Myanmar

With over 10 years of experience throughout Myanmar & Southeast Asia travel, we are pleased to provide hereunder the best travel guides, information, and exceptional suggested itineraries with photos.

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▸  Country Facts & Airport Codes for Myanmar ▸  Best Time to Visit Myanmar ▸  Top 10 Things to Do in Myanmar ▸  Visa Policy of Myanmar ▸  Myanmar Travel FAQ ▸  Destinations & Attractions in Myanmar ▸  Best Myanmar Tours ▸  Best Southeast Asia Tours

Country Facts & Airport Codes for Myanmar

Capital City:                  Naypyidaw
Religion:                      Buddhism
Currency:                     Kyat
International Dial Code: +95

Yangon International Airport (RGN) in Yangon is the primary gateway to Myanmar.

These flight times are to/from Yangon: •  Ho Chi Minh City/ Hanoi, Vietnam:   2hrs 15min flight
                                                          •  Bangkok, Thailand:                        1hr 20min flight
                                                          •  Chiang Mai, Thailand:                     1hr 20min flight
                                                          •  Phnom Penh, Cambodia:                 2hrs flight
                                                          •  Singapore:                                    3hrs flight

Best Time to Visit Myanmar

There are two distinct seasons in Myanmar: the dry and wet seasons. Temperatures vary within each season, with the hottest months from March to June.
•  The dry season lasts from October to April
•  The wet season lasts from May to early October
The best time to visit Myanmar is the dry season from October to April when the weather is cool and dry, with temperatures ranging from 25-30 degrees C and the rainfall is minimal. 

Visa Policy of Myanmar

To begin, your passport must be valid for at least six months from the date of entry into Myanmar and contain at least one blank visa page.

Visa Exemption for Myanmar
•  With a passport from the countries below, you can travel to Myanmar without a visa for up to 30 days.
14 Days for Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, and Myanmar:
30 Days for Singapore
•  The length of stay for a tourist visa in Myanmar is 28 days from the date of arrival.

Visa Processing Fees
•  Tourist Visa (Online) US$ 50.00:  28 days Online
•  Tourist Visa Express (Online) US$ 56.00:  28 days Online
•   Business Visa (Online) US$ 70.00:  70 days Online
Don’t apply for your visa too soon or too late, as it can take up to two weeks to be processed.

E-Visa for Myanmar
•  Tourist e-visas are available to passport holders from over 100 countries.
•  Passengers with an e-visa can enter the country only through three main ports: Yangon, Mandalay, and Nay Pyi Taw International Airport.

Check for the link to do a Tourist Visa/E-Visa for Myanmar if your nationality is not an exemption visa.

Top 10 Things to Do in Myanmar

1. Visit the archaeological city of Bagan “Angkor Wat” of Myanmar

Bagan is a city in the central region of Myanmar. Bagan was the capital of the Pagan kingdom that ruled this region from the ninth to the thirteenth centuries. During the heyday of the Kingdom of Pagan, over four thousand pagodas, temples, and monasteries were built here between the 11th and late 13th centuries.

You are free to visit the approximately 2,220 Buddhist temples that remain in Bagan today (out of approximately 13,000 temples during the peak period). The Bagan temples are close together, so you can choose your mode of transportation based on the weather, such as walking, cycling, buses, tuk-tuks, or balloons. Bagan is now known as a “city of archeology” Bagan, like Angkor Wat in Cambodia, is a popular tourist destination in Myanmar.

2. Stroll through Yangon’s streets

Visitors will discover many interesting surprises while strolling through the streets of Yangon, a city of many mysterious colors.

Walking not only allows visitors to stop whenever they want, but it is also a great way to explore the locals’ rich culinary streets. The streets of Yangon are always bustling with people, regardless of the weather, and your journey of experiencing Yangon will begin when you simply walk out of your hotel door and enjoy yourself in the streets here.

3. Try Thanakha make-up powder “national cosmetics” of Myanmar

Those who have visited Myanmar will always mention the brilliant golden pagoda and a friendly smile, as well as the shining faces of Myanmar people with Thanakha streaks.

It is unknown when this “cosmetics” was invented; all that is known is that faces with Thanakha smiles have become iconic images of Myanmar people around the world. Every visitor who comes here is drawn in by Thanakha’s smile and wants to try this type of face powder.

4. Must see Shwedagon Pagoda, the pride of Buddhism’s sacred land 

Myanmar has long been regarded as a sacred Buddhist land, thanks to its gilded temples. This symbol has become a source of pride for Myanmar’s people, and the Shwedagon Pagoda is one of the must-see temples.

The Shwedagon Pagoda, which was built over 2,500 years ago, is said to house the Buddha’s eight hairs. The main tower of the temple is 98 meters tall and covered in more than 30 tons of gold and hundreds of diamonds. At any time of the day, the golden color of the Shwedagon Pagoda will take your breath away. The color, on the other hand, changes according to different levels at different times, creating an irresistible allure for visitors.
Open daily from 4 a.m. to 10 p.m.

5. See the sunset on U Bein Bridge 

The U Bein Bridge in Amarapura’s old village is the world’s longest teak bridge (1.2 km long). The nearly 200-year-old wooden bridge crossing the river is the way home for Amarapura’s villagers, as well as the pilgrimage route for monks dressed in long robes… The sunset over the U Bein Bridge is brilliant and impressive, and visitors who have witnessed it will remember it for the rest of their lives.

U Bein Bridge connects the two banks of the Taungthamna River and is a popular spot for locals and Buddhists to watch the sunset. CNNGo, a tourist-focused website, named this wooden bridge one of the most beautiful sunsets in the world.

6. Visit Mrauk U, a legendary and foggy land 

Mrauk U ancient city is Myanmar’s second-largest temple complex. At this point, you will notice brick temples built in the fifteenth century nestled in the hills and small villages. You will feel as if you are in a mythical land because the entire city is covered in haze in the morning. You can also visit the riverside villages for a more adventurous feel.

7. Relax at Ngapali, the most beautiful tropical beach in Bengal 

Myanmar’s most popular beach is Ngapali. With white-sand beaches and lovely cottages and hotels, this beach is regarded as the most beautiful tropical beach in the Bay of Bengal.

Ngapali Beach is ideal for visitors with a romantic soul looking for pristine beauty and tranquility. Ngapali Beach is Myanmar’s most famous beach, with unspoiled natural beauty, sparkling white sand in brilliant sunshine, and winding green coconut lines. Aside from swimming, walking, and exploring the natural landscapes around them, guests can go on excursions such as visiting small fishing villages and the local market or exploring the countryside on a small bike.

8. Discover the local markets in Yangon 

There is no better way for tourists to immerse themselves in local life than to go on a culinary adventure through the local bazaars. Exploring Yangon’s vibrant bazaars will provide you with even more thrilling experiences.

Aside from the well-known Bogyke Market, Yangon’s largest market, there are numerous other interesting markets, particularly those located directly on the sidewalk. At these street markets, a wide variety of food is available, including meat, fish, eggs, cheese, and Thanaka cream, a sunscreen cream that locals frequently apply to their faces.

9. Travel by local train in Myanmar 

The train is a popular mode of public transportation in Myanmar, and Yangon has a railway that circles the city and was built by the British and reopened in 1954. Trains on this railway line only run on the 50km long route, stopping at all 39 stops, and the journey will take approximately 3 hours.

Due to Myanmar’s long-standing and outdated rail system, you may feel uncomfortable, time-consuming, and even late. While traveling by train in Myanmar, you will have the opportunity to meet locals such as monks and women selling various items, as well as feel the rhythm of the locals’ daily lives.

10. Enjoy the cuisine in Yangon’s China Town

The food section of Yangon’s Chinatown is always busy with customers and tourists, and it is open 24 hours a day. You can eat Myanmar-style snacks like pies, coconut cake with quail eggs, Shan noodles, and so on in this area, or savor tropical fruits such as watermelon, durian, and mangosteen, to name a few.

Yangon’s Chinatown is also a shopping paradise, with a diverse selection of goods such as clothing, electronics, souvenirs, antiques, and musical instruments.

▸  Best Myanmar Tours
▸   Best Southeast Asia Tours

Public Holiday in Myanmar

Jan. 2nd – Kayin New Year’s Day
Jan. 4th – Independence Day
Feb.12th – Union Day
Mar. 2nd – Peasants’ Day 
Mar. 16th – Full Moon Day of Tabaung 
Mar. 27th – Armed Forces Day
Apr. 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th, 13th, 14th, 15th, 16th, 17th – Thingyan Festival
May 1st – World Worker’s Day 
May 14th – Full Moon Day of Kason 
July 12th – Full Moon Day of Waso (Beginning of Buddhist Lent)
July 19th – Martyr’s Day 
Oct. 8th, 9th, 10th – Full Moon Day of Thadingyut (End of Buddhist Lent) 
Nov. 6th, 7th – Full Moon Day of Tazaungmone
Nov. 17th – National Day 
Dec. 22nd – Kayin New Year’s Day
Dec. 25th – Christmas Day
Note: If the Public Holiday is on Saturday or Sunday, it will not replace another working day.

Destinations & Attractions in Myanmar