Muay Thai Boxing
Muay Thai boxing is the national sport in Thailand. Watching the fights at Thapae stadium in the old city is both a fun evening out and a cultural experience. Get a feel for the sport, the traditions and ceremonies.
Drinks can be ordered from several bars in the stadium.
A sport with centuries of history
Muay Thai is a sport with a history that goes back centuries. Hundreds of years ago during the Ayutthaya era soldiers used Muay Thai, then called Muay Boran, in battle to overpower their enemies.
The art of eight limbs
Muay Thai is called “the art of eight limbs”. While in Western boxing the fighters only use their fists, in Muay Thai they also use their feet, knees and elbows.
Taste the atmosphere
Taste the atmosphere of live Muay Thai boxing in a stadium. Watch Thai people betting on the fighters, shouting and holding out money. Watch the rituals before the fight and listen to the loud, hypnotic music played during the fights.
Wai Khru and Ram Muay rituals
Before the fights start, both boxers perform two ancient rituals. During the rituals, they wear armbands and the “monkhon”, the traditional headband.
With the Wai Khru the boxers pay their respects to the teachers that have trained them, “Wai” being the traditional Thai gesture of showing respect to someone and “Khru” meaning teacher.
During the Ram Muay the boxers show their skills and Muay Thai techniques.
Fight program
There are six or seven matches per evening. Usually the evening starts off with a fight between teenage fighters. The program continues with matches between young boxers, fights between two female boxers, adult male fighters and blindfolded boxing.
Blindfolded boxing
Fun to watch is the blindfolded boxing, a very entertaining spectacle with four or five blindfolded fighters in the ring trying to knock each other over.
Good views from every seat
As the ring is raised, there are good views from every seat. If you’re in a VIP seat, you will be closest to the action.
Thai championship fights
Watching the fights at Thapae stadium makes for an entertaining night out. If you want to watch the best professional fighters in action, get tickets for Lumpini or Ratchadamnoen boxing stadiums in Bangkok.
Location
The Thapae stadium is located at 319 Mun Mueang Road, about 50 meters from Tha Phae Gate in the East wall of the old city of Chiang Mai.
How to get there
To get there, either charter a tuk tuk and negotiate a price with the driver or flag down a red songthaew and ask the driver if the Tha Phae Gate is on his route.
Opening hours & schedule
The Thapae Muay Thai stadium opens daily except Sundays.
The stadium opens from 8 pm until midnight. The fights start at 9 pm.
Ticket prices
Ticket prices charged at the stadium are are:
The VIP seats are closes to the ring
Same prices for adults and children
Children under 5 years old sharing a seat with a parent get in free
More Muay Thai boxing
You can also watch Muay Thai boxing at: