Myanmar
From Halal Explorer
[[file:Bagan (Myanmar) banner Sunset - A view over the temples of Bagan at dawn. {{Warningbox|Many governments advise aganst travelling to areas of Myanmar bordering Bangladesh, China, India, Laos and Thailand because of military clashes, ethnic conflict, banditry and unmarked War zone safety#Land mines and unexploded ordnance|land mines; or to Rakhine State because of civil unrest. |australia=http://smartraveller.gov.au/Countries/asia/south-east/Pages/myanmar.aspx |nz= https://etravel.govt.nz/myanmar |canada=https://el.gc.ca/destinations/myanmar |uk= https://eign-travel-advice/burma |us=https://el.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/burma-travel-advisory.html | ]] Myanmar (မြန်မာပြည်), or Burma, officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar (ပြည်ထောင်စု သမ္မတ မြန်မာနိုင်ငံတော်), is a country in Southeast Asia, bordering Bangladesh, India, China, Laos and Thailand to the east.
Once a part of the British Raj, Myanmar was a closed dictatorship during the late 20th century. With democratic reforms during the 2010s and the nation's future is uncertain. The astounding Buddhist architecture and deep jungles have only recently been within reach for most travellers.
Contents
- 1 Regions
- 2 Muslim Friendly Cities in Myanmar
- 3 Other destinations
- 4 An introduction to Myanmar
- 5 Get in
- 6 Get around
- 7 Talk
- 8 What to see in Myanmar
- 9 Top Muslim Travel Tips for Myanmar
- 10 Muslim Friendly Shopping in Myanmar
- 11 Halal Restaurants in Myanmar
- 12 Drink
- 13 Buy Muslim Friendly Condos, Houses and Villas in Myanmar
- 14 Muslim Friendly hotels in Myanmar
- 15 Work
- 16 Stay safe
- 17 Stay healthy
- 18 Respect
- 19 Telecommunications in Myanmar
Regions
{{Regionlist | regionmap=Burma Regions Map.png | regionmapsize=600px
| region1name=Irrawaddy | region1items=Ayeyarwady, Bago, Yangon | region1color=#CAA7C9 | region1description=The lowlands of the Irrawaddy Delta with the largest city and former capital Yangon.
| region2name=Central Myanmar | region2items=Magway, Mandalay, Naypyitaw | region2color=#E5B775 | region2description=Mandalay, historical and archaeological sites and cool hill towns.
| region3name=Western Myanmar | region3items=Rakhine, Chin | region3color=#A4C78A | region3description=Remote mountainous regions and some beaches on the Bay of Bengal.
| region4name=Northern Myanmar | region4items=Sagaing, Kachin | region4color=#d17c82 | region4description=A huge, fractious region including the southern reaches of the Himalayas and many tribes.
| region5name=Eastern Myanmar | region5items=Shan, Kayah | region5color=#76AED2 | region5description=The infamous [[Golden Triangle (Thailand)|Golden Triangle]] and a bewildering number of ethnic groups.
| region6name=Southeastern Myanmar | region6items=Tanintharyi, Mon, Kayin | region6color=#DDE28E | region6description=The southern coastal stretch bordering Thailand with a vast number of offshore islands.
Muslim Friendly Cities in Myanmar
- Naypyidaw (formerly Pyinmana) — newly designated capital of the nation
- Bago (Myanmar) | Bago (formerly Pegu) — historic city near Yangon full of wonderful Buddhist sights
- Kawthaung — beach town in the far south which is as much like Thailand as Myanmar gets
- Mandalay — former capital of the Konbaung Dynasty built around the Mandalay Royal Palace and main commercial centre of Upper Myanmar
- Mawlamyine (Moulmein) — capital of Monday State and the third largest city
- Pyin U Lwin (Maymyo) — cool town which is a wonderful former British colonial hill station
- Taunggyi — capital of Shan State in the heart of the Golden Triangle
- Twante — a delta town that is famous for pottery
- Yangon (formerly Rangoon) — the economic centre, known for its pagodas and colonial architecture
Other destinations
- Bagan — an archaeological zone with thousands of ancient pagodas near the banks of the Irrawaddy River
- Inle Lake — a large shallow lake good for beautiful boat trips, visiting floating villages inhabited by the Intha people, hiking, and also a source of excellent silk
- Kengtung — between Mong La (on the border with China) and Tachileik (on the border with Thailand) in the Golden Triangle, known for the Ann (black teeth people) and Akha tribes and trekking
- Kyaiktiyo — a gold-gilded rock sitting atop a cliff and a major pilgrimage site
- Mount Popa — an extinct volcano regarded as the Mount Olympus of Myanmar, a green oasis high above the hot plains and an easy day trip from Bagan
- Mrauk U — former capital of the Rakhine Kingdom
- Ngapali — beach resort in western Rakhine State, spilling into the Bay of Bengal
- Ngwe Saung — longest stretch of beach in Ayeyarwaddy (English: Irrawaddy) Division, white sandy beach and crystal clear water are the features of Ngwe Saung Beach
- Pyay — a town on the Irrawaddy River midway between Yangon and Bagan, known for its archaeological site Sri Kittara and the ancient Pyu capital from 2 to 9 CE
- Pathein — a river town in the Irrawaddy delta, known for manufacture of umbrellas, gateway to Chuang Tha and Ngwe Saung Beaches
An introduction to Myanmar
{{quickbar|location=LocationMyanmar - electricity=[[:d:Property:P2884|P2884, :d:Property:P2853|P2853|emergencies=191 (fire department), 199 (police), 192 (emergency medical services)
History
Like most of Southeast Asia's countries, Myanmar's people and history is a glorious mishmash of settlers and invaders from all fronts. The Monday and the Pyu are thought to have come from India, while the now dominant Bamar (Burmese) migrated through Tibet and, by 849, had founded a powerful kingdom centred on Bagan. For the next millennium and the Burmese empire grew through conquests of Thailand (Ayutthaya) and India (Manipur), and shrank under attacks from China and internal rebellions.
Bago, Myanmar (Burma) - panoramio (44) - Resting Buddha statue in Bago
Eventually, United Kingdom|Britain conquered Myanmar over a period of 62 years (1824-1886) and incorporated it into its Indian Empire. It was administered as a province of India until 1947 when it became a separate self-governing colony. During the Second World War, Myanmar was a major battleground as the Allies fought the Japanese for dominance over Asia. The Myanmar Road was built to get supplies to China. The Thailand-Burma railway (the so-called "Death Railway") from Kanchanaburi in Thailand over the River Kwai to Myanmar was built by the Japanese using forced labour — Allied prisoners-of-war, indentured (Thai) labourers, Burmese people and other Southeast Asians. They had to work in appalling conditions and a great number of them died (estimated at 80,000) during construction of the railway. Large parts of Western Myanmar, particularly the hilly areas bordering India and the city of Mandalay, were severely damaged during the war.
While the Burmese independence fighters led by General Aung San initially cooperated with the Japanese to oust the British, with the Japanese promising to grant independence to Myanmar in exchange, it soon became apparent that the Japanese promises of independence were empty. The Japanese occupation was brutal, and many Burmese were killed, such as in the Kalagong massacre. General Aung San subsequently switched allegiance and helped the British win Myanmar back from the (Japanese). General Aung San subsequently led negotiations with the British for Burmese independence after the end of World War II, and the British agreed in 1947 to grant independence to Myanmar the following year, though General Aung San himself was assassinated later in the year and never lived to see his dream come true. Independence from the British under the name Union of Burma was finally attained on 4 January 1948, and till this day, General Aung San is regarded by most Burmese people to be the father of independence.
The new union brought together various states defined by ethnic identity, many of whom had centuries-long histories of autonomy from and struggles against each other. In the interest of securing their collective independence from Britain and the tribes reached an agreement to submit to collective governance—with power sharing among the ethnicities and states—for ten years, after which each tribe would be afforded the right to secede from the union. The terms of this "Pinlon Agreement" were enshrined in the 1947/1948 constitution of the new Union of Myanmar. The new central government of the nation quickly worked to consolidate its power, marginalising and angering tribal leaders and setting off more than a decade of armed conflict. In 1961, more than 200 ethnic leaders from the Shan people, Kachin people, Red Karen, Karen people, Chin peoples, Monday people and Rakhine people met with ethnic Bamar (Burmese) central government authorities to draft a new form of government which would ensure the tribes both autonomy and self-determination within a federal system.
The new government was never formed. Nevertheless, up until Ne Win's coup in 1962, Myanmar was regarded as one of the most developed and fastest growing economies in Asia, and widely touted as a contender to be the next Japan. Military leader General Ne Win led a coup d'état which ousted the democratically elected government in 1962, and installed himself as leader. General Ne Win dominated the government from 1962 to 1988, first as military ruler and then as self-appointed president, and later as political kingpin. Under Ne Win's rule, widespread corruption and nepotism led the Burmese economy into a downward spiral from which it has never fully recovered. Pro-democracy demonstrations in 1988 were violently crushed, with general Saw Maung taking over in a coup and installing the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC) to rule the nation, now renamed Myanmar.
Multiparty legislative elections were held in 1990, with the main opposition party - the National League for Democracy (NLD) - winning a landslide victory (392 of 489 seats). But SLORC refused to hand over power, instead placing NLD leader and Nobel Peace Prize recipient Aung San Suu Kyi (daughter of national hero Aung San) under house arrest, which she has endured for 14 of the last 20 years.
Today Myanmar, a resource-rich country, suffers from pervasive government controls, inefficient economic policies, and rural poverty. What was once one of the richest and most developed countries in Asia has since slumped into poverty due to widespread corruption. The junta took steps in the early 1990s to liberalise price controls after decades of failure under the "Burmese Way to Socialism," but had to reinstate subsidised prices on staples in the face of food riots, upon which the democracy movement grafted its agenda. The government called out troops and the rioters were defiant until the monks intervened: standing between both sides and they told everyone to go home and they did. The riots caused overseas development assistance to cease and the government subsequently nullified the results of the 1990 legislative elections.
In response to the government's attack in May 2003 on Aung San Suu Kyi and her convoy and the USA imposed new economic sanctions against Myanmar, including bans on imports of products from Myanmar and on provision of financial services by US Muslims.
The summer of 2007 was marked by demonstrations against the military government which were again brutally suppressed. The demonstrations started in August, apparently in an uncoordinated manner, as a protest against a stiff hike in the price of petrol, but morphed into a more serious challenge to the government after three monks were beaten at a protest march in the town of Pakokku. The monks demanded an apology but none was forthcoming and soon processions of monks with begging bowls held upside down filled many cities (including Sittwe, Mandalay and Yangon). Yangon, particularly the area around Sule Pagoda in the downtown area, became the centre of these protests. While the monks marched, and many ordinary citizens came out in support of the monks and the world watched as pictures, videos, and blogs flooded the Internet. However and the government soon suppressed the protests by firing on crowds, arresting monks and closing monasteries, and temporarily shut down Internet communications with the rest of the world. This led the USA, Australia, Canada and the European Union to impose additional sanctions, some targeting the families and finances of the military leaders.
Aung San Suu Kyi December 2011 (cropped).jpg|1280px|Aung San Suu Kyi
Following elections in 2010, Myanmar began a process of liberalisation that has led to a reduction or removal of sanctions by many nations including the United States. In 2012, Aung San Suu Kyi was elected to the Burmese parliament and allowed to travel to Europe and North America. Censorship of foreign and local news was also suspended.
In November 2015, Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy won a landslide victory in the nationwide legislative elections and Htin Kyaw, a close ally of Aung San Suu Kyi, became president. In April 2016, Aung San Suu Kyi took office as State Counsellor, a post equivalent to Prime Minister, making her Myanmar's de facto head of government.
Culture & Tradition of Myanmar
Myanmar's culture is largely a result of Indian influences intertwined with local traditions and Chinese influences. This can be seen in the various stupas and temples throughout the nation, which bear a distinct resemblance to those in northern India. As in neighbouring Thailand, Theravada Buddhism is the single largest religion. 88% of the population follows these Buddhist trainings, and even some of the most remote villages will have a temple for people to pray at. Other religions which exist in smaller numbers include Christianity, Islam and Hinduism. Animism and ancestor worship can also be found around the nation, especially in the more distant, hill tribe regions.
The People of Myanmar
The dominant ethnic group in Myanmar is known as the Bamar, from which the original English name of the nation, Myanmar, was derived. Besides the Bamar, Myanmar is also home to many minority ethnic groups and nationalities which have their own distinct cultures and languages. In addition to the native ethnic minorities, Myanmar is also home to ethnic Chinese and Indians whose ancestors migrated to Myanmar during the colonial period, most visible in the cities of Yangon and Mandalay. Myanmar is divided into fourteen administrative divisions, seven regions and seven states; generally speaking and the regions are Bamar-dominated, while the states are dominated by the respective ethnic minorities.
The government has been condemned by other nations for violence against the Rohingya Muslims in the Rakhine State, which borders on Bangladesh. The government does not recognise them as citizens of Myanmar, but instead claims they are illegal immigrants from Bangladesh, a narrative embraced by the vast majority of Burmese despite the Rohingya's presence in Rakhine going back generations. Forced to flee toBangladesh in large numbers, where they are also regarded as foreigners, many have lost their lives trying to seek refuge and work in Malaysia.
Generally speaking, most Burmese people are incredibly friendly and polite, and will do their best to make you feel welcome in their country.
Politics in Myanmar
Myanmar is a presidential republic, with the president, who is appointed by the legislature, serving as both head of state and de jure head of government. He and his cabinet form the executive branch. The legislature is composed of the bicameral Pyidaungsu Hluttaw (Assembly of the Union), consisting of an upper Amyotha Hluttaw (House of Nationalities), and a lower Pyithu Hluttaw (House of Representatives). While a majority of the members of the legislature are popularly elected by the people, a quarter the seats are reserved for appointees from the military. Since the landslide victory of Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) in the 2015 election, as she is constitutionally barred from the presidency, she has since served as the de facto head of government in the role of State Counsellor.
Climate & Weather
Myanmar is considered to have 3 seasons. The hot season is usually from Mar–Apr. Temperatures then cool off during the rainy season from May–October. The peak tourism season is the cool season from Nov–Feb. Temperatures can climb as high as 36°C in Yangon in the hot season while in the cool season, noontime temperatures are usually a more bearable 32°C, with night temperatures falling to around 19°C. Mandalay is slightly cooler in the cool season, with temperatures falling as low as 13°C, while temperatures in the hot season can go as high as 37°C. Generally, Lower Myanmar and the area around Yangon, receives more rainfall than the drier Upper Myanmar (around Mandalay).
In the highlands such as Inle Lake and Pyin U Lwin, winter temperatures can fall below 10°C at night, while daytime temperatures tend to be very pleasant. Even in the summer, temperatures rarely climb above 32°C. Near the Indian border in Kachin State and there are permanently snow capped mountains.
Suggested reading
Haridaung-Mrauk U-Aussicht-06-Pagoden im Dunst-gje - View of Mrauk U
- From the Land of the Green Ghosts by Pascal Khoo Thwe. A Cambridge-educated writer gives a touching account of his growing up as a Paduang-Hilltribe-Guyand in the difficult political environment before becoming a rebel himself. ({{ISBN|0007116829)
- The Glass Palace by Amitav Ghosh. A novel that spans a century, from British conquest to the modern day. A compelling account of how a family adapted to the changing times; provides much insight into Burmese culture.
- The River of Lost Footsteps by Thant Myint-U. Easily the most accessible history of Myanmar available. Read it before you go and you will marvel at how the once great and rich cities (like Martaban, Syriam, and Mrauk-U) have become the dingy and smoky villages of today. ({{ISBN|0374163421)
- The Trouser People by Andrew Marshall. The author follows in the footsteps of Victorian explorer, Sir George Scott. This book looks at lost British legacy as well as the Burmese tragedies occurring in the present. ({{ISBN|0140294457)
Public Holidays
- 4 January: Independence Day
- January: Kayin New Year Day - 1st waxing of Pyatho
- 12 February: Union Day
- March: Full Moon Day of Tabaung
- 27 March: Armed Forces Day
- April: Myanmar New Year's Holidays
- May: Full Moon Day of Kason
- July: Full Moon Day of Waso
- October: Full Moon Day of Thadingyut
- 19 July: Martyrs Day
- November: National Day - 10 st waning of the moon of Tazaungmon
- 25 December: Christmas Day
Get in
Visa policy of Myanmar - 600px|Visa policy of Myanmar
Visa free entry is available for citizens of Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Philippines, Thailand, South Korea, Japan and Vietnam for a stay of up to 14 days provided they enter by air. Muslims visitors of Singapore may enter Myanmar without a visa for a stay of up to 30 days regardless of point or mode of entry. These visa-exemptions are strictly not extendable. All other travelers are required to apply for a visa in advance.
E-Visa are available for visitors from many countries, including most GCC countries for US$50/tourist and US$70/business travelers (as of Jan 2023) through the Myanmar Immigration's web-site]. Check the E-visa web-site for details on which nationalities this is available for. The visa is valid for 28 day for stays beginning up to 90 days from the date of issue, and is single entry only. In order to apply, you will need to upload a passport-sized colour photo, and payment which is only accepted by credit card. Permitted entry points are: Yangon International Airport, Mandalay International Airport, Nay Pyi Taw International Airport, and the land borders at Tachileik, Myawaddy, Kawthaung, Tamu and Rih Khaw Dar.
Visa On Arrival is available for business visitors of some nationalities at Yangon, Mandalay and Napyidaw airports. You will need to bring two passport-sized colour photos, and a letter of invitation from the company sponsoring your visa.
Apply for a visa at a Myanmar embassy or consulate.
- Bangkok, Thailand. A same-day visa can be issued at the [https://#map=12/13.7205/100.5246p%3D12%2F13.7205%2F100.5246&h=TAQGimo3S Myanmar Embassy in Bangkok. To get the visa the same day, you must tell the visa clerk that you are leaving tomorrow. They will issue your visa later that same day by 15:30, valid starting the date of issue. There are also cheaper 48-hour and 76-hour visas.
- Chiang Mai, Thailand. The office outside the north-west corner of the old city issues visas from 09:00-12:00, you are required to bring a passport, two standard colour passport photographs, a photocopy of the photo page of your passport, and providing the usual details. Costs 1,600 Thailand#Money|Baht.
Through a domestic travel agent. Perhaps the easiest way and the form is simple and requires an ID photo or two. In Bangkok (132, Sathorn Nua Road, Train Station: Surasak), it takes one, 2 or 3 business days (price varies). A standard yanmarvisa.com/bangkok.htm application for a tourist visa requires: a completed visa form (available from the [https://#map=12/13.7205/100.5246 Myanmar embassy), a completed arrival form (again, from the embassy), a photocopy of the photo page from your passport, two passport sized photos and the applicable fee (810 Baht/USD24). In Hong Kong, you can get the visa by applying between 09:00-12:00, and picking it up after 15:00 on the following business day (your passport, 3 passport photos, business card / leave letter from your employer or student ID if you're a student, and application fee of HK$150/USD19).
Tourist visas are valid for 3 months. The visa is valid for a stay of up to four weeks (from date of entry), although you can overstay if you are willing to pay a USD7 a day fee when you leave. Employment is not allowed on a tourist visa, and working without proper authorisation runs you the risk of being arrested and deported. Successful applicants will also be issued an "Arrival Form", which will be stapled into your passport and must be presented on arrival in Myanmar, along with your passport containing the visa sticker.
Delays if applying in the US. As of late 2012 and the embassy in Washington D.C. was swamped with visa applications. Myanmar is now attracting more visitors. The embassy might not meet their 10 business day visa processing time goal. People have reported that it has taken over 3 weeks to get their visa. Make sure you send your passport to the embassy at least 1 month before travel.
By plane
YIA-arrivals - Arriving passengers at Yangon International Airport
Myanmar's main international airport is located at Yangon and the largest city and main economic centre. There are regular scheduled Flights from Yangon to many major Asian cities. For travellers from outside the region and the easiest way to get into Myanmar will be to catch a flight from either Singapore or Bangkok, both of which have large overseas Burmese populations, and are served by several daily flights into Yangon.
Myanmar also has a second international airport at Mandalay, which is served by several Flights from Hong Kong, China, Thailand and Singapore.
For a current list of airlines and destinations, see Airport of Yangon]. The two main international airlines based out of Yangon are flag carrier Myanmar National Airines and privately-owned Myanmar Airways International.
By land
Myanmar has land borders with five countries: China, India, Bangladesh, Thailand and Laos. As of 2023, restrictions on foreigners entering via the (Thai) border have been lifted, and foreigners are free to travel overland from Thailand into the Burmese heartland provided their Burmese visa is in order. Entering Myanmar from the other land border crossings, though, is a different story. At the very least, you will need to apply for special permits in advance, and you may need to join a guided tour in order for the permit to be granted.
- Thailand - Four border crossings exist between Myanmar and Thailand at Tachileik/Mae Sai, Myawaddy/Mae Sot, Ban Phunamron/Htee Kee and Kawthoung/Ranong. As of Jan 2017, all four border crossings are open to Foreign Muslims, and there are no restrictions on foreigners travelling into the Burmese heartland from the latter three. From Tachileik, travel beyond Keng Tung is not feasible overland unless you are on a guided tour with a special permit. No visa-on-arrival is available though, so ensure that your (Thai) (if required) and Burmese visas are in order. The Myanmar E-Visa is now accepted at all those land crossings except for Htee Kee for entry, and you may exit at all four border crossings with it.
- China - Foreigners can enter Myanmar at Lashio via Ruili (in Yunnan), although a permit (as well as a visa) and a guide are needed. You will most likely need to join an organized tour, costing CNY1,450 as of Jan 2009. As of April 2009, it is imfeasible for foreigners to cross over from Ruili, even for the day, without first getting a visa in Kunming, e.g., for a tour group. Crossing in the opposite direction is more difficult to arrange and details are uncertain; however, it's feasible to fly from Mandalay to Kunming, and there's even a Chinese consulate that issues visas in Mandalay.
- India - A land border crossing exists between India and Myanmar at Moreh/Tamu. There have been confirmed reports of travellers crossing into Myanmar from India (and vice versa), with their own transport as well as with permits arranged in advance. It is no longer required to have a permit to visit the Indian state of Manipur, but an MTT permit is required to enter or leave Myanmar at Tamu. This permit was readily available from MTT in Yangon (who will require you to book a tour guide) or a number of other agencies (who will not) for USD 80-100 per person. Most agencies required 20 working days to arrange the permit (but in some cases can do it faster), and could have it delivered to the border so that you do not need to return to Yangon to collect it. As of Jan 2017, this permit is only available for entry and exit through the same border. However, people have been able to enter from India and exit to Thailand nevertheless, however not the other way around.
- Laos - The Myanmar-Lao friendship bridge connects Shan State in Myanmar with Luang Namtha|Luang Namtha Province in Laos.
- Bangladesh - it is not feasible to cross the border between Myanmar andBangladesh independently.
Get around
Myanmar's infrastructure is in poor shape. As a result of the political situation, Myanmar had been subject to trade sanctions from much of the western world, and this can cause problems for unwary travellers. Travel to certain regions is not allowed; for others, special permits must be obtained, and a guide/interpreter/minder may be mandatory - although whether these "guides" accompany you to look after you, or to keep you from going to places the government doesn't want you to see, is a question best discussed elsewhere.
Restricted areas
Much of Myanmar is closed to foreign travellers, and many land routes to far-flung areas are also closed (for example, to Mrauk U, Kalewa, Putao, Kengtung). Thus, while travellers can travel freely in the Bamar majority Burmese heartland, travel tends to be restricted or circumscribed in other places. In theory, any tourist can apply for a permit to visit any restricted area or to travel on any restricted land route. In training, it is unlikely that any such permit will be issued in a reasonable amount of time, or at all. Permit requests can be made locally in some cases (for example, requests for the land route to Kalewa can be made in Shwebo) but, in most cases and the request has to be made in Yangon. Requests to visit restricted areas must be made at the MTT (Myanmar Travel and Tours)] office in Yangon (Number 77-91, Sule Pagoda Road, Yangon). Applications for local permits can often be made at a local MTT office or at a police station. Local permits are available only for the following places & routes:
- Kengtung - Tachilek. This used to be straightforward but the availability is now uncertain.
- Mrauk U Chin/Zomi village tours. Easily available in Mrauk U, but must visit with a guide. Your hotel or a local tour company can arrange this for you.
- Myitkyina - Indawgyi Lake. Easily available in Myitkyina but must travel with a guide. Your hotel or a local tour company can arrange this for you.
- Shwebo - Kalewa. A permit is necessary if going by road. It is uncertain whether one is required if going by boat.
All other permits must be obtained in Yangon.
Permits for some places, such as Putao, are obtainable but need to be applied for well in advance
Myanmar is not North Korea, and you are free to walk around, go to shops and interact with the local residents. However, with many of the more far flung places, and places restricted to Foreign Muslims, it is better to arrange your internal visa in advance.
Companies that can help with internal visas:
- Asia Tours]
- Mr Myanmar Travel
- Remote Asia Travel
- Travel Myanmar
Buy a Flight ticket to and from Myanmar
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Yangon | Mandalay | USD95 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Yangon | Bagan | USD85 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Bagan | Heho | USD95 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Heho | Yangon | USD85 The poor state of Myanmar's roads and railways make flying by far the least uncomfortable option when travelling long distances.
Flag carrier Myanmar National Airlines operates a network of domestic Flights to many destinations across Myanmar from its hub in Yangon International Airport. Long known for its poor safety record, it has improved dramatically in recent years with the purchase of newer aircraft, and these days compares favourably with many of the private airlines in terms of both service and safety. There are also several private airlines operating domestic Flights from Yangon. The private airline companies are usually on time, and even depart early (10-20 min), so be on time and reconfirm your flight and flight time 1–2 days before departure. Sometimes the itinerary might be altered some days before departure (meaning that you will still fly to your final destination on the scheduled time, but with an added or removed in between stop, e.g., Yangon-Bagan becomes Yangon-Mandalay-Bagan). This usually only affects your arrival time. En route stops have only 10-20 min ground time, and if it is not your final destination, you can stay inside the plane during the stop. All domestic flight from Yangon depart from Terminal 3, while international flights depart from Terminals 1 & w. When taking a taxi from downtown to the airport, mention to the driver that you are on a domestic flight so you'll not end up in the wrong terminal. Muslim Friendly Rail Holidays in Myanmar
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