CHIANG MAI – Residents are calling for urgent action after a viral video showed large rats and cockroaches feasting on garbage left on the sidewalk along Moon Muang Road, near Tha Phae Gate.
The clip, posted by a well-known local Facebook page during a late-night livestream, captured dozens of rats, some nearly the size of a small cat, ripping open tied garbage bags and fighting over scraps. Cockroaches surged from drains and cracks to join the frenzy.
The video has drawn a flood of comments. Most criticized the responsible agencies, especially the Chiang Mai Municipality, for failing to control pests and street trash in a key tourism zone. Many warned that the scene hurts the city’s image at a time when Chiang Mai is being promoted as a world-class destination.
The livestream took place on the inner moat side of Moon Muang Road, a busy strip with restaurants, convenience stores and guesthouses. After closing time, shops and eateries often place tied black bags on the curb for municipal collection before dawn.
By late night, the sidewalk becomes a buffet. Rats and cockroaches, seemingly on a routine schedule, arrive in numbers, chew through the bags and swarm the food waste.
During the recording, a foreign couple walked into the scene. The man tried to keep calm and pass through. The woman screamed, then sprinted past the pile and dashed across the road.
Other passersby filmed on their phones. Some recoiled in disgust. A few rats were seen darting into traffic and getting run over. The clip spread fast, bringing fresh embarrassment to a district that welcomes thousands of visitors daily.
Residents and business owners nearby say this is not new. They report similar scenes most nights, especially after midnight, and say complaints have dragged on for years. They want the municipality to act now.
Many point to Chiang Mai’s recent ranking by Travel + Leisure, which placed the city first in Asia and second worldwide in its 2025 World’s Best Awards, based on input from more than 180,000 readers. They fear that images like these, if widely shared, will stain the city’s reputation and weaken confidence among travellers.
On-site checks confirm the pattern. The most affected spots are along the moat loop, where eateries cluster and trash bags often contain food scraps. Even when bags are tied, rats tear them open with ease.
The mess spreads across the pavement and into the gutter. By morning, crews collect the trash, but the damage to hygiene and public confidence is already done.
Locals in Chiang Mai are urging a coordinated response. Their suggestions include:
- Adjusting collection hours to late night, not early morning, to reduce the window for pests.
- Issuing sealed, rodent-resistant bins for food waste, not loose bags piled on sidewalks.
- Increasing pest control, including baiting and trapping around drains and known burrows.
- Repairing cracked pavements and sealing drain access points where cockroaches emerge.
- Enforcing rules on waste handling for restaurants, hotels and convenience stores.
- Stepping up fines for improper disposal and repeat offenders.
Health concerns also loom. Rats and cockroaches can carry pathogens. Open piles of food waste raise the risk of contamination and odours, and draw more pests. Residents say a clean, predictable system for food waste would cut infestations and improve street hygiene within weeks.
Tourism workers worry about the optics. The moat area, including Tha Phae Gate, is one of Chiang Mai’s most photographed spots. Night markets, bars and guesthouses bring crowds long after midnight. Visitors who witness a sidewalk swarm are likely to post about it. In a city that trades on charm, street food and walkability, this kind of exposure hurts.
Community voices stress that the fix is feasible. Other cities with vibrant night economies have reduced rat numbers by changing pick-up schedules, using lockable bins and tightening rules for restaurants. They want Chiang Mai to adopt similar steps, then communicate them clearly to businesses and the public.
The message from locals is blunt. Clean up the trash handling, reduce the food source, and the rats and cockroaches will drop. Leave the piles on the sidewalk overnight, and the problem will return every single night. For a city celebrated by travellers worldwide, the choice feels obvious.
