Mae Sai แม่สาย |
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Amphoe | |
Myanmar-Thailand bridge in Mae Sai Town
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Amphoe location in Chiang Rai Province |
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Coordinates: 20°25′41″N 99°53′1″E / 20.42806°N 99.88361°ECoordinates: 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 | ICT (UTC+7) |
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. Visa runs are no longer available as of May 2016.
Mae Sai is 259 km north of Chiang Mai, 61 km north of Chiang Rai, and 850 km north of Bangkok.
Neighboring districts are (from the east clockwise) Chiang Saen, Mae Chan and Mae Fa Luang. To the north is Myanmar, separated by the Mae Sai River and the Ruak River. The westernmost part of the district is dominated by the hills of the Daen Lao Range, the most important one is the Doi Tung with the Wat Phra That Doi Tung temple on top. Doi Nang Non is another notable mountain in Mae Sai District.