Yangon Surrounding adventure Ideas - Dala & Twante

SEA WANDER tour suggest new places for spending a few days in Yangon to travel know burma people in rural areas and visit its great sites. One of those is having a full day to discover the lives by Ayeyarwaddy River in Dala and Twante.

Dala - about 40km from Yangon - is one of the most joyful villages of burma (Burma), where you may experience the life on motorcycle, the friendliness of vendors on the road and the cheerful eyes of children. Twante is the traditional pottery handicraft of this country, where you may learn about the skillful citizen and their beautiful works, admire how young generation is keeping and developing the secret of their family’s traditional workshop. One day in these attractive towns is worth experience to take some memories of your captivating burma holiday back home.

Dala – How the lives get on by the Ayeyarwaddy River?

How to get there from Yangon:

Being a small town in the South of Yangon river, the trip to Dala starts by taking the jetty at Pansadon street. Walking to the finish of the street then you could see the local jetty which is ready to depart at any time of the day. Foreigners could buy the ticket at the booth near the jetty, the price is about US$4/pax/two ways, which may be paid by local currency (kyats) as well. The ferry will leave every 20 minutes and will reach the site at an approximately alike time.

Going along the river by ferry will surely carry a Burmese local taste to your holiday. Immense by the landscape sight, amazed by the fact that local vendors will try to sell almost everything hand-made to customers with the warmest smile and brightest eyes. You can wait from snack, fruit to bread and egg… ect. Taking the beautiful photos and feeling the “village smell” should add memories to your trip.

What to notice in Dala?

Leaving Yangon in about 20 minutes and carry a tour in Dala for 2 – 3 hours in the afternoon is an excellent adjustment of the day. There are a lot of things recommended in this town:
carry a walk around Dala, there is a mix of harsh, dusty dirt roads and the piles of animal walking through streets to streets. This is the uncommon thing which be able to not be found in hasty cities such as Yangon or Mandalay. You will notice chicken, goats and cows are freely crossing the street now and then. Spend some kyats (the local Burmese money) to carry a trishaw ride and relax being a farmer. Trishaw is one of the most common means of transportation in here. Riding by trishaw, watching authentic rural life, looking at the young kid slowly pass-by is something that has been lost in the large and modern countries. Visit the fresh fish market of the village and interact with the “local businessman” are also interesting and notable activities.
Belong to myanmar means there is no site that you cannot adventure without a golden temple. Shwe Sayan Pagoda is a significant landmark of this town. All people that coming to this pagoda will pay their respect to the mummified monk in a glass cased for their still life. The spiritual Buddha has been taking care of the whole town for around 150 years and surely more to come. The legend has said 10 – 12 years ago, he has warned the villagers about a coming cyclone from Thailand.

Twante – Not only a pottery village but a town of surprised

How to adventure Twante?

There are several ways to reach this boutique workshop village:

• From Yangon, you can get to to Twante by ferry from Pandosan street (near Strand road) in 2 hours through the Twante Canal.
• If you are already in Dala, original carry the ferry at Dala in 10 minutes then 45 minutes by car via Twante Bridge. All in all, reaching this town is as easy as it said.

How to go to the town:

Not such as Yangon, where the means of transportation is by bus or taxi, reaching small towns such as Twante of Dala, you could experience from bike to motorbike to trishaw, local minibus, broad bus and taxi (if you do not get to with the independent car), and a mix of them. If you ever try on bus, you will see that each bus will have a ‘conductor’, who may speak some Burmese-English, will collect the money on hand and shout out the site. It would be an interesting experience.

What to find in Twante:

George Orwell, in his well known book “Burmese Days” has mentioned Twante as one of his favorite places while living in burma. As a neighbor of Dala on the Ayearewaddy delta river, this town will welcome you with its glamorous agricultural products. Not only that, Twante is famous for its pots, the Shwe san daw Temple or the mysterious snake pagoda.

first one in the list is the Twante market, you be able to buy most of the local products in here, from tropical fruits to quail eggs to local powder and other goods. Citizen will normally hang their products on any type of vehicle and carriers, on bike, on boat, or even on their head….

The most famous pottery village is Oh-Bo Pottery, visitors be able to reach there by trishaw by somewhat 300 – 500 kyats (Kyats is burma currency) from Twante market. From now on, you can uncover a whole world from water mugs, pots, vases, water filter, bowls and numerous more. Nearly everyone in a family will together handle the work by hand in each step. There is no machine but everything has been finished manually, from collecting the raw material, building to proper objects to firing and drying process. Although there is no paint or color on the ultimate product but there are carvings and sculpting vases and pots which reveal the skills of those native artists. The products, after that, will be shipped to Yangon or other broad cities via boat then sold there.
Spend some time to visit Shwe san daw Pagoda (Shwe san daw means “the temple of golden hair”), a perfectly smaller duplicate of Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon. There are only four temples in burma have the name Shwe san daw (one in Yangon, one in Bagan – the most renowned one, one in Pyay which is approximately 300km to the north of Yangon and one in Twante). The temple embraces two strands of hair of Buddha and is where all local people in Ayearewaddy regions come to pray for great life.

Besides, one of the very unusual sites in Twante is the Snake Temple, which would clearly encourage our adventurous tourists. The Snake Temple is located in the middle of the lake which is 4 – 5 km from Twante. The pagoda is where the large snakes (pythons) are living, there are two nuns who devoted their lives to bring care of snakes in diverse sizes. They believe that Buddha is protected and kept still while he listens to his people’s peace and happiness asking.

amazing to know - SEA WANDER tours suggested itinerary for Yangon surrounding tour in 3 days including Dala and Twante. This is best for passengers from big cruise ships docking at Yangon port for few days.

Burma currency and money exchange

Card usage is not accepted in myanmar, that sentences used to be widely renowned past few years to tourists preparing a trip to burma. Now the situation is much different. Below is our latest updates about money usage why travelling in myanmar (Burma).

myanmar (Burma) Money exchange and currency

Myanmar’s national currency, the KYAT (pronounced chat, and abbreviated MMK) is divided into the next banknotes: K1, K5, K10, K20, K50, K100, K200, K500, and K1000. The exchange rate is about US$ 01 ~ MMK 1340.
Travelers should ensure they arrive in myanmar with some travel budget portions in US dollars, as ATMs are quite known for in main cities yet very hard to see some in smaller cities. The ATM machines are often installed in front of main hotels. The travelers be able to withdraw money in US$, SGD, and Bath Thai. Online payment is now accepted, too. Most of the online payment gateways are operated by foreign organizations with international secure standards. The processing fee is running from 3 - 5%. Despite those facts, burma is the country where "cash is king". Every seller welcome cash and you should not rely on a single money source, keep some cash in your pocket in both USD and local Kyat.

However please pay at attention when bring US notes with you:

• The US$ notes have to be new.
• The US$ notes torn, marked, folded will not be accepted.
• The US$ notes having series prior 2003 backward be able to not accepted.
• You are allowed to bring up to US$ 5000 in cash per person to enter burma.

Burmese money, Kyat, is accepted widely regardless of the note conditions.
Money changers are reluctant to deal with damaged notes at a radiant lower rate. US dollars be able to be changed at Yangon airport, banks (which give the best exchange rates) and some hotels (which charge more but may be handy in a pinch). Black market money changers are prolific on the streets of major adventurer hubs, but generally, give a much worse price for KYAT.

Credit cards & travelers cheques

HIT burma confirms that card usages are now renowned in main visiting destinations of myanmar. The sellers charge a small portion around 3.5% on each transaction for processing fees and their card welcome attitudes are various. A credit card is now usable in main cities of burma such as Yangon, Mandalay etc. Most of the hotels accept credit card payment. The fee is widely known at 3.5% per transaction.
Some websites even permit Online payment by credit card with the high secure standard. However, the processing fee is about 5.1%, rather higher than neighbor countries like Thai land or Vietnam (about 3%).

Exchanging money in myanmar (Burma)

The $100 bill gets a slightly better exchange rate than a $50 or $20, and so on. And supposedly the exchange rate is marginally better early in the week (Monday or Tuesday). We’ve also been told that exchange rates sometimes fluctuate with poppy season too!
It’s safest to change money at banks, hotels, and shops, rather than on the road. The money changers standing around just east of the Mahabandoola Garden in Yangon own a reputation for short-changing new arrivals for several thousand kyats.
Never hand over your money until you’ve received the kyat and counted them. Honest money changers will wait you do this. Money changers give ready-made, rubber-banded stacks of a hundred K1000 bills. It’s a wonderful idea to check each note individually. Often you’ll find one or two (or more) with a cut corner or taped together, neither of which anyone will accept. We heard from some travelers that Yangon money changers own asked for a ‘commission’.
tremendous travelers do the bulk of their exchanging in Yangon, where you may get about K100 more per dollar than elsewhere, then take the stacks of kyat for a couple of weeks around the country. Considering the relative safety from theft, it’s not a bad idea, but you can burma exchange money elsewhere.
Also, when paying for rooms and services in US dollars, check your change carefully. Locals such as to unload slightly torn $5 bills that work fine in New York, but will be meaningless for the sleep of your trip.

Spending money in burma (Burma) while travelling

myanmar (Burma), once the cheapest country in Southeast Asia, has recently been subject to some hefty price hikes due to a boom in go to to myanmar.
At a pinch, shoestring travelers can get by on a budget of approximately US$40 a day for a cheap guesthouse (no aircon and dubious hygiene) in high season, adventure on local buses and meals at local street food stalls and tea houses.
Travelers wanting access to air conditioned hotel rooms, meals at western-style restaurants and taxi rides should budget closer to $120 per day. Luxury hotels in Yangon and Bagan may be as expensive as anywhere in the western world.
Tipping as known in the West is not customary in burma. HIT burma encourages some tips for the citizen getting involved in your services if you see satisfied enough. The tipping is not compulsory though little extra ‘presents’ are sometimes expected (even if they’re not asked for) in exchange for a service (such as unlocking a locked temple at Bagan, helping move a bag at the airport or showing you around the ‘sights’ of a village).
It’s a good idea to keep some small notes (K50, K100, K200) when visiting a religious temple or monastery, as donations be able to be asked for. Also, you be able to wish to leave a donation.

Latest Updates from our Experiences and Lonely Planet

Burma - myanmar Culture & History

Sharing borders with China, Bangladesh, India, Laos and Thailand, burma is characterised by a horseshoe of mountains and hills that surround the country from the north, east and west.

myanmar (BURMA) CULTURE & FESTIVALS

Food & drink

Burmese cuisine features influences from Chinese and Indian cuisines, with curries very known for and rice a common staple. Less spices are typically used in the curries, though more ginger and garlic are often added for flavor.
Specialties vary by region, and some could be quite spicy. Tasty dishes to sample include Mohingal, which is a fish soup with rice, and Oh-no Khauk Swe, coconut and chicken in a spicy sauce. There is also a delicious spicy vegetarian rice salad, Lethok Son and Mandalay's renowned 'mee-shay' noodles to try.
Aside from Burmese dishes, Thai, Indian and Chinese food can be commonly found at restaurants and in hotels, and there is an abundance of fresh fruit for sale in the markets. You should not consume the tap water in burma, however bottled water is readily available and usually provided in hotel rooms for free.

Holidays and Festivals

• 4 January is Independence Day, which marks Burma's independence from the British Empire in 1948. Banks, public offices and some businesses will be closed.
• 12 February marks Union Day, the anniversary of the Panglong Agreement in 1947, a historic meeting between ethnic minority leaders and the government. Banks, public offices and some businesses will be closed.
• 2 March is Peasants' Day, commemorating the anniversary of revolutionary leader Ne Win's coup in 1962. Banks, public offices and some businesses will be closed.
• 7 March is a public vacation honoring the Full Moon of Tabaung, an important Buddhist festival also celebrated in Cambodia, Laos and Thailand. Banks, public offices and some businesses will be closed.
• Full moon of Tabaung (Tabaung: the twelfth month in traditional Burmse calendar), normally takes destination in March, is the merit-making day for Burmese Buddhists. The best highlight of this chance is Shwedagon pagoda festival. >> Learn more Full moon of Tabaung at here
• 27 March is Armed Forces Day, a public vacation to recognize Burma's military regime, the Tatmadaw. Banks, public offices and some businesses will be closed.
• 12-16 April is Maha Thingyan, a water festival marking the leadup to Burmese New Year, where water is thrown on each other on the streets. Banks, public offices and some businesses will be closed.
• 17 April is a public vacation to celebrate Burma's New Year. Banks, public offices and some businesses will be closed.
• 1 be able to is could Day, honoring the economic and social achievements of workers. Banks, public offices and some businesses will be closed.
• Full Moon of Kason (Kason: the second month in traditional Burmese calendar) usually takes site in be able to, is the anniversary of the birth, enlightenment and death of Buddha, celebrated by watering the Bodhi tree. >> spectacle here to know more On this time, banks, public offices and some businesses will be closed.
• Full Moon of Waso (Waso: the forth month in traditional Burmese calendar) usually occurs in July, marking the beginning of Buddhist Lent (Vassa). This is also the anniversary of Buddha's primary sermon on the Four Noble Truths. Banks, public offices and some businesses will be closed.
• 19 July is Martyr's Day, commemorating the assassination of Aung San, a revolutionary said to be the father of up to date burma, and several other cabinet members in 1947. Banks, public offices and some businesses will be closed.
• Full Moon of Thadingyut (Thadingyut: the seventh month in tradditioanal Burmese calendar) usually takes site in October, marking the end of Buddhist Lent (Vassa). Banks, public offices and some businesses will be closed.
• Full Moon of Tazaungmon (Tazaungmon: the eighth month in traditional Burmese calendar), usually occurs in Novemver, marking the finish of the rainy season. It is so-called as Festival of Light. Banks, public offices and some businesses will be closed.
• 8 December is National Day, the anniversary of university students' strikes in 1920. Banks, public offices and some businesses will be closed.
• 25 December is Christmas Day, a public vacation in burma. Banks, public offices and some businesses will be closed.

myanmar - myanmar history OVERVIEW

Archaelogical findings reveal that parts of burma were inhibited some five thousand years ago. The ancestors of present-day Myanmars, the Pyus and the Mons established several kingdoms throughout the country from the 1st century A.D. To the 10th century A.D. From that early beginning, there are today a fascinating 135 nationalities who call burma home.
myanmar history dates back to the early 11th Century when King Anawrahta unified the country and founded the original myanmar Empire in Bagan more than 20 years prior the Norman Conquest of England in 1066(i.e. 1044 A.D.). The Bagan Empire encompassed the areas of the present day burma and the entire Menam Valley in Thailand and lasted two centuries.
The Second myanmar Empire was founded in mid 16th Century by King Bayinnaung(1551-1581). King Alaungpaya founded the final burma Dynasty in 1752 and it was during the zenith of this Empire that the British moved into myanmar. Like India, myanmar became a British colony but only after three Anglo-Myanmar Wars in 1825, 1852, and 1885.
During the Second World War, myanmar was occupied by the Japanese from 1942 till the return of the Allied Forces in 1945. Burma has become a sovereign personal state since 4th January 1948 after more than 100 years under the colonial administration.

Morden burma (Burma) History Milestone

• March 1962: Then-Myanmar comes under military rule by Ne Win after a bloodless coup.
• March 1988: Mass anti-government demonstrations occur throughout burma.
• September 1988: Gen. Saw Maung takes over in another military coup. Aung San Suu Kyi co-founds and leads the National League for Democracy.
• In 1989: burma changes its name in English to myanmar and the name of the capital from Rangoon to Yangon. Suu Kyi is placed under house arrest for charges of trying to divide the military, charges she denies.
• In 1990: Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy party wins more than 80 percent of the legislative seats in the polls, the first free elections in the country in nearly 30 years. The junta refuses to recognize the results.
• October 14, 1991: Suu Kyi wins the Nobel Peace Prize.
• April 23, 1992: Gen. Than Shwe replaces Saw Maung as head of the junta.
• July 23, 1997: myanmar joins ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations).
• March 2006: Naypyidaw becomes the new administrative capital.
• August-September 2007: Huge fuel price increases spark protests, later dubbed the "saffron revolution" after the robes of monks who also joined in. The protests gained steam over weeks. On September 24, Buddhist monks led about 100,000 in the largest anti-government demonstrations since 1988. Two days later, government forces cracked down.
• October 20, 2007: U.N. General Assembly approves a resolution condemning the government crackdown and asking for the release of political protesters.
• may 2, 2008: Cyclone Nargis hits myanmar, killing more than 22,000. The government later reports 41,000 missing and up to 1 million homeless.
• may 14, 2009: Suu Kyi is arrested and charged with government subversion, relating to an incident in which American John Yettaw swam uninvited to her lakeside home.
• August 10, 2009: burma court convicts Suu Kyi, then 64, for breaching the terms of her house arrest over Yettaw's adventure. She is sentenced to 18 more months in home confinement, as were two of her house companions. Yettaw is sentenced to seven years of hard labor, but U.S. Senator Jim Webb obtains his release soon afterwards.
• March 10, 2010: Junta announces new election law that disqualifies Suu Kyi from taking part in upcoming national elections, citing her conviction in court. She has spent more than 14 years of the final 20 years under house arrest.
• April 26, 2010: Myanmar's Prime Minister Thein Sein and several other ministers resign from their military posts in order to take part in upcoming elections.
• can 7, 2010: The NLD refuses to register for the election, thereby disqualifying itself as a political party and officially dissolves. On the same day, supporters of Suu Kyi say they will form a new political party, National Democratic Force, which comprises some members of NLD.
• August 13, 2010: myanmar will hold elections on November 7, in the military junta-led nation's primary vote since 1990.
• November 2010: Scheduled date of Suu Kyi's release from house arrest and detention after 14 years.

Decades of change and political instability followed, with an unstable parliament and several military coups creating uncertainty around the newly Socialist country. Myanmar seemingly lurched from crisis to crisis, plagued by corruption, inflation and volatility from the 1960s to 1990s. With increasing trade embargoes, protests, sanctions and international pressure, the military government was forced to cease the imprisonment of democratically elected Aung San Suu Kyi and instate democracy to the country once again. With elections being held in 2010, myanmar can eventually be on the street to restoring democracy, peace and prosperity to the population.

Note on the use of burma net and telephone

Nowadays, the Internet and telephone become so popular and nearly indispensable in the daily life. Especially when traveling, it is very important for tourist to contact, catch information, destinations, way back in one country. In addition, myanmar is a developing country and the burma net is quiescent limited. So if you want to use telephone and Internet in myanmar, you should carry some notes below.

History of myanmar net development

The original Internet connection in burma (formerly known as Burma) was established in 2000.

Since September 2011, the level of Internet censorship in Burmese history has decreased dramatically. Before to September 2011, the military government worked actively to restrict and control Internet access through censorship based on software, infrastructure and technical limitations, laws and regulations with fines. Grand and long prison sentences for the offenders.

Internet usage in myanmar

In 2015, the internet users significantly increased to 12.6% with the introduction of the faster mobile 3G internet by transnational telecommunication companies, Telenor myanmar and Ooredoo myanmar, and later joined by national myanmar Post and Telecommunications (MPT).

While the internet situation in burma has constantly been evolving since its introduction in 2010 and reduction of censorship in 2011, laws such as the 2013 Telecommunications Law continue to restrict citizens from total freedom online. However, internet penetration continues to increase nationwide despite the restrictions.

Situation of network in burma

1. Service providers, Internet cafés:

5BB Broadband, Yatanarpon Teleport, WeLink burma, myanmar Speednet, myanmar Net, satellite internet provider Skynet, the state-owned burma Post and Telecommunication (MPT), Kinetic myanmar Technology and AGB Communication are the Internet service providers in Mandalay and Yangon.

In the past, Internet cafes were the general access center for domestic internet users and most used different software to bypass government proxy servers. Until the democratization in 2011, with the advent of the cheap mobile internet and the improvement of telecommunications infrastructure after liberalization, Internet cafes possess become less popular. However, they are quiet widely available to acces Internet in myanmar, especially in Yangon and Mandalay and are used when people write a blog and some other activities.

The Cafe Internet in burma

2. Internet in other towns and rural areas

The internet access for home use in other towns except Yangon and Mandalay is the only ADSL, provided by MPT. But the internet fees are so expensive.

- By 2017, MPT ADSL will cost 325,000 myanmar Kyat (estimated at US $ 240).

- For the initial ADSL Setup fee, the MPT offers a price of 50,000 burma Kyat (estimated at $ 37) without CPE.

- The monthly charge for 512kbit / s (lowest bandwidth) is 17,000 burma Kyat (estimated at US $ 13) and the 2.5 Mb / s (highest bandwidth) fee is 80,000 burma Kyat (60 US dollars) calculation).

- The annual fee is 50,000 burma Kyat (estimated at 37 USD)

- Internet FTTH is not available in the towns.

3. Mobile Phone Usage

Nowadays, the price of SIM cards in burma is decreasing thanks to the growth of using Internet in myanmar and telecom operators. Specifically, the price of 1 sim card goes from "~ 245,000 kyats (reported as $ 250) in 2013 to ~ 1,542 kyats (reportedly $ 1.5) in 2014. Although the cost remains high for myanmar, Burmese are silent willing to pay for mobile phones, with more than 18.1 million active SIM cards

Notes for foreign tourists

● It is only in Yangon to have fiber-optic internet while in Pagan or other places there are high-speed ADSL billboards like Vietnam in 2000.

● Some hotels proffer myanmar ‘s internet but with quite high prices, please check with the hotel reception. If you stay in Yangon, you be able to rent a computer at the hotel for 1000kat per hour of use with splendid quality

● There is not much internet cafe in myanmar, only in the heart of the city for quite high prices. In addition, the government of myanmar restricts and regulates the use of the internet as well as telephone. You will not possess access to some known for social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Skype or Yahoo Msg. Gmail & Google talk could use but frequently bug

Notes for foreign tourists on use of myanmar net and telephone

● Internet access via mobile devices to the wifi hotspot in hotels in myanmar is nearly impossible or very slow. You should be aware of this when you intend to use it.

● To purchase a SIM card, foreigners need to contain photocopies of their passport photo page and myanmar visa page, as well as one passport photo. SIM cards are 3G mobile data enabled and criteria SIM and micro SIM cards are available.

● Note that mobile network access is often patchy or non-existent in rural areas, but usually works well in towns.

● International calls cost more than $ 5 / minute and can only be done reliably from the hotel; Note that only a few calls permit international calls and you can calm be charged for a call even though it is not connected.

● Public phones: You may not notice a public telephone booth in the city. All calls to foreign countries are controlled by the government and allowed to be called. Guests should check the price with the hotel prior calling.

Hope these information about myanmar net and telephone will be useful for you when learning about this country, especially for foreign tourists.

Things to know about burma population

General information about myanmar

burma or the Republic of the Union of myanmar shortened to myanmar, is a sovereign state in Southeast Asia. Burma is the 24th most populous country in the world, and the 40th largest country by area. The 2018 estimated myanmar population is 53.86 million people.

The country is very ethnically various with 135 ethnic groups recognized by the government. There are at least 108 ethnolinguistic groups in burma. The Bamar account for around 68% of the population, followed by the Shan (10%), Kayin (7%), Rakhine (4%) and overseas Chinese (3%). Ethnic minorities in the country prefer to be called ethnic nationalities to fight against the proliferation of the dominant Bamar citizen. Other ethnic groups include the Mon (2%), Overseas Indians (2%) and the Kachin, Chin, Anglo-Indians, Nepali, and Anglo-Burmese.

myanmar - the country of longstanding culture

Statistics of population in burma

- The current population of burma (formerly Burma) is 53,776,808 as of Friday, may 4, 2018, based on the latest United Nations estimates.

- burma population is equivalent to 0.71% of the total world population.

- myanmar ranks number 26 in the list of countries (and dependencies) by population.

- The population density in burma is 82 per Km2 (214 people per mi2).

- The total land area is 653,290 Km2 (252,237 sq. Miles)

- 36.8 % of the population is urban (19,810,930 people in 2018)

- The median age in burma is 27.9 years.

In 2018, Burma's population is expected to increase by 485,126 and reach 54,097,911 in early 2019. Natural population growth is forecast to be positive, as the number of births will outnumber the death to 500,920.

If the migration status remains the same as in the before year, the population will drop to -15,794. That means that the number of citizen moving to myanmar to settle will be less than the number of citizen leaving the country to settle in another country.

According to the estimates, Myanmar's daily population change rate in 2018 will be as follows: 2,582 children are born on average per day 1,210 citizen die on average per day -43 migrants averaged per day Myanmar's population will develop by an average of 1,329 people per day in 2018.

Things to know about myanmar population

1. Burma's population density

The population density of burma is 82 citizen per square kilometer as of 04/05/2018. Population density is calculated by dividing the population of myanmar by the total area of the country. The total area is the total land area and water within Myanmar's international and coastal boundaries. According to the General Statistics Office of the United Nations, the total area of myanmar is 653,407 km2.

2. Age structure of myanmar

Population data by age (estimated):

- 14,990,837 people under 15 years of age (7,638,066 males / 7,352,771 females), accounting for 27.5% of the population

- 36,813,495 citizen aged 15-64 years (18,284,010 male / 18,529,485 female), accounting for 67.5% of the population

- 2,745,493 citizen over 64 years of age (1,196,278 men / 1,549,215 women), accounting for 5% of the population

The myanmar population density map

3. Percentage of dependent population by age

The proportion of the dependent population is the proportion of people who are unable to work (dependent) on a country's workforce. Dependencies include the population under 15 years of age and citizen 65 years or older. The labor force consists of a population aged 15 to 64. The total dependency ratio in myanmar is 47.7%.

- Percentage of dependent children:

The proportion of dependent children is the proportion of people below the working age (under 15 years of age) relative to the workforce of a country. The proportion of dependent children in burma is 38.9%.

- Percentage of Dependent Elderly: The percentage of elderly dependents is the

percentage of people above the working age (65+) relative to the workforce of a country. The proportion of elderly dependents in burma is 8.8%.

4. Life Expectancy

Life expectancy is one of the most important demographic indicators. It tells the time from when a person is born until he dies.

The total life expectancy (both sexes) in myanmar is 66.8 years. This figure is lower than the life expectancy of the world population (72 years).

The average age of men is 64.4 years. The average life expectancy for women is 69.1 years.

5. Literacy

According to our estimate, 36,845,241 citizen or 93.14% of the adult population (aged 15 and over) in myanmar can read and write. About 2,713,747 adults are illiterate.

6. The most populous city of myanmar

Yangon is located in the south of myanmar, near the junction of Yangon River and Bago River. It is only about 600 km2 but with more than 7 million inhabitants, it is the largest city, the most populous city, and the largest industrial and commercial center in the country. Yangon is not a motorbike, a tourist site cannot be ignored if you come to burma.

Yangon - The most populous city of burma

7. Religious distribution in the myanmar population

Of the 54 million people in burma, 90% profess Theravada Buddhism (roughly 48 million), 4% Christianity (1.65 million Baptists and 550,000 Roman Catholics), 4% Islam (2.2 million), 1% Hinduism (550,000), and the remaining 1% consists of Mahayana Buddhism, Vajrayana Buddhism, and Animism.

Here is some useful information about the population of burma for those who love and want to learn about this golden temple country.

Myanmar travel guide from A to Z for your best burma tour

Are you falling in love with the old pagoda and monasteries? Do you want to experience pristine luxurious nature or find out special Asian culture? If so, you should not ignore myanmar, also known as myanmar. Here is an captivating destination for both domestic and international tourists who are passionate about Buddhist temple and majestic natural scenery. Today, more and more adventurer choose this golden charming country as an ideal option for each go to. Some of the mysterious attractions include Yangon, Bagan, Ngapali Beach, Mandalay, Inle Lake,...So if this is your primary visit to burma, don't forget to equip yourself with "Myanmar adventure guide from A to Z for your best myanmar journey". Furthermore, our adventure guide will even exceed your expectations, develop your pleasure and satisfaction to the fullest.

"Myanmar go to guide from A to Z for your best burma tour" is an useful tips to equip you with a wealth of knowledge about the country’s local culture, art, and cuisine. It also offers you a amazing occasion to discover plenty of holy and gold-plated pagodas. Not only that, each site be able to remind you of the time in the pretty country. Consequently, tremendous visitors want to save their beautiful memories in every area they come in with different souvenirs. So, if you wonder what to pay attention to when visiting burma, what is the best place to travel in this beautiful country, what to taste in this mystic Buddhist country, the next information may be helpful to get the best myanmar adventure.

ideal transportation

The airplane is the best mean of transportation to burma and even among domestic traveler destinations. If you book a 2 ways ticket of Vietnam Airlines, you will spend at least 7,000,000 VND for the HCM City - Yangon route or 7,500,000 VND for the Hanoi - Yangon route. Another affordable option is Air Asia, but you will have to land in Bangkok, Thailand like a freight station.

If you want a fast flight and perfect service, you should fly with Vietnam Airlines even though the price is more expensive. If one of your most important canon is to save budget, then choose Air Asia to get the most affordable myanmar visit.

ideal domestic transportation for the best burma journey

In addition to the air route which is the safest and most comfortable, you may also move between the provinces of burma by bus. Remember to bring warm clothes because there are buses running at night and the air in this vehicle is extremely cold. Taxis are convenient transportations in the city. Meanwhile, the underdeveloped rail system and the bumpy roads contain made rail and motor vehicles unsuitable for ordinary tourists.

A magnificent itinerary for the best myanmar tour

popular for its pristine nature, thousands of ancient temples and thousand years of civilization, burma today becomes an suitable site for every visitor to come and explore. The best burma tour always amaze tourists from all over the world with the impressive mix of history and modernity. You may trek to far-off lands, experience a hot air balloon ride, explore a cave where thousands of Buddha images have long been housed, immerse in crystal blue seawater, uncover a lot of mysterious legend after thousand of golden pagodas,... Here’s what you be able to await from best burma tours:

Yangon - first place in your best burma journey

Known as the largest city in myanmar, Yangon is dubbed as the city without motorcycles, the main means are only cars and buses. Yangon is also the top place attracting visitors to myanmar by its friendly citizen, multicolored culture, suitable visiting spots.

such as the other monument in myanmar, architecture in this old capital of Yangon is boldly the color of Buddhism - the main religion of more than 80% of Myanmar’s population. The Buddha's towers are everywhere, they are very charming and the most well known is Shwedagon Pagoda. Shwedagon is a totally amazing Pagoda with the main tower of 99 meters high. The temple has a dome with 8 tons of gold so Shwedagon is also called "Golden Pagoda". Around the main temple are 64 small pagodas. There are 4 entrances leading to the main temple, each with a large pair of lions guarding it. In the temple, tremendous places such as the background, the sanctuary, the pattern are decorated with thousands of diamonds, gold, emerald, ruby, sapphire and tremendous other gemstones. In the mind of Myanmar’s people, the Shwedagon is not only a spiritual place of worship but also a national pride.

In addition, Yangon has two grand lakes, Inya Lake and Kandawgyi Lake. Inya Lake is larger but more well known is Kandawgyi Lake. Dawn and sunset here propostion an extremely beautiful and outstanding view from the wooden bridge to Shwedagon Pagoda.

Not a rushed or state of the art city, but Yangon is an ideal place for a quiet holiday or relaxing vacations.

Bagan - Land of the Buddha

The antique Bagan city was the royal capital of myanmar thousands of years ago. Owns a distinctive beauty, Bagan is located closeby the Ayeyarwady River, where dense concentration of temples, pagodas, and sanctuaries. There are five well known temples in Bagan, including Ananda Phaya, Dhamma Yangyi, Sulamani Pahto, Thatbyinnyu Pahto and especially Shwezigon Golden Temple.

Bagan is very silent. Getting to Bagan, you ought to try horse riding and cycling once to experience a special tour, to immerse your soul into the old timeless feeling of the ancient capital. Bagan possesses a rich history behind the dense red dust. The temples in Bagan are endlessly spread all over, through the ups and downs of the thousand years that are quiet there. If Angkor exhibits its subtlety in rocks and bricks, Bagan is glistening in the dust and immense walls that are intact over time.

In Bagan, temples calm retain their original beauty despite disaster or time. The climate in Bagan is dry, so the buildings are better preserved in humid climates. The temples are restored very skillfully, technically reconciled backward by the hands of the myanmar citizen. To them, this work is not a restoration of an antique ancestral building, but rather an expression of respect for the Buddha.

In this old land, the most great moment is probably dawn and sunset. Because dawn and sunset are the most spiritual or because it is the best time to wander by romantic soul, to look and take pictures. The best time in the year to admire sunlight here should be from November to March. In this season, the sky is very clear. You could climb a high place or carry a ride with hot air balloon to admire the panorama of attractive Bagan, breathtaking sight of this spiritual land.

Mandalay - City of the pearls

Mandalay is located in central myanmar, 716 km north of Yangon. Captivating city on the banks of the romantic Ayeyarwady River, at the foot of the hill of the same name. From Yangon, if traveling by car, it takes almost 2 days. It is best to go by plane, a little pricey but save time.

Compared with numerous other capitals in the world, Mandalay has a slower pace of life. It is not vibrant, but tranquil, tranquil. There are numerous pretty temples here, most notably the Mahamuni Pagoda, also known as Payagi, broad Paya, Rakhang Paya.

Besides, going to Mandalay, visitors cannot miss watching the sunset on U Bein bridges in the suburbs. This is the longest and oldest bridge in the world made of wood. The 1,200-meter-long bridge over Taungthaman Lake contains 1,086 pillars, 482 spans and thousands of planks which were removed from homes in Sagaing and Inwa for transportation. Moreover, you can bring a boat ride to find the freshwater dolphin on the Ayeyarwady River or to see the 90-ton Mingun bell or Mya Nan San Kyaw - meaning "the wonderful royal palace in gold". Then, let’s find a high place and look away. From there, you may admire the tower of gold or silver iridescent, highlight among still village.

This is a good setting you could hardly forget in your best burma tour.

Distinctive specialties for your best myanmar journey

The cuisine is always one of the most curious features for any tourists when visiting a foreign land. In particular, for a country with a featured culture and customs as myanmar, the food industry is increasingly attracting both domestic and international tourists. Here are some interesting dishes that you should not miss for your best burma tour.

Laphet Thoke (tea leaf salad)

The fermented tea leaves may be eaten as desserts, or may also be processed as a tea leaf salad. Sour and slightly bitter tea is mixed with cabbage, tomatoes, roasted beans, peppers and garlic. This specialty is really amazing while eating with or without rice.

Nangyi Thoke noodles

Nangyi Thoke consists of thick round noodles with chicken, sliced chopped slices, and a few slices of boiled eggs. Ingredients are marinated with grilled chicken broth, turmeric, and chili oil, mixed well and eaten with vegetables and broth.

Shan rice (Nga Htamin)

Nga Htamin is also known as rice with fish. This Shan ethnic dishes consist of rice mixed with turmeric, then sprinkled with freshwater fish sauce and garlic oil. This food is eaten with leeks, fresh garlic, and crispy pork skin, creating a characteristic pungent flavor.

Burmese curry

For this dish, you be able to choose curry made from beef, fish, shrimp, pork or lamb. Along with curries are countless side dishes including rice, salad, fried vegetables, soups, fresh vegetables,...with a variety of different sauces.

myanmar sweet snack

Unlike Western delicacies, myanmar delicacies, collectively called "Moun", are eaten as snacks, not as desserts. Moun is totally sweet due to its natural ingredients such as coconut milk, rice flour, glutinous rice and fruit. Some of the typical Moun is Sa-Nwin-Ma-Kin (coconut milk, typical cake, dairy butter, and raisin), bein Moun and Moun Pyit Thalet (Myanmar pancake).

Crispy crisps

In myanmar, you will notice crispy crisps everywhere. The typical dish is Buthi Kyaw (crispy fried dough) with a sweet and sour sauce made from tamarind and bean flour.

Shan tofu noodle

One of the most special dishes in myanmar is Hto-Hpu-Nwe, meaning "warm tofu". The name is so but this dish does not contain tofu but only porridge made from chicken chickpeas.

Because every adventurer place in myanmar is very interesting, you will be stunned if you get to this pretty country for the first time. Without a doubt, our "Myanmar adventure guide from A to Z" will be a amazing guideline for your best burma tourto learn something new about the world, to experience. Now, wake up your travel passion and find out myanmar right away.

9 Best things to do in Yangon myanmar

The antique capital of Yangon burma is one of the most captivating destinations when traveling in Asia. Coming here, visitors will be completely conquered by the lush green park, shady trees, and tropical green plants. This is why Yangon is called "Garden of the East". Before starting your Yangon tour, let’s learn some fundamental information about it and what to do when you come here in the below article

General Information about Yangon myanmar

Yangon was the capital of myanmar until 2006. This is the largest city and most important commercial center of myanmar.

Yangon myanmar is at the convergence of the Bago and Yangon Rivers, about 30 km from Martaban Bay and coordinates 16 ° 48 'N, 96 ° 09' E (16.8, 96.15). Its canon time zone is UTC / GMT +6: 30 hours.

Yangon has a tropical monsoon climate in the Köppen climate classification system. The city has a rainy season lasting from could to October, which receives heavy rainfall; and the dry season from November to April. Yangon has a region that is said to possess a amazing climate, not as harsh or changeable as some other countries in Southeast Asia. That’s why you can adventure to Yangon all year round.

A Corner of Yangon myanmar

What to do in Yangon?

1. Travel Shwedagon Pagoda

The primary and most important religious site of Yangon burma is Shwedagon Pagoda.

people said that "not come to Shwedagon, not come to Myanmar". You will may really understand the sentence from the moment you step into the 2500-years-old temple. This is really a masterpiece that architects and builders created for this country. Visitors can even realize the sparkling tower of the temple from tremendous locations in the city.

Shwedagon Pagoda is open from 4 am - 10 pm every day. Tremendous Buddhist pilgrims to visit as well as visitors to visit in the afternoon. This is the place to watch the sunset extremely amazing. When you travel the temple, you must bring off your shoes, so take a bag of nylon shoes, then put them in your backpack. Note when visiting the pagoda at noon, this time the heat will make the brick background extremely hot, you need to be careful when walking barefoot.

Shwedagon - The Golden Pagoda in Yangon

2. KANDAWG​YI Lake

This lake is one of two major lakes in Yangon burma, located in the East of Shwedagon Pagoda, the lake is artificial and it has captivating views.

Kandawgyi located in the population of the pretty Kandawgyi National Park in the heart of Yangon. This is what a perfect site for citizen who love the peace and still, away from all the hustle and bustle.

Come here, you be able to notice many pretty views at any time of the day. Among that, most of the visitors such as the setting of the sunset when the sea sky changes tremendous stunning colors.

3. BOGYOKE AUNG SAN Market

This market is situated on Bo Gyoke street. Here, besides admiring the architecture of this market, visitors may also buy some loveable handmade souvenirs for their friends and relatives such as carpets, paintings, jewelry, wood carvings, etc.

Some traditional markets tend to have more abundant foods in the morning than noon and evening. But Bogyoke Aung San is not. Whenever you arrive, you be able to still relax good food. However, you ought to keep in mind that the market closes beautiful early, around 5 pm.

If you just want to experience pure local markets, it's a splendid idea to visit other markets, like Thiri Mingalar, where there are countless products and intriguing food. As for Bogyoke Aung San, it is also an architectural and historical get to.

4. Sule Pagoda

After visiting Shwedagon Temple, Sule Pagoda is the second temple you should adventure in Yangon burma. The temple is visited regularly and revered by local people.

Visitors may go to the Sule Pagoda at any time of the day. You be able to not be planning to adventure the Sule Pagoda before, but during your Yangon trip, you will maybe be passing through because of its location on the main street in the center of the city.

5. RECLINING BUDDHA AT CHAUKHTATGYI PAGODA

Chaukhtatgyi Buddha Temple is the most well-known Buddhist temple in Bahan Township, Yangon burma. When you enter this temple, you'll realize its most notable highlight. That’s a 65-meter long bejeweled reclining Buddha. It's broad and imposing with delicate features.

You could enter Chaukhtatgyi Buddha Temple for free, however, there will be some charity boxes for you to donate.

If you're visiting off the City Circular train, get off at ‘Myittanyunt' and bring a short taxi ride to the temple from there.

Chaukhtatgyi Pagoda Yangon myanmar

6. PEOPLE'S PARK AND PEOPLE'S SQUARE

This site is called ‘’the pocket of greenery’’ in the center of Yangon myanmar. This is a favorite spot for couples.

It's also ideally located for views of the Shwedagon Pagoda across the road. So don’t forget to take a short stroll through here on your way to the Shwedagon.

7. CHINA TOWN

China Town be able to appear in different countries and all of them are full of interesting things. Yangon burma also has Chinatown. Don’t forget to spend the time to visit this town.

Moreover, to feel the life of the people here and own some comparisons with the Chinatown that you possess arrived, you may also relax countless captivating dishes.

The best time to uncover China Town in Yangon is in the evening. Come here and feel the lively atmosphere of the neighborhood and taste the delicious food.

8. Yangon’s street food

Wander around Yangon's city center, you will contain the opportunity to enjoy Myanmar's road delights such as Koh Pu, Koh Pieh, Nangyithoke, Kauknyintok, or Bein Mont, Mont Lone Yay Paw,… A day in the life of Yangon’s street food will leave you opening your eyes, licking your fingers to taste the typical cuisine of myanmar

You'll often see "Safe Food" slapped on a vendor's cart. This is also an unforgettable experience for visitors.

9. NATIONAL MUSEUM

Situated on a captivating and spacious campus at 66/74 Pyay street, Dagon District (Yangon Region of Myanmar), the National Museum of myanmar was built in 1996 as a rich five-story building, introducing Myanmar's magnificent historical and cultural collections in the areas of archeology, ethnography, custom, religion, and culture - art ...

The entry fee for foreigners is 5,000 kyats (about US$3.60) and it should be noted that bags and cameras are not allowed inside. However, lockers are available for use. For those who want to beeline it to the Royal Lion Throne, it's conveniently located on the ground floor, not far from the entrance. It has its possess room, which is clearly marked; you can't miss it.

In addition, if you have much time, you could join in other activities such as travel Swal Taw Pagoda, Taw Gyi Temple, see Saint Mary’s Cathedral, sit at a local tea shop, enjoy sunset views at Botahtaung harbor,… Hope that your days at Yangon burma will be wonderful!