Top 5 Things To Do in Myanmar, The Best of Myanmar and Southeast Asia

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Myanmar

Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, is a country with its own history, culture, and language, including Bagan, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with over 2,000 temples and pagodas dating from the 10th to the 13th centuries, as well as spectacular natural scenery ranging from the Inle Lake, home of the unique Intha leg rowers, to the Megumi Islands, and the bustling city of Yangon, which contains century-old British buildings. Myanmar, in special, is home to majestic mountains, rural villages, and idyllic and untouched islands. Exploring Myanmar in combination with a trip to Southeast Asia is always a good idea.

DH TRAVEL, with OVER 20 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE throughout MYANMAR & SOUTHEAST ASIA travel, provides the best travel guides as well as exceptional customized private guided tours, centrally located hotels, and a variety of activities to enhance your experience in Myanmar & Southeast Asia. Please contact us at any time for expert planning advice and unrivaled support for your memorial trip.

Myanmar Travel Map

▸ Easy Travel to Myanmar

▸ The Best Time to Visit Myanmar

▸ Travel Visa for Myanmar

▸ Top 10 Best Things to Do in Myanmar

▸ Best Myanmar Tours

▸ Best Southeast Asia Tours

▸ Public Holidays in Myanmar

▸ Tourist Attractions in Myanmar

Easy Travel to Myanmar

Capital City: • Naypyidaw

Religion: • Buddhism

Currency: • Kyat

International Dial Code: • + 95

Yangon International Airport (YIA) 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

The Best Time to Visit Myanmar

• There are two distinct seasons in Myanmar: the dry and wet season

• The Dry season lasts from October to Apri

• The Wet season lasts from May to early October

• Temperatures vary within each season, with the hottest months from March to June.

• The Best Time to visit Myanmar is from October to April in the Dry season when temperatures range from 25 – 30 degrees Celsius and the rainfall is minimal.

Myanmar weather

Travel Visa for Myanmar

To begin, your passport must be valid for at least six months from the date you enter Myanmar, and you must have at least one blank visa page.

Visa Exemption for Myanmar

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.

E-Visa for Myanmar

Tourist e-visas are available to passport holders from over 100 countries.

Check here to do E-Visa for Myanmar if your nationality is not an exemption visa.

Passengers with an e-visa can enter the country only through three main ports: Yangon, Mandalay, and Nay Pyi Taw International Airport.

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.

Top 10 Best Things to Do in Myanmar

1. Visiting 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.

Exploring Bagan ancient city by the hot air balloon

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. STROLLING Through YANGON’S STREETS

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

Strolling around the streets of Yangon

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. TRYING 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.

Myanmar girl is painting Thanakha pattern

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. SHEWEDAGON 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 Shwedagon Pagoda is one of the must-see temples.

Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon city, Myanmar

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 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. ENJOYING 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 in Myanmar

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. Visiting 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.

Stand on Shwetaung Paya Hill for a Sunrise View of Mrauk U, a Legendary and Foggy Land

7. Swimming at NGAPALI, the Most BEAUTIFUL TROPICAL BEACH in the BAY of 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.

Swimming at Ngapali, 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. Discovering 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.

The Local Markets in Yangon

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. Traveling 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.

Traveling by the local train in Myanmar

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. Enjoying the CUISINE in YANGON’S CHINA TOWN

The food section of Yangon’s China Town 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.

Enjoying the local food in Yangon’s China Town

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