Thai-Burmese Friendship Bridge

Overview The Thai-Burmese Friendship Bridge at Mae Sot - Myawaddy is a road bridge spanning the Moei River that links Mae Sot in Thailand’s Tak province with Myawaddy in Myanmar, serving as a principal overland border crossing.

What visitors find A busy international crossing used by freight, buses and pedestrian traffic with markets and transport services clustered on both sides of the river; the crossing is a hub for cross-border trade and regulated travel between the two countries. Border formalities and vehicle inspections take place at the crossing terminals.

History Built as a bilateral infrastructure link to facilitate trade and travel, the crossing was established in the late 20th century and has been used since for regular commercial and tourist traffic; it has at times been affected by political or security measures on either side of the border.

Location Sited on the Moei River at the Thai town of Mae Sot and the Myanmar town of Myawaddy, the bridge marks a major official crossing on the western Thailand-Myanmar frontier.

• Border crossing details: Functions as a formal land border crossing for vehicles and pedestrians between Thailand and Myanmar, with immigration checkpoints on both banks of the Moei River.

There is nothing spectacular about the bridge itself, which was built to link Thailand and Burma in 1997: it is not particularly long, at 420 metres, and there is nothing special about the design. Its importance stems from the fact that this is the main overland route between the two countries, and there are often lots of people coming and going.

For foreign travellers, the main reason to come here is to spend a day in Myawadi across the border or to visit the Rim Moei Market beneath the bridge. When the bridge is open, it is possible to visit Myawadi for the day by paying a fee at the Burmese immigration office and leaving your passport with them until you return.

Before heading out, it is best to check in Mae Sot whether the bridge is open, as frequent disputes between the two countries lead to its closure, making something of a mockery of the bridge’s name.

The Thai-Burmese Friendship Bridge is the main border crossing at Mae Sot in Tak Province. From Bangkok you can take an overnight or daytime long‑distance bus or minivan from Mo Chit (Northern Bus Terminal) to Mae Sot (roughly 480-500 km, about 7-9 hours by road). From Mae Sot bus terminal the bridge is a short local ride or walk (around 1-2 km) toward the Moei River border area; use a tuk‑tuk or local songthaew to reach the bridge and immigration checkpoints.

• Cross early in the morning on a weekday to avoid the heaviest pedestrian and commercial queues and to reduce exposure to daytime heat.
• Bring your passport and confirm visa requirements and the bridge's opening hours before you travel; this crossing at Mae Sot (Tak Province) can have extended truck traffic and formalities.
• Allow time to explore the markets and riverfront area on the Thai side outside peak crossing times, but keep an eye on official signage and staff directions at the immigration complex.