Betong, Thailand

Betong town

Betong (Thai: เบตง, Chinese: 勿洞) is a town (thesaban mueang) in southern Thailand, near the boundary to Malaysia. It is the capital of Betong district, the southernmost district of Yala Province. As of 2005, the town has a population of 24,688.

Betong is the southernmost town of Thailand.^[1] Across the Malaysia–Thailand border by the Keroh pass is the state of Perak. Betong is popular with tourists from nearby Malaysia.^[2]

Etymology

The name Betong is actually the Thai corruption of Betung, its original Malay name means 'bamboo'.

History

The town was created as a local administration unit on September 30, 1939, when the subdistrict municipality (thesaban tambon) was set up.^[3] The town was upgraded to thesaban mueang status on February 20, 2004.^[4]

Gallery

• 

  Thai border checkpoint at Betong

• 

  Entry and exit stamps from Betong checkpoint.

• 

  New Betong, Thailand checkpoint

References

1. ↑ The town over the border
2. ↑ Road trip: Kuala Lumpur to Betong
3. ↑ พระราชกฤษฎีกาจัดตั้งเทศบาลตำบลเบตง จังหวัดยะลา พุทธศักราช ๒๔๘๒ (PDF). Royal Gazette (in Thai) 56 (0 ก): 951–954. September 30, 1939. 
4. ↑ ประกาศกระทรวงมหาดไทย เรื่อง เปลี่ยนแปลงฐานะเทศบาลตำบลเป็นเทศบาลเมือง (PDF). Royal Gazette (in Thai) 122 (Special 20 ง): 9–10. February 20, 2004. 

Coordinates: 5°46′23″N 101°4′21″E / 5.77306°N 101.07250°E / 5.77306; 101.07250