Traveling to Myanmar or anywhere else, it is not just a visit to explore the sceneries, but also an opportunity for visitors to enjoy the arts in the cultural life or cuisine of this country. And surely we all want to save beautiful memories that you have experienced with your Myanmar travel budget. Each place has a so-called “specialty” so that whenever you see it, you will recall about your memorable trip to Myanmar.
We must first mention the Buddha statue. You can easily buy Buddha statues at any souvenir shop when you come to the country of golden pagodas. There are no country else that has as many Buddhist temples and statues as Myanmar. The statues are elaborately crafted mainly with wood material. It is a special gift to tourists for a Myanmar independent travel. You can use it for decorating your house.
In Myanmar, bells are sold everywhere, especially in temples. They are made in many different sizes, so as to be a cute souvenir. These bells are engraved skilfully with historical landmarks or astrological symbols.
The next souvenir to buy is Longyi skirt. Visitors will see Myanmar people with traditional clothing; both men and women in this country wear Longyi. This is a skirt that is simply a piece of cloth wrapped around the body, but for men and women there are different ways to wear. Men wore a large piece of cloth and knotted on the front, while women fold it back and sew it on the side. This dress is of all sizes and is very simple to wear, you just wind it round your body, bundle and tie. You should also buy a pair of flip-flops. People here mainly wear flip-flops and Longyi skirt in their everyday life. The stuff are simple, lightweight, durable and very comfortable, so they are the kind of souvenirs that Myanmar backpackers should buy when traveling to Myanmar.
A special souvenir that visitors can not ignore is Thanakha powder. Myanmar people use Thanakha powder as a multi-purpose cream that has the same effects as makeup and skin care during the day and night. It is also used to protect their skin from the sun. Thanaka is applied to the face, neck, the collarbone and even to the ear. Almost Burmese skin that is exposed to the sun will be covered by Thanaka powder. This is a long tradition of local people, and this powder blends naturally with the skin. You can buy Thanakha powder without any hesitation about your Myanmar travel budget at famous resorts in many types, even the most rudimentary ones. Thanaka’s fragrance is light, almost like citronella perfume and leaves a slightly itchy sensation on the skin.
Visitors to Myanmar should buy some sand paintings. They are sold mostly in Bagan, the place with a lot of sand paintings as well as sand painting artists. When getting to Myanmar, let’s buy sand paintings as a special souvenirs for your family and friends. Surely this is just a small gift but very unique and meaningful.
Jewelry is one kind of gifts with the features of Myanmar that visitors should buy. In Burma, there are many precious stone mines that are mainly rubies, jade or sapphire stones. Therefore, products from gems produced in this country are highly appreciated on the market. Compared with other countries, not only in the region but also in the world, the price of gemstone in Myanmar is much cheaper, so you can consider buying some beautiful gems when coming to any Myanmar tourist sites such as Inle Lake, Yangon, Bagan or Mandalay. The small lovely items are made from pearls, silver, metal then they are made into products such as bracelets, anklets, necklaces. All are very good looking and eye-catching.
In Myanmar carpet weaving is a long-time tradition. The carpets are processed in details, decorated with glittering saquins or golden or silver threads. They always has a special attraction to international tourists for adventures in Myanmar. The images and motifs on the carpets usually depict Buddhist stories or other objects of the Buddha as well as mascots. Today’s hand-woven carpets are gradually replaced by industrial woven carpets in order to serve need of the large number of visitors. Carpet is an indispensable souvenir when traveling Myanmar. You can buy them in Mandalay and Yangon.
Cigar is also a unique souvenir in Myanmar. The local cigars have a very warm and pleasant scent. From Myanmar travel reviews, you can both enjoy this unique gift and witness the process of making cigars in Burmese villages. With ingredients made of natural materials, you do not have to worry about their safety.
The next unique souvenir in Myanmar that tourists should buy is traditional textiles and handicraft products. Traditional Myanmar textiles originated in Mandalay in the 18th century. Noted in many famous Burma travel books, textile fabrics are called Kalaga. You can buy it to decorate your house or use it as a gift for your family and friends. Silver carving, silk weaving and marble sharpening crafts demonstrate the skill and craftsmanship of the craftsmen. They are reflected in extremely attractive designs. You can buy textiles and crafts in the city of Mandalay.
There are many other unique gifts such as traditional puppets, gold leaves, paper umbrellas, lacquer painting,… which are suitable for your Myanmar travel budget . The most bustling shopping places in Myanmar are Yangon, Mandalay, Bagan and Inle Lake area. In these places, there are many unique and beautiful items to be sold. Tourists can easily find all the items that they like. Shopping in Myanmar is very funny and comfortable, you can bargain and even in some areas, you can exchange stuff if you do not like them.
Beside, you need to know some shopping tips and rules when traveling to Myanmar. Namely:
– It is not allowed to carry statues, images of ancient Buddhas and archaeological artifacts when leaving Myanmar.
– There is no commercial quality inspection agency in Myanmar, which means that you should thoroughly check the goods before you buy in any Myanmar tourist site.
– Only pay when the price has been fixed.
– Nyaung U Market in Bagan is a busy market with many visitors. There are a variety of items from daily fresh produce to Longyi clothing. It is an ideal place to immerse yourself in the lives of Myanmar people.
– The floating village on Inle Lake is the place to sell a lot of unique souvenirs with Myanmar culture features.
– In Yangon, a Myanmar top attraction, Bogyoke Aung San Market is well-known for shopping. Here you can buy cheap and quality items.
– An official certificate of jewelry is required when crossing a customs border.
– Most Myanmar markets are open on Sundays and closed on Mondays. During the Lenten Festival, usually in August, all the markets in Myanmar are closed on the full moon days.
Myanmar is always a special destination for international visitors. As a Buddhist country with mysteries and wild nature, visitors coming to Myanmar can completely get interesting experiences. Within your Myanmar travel budget, you can buy meaningful and unique gifts that can only be found in this place.
