Myanmar, the largest country in South East Asia, is one of the most interesting countries to explore in Asia. Land of golden pagodas, ancient kingdoms and capitals, temples and ruins, Myanmar, or Burma as it was once called, is a culturally rich country, one that remains large unexplored by tourists.
One of Myanmar’s most appealing perspectives is its people. Myanmese people are kind and willing to help. One lovely feature of Myanmese people is their hospitality and welcoming heart towards all guests. “MIN GA LA BA”, the lovely traditional greeting way of Myanmar can be used to greet anyone at anytime of the day during your visit.
It’s a beautiful country, with picturesque rivers and lush fertile plains, green paddy fields, warm people and a rich cultural heritage. Myanmar is opening up, slowly but surely, and even though the ‘tourist circuit’ is, for all practical purposes, still fairly restricted, the trip is worth the effort.
Yangon (Rangoon) is situated on a spit of a land surrounded on three sides by water. Named Yangon – ” end of strife” – by King Alaungpaya in 1775, it is the most charming and the most beautiful of all capital cities in South East Asia. It’s a mic…
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Steeped in history and very `Burmese’ in character is the city of Mandalay, whose very name conjures up romantic visions of Asian mystique, of long golden barges floating down the Ayeyarwady and evokes mental images of pagodas and royal princes and..
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Bagan, capital of the First Myanmar Empire and the promised “Buddha-field”, is known as the ancient city of four million pagodas and is a flat, dry and wide plain land of around 42 square km containing over 2000 edifices. This enchanting city is situ…
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Inle Lake, the second largest lake, a freshwater lake, located in the Nyaungshwe Township of Taunggyi District, Shan State, is an amazing watery world of floating markets and gardens, is the main attraction, something very special, a beautiful body o…
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Ngapali Beach, beautiful Bay of Bengal coast, situated about 7 kilometres away from the town of Thandwe, one of the ancient Rakhine towns in Myanmar, and is said to have been named after Napoli the city of Naples of Italy by a homesick Italian. It i…
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Ngwe Saung Beach, opened in March 2000, one of the loveliest and most pleasant, the newest beach destination and the longest beach in Myanmar, situated 48 km west of Pathein in the Ayeyarwaddy Division, about 190 km, about 6 hours drive, from Yangon,..
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Mrauk U, an elusive kingdom-turned-village, located on a small outcrop of the Rakhine Yoma on the eastern side of the Kaladan’s alluvial plain near the Bangladesh border, the capital of Mrauk U Kingdom, founded by The Rakhine King “Min Saw Mon” in 14…
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Naypyidaw, the administrative capital city of Myanmar which was officially moved to a green-field 302 km west of Nay Pyi Daw and approximately 391 km north of Yangon. Centrally located and being easily accessible from all parts of Myanmar, holding th…
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The Union of Myanmar has divided into seven States and seven Divisions and made up of 135 ethnic groups of which the main national races are Kachin, Kayah, Kayin, Chin, Bamar, Mon, Rakhine and Shan.
The main religions of the country are Buddhism (89.2%), Christianity (5.0%), Islam (3.8%), Hinduism (0.5%), Spiritualism (1.2%) and others (0.2%). Religious intolerance or discrimination on grounds of religion is nonexistent in Myanmar throughout its long history.
Handshaking is the normal form of greeting.
Full names are used, preceded by U (pronounced oo) in the case of an older or well-respected man’s name, Maung for younger men and Ko for adult males; a woman’s name is preceded by Daw.
Courtesy and respect for tradition and religion is expected; for instance, shoes and socks must be removed before entering any religious building and it is customary to remove shoes before entering a traditional home (in most modern residences this is no longer observed except in bedrooms).
People are usually in much less of a hurry, and are more likely to stop to help. This also means that you may have to wait longer to be served – signs of impatience, raised voices and aggression will not be taken well.
The official language is Myanmar (Burmese). There are over 100 dialects spoken in Myanmar. English is spoken in business circles.
Myanmar is a large country and temperatures can vary significantly. There are three distinct seasons in Myanmar. The annual average temperature ranges from 22° Celcius (72° Fahrenheit) to 27° Celcius (81° Fahrenheit) year-round.
The hottest period is between February and May, with little or no rain. Rainy season is generally from May to October, with dry, cooler weather from October to February.
Lightweight cottons and linens are required throughout most of the year. A light raincoat or umbrella is needed during the rainy season. Warmer clothes are advised for cooler seasons and some evenings.
Lightweight suits are recommended during the day; jackets are needed for top-level meetings. Most commercial business transactions will be conducted in English. Business cards in Burmese script can be useful. The best time to visit is October to February.
Myanmar is known as an agro-based country. Being rich in land resources and different networks of irrigation facilities, Myanmar grows not only perennial plants but also crops such as rice , pulses and beans, maize, sesame, fruits and vegetables and exports those products to international markets. Myanmar also welcomes investments in producing value-added agricultural products and processed foods. There is vast potential for investors in the Agricultural Sector.
Myanmar’s potential with regard to trade and investment is enormous. Besides, Myanmar is endeavoring dynamically for the development of its economy. Therefore, in the near future, Myanmar will be the biggest treasury land for the investors.
Gas, wood products, agricultural products and marine products.
Fabric, petroleum products, fertiliser, plastics and machinery.
Thailand, China (PR), India, Singapore and Japan.
Only around 1% of the population has access to a fixed telephone line, and internet and mobile penetration are equally low. These figures are, however, growing with every passing month and infrastructure is gradually improving.
Only larger cities can be dialed direct from within Myanmar; smaller towns still use manual switchboards and callers need to ask the operator to connect them to a specific town operator. International calls are difficult to place outside hotels.
International roaming is not generally available in Myanmar, so your SIM card is unlikely to work. However, some roaming services are becoming available, including Thailand (AIS), Singapore (M1) and Vietnam (Viettel).
You can find an internet cafe or hotel with internet (often wifi) even in remote locations. However, internet speeds can be extremely slow, especially in rural areas.
Service to Europe takes up to one week and letter forms are quicker than ordinary letters. To ensure despatch, it is advisable to go to the post office personally to obtain a certificate of posting, for which a small fee is charged.
Air travel is the most efficient way of moving within Myanmar and the only permissible means of transport for independent travellers. The national airline is Myanmar Airways International (UB) (www.maiair.com).
Yangon International Airport (Code: RGN) is the primary entry point for most travellers. The airport is 19km (12 miles) from the city. You can travel to the city by Bus (30 minutes) or Taxi (45 minutes).
Note that a $10 exit fee must be paid when leaving Myanmar. This is done at a dedicated counter at Yangon airport, which is next to the check-in desks. This fee is usually included in the price of the flight tickets, do check with the agent or airline when booking your ticket.
Because of civil unrest in many border areas,arriving and departing over land is restricted. At present, it is only possible to travel over land into Myanmar from China (at Ruili, Yunnan Province).
Airport Code: RGN. Location: The airport is 19km (12 miles) from the city.
Public transport description: Buses go to the city (journey time – 30 minutes). Taxis are also available (journey time – 45 minutes).
Core routes such as Yangon to Mandalay, Yangon to Bagan and Yangon to Heho have frequent, direct services. However, some internal flights work on a fluid schedule due to circular routes and fluctuating demand, so be sure to check if your flight is running before leaving for the airport.
Yangon to Mandalay – 2 hours 10 minutes
Yangon to Bagan – 1 hour 30 minutes
Yangon to Heho – 1 hour 25 minutes
Motorists drive on the right side of the road. Roads are poorly maintained and can become impassable in the rainy season, from May to October. Visitors must remember that, under Burmese law, the driver of a car is always at fault, when involved in an accident with a pedestrian.
Travelling by bus is the simplest way to get around Myanmar. Though signs are not written in English and numbers are in Myanmar script, with a little help from locals, buses can be a fun and cheap way to get around. Bring your own bottled water for longer journeys as journey times can vary.
You can flag down taxis almost anywhere, but taxis hired from a hotel of shopping centre will generally be more expensive. Cars can be booked from most hotels or travel agencies, and private car owners looking to make some extra money are often to be found at popular spots.
Explore Myanmar on a bike and in most parts of the country they are simple and cheap to hire.
Myanmar Railways provides services on several routes, the principal line being Yangon to Mandalay (journey time – 12 to 14 hours). Overnight trains have sleeping cars. There is also a good service from Mandalay-Lashio-Myitkyina. The state-run railway has 4,300km (2,700 miles) of track and serves most of Myanmar. First class is available but, with the exception of the Yangon to Mandalay line, services are regularly afflicted with delays caused by climatic, technical and bureaucratic difficulties. Tickets must be purchased as part of an organised tour group. There are regular services from Yangon to Mandalay and from Yangon to Thazi. Visitors should be aware that much railway equipment is decrepit and some accidents are unreported.
The best way of seeing Myanmar is by boat, particularly between Bhamo-Mandalay and Mandalay-Pagan. Myanmar has about 8,000km (5,000 miles) of navigable rivers. Trips can only be arranged as part of an organised tour group. It is generally necessary to provide one’s own food.
Visitors should keep themselves informed of developments. Read latest news
here.
Vaccinations and disease preventions should be taken before travelling to Myanmar.
Dengue Fever is endemic in Myanmar and can occur throughout the year, particularly during the rainy season (December to April). There is no vaccination or immunisation. Since the beginning of 2007, reports have indicated a significant increase in the number of Dengue Fever cases. The authorities are taking measures to combat the disease.
In all the areas that foreigners are allowed to visit, Myanmar is very safe in terms of personal security: incidents of crime against foreigners are extremely low and Yangon is considered to be one of Asia’s safest large cities, with no areas that need to be avoided.
Bring a torch as there are frequent electricity black-outs and bad lighting.
It is advisable to avoid large public gatherings and demonstrations, as there are sometimes clashes and violent incidents.
Tap water is not safe to drink; you should always buy bottled water.
To enter Myanmar, a passport valid for at least six months beyond date of intended departure is required by all nationals referred to in the chart above.
Visas for Myanmar are required by all nationals except transit passengers continuing their journey by the same or first connecting aircraft, providing they hold valid onward or return documentation and do not leave the airport.
Visas for Myanmar are liable to change often, check with your nearest consulate first.
Visa on arrival has been reintroduced since June 2012, but note this is only for those needing transit visas, business visas or entry visas (for participating in certain events or meetings) not tourist visas, and additional supporting documents are needed to obtain visa upon arrival. Those travelling for tourism still need to apply at their nearest embassy or through their travel agent. See www.mip.gov.mm/visaonarrival for more information.
Visas are valid for one to three months from the date of issue for stays of 28 days in Myanmar.
Embassies and consulates can take between 3 days and 14 days, or more to process your application, so do apply early.
A separate visa is required for each child over seven years of age, even if travelling on their parent’s passport.
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Jan 4 |
Independence Day of Myanmar |
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Jan 12 |
New Year of Kayin |
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Feb 12 |
Union Day of Myanmar |
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Mar 2 |
Peasants’ Day |
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Mar 26 |
Full Moon Day of Tapound |
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Mar 27 |
Myanmar Armed Forces Day |
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Apr 12-21 |
Myanmar New Year (Thingyan) |
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May 1 |
Worker’s Day |
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May 24 |
Full Moon Day of Kasone |
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Jul 19 |
Martyr’s Day |
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Jul 22 |
Full Moon of Warso |
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Oct 19 |
Full Moon Day of Thidingyut |
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Nov 17 |
Full Moon Day of Tasuangtaing |
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Nov 27 |
National Day |
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Dec 25 |
Christmas |
Kyat (MMK; symbol K) = 100 pyas. Notes are in denominations of K1,000, 500, 200, 100, 50, 20, 10, 5 and 1. Kyat is pronounced like the English word ‘chat’. To combat the black market and limit the financial power of dissident groups, currency denominations are occasionally declared invalid without prior notice. Limited refunds are usually allowed for certain sectors of the population.
For visitors to Myanmar, banks are primarily a place to change money, as kyat can only currently be withdrawn using Visa, Mastercard, Maestro or Cirrus at some CB Bank ATMs: there are no international banks at the moment, and local banks are in the process of becoming part of the international banking system. Although numbers are increasing, there remain very few ATMs in Myanmar, and their use is sometimes restricted by internet failure.
It is unlikely that credit or debit cards will be accepted although some upmarket hotels and shops in Yangon and Mandalay will allow you to pay in dollars on your credit card, with a significant transaction fee. It is best to check with your card company prior to travel.
Traveller’s cheques are not generally accepted in Myanmar. Bring plenty of US dollars that are in good condition.
Monday to Friday, 9am to 4pm
The import and export of local currency is prohibited. However, amounts exceeding $10,000 or equivalent must be declared on arrival and must be converted within one month of arrival and the declaration certificate kept for departure. There are no limits on the export of foreign currency for visits up to six months, up to the amount imported and declared. For visits longer than six months, there are no restrictions up to the equivalent of K50,000.
FECs are Myanmar’s second legal currency and are issued by the Bank of Myanmar specifically for visiting tourists. They come in denominations equivalent to US$20, US$10, US$5 and US$1. Payment for FECs is only accepted in US Dollars. One US Dollar equals one FEC. FECs can be exchanged into Kyats at officially authorised banks, bureaux de change, hotels and Myanmar Travel and Tour offices and can be spent anywhere in the country;however Myanmar’s government has recently announced FECs will be abolished in March 2013 as monetary reforms continue to progress.
Check the latest exchange rates at XE or C B Bank.
IMPORTANT Currency notes / dollar bills taken to Myanmar must be in PERFECT CONDITION.
