Mong La Travel Guide
Situated in Shan State, Mong La is located approximately 260 kilometers from the Thai border town of Mae Sai. The town is popular with Chinese tourists, who visit to indulge in wine, women and gambling.
- Worth It?
- Only if you're heading into China and need to take a break before crossing the border.
- What to Do
- try your luck in one of the casinos, watch a transvestite show, explore the temple.
- Best Time to Go
- March to mid-May, just after the heavy rainy season.
- How Long?
- A few hours should be enough time to appreciate Mong La.
- Trivia
- once playing a key role in Myanmar's drug trade, Mong La was declared an opium-free zone in 1997.
This Chinese border town specializes in seedy pleasures and can be rather entertaining in its own way. The main form of entertainment here is the special gambling game known as Gluckgluck, where players bet on the fall of a giant dice.
Despite its sleazy feel, the surrounding countryside is rather pretty and Mong La is a pleasant place to take a walk, especially as the climate is cooler than much of Myanmar. There is also a pretty temple to explore and luckless gamblers can often be seen there praying for good fortune.
Travel to Mong La - Getting There
Mong La is rather isolated from the rest of Myanmar and the best way to get here is either to hop across the Chinese border from the town of Daluo (1 hour), or from Mae Sai in Thailand (5 hours). The nearest airport is at Jessore, about 2 hours away by bus.
Mong La Things to Do
Mong La Attractions
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