Thai going to Burma

[Mr David]

Standing in a bar in the Uk and my mate has just said he is thinking of taking a thai girl to Burma.

 

Can he do this? Can Thai people cross the border without a visa? Sorry for my ignorance here but with past problems on the border it's something I have never thought about.

Edited August 23, 2011 by DavidL

[Luv2Phuket]

Don't know about UK, but here's what the US gov't says about Myanmar:

 

 

The Government of Burma strictly controls travel to, from, and within Burma. Since October 1, 2006, Burmese authorities have often prohibited entry or exit at most land border crossings, unless the traveler is part of a package-tour group that has received prior permission from the Burmese authorities. You must have a valid passport with at least six months remaining validity and visa to enter Burma. You should apply for your Burmese visa at a Burmese embassy or consulate abroad before you arrive in Burma. On September 1, 2010, the Government of Burma suspended its "Visa on Arrival" program, which had been in effect since May 2010. In Burma, you will be required to show your passport with a valid visa at all airports, train stations, and hotels. Security checkpoints are common outside of tourist areas. Burmese authorities rarely issue visas to persons with occupations they deem “sensitive,” including journalists. Many journalists and writers traveling to Burma on tourist visas have been denied entry. Journalists -- and tourists mistaken for journalists -- have been harassed. Some journalists have had film and notes confiscated upon leaving the country.

 

 

 

So my guess is that it will not be easy for him OR for her. Are you sure he isn't thinking of Cambodia?

[woundedinlove]

I think that Thais can cross reasonably easily into Burma.

As footypjman said it is difficult for UK nationals to get into Burma. Most border crossings will have problems unless you have a visa.

 

One way for a short crossing is to go up north to Mae Sai. You can cross over there and stay in the area. Refer to http://www.thaizer.com/visas/visa-run-chiang-mai-to-mae-sai-tackhilek/ which is current for January this year. But you are only allowed to stay with a short distance of Mae Sai. Did you want to see more of Burma?

[forqalso]

We into Myanmar a few years ago. The border guard sent us to a Kodak shop across the street to get copies of our passports made. We returned to the crossing, left our passports with the Thai border guards and I had to pay the falang tax of around 300 baht, Thais were free.

 

We crossed a short bridge into a market area, where we were immediately surrounded by vendors hawking everything from smokes to donkey porn. Extremely aggressive, I was feeling pretty uneasy, but they soon backed off. We walked around a bit and crossed back into Thailand and collected our passports. I received no stamps on my passport so it wouldn't have counted as a visa run.

[wackyjacky]

I don't know about Thai nationals. Can't one just google that ? I went 5 or 6 years back and the place is amazing and sad simultaneously. Shwegadon, Mandalay, Bagan, and Inle Lake are not to be missed. You can feel the gov oppression every moment. Closest thing to N Korea. Because of the Military Junta it's the poorest country in SE Asia and it should be the richest (w/all their resources). Different opinions on the ethics of visiting. Personally, I won't be back until the gov changes. wj