General TRAVEL TIPS for Yangon, Myanmar (2026)

[Leon77]

Hello, dear friends. My first trip from Bangkok to Myanmar (Burma/Birma) is about to begin. More precisely, I'm going to Yangon (formerly Rangoon). The reason? To date girls and see temples.

After over six months of thorough research, I know this won't be an easy trip. Myanmar is not Thailand.

In short: It's going to be a real adventure !!!

I booked the flight directly through Myanmar Airways International (MAI). So far, everything has been very customer-friendly and informative.

The airline has good customer service, and I love the MAI information emails.

Something went wrong with the booking, but they easily canceled one of the payments due to a double booking.

The prices are quite reasonable, and the baggage allowance of 20 kg + 7 kg for the cheapest ticket is also okay. The ticket costs about USD 125 from Bangkok.

Of course, you can also take this flight with Thai Airways, but despite the short flight time of 1 hour 20 minutes, the price is significantly higher if you want to take checked baggage.

Furthermore, I love the logo on the MIA airplanes and have to try it out.

[Leon77]

First, I'd like to share some helpful facts from my research before recounting my personal experiences.

Everything I list is confirmed by users from international forums who have been there in person.

However, if anyone has more recent information, it is expressly welcome !

[Leon77]

E-VISA

First, it's worth noting that the Myanmar e-visa was very easy to obtain, but unfortunately, it's not free like in Thailand (Digital Arrival Card). It costs USD 50 and can be paid with Visa or Mastercard. First, you create an account on this page of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar - Ministry of Immigration and Population:

https://evisa.moip.gov.mm/home

Then you fill in the required information. Important! You must upload your flight ticket and hotel reservation, as well as a recent passport photo. It's best to use the same photo that's in your passport.

I received my visa relatively quickly, within three weeks. It's valid for three months (note: this is after it's been issued!) and only allows a stay of 28 days.

Entry with the e-visa is only possible via the following international airports:

Yangon International Airport
Mandalay International Airport
Nay Pyi Taw International Airport

Entry by land via the Thai border, for example, is not possible with the e-visa!

[Leon77]

SIM CARD:

After arriving in Myanmar, I need to get a SIM card, as neither of my phones is eSIM-compatible.

Two providers are mentioned here: MPT (a state-owned company) and ATOM, which used to be Telenor (until 2022). Which is the better option will become clear soon.

MPT has an app (MPT4U) that apparently allows you to register the SIM card yourself, which is very convenient.

MPT offers unlimited data, but speeds vary. However, they also offer a special tourist SIM card, which, at 29,999 Kyat for the cheapest version with 2 GB of data, doesn't seem particularly cheap to me.

It is possible to set up the SIM card in an MPT shop.

ATOM also has a shop at Yangon International Airport.

MPT appears to operate a shop at the Sule Pagoda. 

[Leon77]

Messenger Service

While the LINE app is predominantly used in Thailand, it's practically useless in Myanmar.

WhatsApp and Facebook are blocked and can supposedly only be used with a VPN connection. I'll try the "JumpJumpVPN" app.

To communicate with the girls or their pimps in Myanmar, you need the VIBER app from the Japanese Rakuten Group.

The app is available in the Play Store and registration is only possible with an active phone number.

[Leon77]

TRANSPORTATION

In Yangon, the excellent Bolt app is either not readily available or has poor functionality.

Therefore, you should switch to GRAB. I've never used the app myself and will report on my experience.

Apparently there's this discount code, I'll try it out:  AIRPORT3000jat

Edited April 11 by Leon77

[Leon77]

Receiving Money

Now we come to the topic of receiving money.

You can withdraw a maximum of 300,000 Kyat from an ATM. The fee is 10,000 Kyat.

This total amount is currently equivalent to 126 Euros.

Now comes the interesting part: Only 81 Euros (!!!) are actually debited. This is NO joke, I saw it. For some reason, the exchange rate at ATMs directly in Myanmar seems to be extremely favorable for foreigners. I will report on this.

The best place to exchange cash is probably at an EVA Trading Money Exchange. The exchange rate apparently cannot be checked beforehand. Official exchange rates are only available online at the major Myanmar banks. However, I believe that exchanging money at smaller exchange shops might be more advantageous. However, there is a risk of receiving counterfeit money.

 

[Leon77]

HOTELS:

I can't say much about the hotels at the moment. For example, I decided against the often-mentioned PARKROYAL because a member reported problems with the online check-in with the lady there, and the former Club 5 in the hotel's basement is now only frequented by millionaires. I certainly won't be meeting any overpriced, overweight women there, haha.

In Chinatown, there are many good and inexpensive hotels starting at €20 per night. Make sure there's a safe in the room and, of course, book for two people. Ideally, book with breakfast included, as there's hardly any nightlife in Yangon. As far as I know, the curfew has probably been lifted. However, there's no guarantee.

By the way, all foreign ministries advise against travel to Myanmar, which I think is nonsense. Many travel reports paint a completely different picture: friendly and open people and hardly any potential dangers or serious crime. It's an Asian country.

The two Grand United hotels would be good budget options (there are two of them). They're very centrally located in Chinatown, near the Sule Pagoda.

The Pan Pacific is also frequently mentioned, but it's part of the Parkroyal complex, so I ruled it out.

The Best Western Chinatown hotel and the Balmi were also on my shortlist.

The Wyndham Grand is a very good 5-star hotel with excellent customer service, but it's located a bit further away by the lake north of Chinatown.

I hope I've covered everything. If you have any other tips, feel free to add them here.

More to come soon… the next topic is: “Meeting Girls!!!”

[Fire Bar Matt]

Very much following along with interest, sounds like it’s really going to be an adventure. 

[Shuggy]

18 minutes ago, Leon77 said:

HOTELS:

I can't say much about the hotels at the moment. For example, I decided against the often-mentioned PARKROYAL because a member reported problems with the online check-in with the lady there, and the former Club 5 in the hotel's basement is now only frequented by millionaires. I certainly won't be meeting any overpriced, overweight women there, haha.

In Chinatown, there are many good and inexpensive hotels starting at €20 per night. Make sure there's a safe in the room and, of course, book for two people. Ideally, book with breakfast included, as there's hardly any nightlife in Yangon. As far as I know, the curfew has probably been lifted. However, there's no guarantee.

By the way, all foreign ministries advise against travel to Myanmar, which I think is nonsense. Many travel reports paint a completely different picture: friendly and open people and hardly any potential dangers or serious crime. It's an Asian country.

The two Grand United hotels would be good budget options (there are two of them). They're very centrally located in Chinatown, near the Sule Pagoda.

The Pan Pacific is also frequently mentioned, but it's part of the Parkroyal complex, so I ruled it out.

The Best Western Chinatown hotel and the Balmi were also on my shortlist.

The Wyndham Grand is a very good 5-star hotel with excellent customer service, but it's located a bit further away by the lake north of Chinatown.

I hope I've covered everything. If you have any other tips, feel free to add them here.

More to come soon… the next topic is: “Meeting Girls!!!”

I stayed at Grand United 21st Downtown a few years ago. Safe, comfortable, good breakfast and the rooftop bar has amaing views. Great location just next to Chinatown. 

I'm thinking about heading back in the next year or two. Would love to head back up to Sittwe and Mrauk U but they are rather sketchy at the moment. Would have no problem going tto Yangon, Mandalay or Bagan.

The Shwedagon Pagoda is great during teh day but if you get a chance go at night too. Its incredible.

Also if the Drug Elimination Museum is still open you absolutely have to go!!! Probably the cheesiest and worst museum anywhere in the world!!!!

Seen any motorbikes in Yangon? 🙂

[Dbak11211]

I used to stay there for work more than a decade back. I remember there's like a black market rate for currency that's way better than the official rate. BTW fake notes are everywhere, often get some really obvious fake ones. 

Chinatown, shwe dagon pagoda is a must visit. Local friends brought me to their local club, was kinda meh as people don't really speak English over there. Brothel was like 15usd but it's not even a room more like cubicles in a room with a mattress. The capital naypitaw was a ghost town. Like roads with 5-7 lanes but 0 cars. 

I remember most places smell bad, convenience stores sell expired food, potable water gets delivered daily. Taxis charge extra for aircon lol. Had some really nice briyani for like 2usd and sago worm for 1usd.

Dont think I will ever head back there as it doesn't look like things are improving. 

Edited April 11 by Dbak11211

[FarangBear]

I don't think I'm brave enough myself, but will follow with interests 

One of the cutest girls I ever had was a TF girl in Bangkok from Myanmar.

[jaynewcastle]

Just contact one of the Mods, and ask them to move the thread

Enjoy your trip, will be interesting to read your thread as it develops

 

The current UK Govt advice is,

"The conflict in Myanmar is increasingly volatile. The security situation may deteriorate at short notice and the military regime can introduce travel restrictions at any time" 

[lovermand66]

I will follow this with big interest...
i was reading a trip report from about 5 years ago, and this guy found him being "watch" and somehow "followed" when he did his travel..,
even from his hotels he did get that he was "watch" , he didn't dare to have girls stay with him...
I remember he was trying to go to the " forbidden area" by taxi but the driver did dare...
 

Edited April 12 by lovermand66

[Maia Papaya]

I really want to visit Myanmar. 

[Wiley Coyote]

1 hour ago, Maia Papaya said:

I really want to visit Myanmar. 

Me too

But difficult getting holiday insurance as well as Tourist visa

[Scuba+]

Travel insurance may be void 

[Leon77]

Well, the question is when a problem might arise. My travel health insurance generally covers all costs for trips to countries for which travel warnings have been issued. Perhaps it's different in the UK. My policy doesn't have any exclusion clauses. It's a different story with trip cancellation insurance. There, compensation is excluded for trips to unsafe areas. So, if I travel to a country despite a warning, it only means that costs incurred due to the trip being cancelled won't be covered. But that's not a concern for me, as this insurance is only relevant if I have an accident shortly before departure.

[beanzor]

Looking forward to this one. Hope OP didn't run into trouble!

[Leon77]

Yes, thank you very much, I had a very good trip and experienced many great adventures, which I will report on here in the next few days.

Incidentally, it turns out that there's also an MPT counter at the airport with a very nice young lady who sold me the SIM card for 300 Thai Baht. That's about 35,000 Kyat, and therefore 5,000 cheaper than the ATM, which they also sell there. A few meters further on, there's a currency exchange counter where I exchanged money at a very unfavorable rate: 4,270 Kyat for 1 Euro. That's almost the ATM rate. However, you can get 4,700 Kyat at EVA in Chinatown, and unofficial money changers also offer 5,000 or 5,200 Kyat – but only if you have perfect Euro or USD banknotes, and you have to be careful not to get counterfeit money.

[Leon77]

Incidentally, the Jump-Jump VPN-app I installed didn't work in Myanmar, but the young lady installed this app for me, which then allowed me to use WhatsApp, Facebook, or Instagram.

[Leon77]

UPDATE   "Money from ATM":

What really surprised me was that it wasn't possible to withdraw money from an ATM in Yangon using a Visa debit card. You need a real credit card, and even then, there's only one bank where it definitely worked. I tried about six different banks and thus tested several ATMs unsuccessfully. It works at AYA Bank ATMs. You can even get 400,000 Kyat there, which, including the fee, was 10,000 Kyat – about 93 euros. There are several AYA ATMs in Chinatown and one at the airport. They're the red ones.

[Leon77]

UPDATE   "Transportation":

When I think about GRAB, and how I assumed it would work as flawlessly as BOLT did in Thailand, I now have to laugh and cry at the same time, because it was actually a nightmare.

I called GRAB taxis several times and they didn't come 😏

And I can tell you exactly why: A local was kind enough to call a Grab driver for me and asked why he is not coming. They don't get paid enough and don't want to drive the route if it's too short.

So i went on the street and get a normal taxi but you have to negotiate the price for the way. After a while, i became quite skilled at it.

 

[Joeleg]

No plans to visit but found the details informative. Thanks

[Leon77]

I thoroughly enjoyed my flight with Myanmar Airways International. It's a fantastic airline with very friendly flight attendants and a really great snack.

The flight from BKK to RGN is about 1:20 hours. Time difference is -0,5 hours.