Capital: Yangon (Rangoon)
Time zone: GMT + 6.30
Telephone services: Country Code: 95
Outgoing Code: 0
Emergency telephone numbers: Not present.
Tourist information: Myanmar (Burma) Travel Ltd., 95 Lillie Rd., London, SW6 7SX. Tel (020) 7610 3779 or Burma (Myanmar) Travel Services, 36c Sisters Avenue, London SW11 5SQ, Tel/Fax: (020) 7223 8987.
Passport information: Valid passport required by all. Return ticket required. Requirements may change at short notice. Contact the embassy before departure.
Visa information: Required by all.
Health information: Polio, Typhoid: Vaccination recommended
Malaria: Exists in certain areas especially below 1000m in the Falciparum variety, which is reported as being highly resistant to chloroquine with resistance to Sulfadoxine/pyrimethamine.
Yellow Fever: A vaccination certificate will be required if arriving from an infected area.
Other Health Risks: Cholera is a serious risk, Japanese Encephalitis, Plague, Filariasis, Dengue fever and Rabies. Trachoma is present.
Food & drink: Water is untreated and not safe to drink. Avoid dairy products as they are not pasteurised. Fruit and vegetables should be peeled before consumption.
Currency: Kyat (MMK) = 100 pyas NOTE: Import and export of local currency is prohibited. Only 25% of foreign currency changed to Kyats can be re converted on exit. Keep receipt for customs checks on exit.
Credit cards are not accepted, but travellers cheques can be exchanged.
ATM availability: Unavailable.
Cost of living: Can be high when compared with South East Asian countries standards especially when considering the low cost tourism facilities Myanmar has to offer.
Languages: Burmese. Over 100 district languages are spoken. English is often spoken in business circles.
Weather: Monsoon climate with 3 main seasons: Feb – May = hottest season with little or no rain. May – Oct = Rainy season. Oct – Feb = cooler.
Electricity: 220/230 Volts Ac 50 Hz
Post: Up to 1 week to Europe. It is recommended that correspondence is taken to the post office and registered for which a small fee will be charged.
Transport: FLIGHTS: Is the most efficient way to move around Myanmar, but delays are frequent and scheduled flights are limited. Following two fatal crashes in 1998 British Government employees have been instructed NOT to use Myanma Airways (NOTE: this is a different company from Myanma Airways International) SEA/RIVER: Regarded as the best way to see Myanmar but as delays are frequent allow plenty of time. ROAD: DOCUMENTATION: IDP is required. BUS: There are long distance buses but these are not recommended due to their condition and the condition of the roads. RAIL: Several good services operate. Tickets should be purchased 2 hours in advance.
Special information: HIGH RISK: in travel to Tachilek and Mai Sai border areas. Keep to officially designated tourist areas. All internal travel must be by train road or air. Cycling and hitchhiking are strongly discouraged. Do not photograph military personnel or installations. Political tension is high causing risk of sectarian violence. Avoid discussion of politics. Respect towards religious beliefs should be shown.