Mae Sot district

Mae Sot
แม่สอด မဲဆောက်
District location in Tak province
District location in Tak province
Coordinates: 16°42′47″N 98°34′29″E / 16.71306°N 98.57472°E / 16.71306; 98.57472
CountryThailand
ProvinceTak
Area
 • Total1,986.1 km2 (766.8 sq mi)
Population
 (2008)
 • Total120,569
 • Density60.71/km2 (157.2/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+7 (ICT)
Postal code63110
Geocode6306

Mae Sot (Thai: แม่สอด, pronounced [mɛ̂ː sɔ̀ːt]; Burmese: မဲဆောက်, [mɛ́ sʰaʊʔ]; Shan: မႄႈသၢႆ, sʰaaj]; S'gaw Karen: မဲၢ်စီး) is a district in western Thailand that shares a border with Myanmar to the west, and has been described "an almost entirely Burmese town".[1] It is notable as a trade hub and for its substantial population of Burmese migrants and refugees.[2] The town is part of Tak province and is the main gateway between Thailand and Myanmar, and is located on the East-West Economic Corridor.[3] As a result, it has gained notoriety for its trade in gems and teak, as well as black market services such as human trafficking and drugs. Neighbouring districts are (from north clockwise): Mae Ramat, Mueang Tak, and Phop Phra. The Moei River serves as a natural border between Mae Sot and the Burmese town of Myawaddy.

Mae Sot lies 492 km north-northwest of Bangkok.

  1. ^ Head, Jonathan (2024-04-17). "Myanmar refugees take shelter in Thailand's Mae Sot". BBC. Retrieved 2024-05-21.
  2. ^ Head, Jonathan (2024-04-17). "Myanmar refugees take shelter in Thailand's Mae Sot". BBC. Retrieved 2024-05-21.
  3. ^ "Myanmar clashes stall completion of Southeast Asia economic corridor". Nikkei Asia. 18 May 2023. Retrieved 21 May 2024.