Mae Sai/Tachilek Border Info

[jetzie]

Hi guys,

just wondering, as i just came back from a trip to Maesai Borders via a flight landing BKK-CR. As i was rushing for time, i took a airport taxi which costs me 800 THB 1 way!

Does anyone know or recommand a cheaper alternative? 800 is way too much for 1 way...

Are there other services or similar?

I understand we can take the taxi to the CR bus station and den take a bus to maesai, does anyone know how long would that take?

I'm planning another trip up in June and i really do not wish to spend too much time on travelling. Glad if there would be some helpful hands around this friendly forum

thanks guys!

[sceadugenga]

Here's meadish sweetball's experience recently. Give him a PM if you want any more info.

Link

[brahmburgers]

I must say that during my 7 years here in Chiang Rai I have never had any problems with the Immigration. They have always been very helpful! I just wanted to put in a very positive report about the Immigration!

yes, Mae Sai imm officials are rather decent now, though I've had testy interactions with them in past years. I don't know what happened, maybe they got a better drinking water (changed from 'Yellow Surprise'?) - but they're ok now. Even so, recently, they wouldn't play ball with me, and forced me to get a Thai friend to ride up from C.Rai to assist. I found out later (from another official) that the whole matter could have been cleared up with a fax. Even so, my friend drove all the way up on a hot day, said and did all the formalized correct things for the Imm official, and all we needed was a signature from one of the two bosses to finalize the thing. Then we find that both bosses had left 4 days early for the Songkran holiday (and now the holiday has been extended, so that could be an additional 4 days, (added to the regular six days of Songkran, and the four days they took off early) ....altogether 14 days away from their jobs, forcing people like me to wait it out - and then get a Thai friend to AGAIN drive all the way up to finalize a bit of business that, in a civilized country, would have taken about seven minutes, if it was needed at all. BTW: the biz was to vouch that I have a place to reside with a Thai person's name on it. What's the alternative? that I tell them the truth: that I live in a mud hole under a fallen tree? I've resided in Thailand legally for over 10 years, I own properties with title, yet I still have to jump through hoops every couple months to prove I live someplace with a Thai person's name backing it up.

......The wild animal product shops seem to have increased in number, I counted three in one street. Could be the Chinese influence increasing. The lady behind the counter here did not approve of me taking her photo.

Ten years ago, I took photos of a half dozen Tachilek shops selling wild animal parts, including tiger skins. I posted them on the internet, along with commentary. The shop owners were openly angry at me for pointing my camera at their shops. I don't know if my little URL had any effect, but within a month all the shops were gone. Nowadays, there are a few smaller shops, but not near as blatant as the scene ten years ago - though it's entirely possible that there's a big 'underground market.'

[jetzie]

anyone has stayed in taitong hotel? always wanted to book a room with them but they seems forever full!

[deshotel]

sorry bit of a newbie question here:

I go to Mae Sai every 90 days to get my non-O marriage visa renewed. When it comes to renew the visa (after one year) can i do this at mae sai also? I was thinking I had to go to BKK. If I can do this at Mae Sai is there an office to go to or is it the border crossing?

Yes, you can.

But the Immigration for extending visa etc is not at the border. It is a couple of km before the border on the highway. After the trafficlight I would say it is 2 km. When you come to the walkway-bridge slow down. It is about 200 m after the bridge on your left side.

And as OEJ says, the people there are great.

Help! Is all this info still accurate??

"upon arrival in Mae Sai you don't need any assistance in finding your way to the Burmese border. The imposing edifice of the newly-built Thai immigration and customs office at the very end of the Chiang Rai - Mae Sae main road, is impossible to miss. Upon being stamped out of Thailand, you cross the bridge and enter Burm. Roughly half-way over the bridge a small office on the right houses Burmese immigration, where you're offered a one-entry pass for $5 (B. 250) or a limited 10-day visa for $10"

and this:

"we saw a large billboard sign reading 'Thai Immigration Office' with a huge arrow pointing right. We stopped the songthaew, paid the driver and went to the office, only to discover that it had moved a kilometer north; they hadn't the time yet to take down the old sign"

Edited May 3, 2009 by deshotel

[svenivan]

sorry bit of a newbie question here:

I go to Mae Sai every 90 days to get my non-O marriage visa renewed. When it comes to renew the visa (after one year) can i do this at mae sai also? I was thinking I had to go to BKK. If I can do this at Mae Sai is there an office to go to or is it the border crossing?

Yes, you can.

But the Immigration for extending visa etc is not at the border. It is a couple of km before the border on the highway. After the trafficlight I would say it is 2 km. When you come to the walkway-bridge slow down. It is about 200 m after the bridge on your left side.

And as OEJ says, the people there are great.

Help! Is all this info still accurate??

"upon arrival in Mae Sai you don't need any assistance in finding your way to the Burmese border. The imposing edifice of the newly-built Thai immigration and customs office at the very end of the Chiang Rai - Mae Sae main road, is impossible to miss. Upon being stamped out of Thailand, you cross the bridge and enter Burm. Roughly half-way over the bridge a small office on the right houses Burmese immigration, where you're offered a one-entry pass for $5 (B. 250) or a limited 10-day visa for $10"

and this:

"we saw a large billboard sign reading 'Thai Immigration Office' with a huge arrow pointing right. We stopped the songthaew, paid the driver and went to the office, only to discover that it had moved a kilometer north; they hadn't the time yet to take down the old sign"

I got my one-year-visa in Mae Sai Wednesday 29th of April and the Immigration was still there 2km before the border.

I did not see anything that looked like they were going to move soon.

[sceadugenga]

Single entry border pass is 500B or $10USD.

[goski]

Miscommunication.

For regular tourists the immigration office is irrelevant since a while back unless you want to extend a tourist visa by one month paying 1900 baht in the office filling out a form. For only that and any other relevant visa issues you have to go to this office. Signs on the left hand side as mentioned above. For walking across to burma without any concern for visa applications then just proceed to the border. Check out, check in. And it's 500 baht or 10$.

[deshotel]

sorry bit of a newbie question here:

I go to Mae Sai every 90 days to get my non-O marriage visa renewed. When it comes to renew the visa (after one year) can i do this at mae sai also? I was thinking I had to go to BKK. If I can do this at Mae Sai is there an office to go to or is it the border crossing?

Yes, you can.

But the Immigration for extending visa etc is not at the border. It is a couple of km before the border on the highway. After the trafficlight I would say it is 2 km. When you come to the walkway-bridge slow down. It is about 200 m after the bridge on your left side.

And as OEJ says, the people there are great.

Help! Is all this info still accurate??

"upon arrival in Mae Sai you don't need any assistance in finding your way to the Burmese border. The imposing edifice of the newly-built Thai immigration and customs office at the very end of the Chiang Rai - Mae Sae main road, is impossible to miss. Upon being stamped out of Thailand, you cross the bridge and enter Burm. Roughly half-way over the bridge a small office on the right houses Burmese immigration, where you're offered a one-entry pass for $5 (B. 250) or a limited 10-day visa for $10"

and this:

"we saw a large billboard sign reading 'Thai Immigration Office' with a huge arrow pointing right. We stopped the songthaew, paid the driver and went to the office, only to discover that it had moved a kilometer north; they hadn't the time yet to take down the old sign"

I got my one-year-visa in Mae Sai Wednesday 29th of April and the Immigration was still there 2km before the border.

I did not see anything that looked like they were going to move soon.

I just need to cross the border (every 3 months) as my 1 year non-imm visa is still good until October 2009. So which office do I need to go to, the one 2 km before the border or the one at the border????

[sceadugenga]

A simple border crossing is all you require.

[svenivan]

I just need to cross the border (every 3 months) as my 1 year non-imm visa is still good until October 2009. So which office do I need to go to, the one 2 km before the border or the one at the border????

With my 1 year non-imm visa (retirement) I can either :

1) Visit the Immigrationoffice 2 km before the border and fill in "Form for Alien to notify of staying longer than 90 days", no cost except the trip to Mae Sai

2) Fill in the form at home, put it in an envelope together with an other envelope with my address and with a stamp on and send it to the Immigrationoffice in Mae Sai. Cost me a few baht.

3) Go to Mae Sai, cross the border, pay 10US or 500 baht to Immigration in Burma and then back to Thailand, get a new stamp for another 90 days.

I normally choose alternative 2) if I don´t need something special in Mae Sai or Tachilek.

[sceadugenga]

Can't seem to do that with the Non Im-B, I'm prepared to be instructed by wiser heads though.

[Ricardo]

Interestingly the $10USD seller in front of the bank has increased her price to 450B which hardly makes it worth walking across there for a 50B saving at Myanmar immigration.

She was willing to accept 425 Baht this week, for a $10-note, although the grumpy Burmese Immigration-man asked "other money", when presented with it, rather than the favoured 500B-note !

[sceadugenga]

Well she's lost my custom, I'll be going through Swampy in a week or so, so I'll pick up a couple of years supply at the money changers there.

[Ricardo]

Well she's lost my custom, I'll be going through Swampy in a week or so, so I'll pick up a couple of years supply at the money changers there.

Is there some American phrase, meaning "quids in", but applying to dollars instead ?

[sceadugenga]

The bucks stop here?

[Bastian]

I paid 400 THB today for $10.

I did not see the thermal camery that was supposed to protect us all from the flu, is it really there?

[bsacbob]

think its supposed to be at the airport but i have not seen it there either

[Ricardo]

Well she's lost my custom, I'll be going through Swampy in a week or so, so I'll pick up a couple of years supply at the money changers there.

Is there some American phrase, meaning "quids in", but applying to dollars instead ?

"Quids in" implies being better off, so perhaps "more bang for your buck", might be closer ?

[Briggsy]

I'm coming up for a 90-day visa run and I'm actually thinking about Mae Sai being the best visa run from Bangkok. Believe it or not.

Fly to Chiang Rai 1600 Baht return on Air Asia. Get to main road 100 Baht. Bus to Mae Sai 40 Baht. Songthaew to border 15 Baht. 3 hours travelling. $10 to cross border. Spend some time in Mae Sai. Marginally more expensive than Poipet. More interesting though and no mucking about at the border like Nong Khai or Aranyaprathet.

Is the border still open with the political situation and all that?

[ZenTraveler]

I'm about to buy my ticket on AirAsia from BKK to Chiang Rai and do the same thing. Can I take a bus from the airport or do I need to get to the main road to catch the bus? The only thing is the 10 hour gap between flight times. Flying Wednesday, the 17th as that is when my visa expires.

Zen

[chang35baht]

Border open as normal. Yes, you do have to get to the main road to get the bus. If your travelling light, It`s a 15 minute walk.

C35B.

[Briggsy]

Zentraveller

Please leave a mini-trip report if you have time.

Thanks

[ZenTraveler]

@C35B - thanks for the tip. I have no luggage or valuables so I might just walk. Use up some of my extra time. Could you say which direction or exit I use to head to the main road? I take it there will just be a bus stop there and I jump in front of the bus and say "Mae Sai" and then I'm good to go for 30-40 baht?

@Briggsy - The night of my return to BKK I will write a post on my adventure.

FYI: I am flying AirAsia from BKK to Chiang Rai on Wed, June 17th for a same-day border run. Anyone going that way on that day or want to meet up please let me know. I am not staying in Burma, just a border hop only.

Zen.

[Briggsy]

I decided to go this route rather than Aranyaprathet. Booked my ticket for the end of June. Return on Air Asia 1822 Baht including 100 Baht for a check-in bag.

[jetzie]

Guys,

a lil off topic here, I know the Shan/Burmese people in Tachilek get to come over to Maesai with a 7 day pass.

Can my Shan wife (pregnant) come over and head to the police immigration station, and request for a longer stay period, based on her seeking medical consultation and also visiting the hospital in Maesai/Chiangsean?

tried calling the station but i cant speak thai and they kept on blabbering

[Jiu-Jitsu]

I decided to go this route rather than Aranyaprathet. Booked my ticket for the end of June. Return on Air Asia 1822 Baht including 100 Baht for a check-in bag.

Will take a look myself. I paid 672 baht.

[Briggsy]

Visa Run Report

28 June 2009

Flew from Bangkok to Chiang Rai on Air Asia 1822 Baht return. Early outbound flight 06:35. Arrive Chiang Rai 07:40

Read on Thai Visa that from the airport to the main road is 15 mins' walk. Not true. No worries. Cool, overcast morning with little luggage. After 15 minutes with no end in sight, man from Dusit Thani Resort (?) in white van and white uniform picks me up and takes me to the intersection. This man is very considerate and does not ask me for cash or chop me up into little bits. If you see this man, tell him he is a good man. The total distance is 3 km which is a brisk 25 minutes walk in a brisk walker's book.

At junction, there is no discernible sign that buses will actually pick up here. Walk 1 km towards Mae Sai to the bus stop in front of the school. Caught the local Chiang Rai - Mae Sai green bus. Lots of stops to pick up passengers. Fare 35 Baht.

Arrived at border shortly before 10 am.

Crossed over. Note that no photos or photocopies of passport were requested. $10 note was accepted without question. Mine was in good condition. I had kept it between the leaves of a book to maintain that pristine look.

Wandered around Tachileik for a while. Constantly pestered by taxi or tuk-tuk drivers "lady, lady, small" or offers of CD's or Viagra. Looked at the MP3 players for sale. They were priced the same as in Tesco Lotus Mae Sai so I didn't bother. Thumb drives were not obviously apparent. Bought some dodgy binoculars. She asked for 900 Baht. I paid 500 Baht. Asked for a bottle of Vitamilk. She opened it and demanded 20 Baht. I walked away from that deal. Had some beef curry. Survived.

Found the duty free shop. They were having a Michael Jackson extravaganza upon the news of his death. Every Michael vid you could imagine was there in spades. Plus he was constantly booming or squeaking out of the speakers, song after song. The booze caught me eye. ABC Stout! Yippee! Brought back 8 cans. Considered going crazy and buying a box but bottled it. Back to Thailand with bulging backpack. The scanner guys let me through with no bag scan. I am now a hardened smuggler!

Journey back to Chiang Rai Airport

Caught the air con bus (Chiang Mai - Mae Sai) to the airport junction. At 54 Baht it beats the green bus hands down. About half an hour quicker due to very few stops. Comfy seat. Air con (a tad chilly) and a free bottle of water and face wipe. Downside was the utterly poo music the driver whacked on. Ear plugs required. 2 passport/ID card checks by severe police at roadblocks.

Walked the 3 kms to the airport to say I had done it. Not too bad. Odd money-laundering businesses dotted along the road, hotels and restaurants with no guests/customers. Spotted a weaver (bird) in bright yellow breeding plumage in the fields.

With about 1 km left to go, 30-something totty on small motorbike stops and offers me a backie on her bike. "Go airport". Me loaded with cans of ABC stout and plums. Declined in the spirit of a great adventurer on a quest. I will walk to the airport, come what may. Pottered past the airport gate to strange looks from the locals. "Look, mum, crazy farang has walked from the main road." Incredulity follows.

Pair of shrikes on airport wall with one young. "Now you stay out of these jet engines, you hear me, lad."

Entered airport terminal. Discovered Cheers Extra on sale. A rare sighting indeed. However, no purchase was made, yard arm and all that. This was my second ever sighting of Cheers Extra, although I am yet to try it. The other sighting was bizarrely in the Tachileik Duty Free Shop.

The other rare sighting in the terminal building was Christopher Moore or his lookalike. His companion was nothing like I would have imagined from his books. Where was the mini-skirted, tattooed, made-up-to-the-nines, hardcore, Nana/Therms bint with the Killing Smile. He was obviously on a secret mission for The Firm.

Back to Bangkok. No stop in King Power, the epitome of evil. Bags out within 5 minutes.

That's all, folks.

[sunholidaysun1]

Good story Briggsy .

Living here is also better than anywhere else I have been . The police in the city of Chiang Rai are also very polite and friendly . If you have a problem and cannot speak the language , they get on the phone for the tourist police to come and assist. (different ploice station for the tourist police).

Immigration staff in the offices before the border are very helpful but by the book. There doesnt seem to be any dodgy dealings going on with them and they will do what they can to help. The border immigration staff are also friendly , especially to me as Im up there every 15 days and have known alot of them for the past few years.

What is ABC Stout ? where is it made and how much per can ?

Who is Christopher Moore ?

Glad you had a fairly good visit. When I first came here there were about 50 foreigners living here, now there are about 500 +

[Briggsy]

Stout is a type of beer. The most famous stout is the decent but much overpriced and overhyped Guinness. ABC Stout is, I believe and I could be wrong, a Singaporean stout brewed in Singapore and also brewed under licence in Cambodia, Malaysia and Burma. It is a full-bodied and strong beer with an alcohol content of 8%. Because of Thailand's strong protectionist policy of its beer and spirits market, it is not available in Thailand. In fact, the only stout commonly found on sale off licenced premises is Guinness found in supermarkets at 195 Baht for a 500 ml can. ABC Stout retails in Burma at 50 Baht per can.

Christopher G. Moore is a Canadian author who is famous for writing novels, particularly detective novels, based in Thailand, often involving such locations as Thermae and Nana Plaza. He has, I believe, lived in Thailand for many years.