Mae Sai

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One of the few well known border towns between Thailand and Burma, Mae Sai is a bustling town which has profited on legal and illegal trade.

Your first impression would be of the incredibly wide main street that runs essentially north-south through the town finishing at the bridge that spans the river and gives access to Burma.

The border end of this street is lined by an enormous market. The wares available are many and varied with a very heavy Burmese influence - clothes, gems, you name it they have got it.

One of the more interesting pursuits in town for travellers is to watch the action up river from the bridge that spans the Sai River. Throughout the day, boats ferry people and goods back and forth between Burma and Thailand.

Goods including alcohol and cigarettes pass under the dull gaze of the border guards and can be had for rock bottom prices.

If you're planning on crossing over to the Burmese town of Thachileik for a bit of a poke around, all you'll find is a Burmese version of Mae Sai -- a town dominated by trade. There's lots of shopping in smuggled wares and cheap Burmese goods, but if you're expecting some classy Burmese handicrafts, you'll be disappointed.

Apart from Mae Sai's close proximity to Burma and the Golden Triangle there is really nothing appealing about the town. The one saving grace is the large and diverse market mentioned above.

There are some well placed guesthouses overlooking Burma in which you could concentrate on doing little for a few days and from which you could explore some of the surrounds.

Accommodation: Mai Sai
King Kobra Guesthouse | Mai Sai Guesthouse | Mai Side Riverside Guesthouse |

Text and/or map last updated on 11th August, 2009.

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Mae Sai reviews

Backchat from the Travelfish community

I've spent about a week total there...

...on the way to/from Tachileik. The hotels on the Mae Sai side of the border are definitely better value for the price - I recommend S House Hotel, which is around 150 meters down the road just to the left of the Thai Customs/Immigration Gate (the road parallels the river), where 300/400 baht (fan/ac) rooms are quite clean and comfortable, with hot shower, and good TV including several US news stations. Apart from walking up to Wat Pra That Doi Wao for a view of Tachileik, there isn't much to do, as stated above. Songthaew (Thai-style minibus) from the bus station to the border are 15 baht.

On a side note, the TCK side of the river I find much more interesting - right at the border there are many touts/scammers that get in your face - but if you ignore them and check out the town you might find it a little more untouched than Mae Sai, with more of a Wild West (or Wild East) character.
- Sights & activities
- History & culture
- Scenery & environment
- Eat & drink
- Traveller's scene
- Romance
- Value for money
- I'll be back (or not)
By squarethecircle (dabbler)
Written on 26th October, 2012 after a visit to Mae Sai in May, 2012

Also reviewed by squarethecircle: Chinatown and Pahurat, Pattani, Yala,
One afternoon in Mae Sai...

... is plenty. Like the above says, there's not a lot to do in Mae Sai other than cross the border. Having said that, if you do find yourself there for an hour or two, try and find your way up the steep steps to Wat Pra That Doi Wao. The temple itself is nothing spectacular (though there is a statue of a large crab knocking about...) but the view from the top is stunning. If you're not going into Burma then you can at least see what you are missing out on from up there - as I did! It is very cheap to get there from Chiang Rai (39 Baht on the bus) so don't write it off as a short, cheap day trip.
- Sights & activities
- History & culture
- Scenery & environment
- Eat & drink
- Traveller's scene
- Romance
- Value for money
- I'll be back (or not)
By Supergundo (dabbler)
Written on 3rd February, 2011 after a visit to Mae Sai in February, 2011

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