

[wensiensheng]

I wonder who did the colorful graffiti seen to the right of the most recent  black stuff. Hopefully they have been apprehended as well.

 

the wall itself looks like a normal rendered wall rather than anything historic in and of itself. I guess it goes around the outside of the temple.

[Phill61]

Show no mercy. 

Massive fine, jail term and permanent ban 

[AussieinThaiJim]

Send them home on a flight with payment

[mudpuppy]

The Thai's should cut the tip of his index finger off...  

2nd offense the whole finger is gone.

[Bruce Aussie]

Send him back home, the subway stations and trains could use a brightening up. 😀

 

[Baba Naba]

8 minutes ago, kuzmabruk said:

It’s Banksy.  I had a beer with him yesterday and he said he was so stoned and the result is that it is some of his best work.  

I need to steal that!!! $$$$$$$$$

[ronster]

Should keep a national file of these and then when they catch someone they can charge them for all the damage around the country they had done .

[Formaleins]

Some people are nothing more than oxygen thieves! WTF would make anyone think that this is a good idea? <deleted>wit!

[BTB1977]

Looks like a woke American Liberal jackoff,  that is confused about their pronouns.  

[oslooskar]

Singapore knows how to handle people who vandalize the private property of others. The caning of Michael Fay comes to mind. 

[impulse]

The guy's an idiot, but it would be interesting to see the rest of the wall.  Looks like he's far from the first to tag it.  Some locales have tagging walls just for the purpose.  A $100 coat of paint once a year and they can start all over.  And they draw tourists like flies if they get good social media coverage.

 

If it was Banksy as proposed on an earlier post, they can probably cut out that section of wall and sell it to fund temple operations for a year or more.

 

[connda]

10 hours ago, webfact said:

A US tourist has sparked controversy by defacing a historical temple wall in Chiang Mai. Police are racing to track the traveller who allegedly vandalised Wat Lam Chang with graffiti, leaving by plane shortly after the incident.

US tourist has sparked controversy by "defacing" a historical temple wall already covered with Thai graffiti. 

There, fixed it! 

[Medicine Man]

Is it Temu Banksy..

[connda]

10 hours ago, webfact said:

The abbot of Wat Lam Chang insists on pressing charges without any negotiations, aiming to uphold the site's sanctity. Meanwhile, Chiang Mai Police have yet to solve previous vandalism cases

Thais tagging temples you mean.  For every "tourist" tagging a temple, there are 30 Thais who started before them. 

[Stocky]

Hanging's too good for him!

 

Boil him in oil.

[connda]

So have the cops started a dragnet to arrest all of the Thais who tagged the wall before him.  Don't get me wrong, I don't condone the behavior, but Thailand needs to clean up it's own backyard before condemning stupid tourists. 

 "Foreigners disrespect temple wall."
Yet not a peep about your own citizens who don't seem to give a rip about your historic and sacred walls in their own country. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[FlorC]

Some harsh comments here.

 

The wall needed a new coat of paint anyway.

Have him do it and pay for it + a wai.

[Grumpy one]

1 hour ago, Nickcage49 said:

As an American I can say this...man there are a lot of stupid Americans.

 

Otherwise we wouldn't have jackoff as President.

This clown may be the next in line to wear a red cap

[Teddy Boy]

1 hour ago, Nickcage49 said:

As an American I can say this...man there are a lot of stupid Americans.

 

Otherwise we wouldn't have jackoff as President.

Obviously the stupid ones are the minority like yourself . The majority of Americans are not stupid that’s why they voted for president Donald Trump. MAGA 💪✊

[Mike_Hunt]

1 hour ago, Nickcage49 said:

As an American I can say this...man there are a lot of stupid Americans.

 

Otherwise we wouldn't have jackoff as President.

FU...

[Iron Tongue]

1 hour ago, BTB1977 said:

Looks like a woke American Liberal jackoff,  that is confused about their pronouns.  

 

Yep.

It ain't going to be a Republican that goes around tagging walls.  

[Mike_Hunt]

I hate Graffiti.  I hope they name the perp.   

 

 

[Sid Bream]

1 hour ago, Nickcage49 said:

As an American I can say this...man there are a lot of stupid Americans.

 

Otherwise we wouldn't have jackoff as President.

I agree with you, "there are a lot of stupid Americans", some even believe a man with Alzheimer's was running the country, and some believe men with penises are women..So yes, plenty of stupid Americans that I have a bridge to sell to. Are you interested?

The imbecile that did the criminal vandalism should be found and forced to clean it off with a toothbrush at his expense.

[Packer]

 

Is that not the same guy in all the pics?

[Magictoad]

7 minutes ago, Packer said:

 

Is that not the same guy in all the pics?

No