It was founded on 26 December 2009, by the Royal Decree Establishing Amphoe Galyani Vadhana, Changwat Chiang Mai, BE 2552 (2009),[2] making it the 878th and latest district of Thailand.

In the following years its creation was prepared, however with the onset of the Asian financial crisis in 1997 all pending new districts were cancelled by the government in order to avoid additional costs.

On 2 December 2008 the cabinet approved in principle the creation of the new district in honor of Princess Galyani Vadhana as proposed by the Ministry of Interior.

[1] The Abhisit Government completed drawing up a draft Royal Decree Establishing Amphoe Galyani Vadhana on 13 October 2009 and King Bhumibol Adulyadej signed it on 18 December of the same year.

The "Royal Decree Establishing Amphoe Galyani Vadhana, Changwat Chiang Mai, BE 2552 (2009)" was published in the Government Gazette volume 126/part 97 A/page 7/dated 25 December 2009 and came into force the following day.