Amoi on Pedals: Sufferfest Mae Hong Son (24 Nov to 11 Dec 2025) : Day 11 - Day Trip to Van Pak Len, Laos (Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone)

On our boat from Chiang Saen to Van Pak Len @ THB 100 per passenger!

Chok for breakfast near the bus terminal at 7.10 am @ https://maps.app.goo.gl/W8BGD2pkoaYhrFVq8

Arriving at the terminal at 7.30 am.

We thought there was a 7.40 am schedule but alas the earliest bus was at 8.40 am!

Bus schedule for Chiang Rai to Chiang Saen

Our bikes in bike covers

Ample time for photos

Streetview of the bus terminal

Tuk Tuks waiting to take you anywhere!

Our bus arrives at the station at 8.10 am

We were immediately allowed onboard.

Luckily, the backrow seats has sufficient leg space for our bikes

4 bikes and another passenger's basket occupies the floor space

There's a small trunk behind the bus for small luggage

A ladder to hoist up more luggage and perhaps a full sized bike?

Additional pull down seat for the bus conductor

But since our bus conductor is this pretty lady and there was ample space, she sat on the passenger seat instead.

Arriving at Chiang Saen at 11 am.

Bus fare was THB50 for a 60 km journey that spanned more than 2 hours!

The bus stop is near Sin Sombun Market @ https://maps.app.goo.gl/6fJuD1aC1swpqi978

Before proceeding to Sop Ruak and Van Pak Len, we dropped our bags at our stay for the night, A Budget Hotel

On our way to Sop Ruak. Note the immigration office by the traffic lights in blue

This immigration office in Chiang Saen is for local Thai and Laos. It is not for tourists from other nationalities as it does not come with a custom office

A small immigration office.

Beautiful river promenade along the Mekong River @ https://maps.app.goo.gl/jEpetnWjUkqvjKa9A

The road to Sop Ruak follows the river. Across the Mekong is Laos

Northern city walls @ https://maps.app.goo.gl/ZszLGgLRCsbvR94K9

These walls are part of the ancient city walls built in 1329 by King Saen Phu when he moved the capital of Lanna to Chiang Saen which he named after himself. Over the centuries, Chiang Saen passed back and forth between Siam and Burma. Sadly, in 1804, King Rama I destroyed the entire city, sparing only the religious sites to avoid further Burmese invasion. The Chiang saen we see today was only rebuilt in 1881 by the orders of King Rama V

Huay Kiang

We can see Van Pak Len from across the river

1 km to Golden Triangle

We arrived at Chiang Saen Immigration in Sop Ruak at 12 pm @ https://maps.app.goo.gl/SF4KLQF6voMak7pn6

After getting our passports stamped, we proceeded down the ramp to the boat services by the river.

Initially, we were shocked when the immigration officer told us that we can go to Laos but cannot reenter Thailand again. However, after much clarification, we realized the rule does not apply to genuine tourists like us who are not on a visa run! All we needed to do was to show the immigration officers our return air tickets.

As at November 2025, Thailand tightened its visa exemption rules to avoid abuse. In simple words, you're not allowed to exit and re-enter Thailand briefly (typically a day) to obtain a new visa free stamp in order to extend your stay without securing a long term visa. Little did we know, our passports were flying red flags as we had done exactly that when we were doing "The Amazing Race 2.1"

There are many boats waiting at the jetty @ 12.20 pm. There are no specific sailing time. The boat will usually sail if there's 2-3 passengers

Leaving Thailand

Sailing on the Mekong River which acts as a border separating 2 countries

Wat Sophe @ https://maps.app.goo.gl/3PPQCwfAMVvUPPVw5

Serene at Chiang Rai Hotel, permanently closed @ https://maps.app.goo.gl/n81pcFNdRmK1ywcCA

Lao's Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone viewed from the Mekong River

Golden Triangle International Border Immigration Checkpoint at Van Pak Len at 12.30 pm @ https://maps.app.goo.gl/iWNv1K2MmdzDH2n88

After paying THB100 per person as boat fee for a 5 minutes ride and THB100 per person as "passport stamping fee", we were free to explore Van Pak Len's Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone

...but first, let's explore the Chinese toilets at the CIQ !

Not exactly revving to go as we needed to get our bearings and directions right

Remember they drive on the right side of the road @ 12.50 pm

Lunch stop @ https://maps.app.goo.gl/1hw7u5uAyu4rsJ2P9

There's a long row of food stalls with a river view

As the place looked desolate, we decided to order the simplest and cheapest meal on the menu. It took them more than 20 minutes to cook these noodles!

Cutleries

Wide roads with very few cars

They are still building the river promenade

Kings Romans Casino was shut down and appeared abandoned when we were there.

The taller building behind is Kapok Star Hotel and Renaissance Casino. It is still in business.

In 2007, Dok Ngiew Kham Co Ltd, owned by Chinese national Zhao Wei entered into a 75 year lease with Laos government for a 827 hectares of land by the Mekong River infamously known as the Golden Triangle. Laos Government holds 20% of the shares whilst Dok Ngiew Kham Co Ltd holds 80% of the shares.

In 2010, the lease was extended to 99 years with the original area expanded to 10,000 hectares; 3,000 hectares of which were granted duty free zone and is now turned into a Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone (GTSEZ).

Kings Romans Group, co-owned by Zhao Wei is the developer arm for GTSEZ

Polaris sports cars parked at Kings Romans Casino

Hummers parked at Kings Romans Casino

Limousines

Guan Gong, Chinese God of War and Wealth

High rise buildings still under construction right opposite Kings Romans Casino

Blue Lagoon, a swimming pool

Blue Lagoon set against a backdrop of Diamond Plaza and Kings Romans Bridge

There's a spa opposite the Blue Lagoon

Security guard across the road from Kapok Star Hotel.

Most of the middle management staffs are Chinese nationals whilst the lower management staffs are Myanmarese who can speak both Mandarin and English.

Little Venice

The canal side and buildings are said to have drew inspirations from Venice and Macau

Standing on Kings Roman Bridge with Diamond Plaza as a backdrop.

We thought we were in Disneyland especially with the towers and turrets!

Naga Quay on the left without any boats!

A car parked at Kapok Star Hotel without a registration plate. In fact most cars in the GTSEZ does not sport a registration plate. They uses an internal numbering system pasted on the windscreen instead

Part of the hotel lobby. The hotel has a casino as well.

As gambling is illegal in China, GTSEZ was developed as a playground for Chinese nationals as Boten, the nearest border crossing to China is only 280 km away!

Considerably cheap rates for a 5 star hotel. Room rates comes with complimentary breakfast

We would have booked to stay here had we known they are also contactable via Whatsapp. Unfortunately, nothing was listed on Google Maps

Abai, the lady manager answered all our enquiries with a translation app on her phone

Complimentary drinks from the hotel

Chinatown

The entire GTSEZ is built with Chinese in mind. Note the signboards are in dual language with Chinese taking a larger font to Laos

Surprisingly, they also have KFC!

...and the prices are stated in Chinese Yuan Renminbi

Chinese statues

Hair salon, spas, eateries, etc...the entire GTSEZ appeared glitzy and spelt money!

Close up, the hardware are showing some wear and tear

Greek Yoghurt shop and many others have gone out of business. They looked like they have been turned into private long term stays

Note the cars here do not sport a registration plate but tracked through an internal numbering system pasted on the windscreens

This hotel here is let out for long term stays @ https://maps.app.goo.gl/kRyi8TabhLkghH8i6

Away from the commercial areas, we came across private dwellings

Another private dwelling

A quiet park near the housing area

Leaving Chinatown @ https://maps.app.goo.gl/KnhTog4EZ5onM5KB9

Another massage parlour

High rise

Roman architecture

Entertainment outlets

Entrance to the night market

Work in progress or possibly stopped work

Power supply company @ https://maps.app.goo.gl/YVeJAkvmMy96GPcy9

Entering the Myanmar village

SV Hotel was listed on Google Maps and Facebook before our trip commenced. However, they were not responsive to FB Messaging. When we arrived, we discovered the hotel has since been converted to long term stay. At at April 2026, the listing has been removed from Google Maps

These Chinese looking folks drove in when we were there

Area surrounding SV Hotel.

There were a few security guards at the entrance to this hotel. They were friendly enough to acknowledge their Myanmar nationality and allowed us to take photos of the area

Photo credit : Google Maps.

There is a security guard post to this Myanmar village. The security guards did not stop us when we enter the vicinity

Photo credit : Google Maps

A security tower 20 m away from the entrance to the village

Leaving the Myanmar village in Laos' GTSEZ

As we were leaving the Myanmar village this Chinese man stopped us at the guard post to query us. We told him we were just looking around and were heading back to the CIQ. He then asked us to wait as he wished to escort us back. We told him we knew the way and ignored him. He followed us on his e-scooter anyway but left us alone midway

Back at GTSEZ CIQ by 3.30 pm. 3 hours was all it takes to visit the place

Back on the boat by 3.50 pm.

Laos left us with a bad taste in the mouth! To exit the country, 4 of us were attended to by 4 different immigration officers concurrently. Claudine's passport was stamped and returned to her immediately but Zoe and Mindy were asked to pay THB100 per person as stamping fee.

As VT's passport was already stamped and about to be handed back to him, the officer overheard from across the counter the request for stamping fee. Instead of handing over the passport, he retracted his hand and asked for payment instead. This fee was paid.

Meanwhile, as Zoe did not have loose change, she asked the officer if he has change for a THB1000 note which he did! Mindy who was not as easily persuaded to part with her money kept on asking the officer to justify the fee. In the end, the officer gave up and returned her passport, dropping the request altogether. As payment request was dropped, Zoe was then returned the equivalent of THB1000 but in 10 pieces of THB100 notes!

We were actually very relieved to be leaving Van Pak Len

Boats moored by the river

Approaching the Golden Triangle

The confluence of 2 rivers ie the Ruak River and the Mekong River is where 3 countries meet; Thailand, Laos and Myanmar

The sandbank in the middle of the photo belongs to Myanmar. Ruak River is where the boats are moored by the side whilst the Mekong River is on the other side

0 km to the Golden Triangle

This sign helps you to visualize where each country is situated

Wat Sophe

We wonder when "Toss a coin to make merit" changed to "Balance a coin"?

Please toss a coin to make merit

Wat Prathat Phukao is located on a hillock. As such we decided not to visit

At 5.35 pm, the riverside in Chiang Sean is bustling with hawkers and diners

We decided not to fall for the tourist trap and dined by the hawker stalls near the market instead. This Moo Palo was the best we have eaten on the entire trip. The stall is located in front of Siam Commercial Bank @ https://maps.app.goo.gl/z9C6uA9UNgikx6EP8