This border town between Myanmar and Thailand has local markets selling Chinese electronics and Thai goods. A hub for trade and cultural exchange in the Golden Triangle.
Tachileik, a border town in eastern Myanmar's Shan State, sits across the Ruak River from Thailand. The town's landmarks include a golden replica of Yangon's Shwedagon Pagoda on a hilltop, the Dhammayon Temple with its detailed Buddhist murals, and a large central market where merchants sell goods imported from China.
Crossing the Border
You can enter Tachileik from Mae Sai, Thailand by walking across the Friendship Bridge over the Ruak River. The border opens daily from 6:30 AM to 6:30 PM, and you'll need to pay US$10 or 500 Thai Baht for a day entry permit. The immigration office will keep your passport during your stay. Several domestic airlines connect Tachileik with other Myanmar cities including Yangon, Mandalay, and Kengtung.
Getting Around Tachileik
You can walk to most places within Tachileik's central area, but trishaws and motorcycle taxis run throughout the town for longer distances. Car taxis operate on the main roads, and most drivers understand basic English and Thai.
Religious Architecture
The golden Shwedagon Pagoda replica rises 30 meters above the highest point in town, with four smaller stupas at its corners and two prayer halls at its base. The Dhammayon Temple, also known as the Elephant Temple, contains 28 wall paintings depicting Buddha's life story in traditional Shan artistic style. At Wat More Nyin, three gold-leaf covered pagodas surround a main assembly hall, where a 5-meter-tall Shan-style Buddha statue sits in meditation pose.
Shopping at the Central Market
The central market spans four city blocks, with more than 200 stalls selling fresh produce, clothing, electronics, and Chinese-manufactured goods. Thai visitors arrive between 7 AM and 9 AM to buy items at lower prices than in Thailand. Local vendors prepare thanaka paste using traditional grinding stones, and sell herbal medicines alongside modern pharmaceutical products.
People and Daily Life
Shan people make up about 60% of Tachileik's population, alongside Akha hill tribe members and Chinese residents. Local women apply thanaka, a pale yellow cosmetic paste made from tree bark, as a natural sunscreen. Start your day at the morning markets or try local specialties like Shan-style rice noodles with pork (khao soi) at the small restaurants along the main street.
Seasonal Considerations
Rain falls heavily between May and October, with average monthly rainfall of 300mm, sometimes causing street flooding in the town center. The Ruak River's water level can rise by up to two meters during these months, though the border crossing remains open. The dry season runs from November to April, with temperatures averaging 25-30°C (77-86°F).
