Tak & Chiang Rai extend border-crossing hours

CHIANG RAI, 2 Jan 2015 (NNT) – The Ministry of Interior has decided to extend the border-crossing time in Chiang Rai and Tak provinces.

The announcement followed the results of a meeting of National Security Council members. The meeting agreed with the proposed idea of lengthening border-crossing hours in Chiang Rai and Tak to promote trade and tourism in the provinces.

In Chiang Rai, the immigration checkpoint operation time, which begins from 6.30 a.m., will continue until 9 p.m. instead of 6.30 p.m. As for Tak, the border-crossing time will start earlier at 5.30 a.m. instead of 6.30 a.m. and end at 8.30 p.m. instead of 6.30 p.m.

The new border crossing time is expected to facilitate business activities between Thai and Burmese people. The government has set a target that border trade volume would reach 1.5 trillion baht in 2015.

-- NNT 2015-01-02

What an ambiguous article, missing so many important details. I had to figure out from the references to Myanmar that the article was referring to Mae Sai in Chiang Rai province and Mae Sot in Tak province, respectively. To the writer of this poorly worded article, missing information causes confusion to the reader:

Let me give you some pointers: Chiang Rai province borders 2 countries, namely Myanmar and Laos. There are currently 2 checkpoints between Chiang Rai and Laos, located at Chiang Saen (for Tonpheung, Laos and the King Romans casino facing the Lao riverbank) and the more commonly used Chiang Khong to Huay Xai 4th Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge. The latter crossing is open between 6am and 10pm. So stating that the "new" opening times are 6.30am to 9pm, when in fact they don't refer to this or any Lao crossing is misleading and confusing to the reader.

There is currently one border crossing between Chiang Rai and Myanmar located at Mae Sai. Indeed the previous opening hours were 6.30am to 6.30pm Thai time, but due to Myanmar time being half an hour earlier than Thai time, there would often be confusion and 6am to 6pm were cited as the opening hours, but of course those were the opening hours on the Myanmar side. As stated, the opening hours have been extended to 9pm Thai time, which corresponds to 8.30pm Myanmar time.

In Tak, the checkpoint to Myanmar is located at Mae Sot, where the Thai-Myanmar friendship bridge crosses over to Myawady. I first remember being told by Myanmar immigration there about the plans to extend the opening hours from 5am to 8pm Myanmar time, or 5.30am to 8.30pm Thai time. Surprisingly I was told that the Thais were the ones causing delays in extending the opening hours, but now it's finally been done.

Overall, this is very good news for day trippers, Thais and foreigners heading to Tachilek or Myawady in Myanmar for shopping etc. and for Thais and foreigners entering Myanmar using a visa at these checkpoints to travel further inside the country. This is particularly important at Myawady, where a one way up, one way down road system means that if you happen to enter the country on a day the traffic is inbound, you won't be able to leave until the following day. Coming back from the interior of Myanmar, it also means you can leave Myanmar and either stay in Mae Sot, which has far better and cheaper accommodation and food options than Myawady or travel overnight to Chiang Mai or Bangkok without having to wait until the next morning. Last year I was heading back to the border from Hpa-an in Kayin State but due to arriving at the border around 6.30pm Myanmar time, I was unable to cross back into Thailand that day. With these new opening times it will definitely greatly facilitate travel between Thailand and Myanmar.