Myawaddy Border Crossing Station — Local services in Myawaddy District

Have been through this border crossing many times over the years, even before it opened as an official international crossing in 2013. The Myanmar side periodically changes the arrival and departure rooms. Just look for the signs and go inside the appropriate room. Nowadays, the arrivals room is on the left, same as it is on the Thai side even though Myanmar drives on the right. Departure is on the opposite side of the road, on the left as in Thailand. At first, arrivals was where departures is now and departures was in another room on the same side as arrivals now. Then departures and arrivals were relocated next to each other on the current arrivals side. Finally it changed to the current locations.

For day trips, you pay US$10 or 500 Baht and come back to collect your passport, which is held by immigration from the same place (arrivals) as when you arrive. For travelers holding e-visas, you bring along your printed e-visa form, which the officer stamps upon entry and exit. For some reason, immigration does not retain the form upon exit. When entering and exiting, you need to take off your glasses when the immigration officer takes a picture, this is not necessary on the Thai side. Process is fast and there are usually no more than 1-2 people entering at the same time, often you'll be the only foreigner.

Look for taxis to Hpa-an and Mawlamyine just after the border crossing. Banks, ATMs and money changers are also located here.

Border crossing opening hours: 5.30am to 8.30pm Thai time (5am to 8pm Myanmar time). Note that the border crossing hours indicated here (6am to 6pm) are the old hours, which have since changed to the extended...

Be aware of a Burmese scam artist called "Mike" hanging around this border crossing, preying on westerners, particularly young attractive female backpackers.

You can't miss him. He has a strange goiter like scar coming out of his neck and blood shot eyes. Apparently he's a drug user.

He's probably one of the best English speakers in Myawaddy and also speaks Thai almost equally well, so this warning applies to Thai nationals as well.

Anyway, once Covid restrictions are lifted (for Thailand that will apply July 1, 2022; in fact, as early as June 1 they might start allowing everyone across the border freely, with only an ATK/RAT test for the unvaccinated, given at the border...otherwise it will be July 1, testing and restriction free) - it is not yet known whether foreigners will be required to use the newer second friendship bridge or continue to use this one.

It is likely that the second friendship bridge will become the main border crossing, with this one remaining only for local daytrippers.

However, it is too early to know whether Myanmar will fully reopen by July 1, as Thailand is planning. Given it will only open airports on April 17 to vaccinated arrivals who have to do a 1-week quarantine, it might be wishful thinking to believe they will lift all restrictions and reopen the land borders fully as during pre-Covid times, just 2 and a half months later, though it is possible, as other...

A very chaotic mix of people, trucks, cars trying to squeeze through. There are no signs and no attempt at any order.

1. For non-Burmese passport holders entering Thailand go straight to immigration post/counter 8 which is the unmarked "Foreign Passport" counter

2. Walk over the Bridge

3. On Thai side go straight to counter 14 "Foreign passport" counter.

4. Take a songthaew to Mae Sot bus station (20baht).

5. For onward travel to chiang mai/bangkok book ticket in Mae Sot to Tak (78baht)

6. Tak to chiang...