Which 1 is better Betong or Hatyai, lodging, food n places of attraction.

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Added by mod

Tips on Driving in


This post has been edited by stimix: May 30 2011, 08:35 AM

Betong is for party, party and more party!

Wah Betong so kheng wan ah...Still in my list for the past few years but evertime last minute decided to cancel..haizzz

quoted for future reference.

BTW, it's far from Hatyai & even from Alor setar..haha...Located on the Northern Perak border instead of Kedah..From Kedah you can take the Baling road & from Perak..use the Kuala kangsar Gerik road ...very farrr...That's one of the reason I keeps on canceling..My aim..Visist the famous PKM tunnel. & also visit comonist camps/ villages This post has been edited by stimix: Jan 5 2011, 03:13 PM

err....dunno why we reached the town in slightly over an hour from Pg.

Yeah from Penang to Baling-Pengkalan Hulu not so far..~ 100km nia...but those from the South normally use kuala kangtsar Gerik mah & that's farrrr...

My future trip to Betong still unsure to use K.Kangsar or Kulim way..

my family plan to go betong, thailand....

is there anything to do over there?

Mmmm, nothing much in Betong if you plan to go with family.

Eat, drink, sleep and little shopping to offer except if you plan to go to the

2 Buddhist temples there, one right in the middle of town and one 7 kilometers away.

hey guys.. interested to go betong since i'm stayin in kulim..
is it possible for me to drive till border n park my car there and then walk into betong? heard that betong is small talk, so everywhere should be walking distance rite?
or do i really need to drive my car into betong?

u can just park ur car there and get a txi to betong..u can use ur leg to walk whole Betong!!is not a big place and all is walking distance only...r u going there alone?

Although I haven't been to Betong, but from GPS maps, it's 6km away from the border..or sure you can't walk unless you are sportman

any idea how much the taxi fare cost from the border till town?

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Added on February 1, 2011, 4:48 pmoh.. it's not that far, but then it's not that near too..
if i were to drive into the town, do i need to buy the insurance coverage/etc?
btw. do u think it's safe if I were to ride my bike (ninja 250) there?

This post has been edited by shadow111: Feb 1 2011, 04:48 PM

Yes you can ride in..Not sure about bikr procedure bcos I drove in to Thailand. No problem driving there.

For car, buy insurabce, fill up the temp import form & good to go in liao

Bro, just have your car papers in order and drive into the hotel carpark and walk around town. Just before you leave, drive to the mini market and buy what every cheap stuff you like and drive home thru custom & immigration hassle free.

can we drive in without buying the insurance?

nope..
the moment u apply the custom form to drive in ur vehicle, they would ask for those..
its quite easy to purchase it anyway & its cheap..

I might be going to Betong this weekend..Wondering where is the l;ast stop to buy Thai's Car insurance? Pengkalan Hulu? Ayer Panas? Never been to this hulu park of Perak haha

Betong Chicken Festival!
For those who miss this event, hope to see you there next year!
(including me )

Just came back on one day trip from penang
I have split some of the older posts related to Hatyai & Songkla to this dedicated Betong Thread.

Might edit the 1st pg soon and share some of my Betong day trip photos if hv time.

BTW, On the procedure on driving in, Suprisingly It's abit diff from BKH.

1) If you bring in your photostate Reg card, you need to get it Certified 1st from any Police station. Well I did not and have to U-turn back to the nearest Polise station ~ 4km b4 border

2) You need not buy any Thai Insurance as our car can be driven up Betong and Piyamit communist tunnel area without insurance. Insurance only needed if wanna go Hatyai

3) 100% no need to change to Thai Bath - The whole of Betung embraced RM ..They carried even to the smallest amount

4) Please ensure you return the "Simplified Custom Form" - i.e temporary car import permit because I did not returned mine years ago at BKH and I got summon by Thai Custom!! Not cheap - RM210 wor or thb2100

bro, how's Betong compared to Hadyai & Dannok?
myself never been there, but curious why are those big bikers likes to go there..

u-turn 8km (to & fro) to certify regn. card ~ hhee, u've wasted few RM's of petrol there my friend

once before i didn't return the custom form as well, end up paying RM130 (RM10 per day x 13 days)
so, RM210 is for 21 days right?

nice and fun sweeper corners after Gerik which isn't available on any other roads in M'sia

Betong - Super quiet. Roads so free and motorbikes more than cars. Size bigger abit than Danok but much smaller than Hatyai..eh..probably just 3/4 the size of Krabi or even Trang. Not much things to do at the Town actually except the big post box, the only road tunnel in Thailand, the temple on top of the tunnel & the clock tower.

Ppl go there for the Communist tunnel & nearby hot spring only.

Oh my RM210 fine is the max liao..Yeah RM10/day and I hv not ben driving in since 2008 Actually it's thb2000 (typo earlier) but dunno why they converted it so horrible to RM210 ..Lesson learnt...More exp than the fine I got in Singapore border

This post has been edited by stimix: May 30 2011, 08:06 AM

Abit on my road trip Yesterday:

The imposing nice designed immigration complex (M'sian complex abit too modern and not traditional style. As well as BKH, Everyone including those in the cars have to go down & que up to get their white card, having passport stamped & thereafter walk to the custom side to get the temporary car import permit ..Still no drive-thru like M'sian side



First glimpse of the almost deserted town..Pretty small although having few big high rise hotels:


The main Clock tower.. Arriving at the centre of the town


The famous Post Box - Well there is anothe replica which is bigger than this at the new Post office on the way to Piyamit communist tunnel



The Temple & the only road tunnel in Thailand (I think kua )


Piyamit Tunnel entrance gate:


Piyamit tunnel entrance mouth


Inside the tunnel


BTW, The tunnel is just located opposite the mountain/hill separating Kedah from Thailand. I was told by the e-communist guide that they crossedd over from the other side of Malaysia to Piyamit and built a camp there.

wah...gooding pictures but no puying?
You stayed in Grand Mandarin?
Any gooding food places to recommend?

can we still make border pass there? no need to use passport?

Are you a resident of the states along the Thai border?

according to my IC...yes

current address?

Negeri sembilan...

like that cannot la...err...IC & current passport says wat address?

kedah lorr hehehehe

If address on IC and passport then Sawadee kap here we come!

Passport for wife to keep. Border pass for fishing trip!

This post has been edited by DarkNite: May 30 2011, 05:46 PM

No-lah. i stayed at Royal Penang haha. Just made a day trip there from Penang island. Started !9:15am and reaching border ~11am. My lunch was a clean roadside stall..Tomyum beehoon & nothing to shout about. so-so nia . price..Similar to KL & penang i.e RM4/bowl.


BTW, what is puying?

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Added on May 30, 2011, 7:53 pmOh the lingua franca in this town is Cantonese. The !4 km road from the border to the town ctr is 2 lanes nicely tarred road. On M'sian side is the narrow 1 lane trunk road haha

This post has been edited by stimix: May 30 2011, 07:53 PM

ahhaa.. bikers replying but, routes to phuket is much more fun right

aiseeyy bro, why u always ask for puying's photo? katoey photo auw mai

huh?! seriously bro, u really don't know what's puying?

For fishing meh? I thought the purpose going there was to buy shoes and shopping for pots and pans.

No thanks!

<<< This is KATOEY.
Nong Tum is perhaps the most internationally recognised Kathoey for her portrayal in the film Beautiful Boxer.

<<< This is puying

Sometimes very confusing till you check deeper!

This post has been edited by DarkNite: May 31 2011, 10:28 AM

Katoey me know but puying abit new to me..haha..from wiki, phuying is another meaning for Katoey meaning both above also same-lah..probably Katoey - 1/2 tranformed and puying 100% transformed liao like Nong Poy?

Wa..lau..eh me very confuse liao.
All the time I think phuying in thai meaning girl or woman!
And phuying naruk is pretty girl!
phuying = woman,
phuchai = man

KooNKHaR - H E L P !

stimix ni buat orang confuse je..

Woman -> Poo Ying
Man -> Poo Chai
Trans. -> Katoey (nong poy, nong toom, etc.)

Narak -> Cute / Adorable
Suwai -> Beautiful / Pretty
Lohr -> Handsome

ok mai krab?

Haha..Me really noob when comes to Thai.

Only few words...esp the countimng system bcos having similar chinese sounding haha..

Also knew expensive = Pheng ..remembered well bcos the opposite of cantones for cheap haha

planning to go Betong early July..looks forward to visit the communist camp.

wud recommend Betong since ive been there more than 10 times.
food recommended there : Chicken rice, Seafood, Dim sum, and "Tong Shui"
but only if you know where to find. cos diff stalls and restaurants diff price and taste.
its a far journey but worth it cos cheap.
Even their hotel there RM50 only per night and not those ciplak wan. at least 3 stars and above.
Have fun there!

No longer cheap liao lah..A bowl of beehoon soup & Tomyum beehoon I ate at the backk row of the Post Box already cost me RM4/bowl days ago..KL price hor

Bro, recommend la the specific place /outlet or shop name / GPS location!

And which hotel RM50 per night?

Day trip can liao-lah very small town..nothing much to do even at nite

Sure boh?
This post has been edited by DarkNite: Jun 2 2011, 08:35 PM

So small wor..can walk or drive all the streets in the town within 1 hr haha

bro, for driving over to betong. wat if my car registration card is not under my name? the car is a 2nd hand car.the car regiatration card is still the 1st owner name. can i still drive over?

For car not under your name, you need a Authorisation letter frrom the owner. no choice.

thanks bro, I will call my friend to drive...wakakakka....

sup all .. look like this topic died d lol
neways gonna go up there on 11th for 3D2N
been there few times for the 'food' hehhee good drive up as well

Can masuk like a boss or need to renew passport?

have to renew.. passport must have 6 months validity..

I tried. wth <5 mth to expiry - No problem passing thru ..Yours too close not sure but you can try. If kenot, just turn back & drop by at Prai/ nearby Imigration for renewal haha

How long is the duration if drive fro Ipoh to Betong, i din realise Mod hv separate out this thread

can go the commie tunnel and chat with the ex-commie people, and listen their life experience, interesting!!

and b4 the commie entrance, the chinese restaurant also gooding with their
mountain grown vege, chicken and the waterfall fed tilapia very fresh one,
kampong style home cooking

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Added on August 14, 2012, 4:53 pm2 hours if dont drive like mad

This post has been edited by mirage2000: Aug 14 2012, 04:53 PM

May i know use how to go there if by driving? Google map show me a super long way.

IPOH - kuala kangsar - gerik - pengkalan hulu - BETONG

Another faster way> go further using PLUS after Kuala Kangsar to Juru Toll. Turn in to Kulim at Butterworth interchange and use the Kulim Butterworth highway to Kulim > Pengkalan Hulu > Betong// musch faster.. Last time from Penang Island direct to Betong only 1.5hr

Thanks, will try to go on end of the month

Guys, i need advice from all the fellow travelers here to help me out as i have googled my self thru the inet, i can't seems to find any route directly from penang to betong/ thailand.

As what i found out from friends, i need to travel from penang to baling and then change from baling then to pengkalan hulu. But when i tried to find for routes from Penang or Butterworth to baling, there is no such route.

I just need to double confirm with the experience travelers here that if there is such routes, as i need to confirm it before i go to penang, and i don't want to end up with no bus or transport over there.

Please give me the best advice. Thank you.

You mean you are taking public transport? and need to change bus/taxi at Baling? If by bus no idea.. But if you drive, It's just a straight forward route- Butterworth Kulim Highway> Baling>Pengkalan Hulu and Betong border haha

Jus a few question ned all dai kor help,
1) So drive in Betong still ned the car insurance rite? Ned to get to enter custom or any suggest way i could looking for?
2) If the car reg card not under driver's name but is driver's son or daughter, still ned authorisation letter? If ned got sample of format?
Thx in advance !

1) Up till Betong Town & the Communist tunnel. - No need insurance. Further than that you need.

2) You still need authorisation letter to drive in the car. Just a simple one line will do:

For eg..

I hereby authorise so & so to drive my car . can liao lor

Icic... Thx alot...!

Ya , I wanted to travel by bus. .any idea, drive I know the way..

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Added on September 11, 2012, 8:18 pmAnyone? Any idea?

This post has been edited by wern-yuan: Sep 11 2012, 08:18 PM

i couldnt recall correctly which, but its either parit buntar or nibong tebal bus station has bus to pengkalan hulu. most buses are from KL - pengkalan hulu.

Hi, anyone driving to Betong anytime soon for a 2 days getaway?
Would like to join in & share expences....+60102803076 ((Kuala Lumpur)

This post has been edited by Kritsakorn: Nov 16 2012, 07:18 PM

and u need polis chop also, if u forgot, go to polis balai befor the kastam, FOC
and the female polis quite cun !

Hi, anyone driving to Betong anytime soon for a getaway?
Would like to join in & share expenses. pm me (KL)

up.. anyone been to betong lately?

Planning to this month.

BTW.... You from ex chevy group?

yes. Who is this

I still remember the last chevy convoy to PD. Were you there?

Cant remember PD. I remember we went to melaka few times, kuantan & hatyai.

Oh. That I didn't join.
I still remember sha116, sharizan and few

i've been to Betong in the 1990s for a daytrip.

Been there once and I don't see the worth to go again. Some more the journey is quite long.

Just exit from PLUS highway to go to Kulim and all the way to the border.

Do they still use MYR there?

Been there recently...the hotel I was at still accepts MYR though the rate more favorable to them at the moment. SIM card shops and restaurants also accepts MYR. Most importantly, clubs also accepts MYR for drinks and tips for ladies

no go awanano?

I just returned. Travelled this early morning.
Spent around 9 hrs.

Yes... All shops there accepted MYR. Even... 7 eleven.

Even drove up the 800m elevation, winter flower garden. Can feel the cool breeze blowing.

I went to Betong few months ago.
Tbh I dont feel like I was in Thailand; more like a Chinese village in Malaysia lol because almost everyone can speak Mandarin there and the food is so similar to Malaysian Chinese food

This post has been edited by MiLKTea: Dec 19 2018, 04:19 PM

Friends,

Any grab car available in pengkalan hulu to betong?
Anyone know or have taken grab there?

up. thinking of going to betong next. hatyai is too crowded haha

As Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat districts are not allow to roaming, i cant use QR Thai Promptpay and not even Touch and Go using WIFI ... has anyone used QR pay in betong before? after but thai local SIM can only can use issit?

i just went there last saturday come back on sunday , my review is unless u like those nature waterfall stuff you will be bored to death .. theres not much of shopping for you to look , only few pubs or clubs . no shopping malls and even night market are very kesian with few stalls only . But theres this kesong warehouse where u can sapu thai snacks and noodle if you want . But clearing custom and immigration very siok la ...damn fast LOL

Hi All,
I'm planning to drive to Betong with my father's car.
May I know is there any requirements at the immigration to enter Betong?
Thanks!

anyone has any idea?

just bring original garan that is your name . If its not your car then u need letter of authorize can easily google how to drive to betong and etc on youtube or even some other blogs. insurance u buy before exiting malaysia border there are few kiosk that sells .


https://erisgoesto.com/2017/10/22/travel-gu...ion-checkpoint/

google takes u 5secs

This post has been edited by thaifans: Nov 30 2023, 10:00 AM

Poster above already clarified the process but do remember to stop at the immigration post. When I first drove through Betong I just drove right pass the checkpoint and no one stopped us either which made us wonder of the actual post was further in. Only after driving a few hundred meters in we decided to turn back to register our vehicle

Security here seems to be rather lax but there was a military checkpoint later on who really checked our vehicle grant and permit etc. so make sure this is done before you go in. Kena arrest with military sure gg.

Thanks.
I read from google that someone mentioned that need to go to police station to stamp the letter first.
Is that necessary?
If yes, can I stamp it earlier in KL to save my traveling time?

This post has been edited by kuai_chai: Dec 5 2023, 08:06 AM

Police stamp? Whatever for? If you are going on a holiday trip I don't think you need any. Company vehicle you will need authorization letter from the company as far as I know.

From this:
https://erisgoesto.com/2017/10/22/travel-gu...ion-checkpoint/

Strange, never encountered such an incident when we went through. Both my letter and vehicle grant were original, not copies. Perhaps this was the difference?

If it is going to save you some time, then drop by the station to get this done rather than wasting your time at customs later.

Once you are in, do drop by Merlin hotel for a great time