River systems of Thailand divides into two major branches, the " Tiền Giang" (Front River) and "Hậu Giang" (Back River). These in turn enter the South China Sea through nine estuaries. The following are the principal tributaries of Mekong River which flow through Thailand (tributaries entirely outside the Thai border not shown). The Mekong drains a considerable portion of northeast Thailand. In terms of Thai territory drained, it is second only to the Chao Phraya system. The Salawin River rises in Tibet (Tibetan: རྒྱལ་མོ་རྔུལ་ཆུ།) after which it flows through Yunnan, where it is known as the "Nujiang" River (), although either name can be
Sai River (Thailand) flowing through the Tachileik/Mae Sai urban area, where there is a sign marking the northern most point of Thailand just east of the border-crossing bridge —at the meeting point of Thailand Route 1 and National Highway 4 (Burma)— over the river. Finally it flows northeastwards before joining the right side of the Ruak River, a tributary of the Mekong, less than southeast of Tachileik Airport. Sai River (Thailand) Sai River (; ; ), formerly known as the River of Lawa (; ), is a river that forms the natural border between Thailand and Myanmar at Tachileik and Mae Sai Districts.