TIME: GMT + 6 hours 30 minutes
ELECTRIC POWER SUPPLY:
230 volts AC 50 Hz, UK plug
VISA INFORMATION:
Myanmar requires a visa for all foreigners visiting the country. A valid passport with entry visa is required of all visitors. A tourist visa allows a stay of 28 days, extendible for an additional 14 days. Applications can be made at any Myanmar embassy and consulate general office abroad. Show your passport and disembarkation card on arrival to the immigration officer at the international airport. Visa-on-arrival (VOA) is now available for business people and entrepreneurs at Yangon International Airport.
>> Obtain Myanmar on Arrival Visa
>> Myanmar Embassy List & Visa Updates
AIRPORT TAX:
There will be passenger service charge of 1000 kyats for all domestic passengers.
CUSTOMS:
At the port of entry, all foreign currencies, jewellery, electrical and electronic articles, and cameras that are to be carried out upon departure must be declared on the customs form. Export of antiques, archaeological objects and unset gemstones is prohibited.
COMMUNICATION:
The international dialing code for Myanmar is +95. The outgoing code is 00 followed by the relevant country code. Internet cafes are widely available in Yangon and Mandalay as well as at all major cities. Public telephone booths can be found at many street comers, railway stations, bus terminals and airports in big cities. Please note that mobile phones from other countries will not work in Myanmar. However, domestic mobile rentals are available at Yangon and Mandalay airports.
WHAT TO WEAR:
For hot weather, light, casual cotton clothing is best. When visiting northern Myanmar during the cold season (November-February), take a sweater or light jacket. During the rainy season (May-October), sandals, quick-drying clothes and an umbrella are recommended. The dress code for pagodas and monasteries prescribes decent apparel, and no footwear is allowed.
CLIMATE:
Myanmar has three seasons: the monsoon or rainy season from May to October; the cool season from November to February; and the hot season from March to May. The average temperature ranges from 32°C in central and lower areas, to 21 °C in the northern highlands.
BUSINESS HOURS:
Government offices:
09:30 to 16:30 (Monday to Friday)
Banks: 10:30 to 14:00 (Monday to Friday)
Shops: 10:00 to 21:00 (Monday to Saturday; many are also open Sunday)
CURRENCY:
The local currency is the kyat (pronounced “chat”), which is issued in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1000, 5000 and 10,000 notes.
The exchange rate can vary greatly and quickly, so please check on arrival.
>> Myanmar currency & Money exchange
PHOTOGRAPHY:
Please use discretion when photographing people. For close-up shots always ask permission first.
ENTERTAINMENT
There is not much in the way of Western-style entertainment in Myanmar, but Yangon has a few bars and nightclubs. In the rest of the country, entertainment is mostly confined to hotels and tourist-orientated restaurants. For those seeking a taste of local culture in the evenings, head to a tea shop, beer hall or night market where the locals gather to relax and socialize.
FOOD
The staples of Burmese cuisine are rice, rice noodles and curries. The main ingredient of the meal is usually rice, and the curries tend to be less spicy as those from India or Thailand. Chinese, Indian and European food are served in restaurants at most tourist places.
LANGUAGE
The national language of Myanmar is Burmese, of which there are more than 80 different dialects spoken. In the cities, many of the older generation still speak very good English, which is also becoming popular again with the younger generation.
Source: SWIFT – Asian Wings Airways
