Mandalay Travel Tips

Banks: 10:00 to 16:00, Monday to Friday
Government Offices: 09:30 to 16:30, Monday to Friday
Department Stores and Shops: 10:00 to 17:00, daily
Business Offices: 09:30 to 16:30, Monday to Saturday

Personal crime against visitors isn't really an issue in Myanmar, with the exception of some burglaries that have been reported in Yangon and Mandalay. It’s still a good idea to exercise caution around major attractions where crowds tend to congregate, as these areas provide an opportunity for pick-pockets and purse-snatchers to take advantage of unsuspecting tourists. Keeping valuables that you’re carrying out of sight and leaving important documents and expensive jewellery in a hotel safe are good safeguards against loss due to theft.

Myanmar’s reported incidence of death from snakebite is among the highest in the world. You need to remain alert when you’re walking through tall grasses and bush.

Electricity: 220 volts, 50Hz; plugs in use in Myanmar include European-style plugs with two circular pins and British-style plugs with two flat blades plus a flat grounding blade.

Although vaccinations are not required for entering the country, it is recommended that you take precautions against malaria. It’s also a good idea to carry a supply of any prescription medications you may require during your stay, as they are not likely to be readily available here, particularly in remote areas. 

Using insect repellent as part of a regime of malaria prevention is recommended, to protect you against mosquito bites. Regular use of sun block is also recommended, as the rays are powerful here and sunburn can occur quickly.

Tap water is not considered potable, and all water that is used – even for brushing your teeth – should be purified in advance. Bottled water is widely available, and is the safest bet. Milk is typically not pasteurised, and should be boiled before drinking. Alternative options to using mile are the readily-available powdered or tinned varieties. It is a good idea to avoid other dairy products for the same reason. Fish and meat should be thoroughly cooked before eating and fruits and vegetables should be peeled if eaten raw, otherwise fully-cooked.

Travel insurance is advised, as payment for private medical care is the responsibility of the patient and will be expected when services are received. You’ll need to file for reimbursement for any medical treatment received on return to your home country. The best medical facility in the city, the Aye Thiri Hospital, is located on the south side of the city on 26th street.

Aye Thiri Hospital: +95 2 32764
Police: +95 2 21096

The official language of Myanmar is Burmese, and more than 100 dialects of the language are spoken. English is not widely spoken, but you will find that it is understood and spoken by most educated people and by those working in international business and the tourism sector.

The monetary unit of Myanmar is the kyat (MMR): 1 kyat (which is pronounced as ‘chaat’) comprises 100 pyas. The government’s official exchange rate is typically around MMR6 to US$1. Banknotes are issued in denominations of MMK1,000, 500, 200, and 100 and 90 pyas. Coins are available in denominations of MMK1; and 50, 25, 10, and 5 and 1 pyas. In an attempt to combat currency trading on the black market and to limit the financial resources available to dissident groups, the government occasionally declares certain denominations invalid.

Foreign tourists were at one time expected to use Foreign Exchange Certificates (FECs) as currency when visiting the country. FECs are still legal tender but are no longer worth their value therefore visitors are not recommended to use them. It’s advisable for travellers to bring currency in US dollars, as euro and other currencies are at times difficult to exchange.

Currency exchange options are limited to the exchange desk at your hotel and the riskier black market. Traveller’s cheques are not always accepted, and their acceptance tends to depend on the current political situation. No ATMs are available, so it’s important to be sure that you’ve brought sufficient cash for the expenses you incur during your stay.

At times, it is possible to use a credit card at larger hotels. Visa is the only card that is accepted, and from 7 to 10 per cent tax will be incurred with card usage. It is difficult to use a credit card for air travel, even when booking a flight in-country.

The following items may be brought into Myanmar duty-free: two litres of spirits, 200 cigarettes or 100 cigars and one-half litre of perfume are allowed for each traveller 17 years of age or older. Items that must be declared on arrival include: foreign currency in an amount exceeding US$2,000, cameras and video cameras, jewellery and laptop computers. It’s important to declare these items, as failure to declare could result in your valuables being confiscated when you leave the country. Antiques and items of archaeological importance cannot be exported from Myanmar.

The normal form of greeting in the country is hand-shaking. A person’s full name is used, and is preceded by a title such as U (pronounced ‘oo’) for an older adult or well-respected man; Ko for adult males; Aung for young men; and Daw for women. Respect for traditions and religious practices is expected of visitors. For example, shoes must be removed before entering a religious building or someone’s home.

Monks – regardless of how young they might be - should be treated respectfully and women should not touch or speak to them. Public displays of affection are not customary, and are frowned upon. You should refrain from pointing at anything with your foot (especially a person), touching someone’s head or sitting with your back towards an image of the Buddha.

Dining Etiquette
When eating at a restaurant in Mandalay, you’ll likely see many locals eating using the fingers of their right hand rather than utensils. The exception to this practice is with foods such as soups or others that are potentially messy. In this case, spoons are normally used. You’ll probably also notice that people tend to keep their voices low when eating in a restaurant; it is considered courteous to do the same.
If you’re fortunate enough to be invited to someone’s home for a meal, it is appropriate to bring a gift. This isn’t essential, but a small item from your home country would be very much appreciated. You’ll find locals to be very hospitable, although this may not be evident at first, particularly if there are language difficulties. If someone offers you food or drink, it is considered rude to refuse whatever is offered.

All foreign nationals visiting Myanmar require a visa to enter the country. Visas are valid for 28 days beginning from the date of entry, and for a maximum of three months from the original date of issue. It’s recommended that you apply for a visa at the Myanmar embassy or consulate nearest to your home, but it’s also possible to make an application in Bangkok if you happen to be visiting Thailand before your trip to Myanmar. It will likely take up to five days for the visa to be processed, so you’ll need to plan on staying in Thailand for that period of time, as you will need to leave your passport at the Myanmar embassy during the visa processing. 

Application for a visa online is also a possibility. Various providers offer online visa services, with processing time using taking around 14 days.

The tourist office for visitors to Mandalay is located at the Mandalay Swan Hotel (phone: +95 2 22540). In addition to the basic information the tourist office is able to provide, your hotel will be able to provide additional information and help you organise any visits or excursions that you interested in undertaking. The free Today magazine is also a good source of what’s happening.