USEFUL INFORMATION FOR TRIPS TO MYANMAR

EXCHANGE

There is no compulsory exchange of money anymore at the airport even for individual and independent
travelers. Please DO NOT CHANGE money at the booth just behind immigration at the airport. The rate is
much lower than what you get in town.

US DOLLARS are accepted for change everywhere and the EURO is getting more and more popular, especially
in Yangon. The exchange rate in Yangon is generally better than upcountry. If possible bring new series US
Dollar bills ("big heads" instead of "small heads") and with series numbers not starting with CB as these are
not accepted in Myanmar due to rumors of these series being counterfeit. Generally notes should be in very
good condition and not torn, dirty or washed out as these will not be accepted in Myanmar, even in many
hotels! Most hotels and better restaurants accept payment in USD.
 

CREDIT CARDS & TRAVELERS CHEQUE

Credit cards and Travelers CHEQUE are currently mostly NOT ACCEPTED in Myanmar. Only some upscale
restaurants and some hotels do accept credit cards with a surcharge (minimum 3%). As charging these cards
requires going through the Internet, some delays can be experienced if the Internet connection is not
working or slow. Please make sure to bring enough cash (USD or EUROS) for your purchases and payments.
Most hotels accept US Dollars as payment.

CURRENCY

The currency in Myanmar is the Kyat (pronounced 'chat'). As in many countries of the area, the US Dollar is
the most useful currency to carry and it can be exchanged into local currency. However there is no need to
change big amounts into the local currency as most of the places catering to tourists also accept payment in
US Dollar bills. Furthermore the biggest kyat bill is 5000 kyats equivalent roughly to 5 USD Dollar so you will
carry a big stack of notes.

There is a parallel official currency the FEC (Foreign Exchange certificate), which can be used (as you use
cash US Dollars) to pay hotels, flight train tickets, souvenirs, meals etc. It is at par (1:1) with the US Dollar
but make sure to spend it before leaving Myanmar as it is valid only in Myanmar.

GEMS / PRECIOUS STONES

Myanmar is well known for its riches in precious stones, especially rubies (pigeon blood) and jade (imperial
jade). Should visitors chose to purchase gems, they do so at their own risk and rely solely on their own
judgment and knowledge. Asiantour Travel Myanmar does not assume any responsibility for gem and antique
purchases through “recommendations” made by our guides. Our guides are instructed not to recommend any
specific shop. Even if pressed to do so by visitors, the sole responsibility for their purchase lies with the
buyer. A relative guarantee for the quality of purchases is given by an official receipt and certificate issued
by government licensed dealers. Prices in such shops are higher but are more credible and would
theoretically allow you to return the purchase in case you are unhappy or if it is of lesser value. The issued
paper can also be shown when exiting the country as export of gems and stones, and without such a
government issued paper are illegal.

HEALTH

No vaccinations are required except for yellow fever if you are coming from an area where the disease is
present. However visitors should be inoculated against typhoid, cholera, hepatitis A & B, tetanus and polio.
Malaria is present in Myanmar and it is advisable to take precautions especially if traveling off the beaten
track. Please consult with your usual doctor or a doctor specialized in tropical countries before traveling.

INSURANCE

Medical facilities are rather limited in Myanmar (Yangon has the best facilities) and it is essential to take out
a good medical insurance policy before traveling. Such an insurance should absolutely cover the cost of an
evacuation flight out of Myanmar (most of the time to Bangkok or Singapore) which is sometimes necessary
either on a regular flight or on a special flight. For adventure tours, such as cycling, proof of purchase of a
travel insurance policy will be required.

CLOTHING

Comfortable lightweight clothing in natural fabrics such as cotton is most suitable for traveling in Myanmar.
The dress code is fairly casual as in most parts of the tropics but it is advisable to cover arms and legs in the
evenings against biting insects. A lightweight raincoat and umbrella are a good idea in the rainy season and
the umbrella can also offer useful shade from the sun.

Evenings in the hill stations and on Inle Lake can be quite chilly so bring a sweater or other warm clothing if
visiting these areas. This applies especially for the winter months from November to February for treks and
the Inle lake area where early morning boat rides can be quite cold. Visitors should not wear shorts, short
skirts or other skimpy clothing when visiting pagodas and monasteries.

Shoes (and socks!) must be removed before entering any religious building or private home. It is therefore
useful to wear shoes without too many laces and which can easily be taken off.

ELDERLY PEOPLE

Some roads in Myanmar are not in the best shape and most of the vehicles are also a bit older. For elderly
people or those with health and back problems especially, we recommend avoiding longer road trips like
Bagan to Kalaw or Inle Lake to Mandalay. In some places like Monywa Po Win Taung, some open air jeep rides
are planned. Please let us know in advance of people with back problems or who need special attention are
traveling in order for us to make necessary arrangements.

ELECTRICITY

Myanmar uses 220V, and a mixture of flat 2pin, round 2pin or 3 pin plugs. It is recommended to bring a
universal plug adaptor. Power outages are quite common but most hotels have their own generator.

ENTERTAINMENT

There is not much in the way of western style entertainment in Myanmar but Yangon has some good
restaurants and there are a few bars and nightclubs, notably in the city's international hotels. In the rest of
the country, entertainment is mainly confined to the hotels, mainly tourist orientated restaurants and the
ubiquitous Burmese teashops.

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 not as spicy as those from India or Thailand. A clear soup called ‘hingyo’
accompanies most meals and a fermented fish sauce or paste called ‘ngapiye’ is usually served to add to the
flavor. Chinese, Indian and European food is served in restaurants at most tourist places.

HOURS OF BUSINESS

Offices are usually open from Monday to Friday from 09:30 until 16:00. Most shops are open every day. An
exception is Bogyoke Market (Scott Market), which is closed on Monday, on public holidays and full moon days
(like all markets in Myanmar).

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