Just back from Tachiliek.

[jobin]

What a sad-sack city. Dirty, impoverished, hugely lacking in restaurants (and none found of any merit), hotels, transport and food expensive BUT

the alcohol is way cheap. Bottle of top name wine about half the cost of T'land. Liter cans of German beer, 120 baht vs 200 in CM. I bought 3 bottles of wine and crossed over without trouble despite 2 bottles over the limit.

Cheapest shop is the one next to Immig on the bridge. Can sit and drink a LaoDark for 20 baht and they have a massive wine cool room for the 'haut chateau'.

Must pay 500 baht (or US$10) to get into MM so that digs into the booze savings.

The giant shopping 'souk' has miles of vendors but compared to MaeSai prices are a bit higher. Probably all name brand items, like bags, shirts, shoes, are bogus chinese goods.

God, i hope the wine is real !!

[stickylies]

99% of the boose is fake there

[worgeordie]

99% of the boose is fake there

Makes no difference to alcoholics.

regards worgeordie

[RichCor]

Maybe if I ask nicely, if the OP was using a Visa Exempt Stamp, or asked for and received a courtesy VIP PASS (no out/in mark in passport) then please drop into this Chiang Rai thread and give us a first-hand update.

Mae Sai/Tachilek Border Info

Started by tayto, 2007-08-28 21:07

We've have conflicting reports as of late on the type of crossings Mae Sai border control is allowing.

Visa Exempt stamps looking for out-in with additional 15/30 days (currently denied)

Courtesy VIP PASS, no out/in mark in passport (currently denied)

Multiple-Entry tourist or other actual VISA, out/in and 90 day out/in (normal and allowed)

[hakancnx]

99 % of the booze fake..? How do you know?

Source?

I have bought a lot from the official tax free shop mentioned, and they have only real stuff.

[craigt3365]

99 % of the booze fake..? How do you know?

Source?

I have bought a lot from the official tax free shop mentioned, and they have only real stuff.

They do a great job of copying the bottles. But most of the good stuff is fake. There are some reputable shops, but not many. And I'm not 100% sure what they sell is 100% original. Buyer beware.

http://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/2015/sep/16/china-fake-alcohol-industry-counterfeit-bathtub-booze-whisky

Brown-Forman, the company that makes Jack Daniel’s, estimates that around 30% of all alcohol in China is fake.

And then there was that Hong Kong billionaire who was killed last year from a bottle of fake Dom. Too much pressure in the bottle. The cork hit him in the temple and killed him. It was sold to him at a super high end hotel in Hong Kong.

[stickylies]

99 % of the booze fake..? How do you know?

Source?

I have bought a lot from the official tax free shop mentioned, and they have only real stuff.

source: common sense + i lived in burma ...

+ ask any thai or burman/shan ...

anyway, whatever... good for u if u can find the real stuff at said prices, my credo is and has been for the last 18 years:

if the price is too good it is fake (or stolen).

[mulder12345]

I bought a bottle of absinthe there and it was the real deal. The market under the bridge has the pain in the ass Viagra Mafia constantly hounding you to buy the knock off Viagra. They like to follow you and annoy you so you buy something to make them go away. Nothing on the Myanmar side that is not on the Thai side. Not worth the hassle to go to Myanmar market.

[stickylies]

99 % of the booze fake..? How do you know?

Source?

I have bought a lot from the official tax free shop mentioned, and they have only real stuff.

They do a great job of copying the bottles. But most of the good stuff is fake. There are some reputable shops, but not many. And I'm not 100% sure what they sell is 100% original. Buyer beware.

http://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/2015/sep/16/china-fake-alcohol-industry-counterfeit-bathtub-booze-whisky

tachileik is infamous for its criminal activity, it's the gateway into golden triangle, an area still dominated by all kinds of (ex-)druglords, yaba labs, contraband, counterfeits, human traffic, fake gemstones, etc... ps. ever been to Mong La? that used to be another level of vice (it still is but the glory days are gone) ;-)

[Rimbuman]

99 % of the booze fake..? How do you know?

Source?

I have bought a lot from the official tax free shop mentioned, and they have only real stuff.

They do a great job of copying the bottles. But most of the good stuff is fake. There are some reputable shops, but not many. And I'm not 100% sure what they sell is 100% original. Buyer beware.

http://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/2015/sep/16/china-fake-alcohol-industry-counterfeit-bathtub-booze-whisky

tachileik is infamous for its criminal activity, it's the gateway into golden triangle, an area still dominated by all kinds of (ex-)druglords, yaba labs, contraband, counterfeits, human traffic, fake gemstones, etc... ps. ever been to Mong La? that used to be another level of vice (it still is but the glory days are gone) ;-)

55555, now I know what I like about this place.

[bazza40]

99% of the boose is fake there

Makes no difference to alcoholics.

regards worgeordie

It makes a difference if the booze is contaminated with methanol.

[MeHere]

And then there was that Hong Kong billionaire who was killed last year from a bottle of fake Dom. Too much pressure in the bottle. The cork hit him in the temple and killed him. It was sold to him at a super high end hotel in Hong Kong.

Oh my! Killed by fake champagne!!! <deleted> will we hear about next???!!!

OTOH methinks one should point any bottle away from oneself before opening it...

Good it didn't hit the poor geezer in the eye... At least he didn't suffer! RIP

[LiorW]

And then there was that Hong Kong billionaire who was killed last year from a bottle of fake Dom. Too much pressure in the bottle. The cork hit him in the temple and killed him. It was sold to him at a super high end hotel in Hong Kong.

Oh my! Killed by fake champagne!!! <deleted> will we hear about next???!!!

OTOH methinks one should point any bottle away from oneself before opening it...

Good it didn't hit the poor geezer in the eye... At least he didn't suffer! RIP

Not really

http://antiviral.gawker.com/no-a-chinese-billionaire-wasnt-killed-by-counterfeit-b-1617770582

[craigt3365]

Does seem to be a hoax! But fake booze is not. Sadly.

[louse1953]

Everything else is fake,why would the wine be any different.Two of us drank a bottle of Johnny Green,that we bought in Cambo, in quick time.Hardly tipsy.Back to Hong Tong to finish the job.

[stickylies]

99 % of the booze fake..? How do you know?

Source?

I have bought a lot from the official tax free shop mentioned, and they have only real stuff.

They do a great job of copying the bottles. But most of the good stuff is fake. There are some reputable shops, but not many. And I'm not 100% sure what they sell is 100% original. Buyer beware.

http://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/2015/sep/16/china-fake-alcohol-industry-counterfeit-bathtub-booze-whisky

tachileik is infamous for its criminal activity, it's the gateway into golden triangle, an area still dominated by all kinds of (ex-)druglords, yaba labs, contraband, counterfeits, human traffic, fake gemstones, etc... ps. ever been to Mong La? that used to be another level of vice (it still is but the glory days are gone) ;-)

55555, now I know what I like about this place.

Back in the days Mong La was utter surreal (and still is a weird place). Casinos, whores, poached tigers, big cars, drugs, aso. Truly a scene that could come out of Blade Runner. It also has a drug eradication museum built by people who made a fortune selling... drugs. LOL! Nihilism at its best.

edit: video http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-28772647

[lordblackader]

Last time I went I visited the casino up the hill, free lunch, the pokies (slot machines) were definitely real in that they quite happily took all my money

[hakancnx]

The prices at the official tax free shop, at the left side of the bridge, is very fair, due to the fact that there is no tax.

This bottle is bought there and I am 100 % sure that it is the real stuff. The price is B 425 for 100 cl.

[craigt3365]

Duty free in Europe is about 16 Euros. You are getting it cheaper than can be had at a duty free shop in Estonia? Sounds dodgy. Sorry....I shopped at this store and found their prices to be really good.

http://www.sadamamarket.ee/index.php?page=1511〈=eng&sel=130∏=244&cnt=absolut_vodka_100_cl_40%

[off road pat]

99% of the boose is fake there

No 99 % is the real stuff, bought it for years.....and just got back 2 weeks ago.......with a new load.....

It all depends on witch shop you know....and I'm not giving any more information so not to burn it for my next happy visa run.

Regards.

[off road pat]

Maybe if I ask nicely, if the OP was using a Visa Exempt Stamp, or asked for and received a courtesy VIP PASS (no out/in mark in passport) then please drop into this Chiang Rai thread and give us a first-hand update.

Mae Sai/Tachilek Border Info

Started by tayto, 2007-08-28 21:07

We've have conflicting reports as of late on the type of crossings Mae Sai border control is allowing.

Visa Exempt stamps looking for out-in with additional 15/30 days (currently denied)

Courtesy VIP PASS, no out/in mark in passport (currently denied)

Multiple-Entry tourist or other actual VISA, out/in and 90 day out/in (normal and allowed)

Did my 90 day "marriage visa" two weeks ago, ...the wife bought some alcohol 3 different bottles...No Problem what so ever....

Regards.

[off road pat]

I bought a bottle of absinthe there and it was the real deal. The market under the bridge has the pain in the ass Viagra Mafia constantly hounding you to buy the knock off Viagra. They like to follow you and annoy you so you buy something to make them go away. Nothing on the Myanmar side that is not on the Thai side. Not worth the hassle to go to Myanmar market.

So much knowledge of Myanmar should not be used in a improper way....

[off road pat]

The prices at the official tax free shop, at the left side of the bridge, is very fair, due to the fact that there is no tax.

This bottle is bought there and I am 100 % sure that it is the real stuff. The price is B 425 for 100 cl.

01e430f070c335eaf2baadfc64ae53777cdbf7019a.jpg

The official Tax free shop is more expensive than the shops in the market....and is not to be trusted...