Tourism in Myanmar (Burma)
791,505 tourists visited in 2010. More than 1 million tourists visited in 2012. In 2013, the government expects 1.5 million of foreigners to visit.
Tourists ranking by Nationality
- Thailand
- Other countries (Austria, Brunei, Hong kong, Indonesia, Mexico, New Zealand, the Philippines, Spain and Sweden)
- China
- France
- South Korea
- Malaysia
- Germany
- Japan
- United States
- Italay
- Taiwan
- Singapore
- United Kingdom
- Switzerland
- Australia
- India
- Belgium
- Russia
- Netherlands
- Canada
- Israel
- Bangladesh
- Pakistan
Information counters
For convenience to visit in Myanmar, there are the information counters distributed all parts of Myanmar.
How to apply Entry Visa
Please check the link, How to apply Visa.
How to get there?
By Air
There are Yangon International Airport and Mandalay International Airport to visit to Myanmar. The basic hub to Yangon is Bangkok and Singapore. Please check the International Airlines fly to Yangon and Mandalay.
a) Airport Tax
Each visitor has to pay US$10 at airport departure.
b) Custom
All arriving passengers have to fill up the immigration and customs declaration form.
c) Personal Duty Free Allowance
Portable camera, portable video camera, portable computer, electrical goods (not more than the value of USD 500), 32inches TV, 15 sticks golf set, one bicycle, 2 litres liquor, 150ml of perfume, 400 rolls cigarette, 50 rolls cigar and 250 gm pipe tobacco, etc.
Any items exceeds above duty free allowance, the passengers need to declare the forms of immigration and customs on arrival. All foreign currency exceed above US 2000, the passengers must declare.
Any uncertain matters regarding about customs, you are advised to go to the Red Channel.
Note: You need to confirm your departure date in Myanmar to your air line.
By land
The following list is the border cross of Myanmar with Thailand, China and India. When the foreigners enter/exit to/from Myanmar, there may need boarding pass permit, fees or other necessary documents. Please check when you book. It is better to visit to Myanmar by air.
1) Thailand Borders
a) Tachileik (Myanmar) / Mae Sai (Thailand)
b) Myawaddy (Myanmar) / Mae Sot (Thailand)
c) Three Pagodas Pass (Payathonzu (Myanmar)/Sangkhla buri (Thailand))
d) Kawthaung (Myanmar) / Ranong (Thailand)
2) China Border
a) Mu Se (Myanmar) / Ruili, Yunnan (China)
b) Lweje (Myanmar) / Longchaun, Yunnan (China)
3) India Border
a) Tamu (Myanmar) / Moreh (India)
Getting Around inside Myanmar
You may go by plane with many Domestic Airlines; by train; by cruise ships from cities to cities. Inside town, you may take by taxi or by bus.
Currency
Myanmar currency is in kyats (pronounce in chat). The Visa / Master card start to accept in Myanmar. It is strongly recommended that to bring extra USD dollars also. Here is the list of ATMs in Myanmar and Money Exchangers in Myanmar.
What to eat
Myanmar food is mixed of China, India and Mon. Normally eats rice with meat and vegetables. There are popular local foods. International restaurants like Cambodia, Chinese, France, India, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and Korea also have in Myanmar with reasonable price. There are also a lot of street hawkers or roadside stalls.
What to wear
Light Cotton Clothes are suitable for summer. It needs sweater/jackets and trouser in some cold area. At pagodas or monasteries, your knees should cover something as well as your shoulder.
Please note that you have to take off your footwear when entering to pagodas or monasteries. Recommend bringing sandals, flip-flops or you may take Myanmar slippers.
What to bring
You have to bring the followings,
- small torch
- battery chargers for your electrical devices
- sun protection lotions
- sunglasses
- hat
- antibiotic pills and cream
- insect repellent
- universal adapter (Myanmar uses 2 flat pin plugs/ the current is 220 volts/50 cycles
What to buy
The popular gifts are Lacquer ware, silverware (in Bagan); Tapestries, antiques things, wood and jade carvings (In Mandalay and Yangon); Precious stones (in Mogok); Traditional cotton and silk fabrics (in Amarapura, Mandalay), umbrella, Myanmar corn cigarettes, handmade funs, slippers, paintings, Myanmar Thanakha (Myanmar Traditional Make-up), shoulder bags, and longyis (all around country).
Where to shop
There are a lot of shopping centers, convenient stores, food stalls, restaurants, street stalls to buy.