MYANMAR

With overland border crossings close to impossible for independent travellers, almost everyone arrives in Myanmar at either Yangon or Mandalay airports. There is also an international airport in the capital Nay Pyi Taw, although few airlines use it at present. The international flag carrier, Myanmar Airways International, only serves destinations within Asia.

GETTING THERE

By Air

There are two international airports in Myanmar.

– The International airport of Yangon is located in Mingaladon, 20 minutes from the town centre.

– The International airport of Mandalay is 45 km (1h transfer) from the center of the town.

The cheapest way to reach Myanmar from outside the region is usually to fly to a regional hub such as Bangkok or Singapore. Current routes within Asia include flights to Yangon from Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and Bangkok. Connections with Mandalay are limited to Dehong, Kunming and Bangkok.

By Land

There are three Thai and Myanmar border crossings for visitor to reach Myanmar: Mai Sai, Mai Sot and Ranong. It’s possible to get a visa free entry, but extra paperwork and an enter fee around 10 dollars are needed.

GETTING AROUND

By Air: Air travel is an efficient and relatively cheap way to get around Myanmar, and is particularly appealing given that bus and train journeys between major tourist sites tend to be long and often uncomfortable. Myanmar National Airlines covers all major domestic routes including some out-of-the-way places. Many of the airlines operating in Myanmar had strong links to the military junta, and some of the owners have been subject to international economic sanctions.

Flight times: From Yangon: To Mandalay or Nyaung U (for Bagan) – 55 minutes; to Heho – 1 hour 10 minutes.

By Road: With trains slow and unreliable, road travel is the best way to get around if you are on a budget. It is worth noting, however, that many routes are off-limits to foreigners – usually when they run through sensitive border areas or regions where the government is in conflict with ethnic minority militias.

Road quality: Many roads are poorly maintained and can become impassable in the rainy season, from May to October.

Car hire: The amount of bureaucracy involved means that foreigners rarely hire self-drive cars: you’d need a special permit and to have a local with you in the car at all times. It’s easy enough, however, to hire a car and driver for a day or more.

Taxi: Taxis are easily available in Yangon, Mandalay and a few other large cities and popular tourist destinations. In Yangon there are blue government taxis with set fares. Taxi drivers do not expect a tip and it is wise to pre-arrange fares. Elsewhere, motorbike taxis (where passengers ride pillion) are more common, alongside pick-ups (small pick-up trucks with seating in the back, running set routes) and cycle rickshaws (which have a sidecar).

Bike: It’s possible to hire bicycles in most towns visited by tourists, usually from accommodation or travel agents, although in some places (Bagan and Nyaungshwe for example) there are several separate rental outlets. The bikes are usually quite basic and/or old, and are generally used for day trips and short rides around town rather than for multi-day rides.

Coach: Long-distance buses are usually cheaper and faster than trains running the same route. Most buses run overnight, typically arriving at an inconvenient pre-dawn hour.

By Train

It’s always not suggested take train to travel in Myanmar for the frequent delays, slow speed, poor service and terrible sanitary condition of the toilets. Oftentimes foreign visitors are even overcharged

All foreign nationals require a visa in order to visit Myanmar. Although a visa-on-arrival system does exist, it applies only to business visitors or conference guests who are able to provide documents such as letters of invitation.

A visa is compulsory to enter Myanmar. To obtain a visa, you must first ensure that your passport is valid for at least 6 months after your return date.

There are currently only 2 options for obtaining a visa to Myanmar:

– Visas can be acquired directly at the Myanmar Embassies and Consulates abroad.

– If you do not have Myanmar Embassy at your home country or you are not able to apply Myanmar visa in advance, you can obtain a pre-arranged visa on arrival at the Yangon and Mandalay International airports on your arrival. We need detailed information one month prior to arrival.

Please note that tourist visas are currently valid for 28 days.

Myanmar has a tropical climate, with the southwest monsoon bringing rain from May to October. Roads can become impassable, particularly from July to September. The central plains, however, receive only a fraction of the rain seen on the coast and in the Ayeyarwady delta. From October onwards the rains subside; the best time to visit most of Myanmar is from November to February, when temperatures are relatively manageable. From March to May, the country becomes very hot, particularly the dry zone of the central plains where Bagan and Mandalay often see temperatures in excess of 40°C.

Myanmar has a monsoon climate with three main seasons. The hottest period is between February and May, when there is little or no rain and temperatures can rise above 40°C (104°F). The rainy season is generally from May to October, giving way to dry, cooler weather from October to February. The coast and the mountains see significantly more rainfall than the arid central plains, which include Mandalay and Bagan, and roads can become impassable during the rainy season in those areas.

Overall, the best months to visit Myanmar are from November to February. The only notable downside (other than the fact that places are busy with other tourists) is that river travel can be slow as water levels are low, meaning that boats have to travel more slowly; this is particularly notable on long journeys as ferries cannot travel overnight for fear of being grounded on sandbanks.

Sometimes a trip cannot be completed without buying some souvenirs for family and friends. Although Myanmar is not a luxury shopping heaven in the world, travelers still can buy many interesting things in every city in the country. It’s a pleasant thing to shop in Myanmar, where bargain is acceptable and, in some regions, bartering is still in fashion. This mysterious country offers a peculiar peek at Southeast Asia, not as Thailand or Vietnam do, but in a more ancient way that is rarely found anywhere else.

CURRENCY INFORMATION:

Kyat (MMK; symbol K) = 100 pyas. Notes are in denominations of K10,000, 5,000, K1,000, 500, 200, 100, 50, 20, 10, 5 and 1. Notes below K50 are very uncommon.

Credit cards: Credit cards can be used only in a handful of top-end hotels in Yangon and Mandalay, although this situation is changing quickly as sanctions are eased and international companies seek to do business in Myanmar.

ATM: Until late 2012 there were few ATMs in Myanmar and it was impossible for foreigners to use them. This is changing and there are now ATMs accepting foreign Mastercard and Visa cards in Yangon, Mandalay and a few other locations. Only Kyat can be withdrawn, however, which means that it is still necessary for visitors to bring dollars to pay for trains, planes, museum entry and hotels (for the best rates). It is generally unwise to rely entirely on ATMs since if your card does not work then you may be unable to obtain money in any other way. It is also recommended to carry small change as large notes may be difficult to change. Euros are now also accepted in banks, but exchange can be time consuming.

Travellers cheques: Not currently accepted, although this may change. Check with your tour agency prior to travel, and bring plenty of US dollars in cash.

Banking hours: Mon-Fri 1000-1400, and sometimes Saturday mornings.

Currency exchange: The local currency is used by tourists to pay for everyday expenses such as restaurant meals, bus travel, taxis and shopping. Other expenses, such train tickets and museum entry fees, must be paid for in US dollars (although, in some cases, euro are also acceptable). In some situations, notably paying for hotel rooms, prices are quoted in dollars although kyat are accepted at a poor exchange rate.

It is essential to ensure that any US dollars brought for use in the country – whether to be exchanged or spent – are recent issues (2006 or later) and absolutely pristine: any tears, folds or marks may lead to a note being rejected. High-value dollar notes usually receive the best exchange rate, but it’s also useful to have lower denominations to spend as hotels etc. may not have change. Euros are also exchanged at banks, and may be accepted at government-run museums, but are less useful when paying for hotel rooms or other expenses.

SHOPPING

What to Shop in Myanmar

Lacquerware – It’s a popular purchase that can be made into the forms of cups, bowls and vases. Bagan is a good place to shop beautiful lacquerware with great variation and price. Just pay attention to the quality of the items you are going to buy for there might be fraudulent commodities. Genuine lacquerware is engraved with natural colors of sand, stone and flowers. In contrast, fake ones are painted.

Rubies and Gemstones – Don’t be surprised if you find low-priced jade, rubies and other gemstones in Myanmar, for the country itself is a great miner of precious stones. The finest rubies are mostly available in Yangon, where only reputable shops are worth your money. Be aware of fake stones sold by street vendors.

Longyi – Longyi is a sheet of traditional cloth won by both genders everywhere you can see in Myanmar. If you think it’s awkward for your male families or friends to accept this special souvenir, give it to your female friends instead, they’ll definitely love it. Silk shops around the country have fine materials to make longyi, the pattern of which is at your choice and the price depends on your ability of haggle.

Handicrafts – Folk dolls, coconut masks, leather bags, wood carvings and thing alike are popular souvenirs that Myanmar is proud of. The traditional skill makes these folk works remarkable piece to buy. It’s also a major reason to support the tradition and low-income families.

Embroidered Tapestries – The delicate art is originated in Mandalay in 18th century. Kalaga is another name for this most sought-after tapestry involving gold and silver thread and tales from the Buddhist scriptures depicted. You can use it to decorate the interior of your house or give it as a decent present for families or friends.

Gold Leaves – You may notice that Buddha images or stupas in Myanmar are gilded with gold leaves, which are also widely sold at tourist cities. Mandalay’s lacquerware shops have the biggest supply for genuine gold leaves that are thin squares packaged in sets of 5 to 10 leaves.

Burmese cuisine treads a line somewhere between Indian and Southeast Asian cooking, but is subtly different to both. Dishes feature abundant spices, but tend to include less chilli than in Thailand or India, with an emphasis on sour, bitter and salty flavours.

Many dishes in Myanmar are topped with a layer of oil to keep off bugs, but not all dishes are as oily as people expect. Noodle soups and salads are very popular, and the local tofu – made from yellow split peas – is delicious.

Preserved vegetables crop up prominently in Burmese cooking, including pickled bamboo shoots and pickled tea leaves – a local delicacy. Marking the shift from Indian subcontinent to Southeast Asia, many dishes feature fish sauce or ngapi, a fermented paste of ground shrimp. Chinese food and Indian food is also popular, particularly biryani, Indian spiced fried rice.

Specialities:

Lethok son: Spicy vegetarian rice salad.

Mohinga: Burmese fish soup with noodles, the national dish.

Oh-no khauk swe: A soup of rice noodles, chicken and coconut milk.

Shan khauk swe: A dish predominately eaten by the Shan, but popular around the country, it consists of rice noodles either in broth or dry, usually with chicken.

Athoke: Various ‘salads’ served cold, made from noodles, ginger, tofu, chicken and other ingredients.

Biryani: Indian-style fried rice with spices and chicken.

Burmese curry: Most meals feature some kind of curry dish, usually quite mildly spiced and oily, and traditionally accompanied by a selection of side dishes like ngapi (fish paste) as well as rice and soup.

Lahpet: A tasty dish of fermented tealeaves, usually eaten as dessert and considered to be a key part of Myanmar’s culinary heritage.

Htanyet: Jaggery, unrefined palm sugar, eaten at the end of a meal.

Peh-hin-ye: Indian-style dhal (lentil) soup.

Htamin: Rice, the foundation of any Burmese meal.Green tea: Provided free in many restaurants.

Black tea: Drunk with milk and sugar in teahouses, which are important social hubs.

Alcohol: Locally produced beer, rum, whisky and gin are generally available.

Coffee: Usually sold in instant form except for in a few Western-style cafes.

Tips for Dining in Myanmar

1. When eating food in street stalls and markets, avoid eating doubtful meat and try vegetables instead.

2. Although usual Asian flavors dominate Myanmar, in recent years, Yangon and Bagan has seen a spring in international restaurants, such as western, Japanese, Chinese and even Korean.

3. The Chinatown located at the downtown Yangon is a good place to find various kinds of foods from all over Asia.

4. The concept of service is in its infancy, so don’t expect western standards in dining place. While upmarket restaurants do better.

5. Tipping is not common practice in Myanmar, but it’s appreciated. A 5-10% tip will do.

6. Staff working at western cafes/restaurants can speak English, but not those in the markets or street stands. If the language doesn’t work, keep patient and turn to your private tour guide for help.

7. Never drink tab water, use bottled drinking water which is available at every shop. Or our guide will help you with this.

8. There are no sophisticated social rules for dining in Myanmar. Watch what the locals do and follow suit.

Myanmar is roughly diamond-shaped – with a long southeastern ‘tail’ – and extends 925km (575 miles) from east to west and 2,100km (1,300 miles) from north to south. It is bounded by China, Laos and Thailand in the east, by Bangladesh and India in the north and by the Indian Ocean in the west and south. The Irrawaddy River runs through the centre of the country and fans out to form a delta on the south coast; Yangon stands beside one of its many mouths.

Inland area: 678,500 Km2

Length: 1,931 Km

Width: 925 Km

Myanmar is the largest country in South-East Asia.

Myanmar is located in the Gulf Of Bengal, bordered by Thailand to the west, Laos and China to the northeast and India and Bangladesh to the northwest.

The southern part of the country is flat, fed by many rivers including the largest one – the Irrawaddy – which rises in the Himalayas, flows through spectacular gorges, tropical jungles and terraced paddy fields and finally to the Ocean.

The Irrawaddy is the heartbeat of Myanmar and is the most viable means of access to many of the country’s attractions.

Myanmar has 56,3 million inhabitants with an average density of 70,7 inhabitants/km2. 68% of the population is Burmese, 9% Shan, 7% Karen, 4% Rakhine, 3% Chinese, 2% Mon and 2% Indian. Ethnic minorities make up the rest of the population of Myanmar. There are total 135 different ethinic groups in Myanmar.

History of Myanmar

Known as Burma under British colonial rule, a name still used by many foreign governments, Myanmar was populated through three waves of migration: by the Hmon people from what is now Cambodia; by Mongol people from the eastern Himalayas; and, finally, by Thai peoples from northern Thailand. The first unified state was founded at Pagan (now Bagan) in 1057, but the capital was ravaged by Kublai Khan in 1287.

A succession of dynasties rose and fell along the Irrawaddy, before the British arrived, conquering the south of the country in 1852. After the fall of Mandalay in 1886, Burma became a province of British India, marking the start of a troubled colonial period.

During WWII, the Japanese expelled the British from Burma, but opposition to Japanese occupation grew rapidly. Burmese General Aung San led an uprising against occupying forces, and Burma gained its independence in 1948. He was assassinated the same year, allegedly by his closest political rival. A military coup in 1962 ushered in the regime of General Ne Win, who imposed a totalitarian socialist dictatorship. In 1988, after years of bizarre policies and isolationism, a popular uprising by students and Buddhist monks was brutally suppressed, with thousands killed. Ne Win relinquished his official title, but continued to wield considerable influence in the new State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC).

Diverse resistance movements found a spokesperson in Western-educated Aung Sang Suu Kyi, daughter of Aung San, who won a convincing victory in the first Burmese election, held in 1990, as head of the National League for Democracy (NLD). The result was ignored by the junta and Suu Kyi began a 15-year period of house arrest and persecution. The country’s troubles continued with the 2007 Saffron Revolution, where protests over fuel prices were supressed, with the death and imprisonment of thousands. After general elections, which were boycotted by the NLD, Thein Sein was elected President of Myanmar, but real power continued to reside with the military.

Aung San Suu Kyi was released in 2010 and many sanctions against Myanmar were dropped in 2012, but a new wave of violence began with riots against the minority Muslim Rohingya people. New elections in November 2015 were won decisively by the NLD, with a transition to civilian government due to take place in January 2016.

Myanmar Culture

Religion: 89% Theravada Buddhist. The remainder are Hindu, Muslim, Christian and animist. Many Buddhists also hold some animist beliefs, including worship of nats (spirits) which are rationalised as being disciples of the Buddha.

Social conventions: Handshaking is the normal form of greeting, but only with the right hand; the left hand is associated with using the toilet. Full names are used, preceded by U (pronounced oo) in the case of an older or well-respected man’s name, Aung for younger men and Ko for adult males; a woman’s name is preceded by Daw. There are no inherited family names.

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 modern residences this may not be observed any longer except in bedrooms). When sitting, avoid pointing the soles of the feet towards people or in the direction of Buddha images as this is considered offensive. Dress should be modest, so both men and women should avoid shorts cut above the knee (a few local men wear shorts, but really long trousers are more appropriate if you can tolerate them in the heat). Mini-skirts and tight or revealing clothing should not be worn.

Penalties for drug-trafficking range from five years’ imprisonment to a death sentence. Homosexuality is illegal, although Yangon does have a very discreet gay scene.

Language in Myanmar

The official language is Myanmar (Burmese) but there are also many other dialects and languages. English is spoken in business circles and it’s possible to get by in English in major tourist areas, although a few words of Burmese are appreciated.

Myanmar is popularly known as the Land of Festivals because of the countless religious and cultural festivals that take place all year round. Festivals are divided into two types: majority is nation-wide celebrated while afew are distinctly regional. The dates of the festivals and special events are determined by the Lunar Calendar.

Thingyan – Thingyan is the Burmese New Year Water Festival and usually falls around mid-April.This Mekong Water Festival includes four countries: Thailand, Cambodia, Myanmar and Laos. The celebration is called Songkran in Thailand, Chaul Chnam Thmey in Cambodia, Thingyan in Myanmar and Pimai in Laos.

Phaungdaw U Pagoda Festival – Located in and around the stilted villages of Inle Lake, PhaungDaw U Pagoda is the most famous pagoda in Myanmar. The pagoda houses five small gilded images of Buddha, which have been covered in gold leaf to the point that their original forms can not be seen. The five Buddha Images represents the Kakkusandra, Kaunagamana, Kasatpa, Gautama and ArainmareyaBuddhas of this world.

The Kason Festival – Being hold in May of the English calendar, the Kason festival is one of the most important festivals in religious life of Myanmar people. In this season, water in all ponds, lakes and creeks reduces to lowest level, and the length of a day is longer than a night. When the Kason season is coming, all Sagar flowers bloom.

Myanmar Waso Festival or Lenten Season – Waso Festival take place in the fourth month of the Myanmar calendar (July). This month is the sacred month for the Buddhist because it was the day when the embryo-Buddha Prince Siddhattha was conceived, the day he renounced the world and the day Lord Buddha, soon after the Enlightenment, delivered the First Sermon-Dhammacakka Pavattana Sutta to the Five Disciples.

Hot Air Balloons in Taunggyi – Taunggyi is the capital of the Shan state in Myanmar. Most visitors come to the Shan State to visit the Inle Lake with floating markets and gardens. Besides, the Tazaungdaing Festival is held here, 6 days before the full moon of Tazaungmone (November)

Kayin New Year Festival – Kayin New Year is considered as the national day in Myanmar, and the date of the celebrations varies among years since its calculation bases on the lunar moon calendar. It is held on the first day of the moon month of Pyatho.

Full Moon Day of Thadingyut – In order to mark the end of three – month Lent Season, the Burmese held the Festival of Lights, also known as Thadingyut. This festival usually is in a seven – month of Burmese calendar.

Elephant Dance Festival – Dancing Elephant Festival is also another famous festival in Myanmar. It is held in Kyaukse surrounded by paddy fields and 0 miles (50 km) to the south of Mandalay. In this festival, huge elephant figures are made of bamboo, cloth, paper and marvelous decoration with two men inside one figure to perform.

The quality of health care in Myanmar is generally poor. Routine advice and treatment are available in Yangon and Mandalay but elsewhere the hospitals often lack basic supplies, and some suffer under corrupt administrations. Avoid surgery and dental work, as hygiene standards cannot be relied upon; if you are seriously ill then contact your embassy for advice, and expect international-quality care to be expensive (and possibly to require payment up front). As always, it is important to travel with insurance covering medical care, including emergency evacuation.

HEALTH

No vaccination is required, but visitors are advised to receive inoculations against hepatitis A & B, typhoid and tetanus.

There are hospitals and clinics in cities and larger towns, and regional health centres in outlying areas, although the quality of healthcare is generally low in Myanmar. Many hospitals lack basic equipment and medication, a situation not helped by high levels of corruption, and international-standard facilities are both scarce and expensive. Health insurance covering medical evacuation is strongly recommended. It is advisable to carry a remedy against minor stomach upsets and other basic illnesses. Pharmacists sell most medicines without prescription.

SECURITY

Very few foreign tourists are victims of crime in Myanmar, possibly because the penalties for stealing from tourists are severe. There are, however, occasional reports of opportunistic theft such as of cameras left charging on ferries while the owners wander the decks.

Although the government is engaged in conflict with ethnic resistance groups in several parts of the country, if there’s any danger in an area then it will be closed to foreigners both for their protection and to keep the violence hidden away from international attention. No resistance groups have been known to target tourists.

Although the quasi-civilian government inaugurated in 2011 has taken steps to reduce censorship and released some political prisoners, Myanmar is still far from being a place where freedom of speech can be taken for granted and violence is still regularly used against dissenters and protesters. It is still therefore wise to avoid raising political topics in conversation, as local people can be nervous about finding themselves in trouble; let them take the lead, and be discreet. Also think twice before taking photographs of bridges, police stations and anywhere else where doing so might be considered a security risk.

Myanmar has some of the most inspiring tourist attractions and things to do in all Southeast Asia. You will have chance to bathe in the first ray of the morning sun among stupa-filled plains of Bagan, go closer to local while cruising through floating villages on the scenic Inle Lake, taste the captivating aroma from the glamorous golden Pagodas with British Colonial architectures in Yangon, and savor the exquisite woodcarvings at Shwenandow pagoda in Mandalay.

Please click on the city name for more details

Yangon

Mandalay

Bagan

Inle Lake

Putao

Ngapali Beach

Ngwe Saung