I’m always writing about Bangkok and Chiang Mai, so I thought I’d tell you about Mae Sai this time. It’s a town in Chiang Rai Province, on the Thai border with Myanmar.
Chiang Rai is about three hours north of Chiang Mai by car.
It’s in a lush mountain region that’s also famous as a tourist destination. Even Thai people flock there during the colder months to visit temples and sightsee. There are many amazing temples to visit in the area, among them Wat Rong Khun (White Temple), Wat Rong Sua Ten (Blue Temple), and Wat Huai Pla Kang (which has Thailand’s largest statue of the Buddha of Compassion, Avalokitesvara).
Another popular tourist attraction is the Golden Triangle, a fantastic vista where you can see the junction where three countries meet: Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar.
The villa and gardens at Doi Tung Palace are also open to the general public. It’s a great place to see all kinds of beautiful flowers in bloom.
Mae Sai Market and the Mae Sai National Border are the most popular destinations for Thai tourists.
The town of Mae Sai is located on the northern tip of Thailand, and is the site of Thailand’s only land route to Myanmar.
The Mae Sai National Border in January 2023
Thai people can easily cross into Myanmar.
Mae Sai City Hall issues an entrance passport that allows a seven-day stay for 30 baht. If foreign citizens visiting Thailand want to cross into Myanmar, they have to apply for an e-VISA in advance. Those with Japanese passports can enter Myanmar by showing their passport at the Mae Sai National Border and paying a fee of 500 baht.
(The Mae Sai National Border was closed as of January 2023.)
The market near the border sells Myanmar tobacco and liquor, thanaka powder, stones processed in Myanmar, and other goods.
I was surprised to find out, however, that some eighty percent of the snacks, accessories, household appliances, seafood, and other dry goods sold there were actually made in China!
Chinese goods are cheap, and you can get them even cheaper in bulk—so it seemed like you could get some real deals there.
They also had some goods that are illegal in Thailand for sale—things like pirated pornography DVDs, adult toys, and cannabis. It’s against the law to bring these goods into Thailand.
You can, however, bring up to a liter of Myanmar and Chinese alcohol (beer or liquor), 200 Myanmar cigarettes, and 250 grams of Myanmar cigars back into Thailand. There are a lot of counterfeit and poor-quality items for sale, though, so use caution if you buy anything.
Immigration at the Mae Sai border opens every morning at 6:30 a.m. and closes at 6:00 p.m. You can pass back and forth any time during those hours.
Once you pass through immigration on the Thai side, you cross a small waterway and arrive at the Tachileik National Border on the Myanmar side. Tourists ride tuk-tuks to see the temples around Tachileik.
The bridge to the Tachileik National Border in January 2023
The border between Thailand and Myanmar is currently partly closed due to the pandemic.
Cases are down around the world and better treatments are available now, so it may reopen soon.
In addition to Myanmar, you can also cross into Laos, Cambodia, and Malaysia from Thailand. It’s fun to experience the different feelings you get at different national borders.
Immigration restrictions for non-Thai travelers trying to cross land routes into these countries may differ from air routes, so make sure you check them before you go.
If you can get into a neighboring country though, it’s a great way to enjoy a fun trip that’s just a little out of your way!
