Mae Sai
แม่สาย | |
---|---|
Coordinates: 20°25′41″N 99°53′1″E / 20.42806°N 99.88361°E | |
Country | Thailand |
Province | Chiang Rai |
Seat | Mae Sai |
Area | |
• Total | 285.0 km2 (110.0 sq mi) |
Population (2005) | |
• Total | 86,298 |
• Density | 302.8/km2 (784/sq mi) |
Time zone | UTC+7 (ICT) |
Postal code | 57130 |
Geocode | 5709 |
Mae Sai (Thai: แม่สาย, pronounced [mɛ̂ː sǎːj]; Shan: မႄႈသၢႆ, pronounced [mɛ.sʰǎj]) is the northernmost district (amphoe) of Chiang Rai province in northern Thailand. The town of Mae Sai is a major border crossing between Thailand and Myanmar. Asian Highway Network AH2 (Thailand Route 1 or Phahonyothin Road) crosses the Mae Sai River to the town Tachileik in Myanmar.
One-day passes for non-Burmese nationals crossing into Myanmar are issued at Myanmar customs in Tachileik. Passports are confiscated and a temporary travel permit is issued; the permit is exchanged for the traveler's passport upon crossing back into Thailand. (No longer available as of 2016.) Since the changes in Thai immigration policy since March 2016, crossing this border as a foreign national is highly depended on individual Thai customs officers, as they have discretion.
Mae Sai is 259 km (161 mi) north of Chiang Mai, 61 km (38 mi) north of Chiang Rai, and 850 km (528 mi) north of Bangkok.