🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026
Pak Nam Ranong sits about 8–10 km from the town centre — a short drive or songthaew ride away. When you arrive you get a real working-port feel: fishing boats lined up, brackish water, the smell of the sea, and Myanmar's Kawthaung so close across the water you could almost wave to it. Most people come for two things — walking the fish pier to see the catch, and taking a boat across for a day trip into Myanmar.
Pak Nam Fish Pier — watch the fishing boats come in
Ranong's fish pier is run by the Fish Marketing Organization, and it's where both Thai and Myanmar boats land their catch for auction and wholesale. It's busiest from before dawn through mid-morning — boats roll in, and workers haul fish, prawns, crab and squid in a constant rush. If you like seeing a genuine port at work, you'll get scenes here that are hard to find in a big city.
- Fresh seafood — prawns, squid, mackerel and king mackerel at wholesale prices cheaper than in town, worth it if you have a cooler to keep it cold.
- Processed goods — shrimp paste, sweet dried fish, salted fish and dried shrimp, easy to grab as gifts from the stalls around the pier.
- Fish pier walking street — on some evenings there's a market for food and shopping, running from near the bank around to the fish roundabout by Pak Nam municipality, with food, clothes and local goods.
When to go
To see the boats coming in and plenty of seafood, get here early, around 6–9 a.m. Come late and the boats have already offloaded, leaving only the processed-goods stalls. The walking street is an evening thing — check the day first, because it doesn't run every day.
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Crossing to Kawthaung — what you need to know
Kawthaung is Myanmar's southernmost border town, sitting directly across the water from Pak Nam Ranong. The permanent border checkpoint lets both Thais and foreigners cross, with the immigration point at the fish pier jetty in Pak Nam subdistrict. You cross the Kraburi River by longtail or speedboat, taking roughly 20–40 minutes depending on the boat and the current.
- Checkpoint hours — the permanent Ranong–Kawthaung crossing is open roughly 06:30–24:00, but to make it back in time, leaving early in the morning is best.
- Papers — Thai nationals can use their ID card to get a temporary border pass, good for stays in the Kawthaung area of up to 7 days at a time. To travel further inside Myanmar you'll need a passport.
- Rough costs — the border pass runs about 30 THB, photocopies a few THB, the Myanmar-side entry fee about 30 THB, and a chartered boat around 1,000 THB per boat — split between you, that's roughly 150–200 THB each.
Straight talk
The border situation and the Myanmar-side fees change often — at times the checkpoint closes or adds conditions. Before you go, ask the boatmen or check the latest news, and don't treat the prices written here as fixed. Leave yourself some slack, and carry extra cash.
What to see in Kawthaung
Once you've crossed, most people charter a car or join a small local tour that loops the main spots in half a day. It's a quick look at Myanmar culture, plus a market walk to take some unusual finds home.
Southernmost Point of Myanmar (Bayinnaung Point)
A statue of King Bayinnaung points his sword toward Thailand — a photo spot beside the sign marking the tip of Myanmar, with open sea views.
Pyidaw Aye Pagoda
A hilltop pagoda overlooking the town and sea, with tiled floors cool underfoot — where Kawthaung locals come to pray and make merit.
Kawthaung Market
Myanmar food, spices, cigarettes, woven cloth, jade, gems and odd little curios — you can haggle, and almost every shop takes Thai baht.
- Popular buys — Myanmar cosmetics (thanaka), cigarettes, sarongs, jade and gemstone jewellery — cheap, but you need to know your goods.
- Food — Myanmar roti, milk tea, grilled seafood by the jetty — a chance to try flavours different from the Thai side.
- Money — just bring Thai baht in cash; Kawthaung locals take it everywhere, so there's no need to change to kyat.
A 2-day plan around Pak Nam and Kawthaung
Fish pier + Pak Nam Ranong
Boat across to Kawthaung, Myanmar
How to get to Pak Nam Ranong
- Own car / rental — from Ranong town it's about a 15–20 minute drive to Pak Nam, with parking near the fish pier and jetty.
- Songthaew / motorbike taxi — these run from town out to Pak Nam; agree the fare before you get on.
- Coming from out of province — take a coach or fly into Ranong, then catch a ride out to Pak Nam from there.
Leave time and pack right
If you're set on crossing to Myanmar, leave time for the paperwork and waiting on the boat. Bring cash in Thai baht, a copy of your ID card, and an umbrella or sun hat — the sun is strong along this coast and rain comes easily depending on the season.
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