Kanchanaburi/Myanmar Border: Possible to go short visit while border run?

[Yeahbutwhytho]

Hi there,

I've heard accounts that crossing the Kanchanaburi/Myanmar Border costs 900b, is that only for people who want to do in and outs? I have a METV and would like to visit Myanmar for a weekend and then return, what is the 900b cost exactly? If I drove all the way to Kanchanaburi myself - park the car and enter myanmar, how much will it cost go cross this border and stay the weekend?

Thanks in advance

[BritTim]

There is pretty much nothing on the Myanmar side of the border at Ban Phu Nam Ron (at least, as of a couple of years ago). You cannot go far inside Myanmar with just the border pass included in the 960 baht. To go far enough to be worthwhile, you would need a Myanmar visa in advance from the Myanmar embassy (Myanmar evisa not usable at that crossing). I believe onward transport from that crossing point is also limited.

 

If interested in spending time in Myanmar, consider using the Maesot crossing in Tak province.

[elviajero]

It’s 960 baht which just pays for you to be transported to and back from Myanmar immigration.

 

It’s a good choice for a for a visa run, but there’s nothing to see and no where to stay on the other side. If you wanted to go inland you’d need a visa, which is not available on arrival.

[fforest1]

I think Burma has 3 classes of visas 1...The border pass 2...The regular visas which only allows travel to certain parts of Burma and 3... Special visas to visit other areas....I think there are still parts of Burma that are off limits to farang....

[Yeahbutwhytho]

Oh wow, off limits? I guess I can have a weekend holiday in Kanchanaburi if its an out/in or nothing.

 

Is there an exact meeting place for the transportation to cross and come back in? I still plan to drive from Bangkok. Who am I paying and what time do they run? 

[Yeahbutwhytho]

Does this mean any thai citizen can also drive me out/in past this border?

[NCC1701A]

15 minutes ago, Yeahbutwhytho said:

Oh wow, off limits?

yes. Myanmar only has certain "zones" that tourists can go to. You cannot just drive or wander around outside those areas.   

 

too dangerous.

 

 

Edited March 17, 2019 by NCC1701A

[DrJack54]

Don't wish to sidetrack your drive plans etc. I fly bkk yangon its a 1350baht one way. Do you love driving that much. Esp for short stay. 

[elviajero]

2 hours ago, Yeahbutwhytho said:

Oh wow, off limits? I guess I can have a weekend holiday in Kanchanaburi if its an out/in or nothing.

 

Is there an exact meeting place for the transportation to cross and come back in? I still plan to drive from Bangkok. Who am I paying and what time do they run? 

Yes. It’s changed since I was last there, but there is a place/office (?) that you pay the 960 fee and they’ll organise everything for you. They run regularly all day. Should take under an hour from arrival to re-entering Thailand.

 

Kan to Ban Phu Nam Ron is a nice drive.

[BritTim]

3 hours ago, NCC1701A said:

yes. Myanmar only has certain "zones" that tourists can go to. You cannot just drive or wander around outside those areas.   

 

too dangerous.

Most of Myanmar is now completely open to foreigners. Only a few areas are still off limits, especially Rakhine State where you are prevented from going mainly because the Myanmar military does not want witnesses to its ethnic cleansing of the Rohingyas. There are some areas where a foreign tourist must have a travel permit and be accompanied by an official Myanmar guide. Notwithstanding, Myanmar is generally a safe country for visitors.

 

Although most of the country is open, tourism infrastructure is still limited in many areas, and transport links can be basic and slow. These are the main factors that should determine where most tourists choose to go. Depending on your proposed entry point, you may be able to use an evisa purchased online, or may need a visa from the Myanmar Embassy arranged in advance. Border passes allow you to stay a few days in the immediate vicinity of some crossing points, but there is not a great deal to see. Staying one night in Myawaddy across from the border crossing at Maesot may be just about worth it.

[Burma Bill]

12 hours ago, NCC1701A said:

yes. Myanmar only has certain "zones" that tourists can go to. You cannot just drive or wander around outside those areas.   

 

too dangerous.

 

 

I have visited Burma on several occasions and most of the country is safe and now open to tourists - Rangoon, Mandalay, Bagan, Inle Lake etc. The restricted areas are Rakhine State (Rohyngas) and certain regions of Upper Shan State (bordering onto Thailand) where the Burmese military are still in conflict with local militias. I traveled by train from Mandalay to Hsipaw on the Shan Plateau, which is very popular with tourists, especially back-packers, but to venture out into the countryside one needed to inform, and get a pass from, the local police. Burma and its people are wonderful but, unfortunately, the infra-structure has not yet kept pace with tourism.

For those who may be interested, the short border crossing from Mai Sai (Thailand) to Tachilek (Burma) costs just 500 baht. Burmese Immigration keeps your passport and issues a printed receipt which you hand back in return for your passport when re-entering Thailand.  Tachilek is good for shopping, there is a comprehensive "duty free" store and a large market. There are also several casinos and pagodas on the surrounding hills.

[geisha]

Have a long weekend in Yangon, visit the Schwedagon, wonderful.Air Asia has dead cheap flights, lovely people there, very safe.I find it such a shame people don’t visit the neighbouring countries properly.Why is  there such a rush to get back to Thailand  ? 

[simon43]

Quote

 

Most of Myanmar is now completely open to foreigners.
 

 

 

When I lived in Naypyitaw (until late last year), I regularly drove my motorbike into Shan State to donate school books etc.  There were many (many!) areas of eastern Shan where I wasn't allowed to visit.  My formal application to the Myanmar government office to allow me to visit these regions was politely rejected because the Myanmar army are not in control of these regions, including the Wa state.

 

I had to arrange a rendezvous in safe territory with a local person from the closed regions, who would then transport my books to specific schools.

 

Outside of Shan state, there are regions and towns in Kachin, Kayah, Kayin, Sagaing, Tanintharyi, Bago, Mon and Rakhine states that are still out of bounds to foreigners - these are listed on the Myanmar Tourism web site.

Edited March 18, 2019 by simon43

[Different]

I have done at least 3 border runs through this deserted border point, strangly I have not seen a single frang. I only see Laos and since I hold Saudi passport I get to pay as demanded by immigration officers 5k after discount from 10k because Thais and most people are the world think Saudis are very rich which is totally bs. I will do a visa run in five days, should I refuse to pay honestly speaking even though Myanmar has deplomatic relationships with Saudi or isn't it worth it because as mentioned up this border corss point has dirt road after crossing Thai border, only dirt dead ends with tin shops and office of Myanmar immigration officers. 

[ubonjoe]

What type of visa are you using to enter Thailand when you do the border crossing? You have to have a visa issued by a embassy or consulate to enter at that crossing. They do not issue the 15 day visa on arrival at that crossing that you qualify for.

Who are you paying the 5k baht to? Not aware of anybody paying that much and certainly not 10k baht.

[darrendsd]

Was there a month or so ago - big investment going on there now with a couple of Casinos opened up and a couple more being built - the border was very busy with minibuses full of Thais going across to the Casinos

 

I don't see why a farang could not go to the Casinos and come back the next day (Burmese visa allowing) but past the Casinos I don't think there is much - to answer your question you would need to explain to the minibus operator what you wanted to do and see if they would pick you up the next day or whenever

[darrendsd]

On 3/17/2019 at 9:14 PM, elviajero said:

It’s 960 baht which just pays for you to be transported to and back from Myanmar immigration.

 

It’s a good choice for a for a visa run, but there’s nothing to see and no where to stay on the other side. If you wanted to go inland you’d need a visa, which is not available on arrival.

Wrong - the 960 Baht pays for the Visa to

[ubonjoe]

7 minutes ago, darrendsd said:

Wrong - the 960 Baht pays for the Visa to

It pays for a border pass not a visa.

If a person wants to travel further than the border area they have to have a visa for Myanmar.

[Toosetinmyways]

The office/restaurant in Ban Phu Nam Ron that organises the border pass and transport to Myanmar also advertises transport to Dawei. I would suspect you need your own Myanmar visa.

 

[darrendsd]

26 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

It pays for a border pass not a visa.

If a person wants to travel further than the border area they have to have a visa for Myanmar.

I was replying to the comment that it covers the Transport which did not mention that it also covers the border pass

[ubonjoe]

21 minutes ago, darrendsd said:

I was replying to the comment that it covers the Transport which did not mention that it also covers the border pass

You wrote visa not border pass. There is big difference between the 2.

[darrendsd]

1 hour ago, ubonjoe said:

You wrote visa not border pass. There is big difference between the 2.

I don't have my Passport with me at the moment but I will check it when I have

 

You know as well as I do Joe that at this border it is commonly referred to as Transport and Visa Costs when talking about the crossing

[elviajero]

4 hours ago, Different said:

I have done at least 3 border runs through this deserted border point, strangly I have not seen a single frang. I only see Laos and since I hold Saudi passport I get to pay as demanded by immigration officers 5k after discount from 10k because Thais and most people are the world think Saudis are very rich which is totally bs. I will do a visa run in five days, should I refuse to pay honestly speaking even though Myanmar has deplomatic relationships with Saudi or isn't it worth it because as mentioned up this border corss point has dirt road after crossing Thai border, only dirt dead ends with tin shops and office of Myanmar immigration officers. 

Some nationals are ‘officially’ not allowed to do border hops at that crossing, South African is one. I’m not sure about Saudi, but if so you’re paying a bribe and won’t be allowed to ‘use’ the border otherwise. 

 

It’s not very busy compared to some, but it’s not deserted and “Farang” use it everyday. I doubt Laotians would be allowed to use it. Are you sure you used the Ban Phu Nam Ron checkpoint?

[ubonjoe]

36 minutes ago, darrendsd said:

You know as well as I do Joe that at this border it is commonly referred to as Transport and Visa Costs when talking about the crossing

I don't recall it written like that. 

I write transport and the fee for the border pass.

The only way to get a visa for Myanmar is at a embassy, consulate or a evisa. The e visa cannot be used at Ban Phu Nam Ron. 

 

[Toosetinmyways]

Darrendsd

I am not doubting you but I used this crossing in Nov 2018 There was a lot of construction but no sign of a casino. Not even a billboard advertising one. Must have been build quick. Perhaps one of the tin shacks has been converted.

[elviajero]

2 hours ago, darrendsd said:

I was replying to the comment that it covers the Transport which did not mention that it also covers the border pass

It doesn’t pay for a “visa” or “border pass”. You simple pay for a service to get stamped in/out of Myanmar to satisfy Thai immigration when you return.

[Denim]

From the border crossing it is possible to travel onwards to the Burmese coastal town of Dawai. There are minibuses on the Burmese side that make the trip.

 

However you need to obtain a Burmese visa from the Burmese embassy in Bangkok before you go as they won't issue them at the border. The dirt road to Dawai is still under construction in many places so the trip takes several hours. Not really worth the trouble for just a long weekend.

[darrendsd]

19 minutes ago, elviajero said:

It doesn’t pay for a “visa” or “border pass”. You simple pay for a service to get stamped in/out of Myanmar to satisfy Thai immigration when you return.

No matter how you describe it - Visa or Border Pass you pay for that as part of the 960 Baht not just transport as you clearly stated in your earlier post

[elviajero]

2 hours ago, darrendsd said:

No matter how you describe it - Visa or Border Pass you pay for that as part of the 960 Baht not just transport as you clearly stated in your earlier post

You're being pedantic. Again, for the record, it's neither a visa or border passport, just entry/exit stamps. The 960 THB is shared amongst many players, but mostly goes in to the pockets of those running the Myanmar side. But the end result is that your 960 gets you transported over the border and back to get exit/entry stamps to satisfy Thai immigration.

 

 

[ubonjoe]

As far as I know 500 baht of the 960 baht charge is for the border pass. The 500 baht is the same amount that is charged at at the other land border crossings Myanmar.