Ban Phu Nam Ron border -- recent info

[enuff said]

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Greetings TV fans and mods.

Yesterday (Sat. the 5th of APR), I rode my Honda Wave from Ratchaburi to Ban Phu Nam Ron. No biggy. I go to K'buri a couple times a month for fun so what's another 60Km?

If you are coming from the BKK direction, you can bypass K'buri town and save some time if you take a RIGHT just south of the city as if you were going to the Sai Yok waterfall. Big intersection. Big sign, hard to miss. Travel on that road a few kms and when you see a sign to turn left to go to K'town proper, GO STRAIGHT, in Sai Yok direction. I will join you there in a minute.

I wanted to check out the AC van service that I had read about in an older post. Figured I would take the van the first time and check out the route. So I went into the town to the bus station area. I asked a dozen people, merchants, motorbike drivers, some guys driving motorbikes w/ side cars for tourists. "No van. Bus." I speak Thai ok and I know they understood me. I rode around and nosed around. Plenty of vans. A lot of action; Thais and tourists alike. Signs for CM HH BKK etc. but no Myanmar or Ban you know where. So I left.

It was 8AM by that time and pretty much stop and go traffic till past the War Cemetary.

I got to the north end of the town and turned left in the Sai Yok direction. Rt.323

You folks I left hanging on the bypass can start reading again.

About 18km further along 323, TURN LEFT ONTO 3229. There are brand new signposts every km on 3229. Other posts mention Rt.3512 but I saw only one sign for it. "3512 - go straight" BUT beside it was "3229 MYANMAR BORDER CROSSING - turn right". I did and I ended up following 3229 all the way.

No dirt road stretches or construction. There is a long stretch of no signs and I was begining to fear I had missed a turning. But then I realised there was a steady stream of vans coming from the opposite direction. A very few passed me going the same way, so I pressed on.

I rarely go faster than 60kph and it took me 90 mins. Two stops for a cold drink included. In a van going 80/90 and non-stop maybe half the time.

I parked the bike in the shade with a few others about 20m from the window. A packed van had just arrived so there was a short line. From talking to them I learned they had come from Hua Hin and had left at 4 in the morning. Wonder of wonders, the staff opened a second window so we were really moving. Another van came with only a Swedish couple on board. They got in line behind me.

We nodded and the young man said, "You rode your motorbike here from Kanchanaburi, didn't you." I said, "Yes, how do you know?"

"We saw you in the bus station this morning." he replied.

I told them I was looking for the very van they had just arrived in. They said they had trouble finding it too until they asked a Tourist Policeman who promptly flagged down a side car rig and told the driver where to take them. Apparently it is a couple blocks away from the general bus area. They paid 100 baht each at the table, got in the van and left IMMEDIATELY without waiting for more passengers. They had the van to themselves.

So... Stamp stamp at the window and off to a covered area where a young Thai man and a couple assistants fill out your dep/arr cards and type on the computer. Did you forget to make a passport copy (main page and old visa)? No prob. 5 baht.

Now he has 8 passports he hands to a driver. We walk to a dust covered van 10m away and the driver and assistant check each face and PP.

Off we go to Myanmar. YIKES! He is driving on the wrong side! During the 10min trip, we each fork over 900BT (nine hundred baht) to the assistant. I know, grumble grumble. The road was paved about half way and bumpy dirt the rest.

When we arrived, the driver said we didn't have to get out. He went into the open doored office and was back in 5 mins flat. On the ride back we were handed our PPs and we all got to admire our new Myanmar stamps.

Once back in Thailand (LONG LIVE THE KING) it was stamp stamp... zing! Finito. It was 10:20AM. I had been there about 40 minutes.

Just a note. When we got back, there was NO ONE in the waiting area to make the next trip. I sat down and had a cold drink and in the next 10 minutes ONE private car with a guy and a Thai lady showed up. I would say all the van cos and a good deal of the general public are timing to arrive at 7 in the morning. If you get there at 11, you will be line free and easy.

Cheers,

'nuff said

~

[Deserted]

How far is the border from Kanch may I ask? Road ok to motorbike along then?

[Colabamumbai]

I must say it was a real pleasure to read your post, well written and informative. Thank you for taking the time. This is one of the better posts I have read in 5 years on TVF. Keep at it and congratulations on a safe drive especially at this time of year.

[RoyDee]

A very useful and entertaining post containing invaluable up-to-date info and personal observations. Thanks a lot.

[enuff said]

How far is the border from Kanch may I ask? Road ok to motorbike along then?

About 65km. Please read the OP.

[mrjon]

Is Ban Phu Nam Ron open now, Sept 2015 and what does it cost for my 1 year type O multiple entry visa to get stamped in /out

Thanks

[oncearugge]

Is Ban Phu Nam Ron open now, Sept 2015 and what does it cost for my 1 year type O multiple entry visa to get stamped in /out

Thanks

Your question has answers here

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/701478-getting-laos-visa-on-arrival-in-nong-khai-border/#entry9892144

[ubonjoe]

As far as I know they are not allowing out/in crossings at this time. They stopped allowing them when they stopped them at the 3 Cambodia crossings.

See this topic for info. http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/857561-good-news-parts-of-thai-cambo-border-back-open-for-some-outin-stamps/

You could cross if you had a visa for Myanmar that would allow you to stay longer than just doing an out and back again.

When they open again it will cost 900 baht fo do he crossing. That is 400 baht for transport across no mans land and 500 baht for the border pass.