Hotels in Mae Sot

Nice city. Plenty of bargain shopping markets and areas. Great outdoor food. Lovely waterfalls near the city. Nice sights around the city. The road from Mae Sot to Tak through the mountains is quite hilly but a beautiful drive.

Mae Sot is the border town between Thailand and Myanmar, and it's on the side of the Thai border. The other side in Myanmar, the (dirt) town is called Myawaddy. For Malaysians, going across starting this year requires a valid visa to all parts of Myanmar. And Malaysians have to apply visa at the Embassy of Myanmar in Kuala Lumpur. Malaysians are NOT eligible for on arrival visas. Mae Sot is also a town in Thailand serving the gateway for many Burmese people tired of their country's political regime and also a major centre for ethnic Burmese refugees. The majority of the ethnic groups in Mae Sot are Karens, Kachins, and Mons. About 57 Kms from Mae Sot is the largest refugee camp in Western Thailand, the Mae La Camp. Mae La Camp stretches for at least more than 5 Kms and it houses some 37,000 refugees or displaced persons from Myanmar. In the media, we heard about the atrocities done to the Rohingyas but the world was ignorant to the plight of the many Burmese ethnic minorities. Myanmar is still at war against its various ethnic groups. The Rohingyas plight becomes a popular international folklore because many Islamic nations highlighted about the mistreatment and the genocidal activities. However, the Burmans (the largest ethnic group in Myanmar) have been committing atrocities against other ethnic groups as well since the 1960s. Many of these ethnic groups are not Buddhists and many are Christians, some are Hindus and Muslims. As I am writing this, I ask all of you who frequent Burma or Myanmar to NOT visit the country because you are helping a regime and you are disintegrating the ethnic minorities, their lands and their freedom. If you are interested, visit Mae Sot and talk to the local people, especially the Burmese Market in the heart of Mae Sot. Thank you.

So many places to see. Hot Springs, waterfalls, Rim Moei market, Myawaddy Complex and Myanmar with casino ext. I would recommend going around with a car or a motorbike. Various different restaurants because so many different cultures in the area.

Not much to see or do in Mae Sot. We stayed 2 nights but 1 night would have been enough. The crossing over the border into Myanmar was super easy. Catch a taxi from Irawaddy Resort, walk to Tahi passport control, collect exit stamp, walk over Friendship Bridge, collect Maynamar entry stamp, find helpful local to show you where the ATM is, help you find a taxi, pay him a tip, off you go!

Visited Mae Tao refugee clinic and bought some souvenirs to support this charity - the Myanmar staff were very friendly. Went to the market at the Friendship bridge. Not much worth buying but chatted with the Thai border guards. A new Robinson Mall just opened - some clean and good value restaurants.