Myanmar Travel Information

Time Difference

Six hours and 30 minutes ahead of GMT, and one hour difference from Singapore and 30 minutes from Thailand.

Working Time

Government offices are open from 9:30 to 4:30 except on weekend. Business Firms work from 9:00 to 5:30 except on Sunday. Banks’ hours are from 9:30 to 2:00.

Language

Myanmar is the national language. English is understood to some extent in metropolis.

Currency

The unit of Myanmar currency is kyat, divided into 100 Pyas, and bills are issued in 1, 5, 10, 15, 20, 50, 100, 500, 1000, 5000 and 10,000 denominations. High inflation, however, made the disappearance of the pyas, and even weaker denominations from 1 kyat to 100 kyats are not common in use, such as food, car rent and shopping.

How to get to Myanmar

The connecting airlines are Myanmar Airways International (MAI), Thai Airways, Bangkok Airways, Phuket Airline, Silk Air, Air China, Biman Airlines, Indian Airlines, Eva Air, Mandarin Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, Druk Air, Lauda Air, Quatar Air and so on.

Embassies and Consulates Abroad

Australia (Canberra), Canada (Ottawa), France (Paris), Germany (Bonn), Hong Kong, Indonesia (Jakata), Israel (Tel Aviv), Italy (Rome), Japan (Tokyo), China (Beijing, Kuming) Malaysia (Kuala Lampur), Netherlands, Singapore, South Africa, Switzerland (Geneva), Thailand (Bangkok), UK (London), USA (Washington DC), Vietnam (Hanoi), Laos (Viangchan), India (New Delhi), Bangladesh (Dhaka), Nepal (Kathmandu), USSR (Moscow), Egypt (Cairo), Pakistan (Islammabad), Philippine ( Manila), South Korea ( Seoul), Sir Lanka ( Colombo), Yugoslavia( Belgrade).

Passport & Visa

All visitors must be in possession of valid passports and the necessary visas. There are two kinds of visas applicable to tourists: (1) Package tour visas and (2) FIT visas. These tourist visas are valid for 28 days with an option for extension. It can be applied to Myanmar Embassy or Consulate abroad. Visas on arrival can also be arranged prior to your arrival by your travel agent but only for package tours.

Calendar of holidays

Myanmar national holidays include: Jan 4 (Independence day), Feb 12 (Union Day ), Mar 02 (Peasants’ Day ), Mar 13 (Full moon Day of Tabaung ), Mar 27 (Armed Forces Day ), April 13-17 (Water Festival & Myanmar New Year), May 1 (May Day), May 11 (Full moon Day of Kason), Jul 9 (Full moon Day of Waso/ Beginning of Buddhist Lent), July 19 (Martyrs’ Day), Oct 6 (Thadingyut Festival of Lights/ End of Buddhist Lent), Nov 4 (Tazaungmon Festival of Lights), Nov 14 (National Day) and December 19( Kayin New Year), Dec 25 (Christmas Day).

Visa Extension

A two-week visa extension is available in Myanmar. A passport, 2 passport photos and a fee of USD 36 for immigration department are required to get the visa extension in Myanmar. We will assist you to get it.

Overstay Fines

The overstay fines in Myanmar is 3 USD per day per person.

Border Entry

Tourists with border passes are allowed to enter through check points at Muse, Nam-Khan, Kyu-gok, lwe-je and kun-lone from Yunan Province of China and Tachileik, Myawaddy, Three-Pagoda pass and Kawthaung from Thailand. 

 
Customs

All foreign currency (in excess of US$ 2000), jewelry, cameras, radios, cassette player, calculators, etc have to be declared at the international airport of Yangon or that of Mandalay on arrival and keep a copy of the customs declaration form to be presented on departure. Antiques and archaeologically valuable items are not allowed to be taken out. Two bottles of liquor, two cartons of cigarettes, 100 cigars and ½ liter of perfume for personal use are allowed duty free. Your luggage is subject to inspection with X-ray by the customs authorities before departure.