Useful Information

Time

6:30 hours ahead of GMT.(UTC)
0:30 minutes behind Thailand
1:30 hours behind Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong

Newspapers

The New Light of Myanmar (English)
Myanma Alin (Myanmar)
Kyemon (Myanmar)
Myodaw (evening tabloid Myanmar)
Yadanabon (Myanmar) publish in Mandalay
The Standard Time Daily
7 Days News

Foreign Newspapers / Journals (available at Inwa Publishing House)

International Herald Tribune Time
The Straits Times News week
The Business Times

Magazines / Journals in English

The Myanmar Times
Enchanting Myanmar
Myanma Perspective
The Business Tank
Myanmar Today
Shwe Myanmar
Today Myanmar Explorer

Mail

Yangon General Post Office
39, Bo Aung Kyaw St.
Tel: +951 380342, 240330

DHL
Tel : +951 246559, 251751
Tel : +951 664423, 664434

United Parcel Service (UPS)
Tel : +951 667110

DPE International
Tel : +951 249278

Express Courier Service
Tel : +951 280153, 240802, 246816

Overseas Courier Service
Tel: +951 280706, (09) 22409, (09) 23625

Telephone

IDD telephones are available at most hotels, offices, post offices and shopping centers. Overseas calls can be made through operators where there are no IDD Phones. E – Mail and fax facilities are available.

Public telephones are installed at the Airports, Railway Stations and at most street corners. Mobile phone can be acquired for hire at Myanmar Travels and Tours Counter, Yangon International Airport.

One Time GSM Prepaid Card

Prepaid SIM cards are available for mobile telephones in Myanmar Since December 2008. The prepaid SIM cards are available for US$ 20 and US$ 50 with the same values of US$ 20 or US$ 50.

Local calls are charged with US$ 0.3 per minute, international calls with US$ 1.5 per minute (for all countries) and incoming calls with US$ 0.05 per minute.

SMS message is not possible for foreign countries.

The GSM prepaid card is valid for 30 days after activation and available in each mobile shop and also at Down Town Mobile Phone shops and Shopping Malls.

What to Wear

Light casual wear for all year round except when visiting northern parts during the cold season. Visitors should not wear hot pants or shorts when visiting Pagodas, Temples and Monasteries; sandals or slippers are convenient as it is required to remove all footwear at the entrance.

What to Bring

Insect repellent
Sun Block
Sunglasses
Hat
Umbrella
Personal Medical Kit

Customs

Jewelleries, electrical goods and cameras must be declared at the airport. Antiques and archaeologically valuable items are not allowed to be taken out.

Duty free allowance: Two bottles of liquor; two cartons of cigarettes; 100 cigars; 1.5lb of tobacco; one pint bottle of perfume or eau de cologne.

Currency

Myanmar currency is the Kyat, made up of 100 pyas. Currency notes come in the following denominations: K10000, K5000, K 1000, K500, K200, K100, K50, K20, K15, K10, K5, K1. Visitors are not allowed to bring in or take out Kyats.

Health

No vaccination certificate is required unless coming from an infected area.

Foreign Exchange

Visitors may bring in any amount of foreign currency but it must be declared to the customs if it exceeds US $ 2000.

Meditation in Myanmar

Myanmar is a land with different people and different religions. About 90 % of the people in Myanmar are Buddhists. Many Vipassana Meditation Centers based on Buddha’s teaching are widely taught throughout the country. Vipassana meditation in Myanmar is usually taught during ten-day residential courses. This period has been found to be the minimum requirement for new students to understand the technique and its benefits through their own experience. Everyone can plan the Meditation trips in Myanmar.

Holidays in Myanmar

4 Jan	–	Independence Day
12 Feb	–	Union Day
2 Mar	–	Peasant’s Day
19 Mar	–	Full moon day of Tabaung
27 Mar	–	Armed Forces Day
13-16 April	–	Thingyan Festival (Water Festival)
17 April	–	Myanmar New year Day
1 May	–	May Day (Workers’ Day)
17 May	–	Full moon day of Kason
15 Jul	–	Beginning of Buddhist Lent
19 Jul	–	Martyrs’ Day
12 Oct	–	End of Buddhist Lent (Thadingyut Festival of Lights)
10 Nov	–	Tazaungdaing Festival of Lights
01 Dec	–	National Day
25 Dec	–	Christmas Day
25 Dec	–	Kayin New Year Day

ENTRY FORMALITIES

Passport & Visa

A Valid Passport with Entry Visa is required for 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 to both FITs and Package Tourists with the assistance of the Ministry of Hotels & Tourism.

Overland entry is permitted to Thai tourists with border pass and for third country tourists with visa at Tachileik, Three Pagoda Pass, Myawaddy and Kawthaung check points along Myanmar – Thai Border; and Chinese tourists with border pass and third country tourists with visa at Lweje, Nam Khan, Muse, Kyukoke, Kwanlong, and Mong Lar along Myanmar – China Border.

MYANMAR PRE-APPROVED VISA ON ARRIVAL

For those travelers who live at the countries where Myanmar Embassies or Consulates do not exist or who do not have time to apply visa at the Myanmar Embassies, we will arrange Myanmar pre-approved (applied in advance in Myanmar & issue visa only on arrival at the airport) visa on arrival. The information of the clients is needed:

Clients full name and Passport numbers.
Date of issue and place of issue.
Date of expire.
Father’s name.
Date of Birth and place of birth.
Occupation.
Home address.
Nationality.
2 recent photos size photographs (can send by email to sales@ayeindamartour.com, marketing@ayeindamartour.com).
Countries for passport valid.
Self declaration of free from Myanmar politic and religious disputes