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General Info
PASSPORT AND VISA
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. A Business Visa allows a stay of 28 days,
extendible up to 12 months on a case-by-case basis. Visa on Arrival
is granted on prior arrangement with the Ministry of Hotels and
Tourism. Overland entry is permitted for Thai tourists with border
pass and for third party tourists with visa at Tachileik, Three
Pagoda Pass, Myawaddy and Kawthaung check points along Myanmar-Thai
Border; and for Chinese tourists with border pass and for third
party tourists with visa at Lweje, Nam Kham, Muse , Kyukoke,
Kwanlong, Mont Lar along Myanmar-China Border.
CUSTOMS FORMALITIES
Foreign currency exceeding the equivalent of US$
2,000, jewelry, cameras, video cameras, recording equipment and
laptop computers must be declared at the airport. Failure to do so
could end up in confiscation upon departure. Export of antiques and
items of archaeological value are prohibited.
FOREIGN EXCHANGE
All travelers, unless they are on group or
package tours, are required to exchange US$ 200 for Foreign Exchange
Certificates (FEC) on arrival at the airport. FECs, which is
equivalent to the US$, are accepted by hotels, airlines, travel
agencies, taxis, restaurants, and as payment of admission fees at
museums and pagodas. FECs can be exchanged for Kyats (Myanmar
currency) at market rates at authorized money changers. Credit cards
such as American Express, Diner and Visa are accepted at most
airlines, hotels, banks, jewelry shops, supermarkets and travel
agents.
WHAT TO WEAR
Cotton clothing and a light wrap for the evening
during the cool season are recommended. Do not wear shorts, tank
tops or sleeveless blouses when visiting temples. At all times dress
modestly. Any kind of revealing clothing is frowned upon in Myanmar.
Foot wear must be removed before entering a temple.
MANNERS AND ETIQUETTE
It is recommended that you refrain from kissing
and hugging in public, pointing at things with your feet, sitting
with your back to a Buddha image, improper use of or behavior toward
a sacred thing as a Buddha image, and touching a monk.
CREDIT CARDS & TRAVELLER CHEQUES
Not widely use in our country except the
International Hotels & a few souvenir shops in Yangon & Mandalay
cities. Traveler Cheques can only be changed at the central bank of
Myanmar in Yangon during office hour. It will be more convenient for
the clients to bring in the US$ cash.
Due to recent sanctions of U.S to Myanmar Government, all the credit
cards are not possible to use around the country since 01 Sept'03.
So, the travelers are recommended to carry hard cash for their own
using amount.
WEATHER
A good weather in October to February. The
temperature will be 28' C ~ 34' C. In Shan State (Kalaw, Inle,)
will be cooler than other cities, 12' to 25' C. From March to Mid
May is the hot season where the average temperature is about 34' C ~
40' C in low lands like Yangon, Bagan and Mandalay and about 25' C ~
34' C in high land like Shan State. Mid May to Mid October is the
rainy season. The visitors who are visiting during
the rainy season should bring along the rain coats and medicine for
stomach-ache.
AIRPORT DEPARTURE TAX
US$ 10. It is an advisable to reconfirm
international flights before going out country. But no airport tax
for Domestic flights.
CURRENCY
Myanmar Currency is Kyat which comprises 100 pyas.
Note: Kyats 1000, Kyats 500, Kyats 200, Kyats
100, Kyats 50, Kyats 45, Kyats 20, Kyats 15, Kyats 10, Kyats 5,
Kyats 1 and 50 pyas. The accepted foreign currencies in Myanmar are
Pound Sterlings, Japanese Yens, French Frances, German Marks and
United State Dollars. Visitors may bring in any amount to foreign
currency , but it must be declared to the customs. If it exceeds US$
2000.
LOCAL TIME
Myanmar Standard Time is 6 hours and 30 minutes
ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (one and half hour difference with
Singapore and 30 minutes with Thailand).
ELECTRICITY
220- 240 V, 50 Hz
LANGUAGE
The Burmese language belongs to the group of
Tibeto-Burmese languages, which in turn is part of the Sino-Tibetan
group of languages. Burmese is spoken by about 80% of the population
of Myanmar, and is the official language of the country. Besides
Burmese, there are more than 100 languages and local dialects spoken
in different regions and by different ethnic groups. English is
widely spoken, especially in business and tourist areas. Spoken
Burmese has a distinctive rhythmic character. The meaning of a word
often depends on the pitch of a certain syllable. Tour guides who
can speak major foreign languages can be booked through the Tour
Agencies.
ENTRANCE FEES
Entrance Fees are collected at well-known
pagodas, temples, monasteries, museums, old palaces, archaeological
sites, gardens and etc..
HEALTH
The government of Myanmar does not require you to
have any vaccinations except for cholera if you are coming from an
infected area. You should get the cholera vaccination anyway and
those for hepatitis, Japanese encephalitis, rabies, tetanus, and
typhoid are also recommended. We also recommend malaria prophylaxis.
Take all precaution against mosquitoes by using mosquito netting
over your bed, burn mosquito coils, and use a high-concentrated
mosquito repellent. Dengue fever, which is also transmitted by
mosquitoes, is often mistaken for malaria, but is not fatal and does
not recur. Besides avoiding being bitten, there is no prevention
available. Only its symptoms can be treated. We strongly recommend
having a good health insurance and to carry a good supplied first
aid kit. There is a chronic shortage of trained medical help and
hospitals. Therefore, you should avoid treatment in Myanmar.
Evacuation to Singapore, Thailand or Malaysia is recommended.
Avoid all water that hasn’t been thoroughly boiled or sterilized.
Drink only bottled water or soft drinks, that haven’t been opened
yet. You should not eat any uncooked vegetables and do not eat any
fruit that you haven’t peeled yourself. Make sure that fish and mea
is cooked well done.
TELECOMMUNICATION
All major Hotels have arrangements for
International Direct Dialing facility and E-mail linkages. In all
famous destinations at least operator-assist telephone linkage are
established. For all circumstances, Tour Agency can advise and
arrange possible means for visitors to be connected with home
through out the tour.
At present the local GSM network does not support global network.
Therefore using your global mobile phone is not possible in Myanmar.
If you brought your mobile phone into Myanmar then you just have to
leave with the custom department upon your arrival and reclaim
before departure.
SAFETY
According to recently released United Nations
statistics, Myanmar enjoys one of the world's lowest crime rates,
ranking well above Europe and other mainstream Asian destinations in
terms of personal safety. However, involving with touts offering
exorbitant exchange rates for currencies, cheap gemstones and such
could bring nuisances. Cities and famous cultural sites are
perfectly safe even for Free Independent Travelers without guides.
There are certain remote areas like Putao, MraukOo, Kyaing Tong,
etc. where only guided Package Tours arranged with a Tour Agency are
allowed, and by adhering to such regulations, visitors can enjoy
safety, comfort and satisfaction.
OFFICE HOURS
Government Offices open from 09:30 to 16:30,
Monday through Friday. Close on Saturday, Sunday and Public
Holidays. Banking Hours is from 10:00 to 15:00. General Post Office
handles: mails from 10:00 to 16:00, and parcels from 10:00 to 14:00.
FOOD
The basic Myanmar food is mainly rice and curry.
Varieties of Myanmar curries are available at reputable Myanmar
restaurants. There are restaurants offering Thai, Chinese, European,
Italian, Indian and French cuisine at cities and major destinations.
Throughout up-country Myanmar, the choice of food is limited to
Myanmar, Indian and Chinese cuisines. Vegetarian's foods are quite
common in local restaurants and they could bring out rich varieties
mingling with Indian or Chinese styles. Wide variety of wine
selection is available in major destinations with prearrangements.
LANGUAGE
There are 135 ethnic groups in Myanmar, all with
their own languages and dialects. The majority speaks Myanmar
(Burmese), although English is widely spoken. Tour guides who can
speak major foreign languages can be booked through the Tour
Agencies.
THE BEST WAY TO COME
By Air - Myanmar is served internationally by:
Yangon has direct air-links with:
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Bangkok
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Bhutan
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Brunei
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Singapore
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Hong Kong
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Calcutta
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Chiang Mai
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Dhaka
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Jakarta
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Karachi
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Kuala Lumpur
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Kunming
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London
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Osaka and
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Singapore.
Myanmar Airways International (MAI), Thai Airways International
(TG), Silk Air, Biman, PIA, Indian Airlines, Royal Brunei, Air
China, All Nippon Airways (ANA) and Bhutan Airlines operate regular
flights to Yangon. Air Mandalay operates Yangon - Chiangmai - Yangon
flights.
By Sea - Cruise Ships call at Yangon Port with Visa on Arrival being
granted on prior arrangement.
By Overland - Overland entry with a Border Pass is permitted at the
following Border Check Points: Kyukoke, Namkhan and Muse on the
Myanmar-Yunnan (China) border; and Tachileik, Myawaddy and Kawthaung
on the Myanmar-Thai border.
VISA ON ARIVAL
For the countries where do not have Myanmar
Embassies or Consulate, we will arrange visa on arrival and we need
the information of the clients as follows:
1. Clients full name and Passport numbers.
2. Date of issue and place of issue.
3. Date of expire.
4. Father’s name.
5. Date of Birth and place of birth.
6. Occupation.
7. Home address.
8. Nationality.
9. 2 recent photos size photographs.
10. Countries for passport valid.
We need at least 14 days before the group arrival and it is better
and quicker on arrival if the agent or client can send us the photos
by mail or DHL in advance. Visa fee is USD.
CLOTHES
Light clothes are suitable. For entering the
pagodas or Monasteries, have to bring long sleeves pants (or)
skirts.
MOSQUITO
Enough to bring only mosquito repellent. |
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