Planning on staying in Southeast Asia for more time following your Thailand vacation? If you’re planning a vacation to Thailand and considering traveling to countries near Thailand, this blog will be the ultimate resource for enriching your experience!
Do you frequently visit Thailand, like so many others? If you answered yes, you’ve probably traveled to some of Thailand’s most famous tourist attractions, the UNESCO World Heritage Site like the ancient city of Ayutthaya, the stunning Andaman Sea in the south, and the vibrant capital city of Bangkok. If you’ve seen everything there is to see in Thailand, it’s time to take your vacation to the next level and visit some of Thailand’s neighboring countries.
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Get To Know The ASEAN Countries Near Thailand
While we wait for your multi-entry Thai visa to be processed, perhaps you’d be interested in learning more about the ASEAN Union, which is an organization that unites ten nations in Southeast Asia. And then, we’ll introduce you to the neighboring countries where you can full-filled day trip!
Thailand, Myanmar, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Vietnam are the ten member countries of ASEAN, or the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, a regional organization to foster security and economic cooperation among them.
This blog, however, will focus on more basic topics, such as tourism and Thai vocabulary, to help you better plan your trip to Southeast Asia for fun or for working in Thailand. These Thai names of the various countries will serve as our jumping-off point.
Thailand Is Surrounded By Several Countries
The Kingdom of Thailand shares borders with Myanmar (Burma) to the west and northwest, the Andaman Sea to the southwest, Laos, and Cambodia to the east, the Gulf of Thailand, which is an entry of the South China Sea to the south, and Malaysia to the south. Additionally, Thailand has maritime boundaries with India, Indonesia, and Vietnam.
ประเทศเมียนมาร์ (Bprà Têet Mian Maa) – Myanmar
As we mentioned, the country borders Thailand to the west, and the northwest is Myanmar or Burma. Therefore, if you find yourself in Chiang Mai province, take the time to explore the neighboring area, including Chiang Rai, Mae Hong Son, and Tak, all of which are within easy driving distance of the Myanmar border.
For example, within ten minutes, you may cross the Thailand–Myanmar friendship bridge in the city of Tak (ตาก, dtàak) by driving or walking and arrive at the Myanmar immigration checkpoint in the border town of Myawady.
Here are some ideal destinations in Myanmar to visit for the day.
The Thai-Burmese Border Gate In Chiang Rai Province
- ตลาดท่าขี้เหล็ก (dtlàat tâa kîi lèk) – Tachileik Market
- เจดีย์ชเวดากอง ท่าขี้เหล็ก (jee dii chá wee dàak ong tâa kîi lèk) – Tachileik Shwedagon Pagoda
- วัดพระธาตุดอยเวา (wát prá taa dtù dɔɔi wao) – Phra That Doi Wao Temple
The Thai-Burmese Border Gate In Mae Hong Son Province
The Thai-Burmese Border Gate In Tak Province
- วัดเจดีย์ทอง (wát jee dii tɔɔng) – The Golden Temple or Shwe Myint Wan
- วัดมอญ พระยืน (wát mɔɔn prá yʉʉn) – The Giant Standing Buddha
ประเทศลาว (Bprà Têet Laao) – Laos
The Chao Phraya and the Mekong rivers play a significant role in Thailand’s thriving agricultural sector and are thus extremely important to the country’s economy. If you travel to Thailand often enough, you’ll remember it is located in the country’s geographic center and serves as a boundary between Thailand and Laos. Thus, the Mekong River is the waterway that separates Thailand and Laos.
Vientiane, the capital of Laos, combines French colonial architecture with Buddhist temples like the golden, 16th-century Pha That Luang, a national emblem, and is accessible by a bridge across the Mekong River from Nong Kai province.
On the other hand, if you’re looking for something more exciting to do, you can travel to Pakse. Ubon Ratchathani province is a gateway to Pakse, Laos’ forested mountains, where more bold travelers can go trekking.
ประเทศกัมพูชา (Bprà Têet Gam Puu Chaa) – Cambodia
The largest and most well-known of Cambodia’s several ancient temples is Angkor Wat, which even appears on the flag. Consider how near Thailand is to Angkor Wat, Cambodia’s world-famous historical monument. You can cross the border in Sa Kaeo province to Krong Poi Pet and take a taxi to the ideal destination of Siem Reap. Ideally, you’d have two to three days for this trip.
ประเทศมาเลเซีย (Bprà Têet Maa Lee Sia) – Malaysia
Hat Yai is a major shopping destination in southern Thailand, surpassing the attractions of Phuket in terms of popularity. In addition, it’s a popular destination for tourists from neighboring countries like Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore. But, really, you know what? Minivans and trains take around 4 hours to go from Hat Yai, where the border is, to Penang, Malaysia.
Penang island is home to George Town, a World Heritage Site recognized by UNESCO. If you’re searching for a new vacation spot with sun, beach, and entertaining activities, go no further than Penang. The island’s rich historical attractions extend back to English colonial rule. So, if you enjoy visiting Phuket, why don’t you experience a similar kind but a different environment and language?
How Do You Say ‘Countries Near Thailand’ In Thai?
To say ‘countries near Thailand‘ in Thai, it’s ประเทศที่อยู่ใกล้ประเทศไทย (bprà têet tîi yûu glâi bprà têet tai) .
This is a long phrase, so let’s break it down!
The Thai word for ‘country’ is ประเทศ (bprà têet), ‘to be near’ is ที่อยู่ใกล้ (tîi yûu glâi), and ‘Thailand’ is ประเทศไทย (bprà têet tai). Put these together, and you’ll have the complete phrase!
Related Vocabulary About Countries Near Thailand
Let’s review the Thai language now! You may find it useful to brush up on Thai words for different countries. Once you have that sorted, why not try constructing the Thai phrases together? Now, let’s begin!
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What Countries Surround Thailand?
There are four neighboring countries near Thailand: Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia, and Malaysia. Laos borders Thailand to the north and east, Myanmar to the north and west, Cambodia to the southeast, and Malaysia to the south.
2. What Countries To Visit While In Thailand?
Neighboring countries such as Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia, and Malaysia are all great places to explore while visiting Thailand. Although not bordering Thailand, Vietnam is also a country that is close by and offers many exciting cultural and natural experiences! If you’re considering visiting, why not brush up on perfecting your Vietnamese accent before you go?
3. How Many Provinces Are There In Thailand?
Thailand is subdivided into a staggering 77 provinces, or จังหวัด (jang wàt), with many of them bordering neighboring countries. Thailand’s provinces are further categorized nto regions based on their geography and culture: Northern, Northeastern (Isan), Central, Eastern, and Southern Thailand. The capital city of Bangkok, is both a province and the largest urban area in the country.
Prepare For Your Trip With Ling!
Do you know that many people who reside in countries near Thailand also speak Thai? Therefore, having a solid grasp of Thai can help you get by in Thailand and its neighboring countries. If a trip to Thailand helped you choose other destinations in Southeast Asia, the next step following your trip should be to study the local tongue!
To learn other related Thai phrases for travel, use the Ling app! In addition to reading about the Thai language and culture tips, you can also listen to local speakers and pick up their accents to help you get used to speaking Thai in a natural setting. You can also practice anywhere and at your own pace, making sure that you always are prepared whenever you need to dish out some Thai!
