Visa Run Report: Hua Hin to Kanchanaburi

[pinkpanther99]

Hi there

Just thought I would share some info about my recent visa run I did from Hua Hin to Kanchanaburi then over to Myanmar (Ban Nam Pu Ron).

Living in Hua Hin I normally drive down or do a combination of bus and minivan to Ranong whenever I need to stamp out in order to get my next 90 days (I'm on a non-O married to Thai wife).

However, this was the first time I'd done the trip to Kanchanburi and for anyone who lives in Hua Hin I would wholly recommend going to Kanchan instead of Ranong.

Kanchanaburi and Ranong are probably similar distances from Hua Hin (at a guess) however, the drive to Kanchanburi is much easier. From Hua Hin you basically just follow the road north past Cha Am, through Phetchaburi and straight through Ratchaburi until you start seeing signs for Kanchanaburi. From there you take the 3209 (I think but double check) and then you start seeing signs for the border.

I got to the border around 11.30am, it was fairly quite with just a few other farangs who had also driven there hanging around. We went into the small immigration shack where the official advised us that the cost to go across to Myanmar was 900Baht. He said it was 700Baht but they had to raise the price by 200Baht last month. I guess the cost is still 700Baht but he just pockets the extra 200Baht - not a surprise I'm used to this kind of stuff, so I happily handed over 900 Baht. We were then told to get back in the car in order to follow the other farangs in their cars in convoy with an immigration official going with us over the border to the Myanmar side.

Now the border on the Thai side is OK, there is nothing there, no shops, restaurants just the immigration offices. However, on the Myanmar side there is even less than that! It is like a construction site, with no real roads just a massive dirt track that you drive along for about 10 mins until it takes you to the immigration office, where the officials stamp your passport and take your picture before sending you on your way back to Thailand.

It honestly looked like the border there is half finished and I almost wonder why they bothered opening it all. Especially when the border to the south of Hua Hin - Singkhorn - in Prachuap is all but ready to go. The sooner they open the Singkhorn border to visa runs the better, it'll be great for people living in Hua Hin and Cha Am.

To conclude: If you have your own transport and live in Hua Hin or Cha Am and need to do a 90 day border run, I'd head for Kanchanaburi over Ranong. It's an easier drive and the border is quiet meaning that it takes no time at all for them to stamp you in and out and you can easily do the trip in a day, no problem.

Anyway, here are some pics of the border on the Thai side and of the construction site on the Myanmar side!

Immigration on the Thai side:

Immigration on the Myanmar side:

Construction site and dirt track just outside the immigration office on the Myanmar side:

[SeaVisionBurma]

Fantastic trip report and photos.

Thanks for sharing.

I imagine that more people will look at these now accessible alternate border points with Myanmar for their visa runs.

[Philro62]

Hi.

Sounds easy and hassle free.

I am on a Non O and married to Thai wife as well.

What paperwork is needed when doing this visa run?

Thanks

Phil

[Muggi1968]

Thanx pinkpanter99

Very interesting info especially when since I leave in Kanchanburi.

Edited March 10, 2014 by Muggi1968

[Muggi1968]

Hi.

Sounds easy and hassle free.

I am on a Non O and married to Thai wife as well.

What paperwork is needed when doing this visa run?

Thanks

Phil

Why do you not instead get a 1 year marriage visa extension ?

[Muggi1968]

Ban Phu Nam Ron. GPS Coordinates are N 13.92140 E 99.06219

See:

http://www.thailandteaching.asia/visas-extensions-stay/29769-new-border-crossing-kanchanaburi-open-visa-runs-ban-phu-nam-ron.html

[ubonjoe]

Hi.

Sounds easy and hassle free.

I am on a Non O and married to Thai wife as well.

What paperwork is needed when doing this visa run?

Thanks

Phil

Only your passport is needed at Myanmar border crossings.

[Kan Win]

Kanchanaburi and Ranong are probably similar distances from Hua Hin

Are you for real??

Kan is about a little over 300 from Hua Hin and then up to the boarder in Kan about 100 odd kms or so.

So then, the total approx. would be 400 kms, whilst Ranong over 500 kms and more. Then having to catch the boat ????????????????????? kms and more.

Time is on your side, please use it well.

Win

[Pui]

Kanchanaburi and Ranong are probably similar distances from Hua Hin

Are you for real??

Kan is about a little over 300 from Hua Hin and then up to the boarder in Kan about 100 odd kms or so.

So then, the total approx. would be 400 kms, whilst Ranong over 500 kms and more. Then having to catch the boat ????????????????????? kms and more.

Time is on your side, please use it well.

Win

Yeah its "for real" this is a very useful post and includes pictures. Why jump on the 400kms - 500kms the OP states that its much easier to Kanchanaburi several times. Well done for knowing the exact kms (if they are exact) but I think you might have missed the bigger picture here. This is a very useful and informative post.

Especially with the Garmin info. Brilliant thanks very much.

New Border Crossing In Kanchanaburi open for visa runs- Ban Phu Nam Ron Ban Phu Nam Ron. The GPS Coordinates are N 13.92140 E 99.06219.

The border crossing is about 190 km from Bangkok

Edited March 14, 2014 by ubonjoe
moved reply from quoted text

[pinkpanther99]

Kanchanaburi and Ranong are probably similar distances from Hua Hin

Are you for real??

Kan is about a little over 300 from Hua Hin and then up to the boarder in Kan about 100 odd kms or so.

So then, the total approx. would be 400 kms, whilst Ranong over 500 kms and more. Then having to catch the boat ????????????????????? kms and more.

Time is on your side, please use it well.

Win

Apologies for my innacuracy in posting the correct distance to Kanchanaburi and Ranong from Hua Hin.

The main point of my post, which I think I made clear, was that the trip from Hua Hin to Kanchanaburi was much easier than the trip from HH to Ranong. It's a much easier drive and you don't have to mess about trying to get a boat over to Myanmar in Kanchaburi like you do in Ranong.

I also wanted to show people the state of the border on the Myanmar side which is why I took the photos. And now that a member has also provided GPS coordinates (which I didn't have when I made my trip), this thread now offers up a good but of info for anyone considering making the trip in the near future.

Guess there is no pleasing some people.

[yieldman]

The processing at Ban Nam Phu Ron changed since my last crossing. The Myanmar side now take a photo using a webcam strategically oriented on a louvred window. I paid 900 baht to Thai immigration for the visa, photo copying and minibus. They filled in the arrival departure card and processed the exit. A minibus was provided to take me the 4 km to the Myanmar immigration office. About ten minutes at the office for them to process and take the photo. They were very considerate with the stamp space, using what space was left. Back on the minibus to Thai immigration who finished the entry process. All together about 1hour. They seem to process about 60 foreigners per day. On Sunday as was one of two people around 1 pm and had the minibus to myself.

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

[Kan Win]

Kanchanaburi and Ranong are probably similar distances from Hua Hin

Are you for real??

Kan is about a little over 300 from Hua Hin and then up to the boarder in Kan about 100 odd kms or so.

So then, the total approx. would be 400 kms, whilst Ranong over 500 kms and more. Then having to catch the boat ????????????????????? kms and more.

Time is on your side, please use it well.

Win

Apologies for my innacuracy in posting the correct distance to Kanchanaburi and Ranong from Hua Hin.

The main point of my post, which I think I made clear, was that the trip from Hua Hin to Kanchanaburi was much easier than the trip from HH to Ranong. It's a much easier drive and you don't have to mess about trying to get a boat over to Myanmar in Kanchaburi like you do in Ranong.

I also wanted to show people the state of the border on the Myanmar side which is why I took the photos. And now that a member has also provided GPS coordinates (which I didn't have when I made my trip), this thread now offers up a good but of info for anyone considering making the trip in the near future.

Guess there is no pleasing some people.

Opps, I also have to Apologies for my inaccuracy

Kan Win

Kan is about a little over 300 from Hua Hin

No it is NOT. It is little over 200 from Hua Hin. Lets say 190 kms to Cha-am Beach from Kan Town (that I have done many a time) and then 25-30 to Hua Hin. This would make it approx.. depending where to start from Hua Hin about 230 kms.

As for the boarder crossing from Kan Town as has been posted approx. 70 kms.

Very sorry for my wrong, silly me for the typo.

Now that I have made my amends in this post, please visit Kan and stay for a night or more and enjoy the rivers (there are two by the way) and many other places in this third largest province in Thailand.

Welcome to Kan

From, The Land of Peace and Love

Win

Edited March 17, 2014 by Kan Win

[pinkpanther99]

The processing at Ban Nam Phu Ron changed since my last crossing. The Myanmar side now take a photo using a webcam strategically oriented on a louvred window. I paid 900 baht to Thai immigration for the visa, photo copying and minibus. They filled in the arrival departure card and processed the exit. A minibus was provided to take me the 4 km to the Myanmar immigration office. About ten minutes at the office for them to process and take the photo. They were very considerate with the stamp space, using what space was left. Back on the minibus to Thai immigration who finished the entry process. All together about 1hour. They seem to process about 60 foreigners per day. On Sunday as was one of two people around 1 pm and had the minibus to myself.

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

lol, it was still the web can carefully positioned on the window when I went two weeks ago! They still charged us 900 baht and filled in all the departure card for us, the only difference being we took our own car rather than go in the minibus

[Diana1712]

Hello, I'm new to this forum and new to Thailand

Me and my partner arrived in Thailand on the 30 day tourist visa exemption and are now staying in Hua Hin. We're now looking for the easiest (and cheapest) way to get the 60-day tourist visa. Can we use the Kanchanaburi crossing as well for this purpose? Thanks in advance for any replies!

[ubonjoe]

Hello, I'm new to this forum and new to Thailand

Me and my partner arrived in Thailand on the 30 day tourist visa exemption and are now staying in Hua Hin. We're now looking for the easiest (and cheapest) way to get the 60-day tourist visa. Can we use the Kanchanaburi crossing as well for this purpose? Thanks in advance for any replies!

You would only get another visa exempt entry there that would be for 15 day entry or 30 days if from a G7 country.

From Hua Hin to get a tourist visa you would go to Penag Malaysia or Vientiane Laos. Vientiane does 2 entry visas.

[Diana1712]

Hello, I'm new to this forum and new to Thailand

Me and my partner arrived in Thailand on the 30 day tourist visa exemption and are now staying in Hua Hin. We're now looking for the easiest (and cheapest) way to get the 60-day tourist visa. Can we use the Kanchanaburi crossing as well for this purpose? Thanks in advance for any replies!

You would only get another visa exempt entry there that would be for 15 day entry or 30 days if from a G7 country.

From Hua Hin to get a tourist visa you would go to Penag Malaysia or Vientiane Laos. Vientiane does 2 entry visas.

Thanks for your reply ubonjoe! I'm from the Netherlands and my partner is from Belgium. Both countries not being member of the G7 would only allow us the 15 days stamp... So it's Penang or Vientane then. I guess Penang is cheaper because you don't need a visa to enter Malaysia? Any advice on how to get to Penang? The price is more important than the time it'll take... Thanks again!

[ubonjoe]

You can go by train to Penang from Hua Hin. The train goes as far as Butterworth then from there it is short distance to Penang.

I suggest you do a search on the forum for more info on the trip.

[Diana1712]

Great! Thanks for the info. I'll do my research

[thepool]

Have a look here

http://www.travel-penang-malaysia.com/penang-hat-yai-train.html

[enuff said]

.

Isn't the name really "Ban Phu Nam Ron"?

~

[Kan Win]

Just follow the sign to Ban Kao (http://www.kanchanaburi.co.uk/attraction_details.asp?AttractionID=143) on the 323 from Kan Town and turn left to there, to Ban Kao from the small traffic lights.

Follow this road the 3229 (AH123) (48kms later) just in front of Wat Phunamron Rattanakiri

Turn left at the sign post (photo below) 800 mtr later there you are, the Boarder Pass. 900 baht later, you have your days (15 or 30 days) to stay in Thailand.



Win

Edited April 30, 2014 by Kan Win

[Kan Win]

'nuff said, on 30 Apr 2014 - 14:02, said:'nuff said, on 30 Apr 2014 - 14:02, said:'nuff said, on 30 Apr 2014 - 14:02, said:

.

Isn't the name really "Ban Phu Nam Ron"?

~

Thank you for your input and Kan you find it then on any of MAPs of Kan?

Have you been there and done one?

Win

Edited April 30, 2014 by Kan Win

[LiamEuujin]

Do I need a visa for the Myanmar side? or is it dealt with under the table for the fee os 900 baht?

[george]

Do I need a visa for the Myanmar side? or is it dealt with under the table for the fee os 900 baht?

900 Baht over the table.

[ubonjoe]

It is a total of of 900 baht that includes the 500 baht for the entry to Myanmar.

[LiamEuujin]

Ok cool. Thanks. So I dont need a pre-approved normal myanmar tourist visa? From what ive read im not really entering myanmar but staying in no mans land and they stamp me into myanmar but then send me back to Thailand. Is this right?

I dont want to arrive and they then say where is you myanmar visa and to then refuse entry etc.

Thank you

[ubonjoe]

You get a border pass. A visa is only required if you want to go further into the country.

You will be stamped into and out of Myanmar and then you return to Thailand.

[Richie1971]

Hi,

Does anyone know if this border is still open for Farang to do a quick 'in and out'? Heard rumours it was closed?

On a Non O Multi entry

Cheers

[ubonjoe]

It is still open but you cannot enter Myanmar unless you have visa for there from their embassy in Bangkok.

The Myanmar side stopped doing border passes.

[Digitalnomade]

They just do a stamp in your passport in Myanmar, I remember in the North the guy took my passport and said I could go shopping a few hours and come back to pick up my passport before going back to Thailand.

I told him I was not interested to do shopping so he gave me my passport back and I went directly to Thailand.

Edited September 2, 2014 by Digitalnomade