Travel Tips

Tax Duty

Expensive jewelry, cameras and electronic equipment in your possession must be declared at the arrival tax duty counter. When traveling in Myanmar, receipts of jewelry, sculptures and antiques bought from authorized dealers must be with you and when asked by authorities concerned you must be able to produce them. Antique artifacts are not allowed to be taken abroad.

Currency

The local currency is called 'Kyat'. One hundred pyas amounts to one Kyat. Current denominations in use are 50 pyas, one kyat, 5 kyats, 10 kyats, 15 kyats, 20 kyats, 25 kyats, 50 kyats, 90 kyats, 10 kyats, 200 kyats, 500 kyats, 1000 kyats and
5000 kyats.

Foreign Exchange Certificate (FEC)

FEC are also in use in Myanmar. One FEC is equal is one US dollar and can be used in place of dollar. One 5, 10 and 20 FEC are in circulation. It will be convenient for tourists to bring 100 US-dollar notes with President Benjamin Franklin's portrait. We recommend visitors to bring US Dollar in cash only but need to be all of your Dollar is clean and new. Euro and Pound Sterling currencies can also be exchangeable.

Credit Card

It will be difficult to use credit cards and travelers' checks in Myanmar. Some big hotels, restaurants and gift shops may accept them, but they will charge high commission rates. Commission rates will be anything from between seven to 10 per cent.

Duty Free Goods

An individual tourist is allowed to have two bottles of liquor, two cartons of cigarettes or one hundred cigars and a half-liter of perfume. Duty Free shops are open at arrival and departure lounges at the Yangon International Airport and items can be bought at reasonable prices.

Working hours

Office hours for government departments are from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm whilst for private companies, from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. Saturdays and Sundays are holidays, but for some companies, Saturday is only a half-day holiday. All offices are closed on Sundays.

Clothing

Light and enveloping clothes are suitable for the country's climate.
In the chilly regions of northern Myanmar such as Inlay, Kalaw, Pindaya, Kyaingtong, Pyin Oo Lwin and Lashio, sweaters and jerkins are preferable. In visiting pagodas, shrines and religious places it would look respectable to the religion if you abstain from wearing shorts or miniskirts. It will be convenient to wear slippers or easily removable footwear during visits.

Language

Myanmar (Burma) is the principal language in this country although English is quite conversational in most cities.

Mobile phones

Only local mobile phones are usable here and foreign mobile phones are not to be used in this country.. In DEC 2008 in our country starts to sale GSM SIN card , any one can buy with $ 20 or 20 FEC one GSM sim card validity is within one months working. So visitor can bring hand set if would you like to call to IDD or local call.

Foreign calls

In most hotels direct foreign phone calls are available but one should inquire the rate before making calls.

Electrical Voltage

220-230 AC volts are operative in Myanmar but if one carries electrical appliances, one should use it with a safe-guard converter.

What bring to Myanmar

Sun-shade hats, sunglasses, sunrays protective lotion, medicines, mosquito repellent lotion, flash lights, and rain coats, umbrellas, drench slippers in rainy season. It is more convenient to bring extra passport-size photographs.

Travel Insurance

It is advisable to make insurances before touring starts. Passports, cash, credit cards, cheque books and bank books should be kept on your person wherever you go.

Gratuities & Tipping

Myanmar are genuinely happy to help foreign visitors and don’t expect anything in return. But if your guide or any other person during your trip was especially kind or helpful a gratuity would be a generous gesture and greatly appreciated.

Airport Tax

Any passenger departing Myanmar on international flight will need to pay a departure tax of US$ 10 per person.

Local Time

6½ hours earlier than G.M.T.

Arrival & Departure Procedure

Arrival Procedure (Yangon/ Mandalay International Airport)

1. To show your passport, entry-visa, disembarkation card and other relevant documents to the officers at the immigration
    counter (foreigners' section).
2. To let customs officers examine your passport and declaration forms at the customs counter.
3. To pick up your luggage taken in by the conveyor-belt.
4. To declare, if any, electrical goods/camera/jewelleries and foreign currencies at the customs counter.
5. To settle customs duties, if required, through the red channel.
6. To let customs preventive officers inspect your luggage.
7. To let immigration officers re-examine your passport.

Departure Procedure (Yangon/ Mandalay International Airport)

1. To get your ticket confirmed at the airlines concerned.
2. To pay the airport tax (10 US$ in cash) at the airport.
3. To show your passport and airport tax receipt at the counter of the airline concerned so as to receive your boarding-pass.
4. To let immigration officers examine your passport and embarkation card.
5. To submit your passport and declaration form at the customs counter.
6. To let customs preventive officers inspect your luggage.
7. To go through a body-search.

Currency and exchange

Myanmar currency is Kyat and the denominations are K-1, 5, 10,15, 20, 45, 50, 90, 100, 200, 500, 1000 & 5000. The official exchange rate is around 6 Kyat to US$ 1. FEC generally accepted at the fixed rate of US $ 1= 1 and are payable to all bills and purchases as US$.

Airport tax

Departure tax for international flights is US$-10 per person, payable in US dollar.

Inoculation & vaccination

Medical certificates of inoculations are essential especially for visitors coming from an infected area or yellow fever zones. Vaccination ertificate is not necessary.

Shopping

Bargaining is an art long-practiced in Asian countries including Myanmar. So feel free to ask for a proper discount when shopping in places where prices are not marked. Myanmar arts and crafts, mostly pure handmade, are best souvenirs and prices are very reasonable. Lacquer-ware, wood and ivory carvings, tapestries, silverware, brassware, silk and cotton fabrics and shoulder bags are some of the favorite items. Finest Myanmar ruby, sapphire, jade and pearl are available at Myanmar gems shops.

Health

The same precautions as anywhere else. Drink only bottled water. Do not eat raw vegetables; only eat fruits that you can peel or cut yourself. Be wary of eating food from street stalls. Use insect repellent to keep malaria, dengue fever and the like at bay. Use sunscreen literally when exposed to the intense, tropical sun. A 24-hour, medical clinic, with internationally trained medical staff and health insurance is now available in Yangon. Health risks: cholera, dysentery, hepatitis, malaria, rabies, typhoid.

National flag

The dominating color of the national flag is red. The rectangular space at the upper left corner is blue. In it could be seen the figure of a paddy stalk and a pinion encircled by 14 white stars of uniform size. The paddy represents the peasants while the pinion stands for the workers who form the majority of the people in the country. 14 uniform white stars symbolize the equal status and union spirit of the 7 States and 7 Divisions that constitute the Union of Myanmar. The white in the flag signifies purity; the red indicates bravery and upright nature of the people; and the blue stands as a symbol of peace and stability in the country.

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/Consulate offices with validity for 28 days and extendable for another 14 days. Application forms in duplicate with three-passport size photos are to be submitted with a fee of US $ 20 in their respective currency. There are two type of tourist visa available.

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.