Mae Sai crossing not allowing 'VIP' day trips

[boomerangutang]

For many years, the northernmost crossing in Thailand, Mae Sai & Tachilek/Burma, has allowed farang to do VIP cross-overs. It was for day-only visits, not for overnight, and could be done repeatedly - with no impact on passport or visa status. Very recently that policy dried up. I asked the officer there, and she didn't have any reason why or how long the new restriction would be in place. Kept saying 'mai lu, mai lu.'

Does anyone know why this new policy came about, and/or when it might be lifted? Also, do other Thai border crossings have the same policy? I suspect it's Thai-instigated and relates to Thailand's current self-appointed military gov't.

Hint: when my buddy asked the border official (telling her he wanted to go to the Tachilek market), she told him "Why you need to go to Burma? You can shop in Mae Sai, same things for sale." Is the new policy a way to try and keep tourist revenue in Thailand?

[Tomtomtom69]

It does not appear that other Thai crossings have this policy, although I have never asked. Mae Sot, the crossing I tend to use far more often than Mae Sai has never had a VIP pass to my knowledge.

[Tomtomtom69]

To the OP, although it may suck, there's nothing stopping you from going to Tachilek but it will require more paperwork. That means stamps, or even a Myanmar visa for the most hassle free crossing, but then you'd need to get your visa in advance. I also suspect that the ruling is related to the military government. On another thread related to the then coup last year, a member who lives near the Chong Chom crossing in Surin mentioned how all border passes for Thai and Cambodian citizens were stopped and passports were required. Vehicles could also not be brought across the border for a temporary period (why not?) even though that has always been the easiest border to bring a vehicle across between the two countries.

When I went across from Mae Sai to Tachilek on a VIP pass last year, it was just over a month before the coup. I also remember from years ago (back in like 2002) that you couldn't even get your passport stamped and that a "VIP pass" although I don't think they called it that back then was the only way of entry to Myanmar and no travel beyond Tachilek was permitted. But sometime before and also sometime afterwards it was permitted again up to Mengla on the Chinese border, but not beyond. Later on after having turned the checkpoint into an official crossing, stamping your passport become standard and in 2013 the Burmese side designated that border as an official entry/exit point too. Still, the rules there keep changing.

Edited April 28, 2015 by Tomtomtom69

[ubonjoe]

Not sure when exactly when it was stopped. But If I recall correctly it was post coup.

They even stopped Thai's from getting border passes to Laos for awhile.

Before the 2006 coup you could cross into no mans land at the Chong Mek crossing up here but not after. Thais's need a border pass to get in now..

[boomerangutang]

The changed policy (no day-passes for farang) at the Mae Sai border must have been instated between 1 and 2 weeks ago, because 2 weeks ago I went that route, no problem.

On the Burmese side, they actually got more restrictive after they switched from full junta to partial junta government. You would think it would have gotten a bit more liberal. I'm referring to a different dynamic where before, when the die-hard military had its iron grip, farang were allowed to travel from Tachilek north to either Keng Tung or Meng La towns. Just before liberalization, the trip became more restrictive: requiring a certified guide for Bt.1000/day (half paid to the guide and half to bureaucrats), plus all the guide's travel expenses paid. That rule is still there, even though several times I've gone to the Tachilek Tourist Office (about the size of a one-seat bathroom) and gently berated them for keeping that restriction.

One silver lining: the Burmese side is easier-going about accepting US dollars.

Parting Shot: When a farang tourist goes to that crossing, there is a stark contrast between the Thai side's officials and officials on the Burmese side of the bridge. On the Thai side, they're impersonal, little or no eye contact, booths configured so there's minimal person-to-person interaction. On the Burmese side, there are no booths/barriers, and officials are like people (smiling, banter, etc) instead of automatons.

[thai006]

did they accept the 10 dollar bill or only 500 b

[boomerangutang]

did they accept the 10 dollar bill or only 500 b

They're better about accepting US dollar bills. They even opened their acceptance for the day-only VIP pass (which they didn't do prior, unless someone begged and whined for 5 minutes). However, now the VIP pass option is nixed. If anyone knows when it might be reinstated, let us know, thanks.

[true blue]

asked about vip passes not so long ago pity they stopped,was okay for day out.

[jacko45k]

It does not appear that other Thai crossings have this policy, although I have never asked. Mae Sot, the crossing I tend to use far more often than Mae Sai has never had a VIP pass to my knowledge.

They did have a 'day pass' as I did that once.

[sfmadison2]

I have a double-entry, 60-day tourist visa with the first entry expiring in a couple days (already extended it for 30 more as well). I was planning on heading to Mae Sai on Saturday to 'activate' the second entry.

Am I understanding correctly that this is not longer a viable place to do that (short of applying for a Burmese visa in advance)? I haven't used a tourist visa like this in maybe 10 years, so I'm a little hazy on what is required to formally activate the second entry. At first I thought I would have to travel into Laos or fly to a neighboring country, but when I researched this a couple weeks ago I got the impression that for a 60-day TV, one could simply pop across the border at Mae Sai/Tachilek and come back over a bit later on that same day.

If this is no longer a viable option, what would be the best option for somebody in Chiang Mai? Mae Sot? I have read inconclusive information on the viability of that crossing as well.

Thanks for any feedback!

[Estrada]

Six of us have recently been across as a VIP escorted by a Police Colonel... No day pass, only needed a photocopy of our passports. Immigration police appear to have an interest in a duty free alcohol shop just after the bridge (not the old one alongside). It pays to know someone, because Thailand is still the land of all possibilities.

[kbroodco]

Same question as

sfmadison2

I have a double entry visa. My first entry expires on friday, so I planned to do the Mae Sai-Tachilek crossing tomorrow thursday to activate second entry and return to Chiang Mai the same day. I already have my busticket :-) I did it last year without any trouble.

Is this still an option or is it ruled out? And what are the other possibilities?

I could do an extention at Immigration Office. But a 30 day extention is a few days short of my stay, because I'm leaving om june 3rd. And then I'll have to do the borderrun anyway, just for a few days.

Best option for me is to activate my second entry, but how do I take care of this now? I have to be back by the weekend :-)

Thanks for your advice.

[kjhbigv]

Same question as

sfmadison2

I have a double entry visa. My first entry expires on friday, so I planned to do the Mae Sai-Tachilek crossing tomorrow thursday to activate second entry and return to Chiang Mai the same day. I already have my busticket :-) I did it last year without any trouble.

Is this still an option or is it ruled out? And what are the other possibilities?

I could do an extention at Immigration Office. But a 30 day extention is a few days short of my stay, because I'm leaving om june 3rd. And then I'll have to do the borderrun anyway, just for a few days.

Best option for me is to activate my second entry, but how do I take care of this now? I have to be back by the weekend :-)

Thanks for your advice.

I am pretty sure the OP is talking about something completely different, a "VIP" pass into Burma, which I guess is some sort of "Day Trip" pass similar as to what the Thai's use.

I am sure this has nothing to do with your actual Tourist Visa.

Someone will come along shortly to confirm.

[sfmadison2]

Same question as

sfmadison2

I have a double entry visa. My first entry expires on friday, so I planned to do the Mae Sai-Tachilek crossing tomorrow thursday to activate second entry and return to Chiang Mai the same day. I already have my busticket :-) I did it last year without any trouble.

Is this still an option or is it ruled out? And what are the other possibilities?

I could do an extention at Immigration Office. But a 30 day extention is a few days short of my stay, because I'm leaving om june 3rd. And then I'll have to do the borderrun anyway, just for a few days.

Best option for me is to activate my second entry, but how do I take care of this now? I have to be back by the weekend :-)

Thanks for your advice.

I am pretty sure the OP is talking about something completely different, a "VIP" pass into Burma, which I guess is some sort of "Day Trip" pass similar as to what the Thai's use.

I am sure this has nothing to do with your actual Tourist Visa.

Someone will come along shortly to confirm.

Hmm, you may be right, and I may have misunderstood the situation.

So just to confirm, to the best of people's knowledge, is the Mae Sai border still open for people wanting to pop across, do some shopping, and then come back and activate the second entry of their tourist visa?

If this turns out to be the wrong place to ask this, apologies and I can start a new thread.

[joe2781]

Same question as

sfmadison2

I have a double entry visa. My first entry expires on friday, so I planned to do the Mae Sai-Tachilek crossing tomorrow thursday to activate second entry and return to Chiang Mai the same day. I already have my busticket :-) I did it last year without any trouble.

Is this still an option or is it ruled out? And what are the other possibilities?

I could do an extention at Immigration Office. But a 30 day extention is a few days short of my stay, because I'm leaving om june 3rd. And then I'll have to do the borderrun anyway, just for a few days.

Best option for me is to activate my second entry, but how do I take care of this now? I have to be back by the weekend :-)

Thanks for your advice.

I am pretty sure the OP is talking about something completely different, a "VIP" pass into Burma, which I guess is some sort of "Day Trip" pass similar as to what the Thai's use.

I am sure this has nothing to do with your actual Tourist Visa.

Someone will come along shortly to confirm.

Hmm, you may be right, and I may have misunderstood the situation.

So just to confirm, to the best of people's knowledge, is the Mae Sai border still open for people wanting to pop across, do some shopping, and then come back and activate the second entry of their tourist visa?

If this turns out to be the wrong place to ask this, apologies and I can start a new thread.

[joe2781]

I did this in January to activate the 2nd part of a double entry tourist visa. No problem. Stamped in and out as normal. The VIP pass stuff isn't relevant to your tourist visa question.

[sfmadison2]

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I am pretty sure the OP is talking about something completely different, a "VIP" pass into Burma, which I guess is some sort of "Day Trip" pass similar as to what the Thai's use.

I am sure this has nothing to do with your actual Tourist Visa.

Someone will come along shortly to confirm.

I did this in January to activate the 2nd part of a double entry tourist visa. No problem. Stamped in and out as normal. The VIP pass stuff isn't relevant to your tourist visa question.

I've done a bit more searching around and it seems you guys are right. That is to say, the VIP pass is something one could get to cross over without being stamped out, whereas I and this other gentleman are looking to be stamped out.

Would be nice to have more recent confirmation than January about using this border, but I guess maybe no news is good news in this case.

[wcoast]

I live near Mae Sai, it operates like any legit border crossing.

The two posters asking about activating the second entry can just come on down. Bring your 500 baht for your Myanmar day entry stamp, and return to Thailand to activate your second entry.

The original post is about a totally different animal. Border closes at 9pm now.

Edited April 29, 2015 by wcoast

[boomerangutang]

I have a double-entry, 60-day tourist visa with the first entry expiring in a couple days (already extended it for 30 more as well). I was planning on heading to Mae Sai on Saturday to 'activate' the second entry.

Am I understanding correctly that this is not longer a viable place to do that (short of applying for a Burmese visa in advance)? I haven't used a tourist visa like this in maybe 10 years, so I'm a little hazy on what is required to formally activate the second entry. At first I thought I would have to travel into Laos or fly to a neighboring country, but when I researched this a couple weeks ago I got the impression that for a 60-day TV, one could simply pop across the border at Mae Sai/Tachilek and come back over a bit later on that same day.

If this is no longer a viable option, what would be the best option for somebody in Chiang Mai? Mae Sot? I have read inconclusive information on the viability of that crossing as well.

Thanks for any feedback!

I live near Mae Sai, it operates like any legit border crossing.

The two posters asking about activating the second entry can just come on down. Bring your 500 baht for your Myanmar day entry stamp, and return to Thailand to activate your second entry.

The original post is about a totally different animal. Border closes at 9pm now.

Correct. The border crossing is same as it was, for getting visa extentions, or anything relating to your passport and rubber stamps. The OP is about something a bit different. And the border has gone from closing at 6:30 pm to 9 pm (Thai time). If you have new-looking US$ bills, they can be used ($10), and you save money (from paying Bt.500).

[IMA_FARANG]

I don't know the answer but I suspect it has more to do with recently reported antigovernment demonstrations in Myanmar tan anything to do with The Thai side of the border.

(and the Myanmar government reaction to the demonstrations).

[off road pat]

To the OP, although it may suck, there's nothing stopping you from going to Tachilek but it will require more paperwork. That means stamps, or even a Myanmar visa for the most hassle free crossing, but then you'd need to get your visa in advance. I also suspect that the ruling is related to the military government. On another thread related to the then coup last year, a member who lives near the Chong Chom crossing in Surin mentioned how all border passes for Thai and Cambodian citizens were stopped and passports were required. Vehicles could also not be brought across the border for a temporary period (why not?) even though that has always been the easiest border to bring a vehicle across between the two countries.

When I went across from Mae Sai to Tachilek on a VIP pass last year, it was just over a month before the coup. I also remember from years ago (back in like 2002) that you couldn't even get your passport stamped and that a "VIP pass" although I don't think they called it that back then was the only way of entry to Myanmar and no travel beyond Tachilek was permitted. But sometime before and also sometime afterwards it was permitted again up to Mengla on the Chinese border, but not beyond. Later on after having turned the checkpoint into an official crossing, stamping your passport become standard and in 2013 the Burmese side designated that border as an official entry/exit point too. Still, the rules there keep changing.

Some years ago you could get a 14 day/13 night visa, to enter Tachilek and go to Kentung +/- 150 km....dust track , many Check points and they knew you were coming in advance.In Kentung you had to apply for permission to go to Mong La at the Chinese border.. another +/- 150 Km...throe mountain passes, half way to Mong La there was a check point from the Caren Liberation Army (with armed guys in different incomplete uniforms) were you had to bargain a bribe +/- 10 & US to let you go tru to Mong La and the same at return....needles to say this was a very adventurous trip as we had to cross Caren Liberation Army held terrain as well as malaria endemic regions (Every body has Malaria there.)

In Kentung I stayed in a nice hotel owed by a wealthy Burmese who spoke excellent Thai but almost no English. over there most people speak also Thai because they all watch Thai TV. witch is better in there opinion than Burmese TV.

The hotel owner who became my friend (as I did this trip many times over the years, with different friends.) asked his son to guide us to the most interesting surrounding Temples and mountain villages were the kids had never seen a white man, other than on TV... sets say a white man in a wheelchair driving a old willys jeep.

The first years All the roads were off road tracks. I had to go in 4x4 and first or second gear most of the way. and there were no bridges, we had to cross the rivers at indicated points or follow the truck tracks, to were the river was less deep. A few years later the Chinese financed and build a sort of high way from China thru Mong La and Kentung to Tachilek. in anticipation of the Olympic games in China. there were toll booths on the way that charged by the wait of the car or truck.... and it was never popular with the locals and no tourists ever came thru this road. after a while the trucks came a other way, there was a shorter one thru Laos. some +/- 7 Years ago the Burmese Government stopped giving 14 days visas and refused to let people enter Burma further than the Tachilek city limits.

I was lucky to have been there before....for the moment, it's impossible . if the border opens again I would be the first to cross it.....There is so much more to tell but I don't have the time tonight...

Best regards.

PS: These pictures were from the first times I got there some more than 15 Years ago...I was still driving my Willys....I have a Modified Land Rover now still have the Willys...could never part from my first love.

I really enjoyed seen these pictures again....some of the greatest trips I ever did..

Edited April 29, 2015 by off road pat

[boomerangutang]

Thanks for those above pics. That pic of the road carved like a drainage ditch is classic. It reminds me of a photo I took in Belize jungle, 35 years ago of a guide's truck getting stuck in the mud. I was with 7 beautiful young farang chicks (don't ask me how that came about), but I got the shot of them all holding a large chain, trying to pull the truck out of the mud. I thought, "well, women's lib and all, let them show us guys they can get down and dirty, while I stand aside take pictures." Like hundreds of other pics of travels, I no longer have that one.

Actually, for awhile in the 90's I was grappling with deciding whether to go settle in Belize or Thailand. I had visited both a dozen times. I opted for Thailand, though it's fun to think how things might have unfolded in Belize. It would have been the western part, near Guatemala, where there are Mayan ruins everywhere. I was looking to buy a 17 acre piece for $20k which was right on the G' border, and had large Mayan burial mounds at the perimeter of a beautiful jungle opening, with a year 'round stream along one side. Secluded and magical.

[Tomtomtom69]

Sorry to revive this old thread - but I have a couple of questions about the Mae Sai/Tachilek crossing.

My understanding, contrary to off road pat's claim is that if you arrive at this crossing without a visa, can't you still get a 14 day visa on arrival (upon payment of US$10 or 500 Baht better to pay in USD of course) to travel up to Kengtung and Mong Lar? Or do you now need a Myanmar visa in your passport (not that there's any problem with getting one, just that it involves a trip to the embassy or the consulate in Chiang Mai).

Anyone know about whether a Thai car can still be driven outside of Tachilek? When I was there in Apr 2014 on a day trip with some of my dad's Thai PhD students, they went to the market while I went off to visit some temples with a Thai speaking Shan guide. He told me that Thai cars can no longer leave Tachilek due to concerns they were taking away business from Burmese drivers. Yes, that's the reason he gave me.

However, there is absolutely zero information online whether in Thai nor in English that verifies his claim. Can anyone confirm it's still possible to drive to Mong Lar in a Thai car without going on a tour?

[boomerangutang]

Some good questions above.

I can't answer all, but I'll take a stab at some:

If you want to visit Keng Tung or Meng La (Chinese border), you first go to tiny office on left (north side) of Burmese immigration office. Tell them of your plans, and they'll likely say you need to commit to hiring a Burmese guide for Bt.1,000/day (not all of that fee goes to the guide). I think you're still expected to pay an added amount for the guide's food and lodging, not sure. Then, exit the tourist office and go to the Imm office next door and be sure to tell them you want to travel north. There's no added cost, and they will put a notation in your cardboard 'visa' to that effect.

I spoke to a guide who took a farang up to Meng La. They got stalled at Keng Tung. The first officials they spoke with said 'no onward journey.' The 2nd official (next morning) said 'ok' but it took some money to grease his palm. None of that should have happened if the travelers had gotten permission in Tachilek prior to going north.

I don't know about legality of taking a Thai car anywhere in Burma. However, 2 miles east of the bridge (near small bus station), alongside the main road, are some rental places. You'll have to cajole a bit to find the right driver, but they're all friendly. They all drive those 4-door white Toyotas compacts with steering wheel on wrong side. They probably got them for free from Japanese hand-me-downs.

Here's a tel# of a Burmese guide who speaks fluent English, but he isn't fully certified as a guide. In other words, he's as good or better than any guide you'll find in Shan State, but he hasn't been able to afford to get a guide license, and the bureaucracy is formidable. He's taken visitors to the two towns north of Tachilek, and all's worked out well. Slim, tel# 0991376462

[jobin]

I used grubby US single dollars, ten in all, to pay the Burmese Immig at Tachiliek. He was grateful to get them.

[Tomtomtom69]

Some good questions above.

I can't answer all, but I'll take a stab at some:

If you want to visit Keng Tung or Meng La (Chinese border), you first go to tiny office on left (north side) of Burmese immigration office. Tell them of your plans, and they'll likely say you need to commit to hiring a Burmese guide for Bt.1,000/day (not all of that fee goes to the guide). I think you're still expected to pay an added amount for the guide's food and lodging, not sure. Then, exit the tourist office and go to the Imm office next door and be sure to tell them you want to travel north. There's no added cost, and they will put a notation in your cardboard 'visa' to that effect.

I spoke to a guide who took a farang up to Meng La. They got stalled at Keng Tung. The first officials they spoke with said 'no onward journey.' The 2nd official (next morning) said 'ok' but it took some money to grease his palm. None of that should have happened if the travelers had gotten permission in Tachilek prior to going north.

I don't know about legality of taking a Thai car anywhere in Burma. However, 2 miles east of the bridge (near small bus station), alongside the main road, are some rental places. You'll have to cajole a bit to find the right driver, but they're all friendly. They all drive those 4-door white Toyotas compacts with steering wheel on wrong side. They probably got them for free from Japanese hand-me-downs.

Here's a tel# of a Burmese guide who speaks fluent English, but he isn't fully certified as a guide. In other words, he's as good or better than any guide you'll find in Shan State, but he hasn't been able to afford to get a guide license, and the bureaucracy is formidable. He's taken visitors to the two towns north of Tachilek, and all's worked out well. Slim, tel# 0991376462

OK by the sounds of it they are still scamming tourists with that guide fee. I think it's probably better to apply for a Myanmar visa then, because then at least you won't be forced to take along a guide you don't need. Visa fee = 810 Baht vs. say 7,000 Baht + food/lodging for a guide if you go for a week + US$10 or 500 Baht entry fee - visa sounds like a much better investment.

I thought they did away with the guide requirement in 2013, when they opened up the borders to tourists with visas. Apparently not.

I've asked a travel agency about taking the car they will get back to me about it next week after checking with customs - to Tachilek only is obviously fine otherwise trade would grind to a halt but as you can imagine that's of no interest to me. If I were to go, I'd want to drive my car in and travel to Kengtung and Mengla like a number of farang have done in years gone by or failing that, I'll park on the Thai side and take a taxi as you have suggested. I'm familiar with the system in Myawady, opposite Mae Sot, presumably Tachilek is much the same. Find a driver, negotiate a daily fee (all-inclusive including fuel, driver's food and accommodation).

[boomerangutang]

I asked a uniformed official at the Thai side of the bridge when VIP passes would next be available. He just grinned, shrugged his shoulders, "mai lu"

At the SE side of the bridge, where people enter Thailand, it's actually worse than it's been for years. Cattle guardrails force people to squeeze up against others - not something that sweaty travelers particularly like to do. Pelvises rubbing against fatty bums. Thanks to Thai Imm authorities for making it about as uncomfortable as possible.

[Tomtomtom69]

Found out about taking a car beyond Tachilek. Can't do it anymore independently; must go on a pre-arranged tour. In which case it makes more sense to drive all around the country than limit yourself just to Kengtung and Mong La. However, a group of motorcyclists did just that in late 2014 as part of Tachilek bike week. There were 160 riders though, so the logistics of handling that many bikes elsewhere in the country where there is way more traffic would have been a challenge.

You can read about it over on rideasia.net in the Myanmar section.