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Prepare
Visa
Myanmar requires all foreign visitors, including those from Southeast Asia, to obtain a visa issued by a Myanmar embassy or consulate, valid for both entry and exit, before arriving.
You can obtain a visa in Vietnam at the Myanmar Embassy in Hanoi and the Myanmar Consulate in Ho Chi Minh City.
Note: You should apply for a visa at least 10 days before your departure date to avoid Myanmar holidays or the visa officer not being in Vietnam.
To apply for a visa, you will need: a passport valid for more than 6 months from the date of departure from Myanmar, 2 photos (4x6 cm), and the tourist visa fee.
- Exchange money before you go. If you exchange money upon arrival in Myanmar, avoid exchanging at the airport (the exchange rate is quite low); and avoid exchanging with mobile money changers (you risk losing your money). Bring only intact or new US dollars.
- It's recommended to buy *Southeast Asia in a Shoesstring* and *Myanmar Lonely Planet* for a detailed itinerary.
Kaba Aye Temple.
Kuthodaw Paya Temple.
Move
Vietnam – Myanmar
There are two main routes from Vietnam to Myanmar: one is by air from Ho Chi Minh City/Hanoi to Yangon/Mandalay, and the other is by land from Thailand (from Vietnam to Thailand by plane). Airfare ranges from 3-5 million VND depending on the airline. If you're lucky enough to find a cheap ticket, the cost will be even lower.
Things you should do at the airport upon arrival.
Do not carry more than $2,000 and declare it.newspaperThe amount of foreign currency you leave Myanmar must not exceed the amount you brought in.
Declare clearly if you are carrying jewelry, electronics, or video cameras.
You are only allowed to bring 200 cigarettes, one bottle of liquor (1 liter), and one bottle of perfume (0.5 liters) into Myanmar.
Pay a $10 airport tax.
You are not allowed to take Kyat currency out of the country.
All products you purchase in Myanmar will be confiscated at the airport if you do not have a receipt.
Getting around in Myanmar
The main modes of transportation in Myanmar's major cities are taxis for tourists and buses for locals. In addition, there are also rickshaws, vans, and boats.
Things to note when in Myanmar
- Remove your shoes, sandals, and socks when visiting temples, pagodas, and areas where footwear is not permitted.
- When giving money, gifts, or anything else to someone, you should do so with your right hand or with both hands to show politeness.
- When visiting temples and pagodas in Myanmar, you should wear trousers that cover your knees and a shirt with sleeves, avoiding revealing your chest, stomach, or back.
- Avoid filming and taking photos in sensitive areas. If you are asked to delete them, do so to avoid trouble.
- Present your passport when purchasing a GSM SIM card. These SIM cards cost $25-30 USD each at hotels or shopping malls, but you must check the hotel's rates before making international calls.
Shwegugyi Temple.
Burmese temple.
Ananda Temple.
Time to arrive in Myanmar
The best time to visit is from November to February due to the cool, pleasant weather and minimal rain.
The minimum travel time is 4 days. However, to explore all the country's highlights, you'll need at least 10-14 days.
Myanmar specialties
Myanmar's cuisine is quite delicious and flavorful. Some dishes you shouldn't miss when you come here include mohinga noodle soup, salads, curries, various types of cakes, and pickled bamboo shoots. The easiest and cheapest option is grilled skewers, which are sold everywhere in major cities and small towns.
Accommodation
Yangoon: Golden Smile Inn, Okinawa Guest House, Tokyo Guest House, YMCA Yangon.
Inle Lake: Hotels and resorts on the lake are quite expensive, so backpackers often return to the town of Nyaungshwe near the lake where rooms cost only 5-8 USD, such as at Joy Hotel Guesthouse.
Bago: It's not advisable to stay overnight at resorts or hotels here. Instead, return to Kim Pun, stay in guesthouses costing 5-8 USD, and catch an early bus back to Bago the next day.
Bagan: May Kha Lar GH (downtown area) costs $14 USD/night.
Mandalay: Royal GH costs 18 USD/night.
Note that when arriving at the hotel, do not let the taxi driver come in with you as they will overcharge. It's best to say that a friend has stayed there before and recommended it.
Tourist attractions
We will roughly divide the Myanmar tour into 5 major clusters: Yangon, Bagan, and Mandalay.
1. Yangon: 2-3 days
Sule Temple
Hewedagon Pagoda
Yangon boasts numerous temples, such as Sule Pagoda, where you can enjoy panoramic city views and take souvenir photos; Kaba Aye Pagoda, also known as the World Peace Pagoda; and Buddha Tooth Relic Pagoda… but the most famous is Shwedagon Pagoda – the Golden Pagoda, a 2,500-year-old temple that is well worth visiting.
The Shwedagon Pagoda sits atop a small hill, its stupa covered in gold leaf. Inside, there are hundreds of Buddha statues and shrines for worship. One of the most interesting features is the "fan for the Buddha," where, when feeling troubled or angry, one can simply pull a cord to make the fan above the Buddha statue flutter, dispelling all worldly worries and anger.
The best time to visit Shwedagon is in the afternoon, when the sun sets and the stupa remains unchanged, shimmering with a brilliant golden hue. The museum located within the temple grounds, where you can see up close the pennant adorned with numerous diamonds, rubies, gold rings, and more, is also a must-see.
Note:
- When visiting, some people or monks may approach you to strike up a conversation and ask for tips; you need to be firm to prevent them from pestering you.
- You can get around the city by bus (200 kyat fare) or van (200 kyat fare). You can go anywhere on the map as long as you ask the conductors and drivers before getting on (they can all speak basic English).
2. Bagan – 3 days
The local markets are peaceful....
...And Myanmar's skewers are always appealing to tourists.
From Yangon you can take a bus to Bagan (departing at 3 PM), costing 20-25 USD (Ye Ther Aung company).
There are approximately 4,000 temples in Bagan. Famous ones include the Shwezigon Temple (built in the 11th century) in Nyang U, Ananda Temple (built in the 11th century), Thatbyinnyu Temple (built in the 12th century), Shwegugyi Temple (built in the 11th century), and Shwesandaw Temple (built in the 11th century) – a great place to watch the sunset in Old Bagan.
Other activities you shouldn't miss in Bagan include: visiting lacquer workshops; going to the local market; having dinner at Nanda restaurant (7-10 USD) to watch a puppet show; and climbing Mount Popa, an ancient volcano 40km from the center of Bagan – the birthplace of the Nat spirits who bless the people of Myanmar.
The most enjoyable way to explore Bagan is by renting a bicycle (1,500 – 2,000 kyat/day) to cycle through all the sights from Old Bagan, New Bagan to Nyang U. Additionally, cycling allows you to visit any temple you like.
3. Mandalay – 3 days
From Bagan to Mandalay by boat along the Ayeyarwadi (Irrawaddy) River. Remember to check with your hotel or guesthouse for more information.
Must-see attractions here include: Shwenandaw Monastery with its incredibly intricate sculptures; Kuthodaw Paya, home to the world's largest collection of Buddhist scriptures, boasting 729 "pages" carved into marble; Mandalay Hill, offering a scenic hike to the summit to watch the sunset over the Ayeyarwady River; Mahamuni Pagoda, with its impressive Buddha statue wearing a robe and hat, covered in 6-inch-thick gold leaf; U-bein Bridge; and the Buddhist monastery in Amarapura.
4. Inle Lake: 2 days
You can reach Inle Lake (Nyaungshwe) from Yangon, Bagan, and Mandalay. The cost for each leg is as follows: Yangon – Inle: approximately 15,000 kyat, 16-20 hours; Bagan – Inle: approximately 11,000 kyat, 12 hours; Mandalay – Inle: approximately 10,000 kyat, 10 hours.
Inle is one of the largest freshwater mountain lakes in Myanmar. It's rich in produce, home to unique ethnic minority groups, and famous for its annual September festival. It's also an ideal place to breathe in the fresh air of the "lake sea."bagSurrounded by rolling hills and mountains.
The best way to fully "enjoy" this place is to spend a whole day just taking a boat trip (10,000-20,000 kyat) on the lake, watching the Myanmar men rowing with their feet. The next day is dedicated to visiting the Phaung Daw Oo pagoda, stopping by souvenir shops and meeting the long-necked women, buying a beautiful silk fabric from the silk weaving village, wandering through the floating tomato fields, and having lunch at a floating restaurant in the middle of the lake…
5. Bago – Kyaikhtiyo: 2 days
Kyaikhtiyo Golden Rock Pagoda is the most famous tourist attraction in Bago and Myanmar. The pagoda is perched precariously on a large rock attached to a cliff face.
The easiest way to visit this place is to buy a package tour to Bago and Kyaikhtiyo for about 70-100 USD. Alternatively, from Yangon you can take a bus to Kim Pun (the closest point to Kyaikhtiyo Pagoda), from Kim Pun take a truck to near the summit, and then walk another 4km to reach the Golden Mountain Pagoda. It's a strenuous trip, but it's well worth it to see one of the masterpieces of Myanmar Buddhism, created by both man and nature.
In addition, Bago captivates visitors with the beauty of an old capital city with a very slow pace of life, ancient temples, and local markets with inexpensive souvenirs.
What should I bring?
- Wear light clothing, and make sure your trousers are longer than knee-length and your shirt has sleeves when visiting temples and pagodas.
- Flat shoes are suitable for walking a lot and should be easy to take off and put on when sightseeing, as you will frequently be removing and putting them on when visiting temples and pagodas.
- Hats, umbrellas, jackets, face masks.
- Lightweight, disposable raincoats that are easy to carry.
- Sunscreen, mosquito repellent, and basic medications.
According to An Huynh (Infonet)
