Why should you go there and how do you do it right?

Come for the history, not the drama. This steel truss bridge, located about nine kilometers south of Pai on Highway 1095, dates back to World War II, when Japanese engineers built a supply route to Myanmar and India here. The original wooden structure didn't survive the floods of the 1970s, and visitors consistently report to locals that the iron replacement was built from the Nawarat Bridge in Chiang Mai. Many arrive expecting a more imposing sight and are somewhat disappointed. Go with the understanding that it's a simple bridge, and you'll appreciate it all the more.

Here, you simply cross the old bridge next to the modern road bridge, admire the Pai River, take a few photos, and continue on your way. It takes ten, maybe twenty minutes. Stalls sell drinks, souvenirs, and fruit, and local photographers offer their services for about 40 baht per photo. It's worth haggling at the fruit stall, as the prices are negotiable. The dogs that live there are simply part of the scene.