Travel Tips
Passport and visa
Visitors must have a valid passport with an EVT (Entry Visa
for Tourist) to enter Myanmar. EVT can be obtained at any
Myanmar Embassy or Consulate offices with validity for 28 days
and extendable if necessary. Application forms in duplicate with
three-passport six photos are to be submitted with a fee of US$
20 in their respective currency.
Inclusive Package Visa
valid three months from the date of Issue and require a tour
confirmation letter from an authorized travel agencies in
Yangon.
FIT Visa
Valid one month from the date of Issue but require no tour
confirmation letter.
Visa-on-Arrival
Can be arranged for those countries where Myanmar Embassy or
Consulate office does not exist. Special arrangement also is
made upon request for those who have difficult in obtaining
Myanmar visa irrespective of the country.
Currency and exchange
Myanmar currency is Kyat and the denominations are K –
1,5,10,15, 20, 45, 50, 90, 100, 200, 500 & 1000.
Airport Tax
Departure tax for international flights is US$ - 10 per
person, payable in US$.
Inoculation & vaccination
Medical certificates of inoculations are essential especially
for visitors coming from an infected area or yellow fever zones.
Vaccination certificate is not necessary.
Shopping
Bargaining is an art long-practiced in Asian countries
including Myanmar. Myanmar arts and crafts, mostly pure
handmade, are best souvenirs and prices are very reasonable.
Lacquer-ware, wood and ivory cravings, tapestries, silverware,
brassware, silk and cotton fabric and shoulder bags are some of
the favorite items. Finest Myanmar ruby, sapphire, jade and
pearl are available at Myanmar gems shops.
Hospital and Clinic
It is very lucky for the citizens as Yangon has many
internationally qualified surgeons and physicians in all
branches of medical field. Frequently medical experts from
abroad visit Yangon to take care of medical and surgical cases
together with Myanmar counterparts. In Yangon, there are several
hospitals and clinics. Some of them are under the management of
Ministry of Health and the rest are operated by private
companies. Private companies running the medical service
business are trying their best but still can not provide full
facilities as the hospitals managed by Government. In private
sector, there is, however, a wide range of variability in
quality, expertise, expenses and services offered. Ask friends
and colleagues for their recommendations and experiences and
judge yourself. More and more private owned polyclinics are
opening in Yangon. They are not recognized as hospital by
Ministry of Health. Polyclinic which reaches international
standard as hospital is rare. After some delays, Pun Hlaing
International Hospital opened last year. It was the first
international standard private hospital in Yangon. It is
operated by FMI Group. The hospital stands on the bank of Pun
Hlaing River which flow by the Hlaing Tharyar satellite town.
Festival and Food
IT is worth to note that some Myanmar foods are eaten during
the certain festival. Most of them are eaten as snack. Myanmar
new year festival is called Thingyan Festival and known as Water
Festival. It occurs in the middle of summer, about mid-April and
that time people feel so hot. So pouring or throwing water on
one another is taken as nice and cool. Myanmar traditional food
attached to the Thingyan Festival is mont lon yay paw (gluten
pellet floating). During the festival small white pellets are
eaten. They are served with plate and tooth pick is used to pick
up pallet. During the Myanmar eleventh month, which occurs in
January or February Myanmar traditional food Htamanei is eaten.
It is a food preparation of glutinous rice with oil fried
coconut flakes and other condiments. It is prepared in huge pans
by young stalwarts. The master chief gives the guidance to them.
It is cooked as a communal activity. This tradition started
during second Innwa era.
Lapet
Press tea-leaf is called lapet in Myanmar language. It is
most important desert in Myanmar. Lapet is served to the guest
as snack with plain tea which is made from dried tea leaf. Two
kind of tea leaf are served together. It is also eaten after the
dinner. And many believe lapet can resist the sleepiness.
Companions of lapet are green chili for hot and garlic for
health. Sometimes lime is added to make sour. Slices of Green
tomato are eaten with lapet.
China Town
In Yangon, Chinatown locates in downtown area. It situates in
the position less than a mile from Sule Pagoda. There are many
shops selling things range from fresh fruit to precious gems and
jewellery. From the afternoon to at night, China Town is crowded
with consumers and diners as there are food stalls along the
main road and smaller streets. 19th street is well known for
draught beer outlets. People come here to spend their evenings
at these outlets. Locally distilled spirits: rum, gin, whiskey
are also available.
Clothing
Light casual wear preferably cotton is suitable for all year
round. You would need a cardigan or light sweater for the cool
season especially when visiting Northern Myanmar in the cool
season. An umbrella will be useful during the rainy season. If
possible dress modestly at all times. Sandals or slippers are
convenient, as all footwear must be removed before entering
temples and pagodas. Visitors are required to dress decently on
the precincts of religious buildings. Ladies should not wear
shorts, briefs or bra-less T-Shirt in such places. Shoes and
socks or stockings must be removed at all Pagodas and
Monasteries.
Circular Train
Circular train service is available but not punctual because
circular trains have to share the common track with inbound and
outbound long-distance train and has to give priority to them.
If one of those trains delayed, schedule of the circular train
would be adjusted or may be canceled. The best way to obtain the
updated information is asking at ticked booth. There are 11
local trains for circular train service through 37 railway
stations. The route and the stations are marked as 'Myo Pat
Railway Line' on the Map of Yangon. From Insein Station, the
first train leaves at 5:00 am and the last one at 9:00 pm. From
Mingalardon Station, the train starts operation at 6:00 am and
the last train leaves at 8:00 pm. The circular trains make a
total of 25 round trips daily. As a result there is a train for
every 15 minutes.
Highway Bus Terminal
There are two highway bus terminals, namely Dagon Ayeyar
Highway Bus Terminal in Hlaing Tharyar Townshop and Aung
mingalar Highway Bus Trminal in Mingalardon Township.
Dagon Ayeyar Highway Bus Terminal
It is for the buses to the towns in Ayeyawddy Division, is
located on the No. 5 Main Road, which is also known as
Yangon-Pathein Road. (For Enquiry Tel: 685300)
Aung Mingalar highway Bus Terminal
It is for the buses to the towns except in Ayeyawaddy, is
located on the No.3 Main Road. You can reach the bus terminal,
from downtown by bus route No.43, 45 and 51. (For Enquiry Tel:
539455, 539466) For more info regarding buses, Turn to the
following classification: Buses (highway), Pilgrimage Tours
Oversea Calls
Most of the phones provide international direct dialing calls
and charges should be paid by FEC. International access code is
00 which should be followed by country code, area code and
subscriber number. If you need operator assisted call, then call
overseas booking operator by dialing 657444, 657555 or 657999.
For domestic call you should call operator trunk dialing (OTD)
call by dialing 101.
Cyber Cafe
A years after the opening of MICT Park in Yangon, Internet
access became available to public as a result of opening of
internet cafes. Surf 'n' Surf, the first Internet Café of the
country was introduced on 10 May 2003 at Dagon Centre Shopping
Mall, Sanchaung Township, and Yangon. On the same day another
Internet café was opened as well at the different location.
Customers are charged for a minimum usage of one hour at the
certain rate. After the first hour, customers are charged for
additional fees counting in units of 15-minute. Customers can
download information, either in diskette or CD, from the
Internet after paying the prescribed fee. Now there are more
than fifty Cyber cafes in Yangon.
Custom’s formalities on arrival
Visitors should complete Immigration and customs declaration
forms during the flight and submit these on arrival. All foreign
currencies < if bring more then US$ 2000 > may be declare at
Custom. Traveler’s chaque, jewelry, cameras and electronic gods
etc must be recorded on the customs form which may be checked on
departure. Bringing in or taking out Myanmar currency is not
allowed. Gems and jewelery purchased from authorized dealers are
allowed to be taken out however antiques are not allowed to be
taken out of the country.
Time
The Myanmar Standard Time is six and half-hours in advance of
GMT.
Electricity
Domestic power AC 220-250 50HZ. |