Myanmar

Travel restrictions

The government controls travel within parts of Myanmar, including to and from land border crossings.

If you plan to visit areas other than popular tourist areas, check the list of restricted areas. Visit the Ministry of Labour, Immigration and Population website.

A curfew is in place for some townships in Rakhine and Southern Chin States. See Safety

Australian Embassy officials need to seek approval to travel a number of areas in Myanmar, and approvals can take a long time. Emergency consular help in remote areas may be delayed.

Landmines

Unmarked landmines make parts of Myanmar dangerous. This is especially the case:

• near borders
• in areas where there’s conflict

Landmine locations may not be marked. Stick to established roads.

In November 2019, a foreign tourist was killed by a landmine while travelling outside of Hsipaw town in Northern Shan State.

Myanmar New Year and Water Festival

Myanmar’s Water Festival (Thingyan) and New Year is celebrated in April each year. There’s an increased risk of road accidents due to:

• drunk drivers
• overcrowded vehicles
• large unruly crowds celebrating in public places

In past years, crime has increased during the festival. Pay attention to your personal security.

Many services close down for Thingyan, including:

• shops
• supermarkets
• restaurants
• banks
• government offices

Roads are sometimes closed in Yangon and other regional centres. Plan ahead.

Identification

Travellers are often asked to show their passport and visa to authorities. This often occurs:

• for domestic air travel
• for train travel
• when staying at hotels

Foreigners who stay in Myanmar for more than 90 days have to show their Foreigners Registration Card.

Local safety standards

The safety standards you might expect of service providers are not always met. This applies to:

• hotels
• restaurants
• shops
• transport and tour operators, including for adventure activities

Operators may not provide enough safety equipment. Maintenance and safety standards may be poor or non-existent.

If you plan to do an adventure activity:

• check if your insurance policy covers it
• ask about and insist on minimum safety requirements
• use available safety gear, such as life jackets or seatbelts

If proper safety equipment isn’t available, use another provider.

Internet and telephone services

Communication services in Myanmar are improving.

Internet services are available but are unreliable outside cities and large towns.

The phone network is also unreliable and limited outside of cities and large towns.

You can send and receive text messages only from some Australian mobiles to mobile phones inside Myanmar. Many travellers buy a local pre-paid SIM card. If you’re subscribing for urgent travel advice updates by SMS, remember to provide your best number.

The Ministry of Transport and Communications has in the past, suspended telecommunications services in response to the security situation without prior notice. 

Driving permits

It’s illegal to drive cars or motorbikes using an Australian or international driving licence.

You must have a valid Myanmar driver’s licence.

You can apply for this through the Road Transport Administration Department Myanmar.

Road travel

You’re 4 times more likely to die in a motor vehicle accident in Myanmar than in Australia.

Roads in Myanmar are dangerous because of:

• traffic congestion
• aggressive driving practices
• poorly maintained vehicles and roads
• people and livestock on the road
• lack of street lighting

Roads in mountainous border areas can be particularly poor. Many drivers in regional areas don’t use their headlights at night.

Vehicles drive on the right-hand side of the road. However, both left-hand and right-hand drive vehicles are used throughout the country. This adds to the dangerous driving conditions.

Australian Embassy staff are advised to avoid travelling by car in the countryside at night. This includes travelling on the Yangon-Naypyitaw-Mandalay highway. 

Outside of major cities, military and immigration checkpoints on roads are common.

If you plan to drive:

• check your travel insurance covers you
• get a local licence
• become familiar with Myanmar traffic laws

More information:

Motorcycles

Check with your travel insurer whether your policy covers you when riding a motorbike.

Companies that hire motorbikes often don’t supply helmets. Most helmets bought locally don’t meet Australian safety standards.

Always wear a helmet.

Taxis

Registered taxis have red licence plates and are easy to find.

Agree on the fare with the driver before your trip.

Take extra care if using taxis late at night.

Registered rideshare services operate in Yangon.

Public transport

Public transport doesn’t meet international safety standards. This includes:

• buses
• boats
• trains

Fatal accidents have occurred, especially on overnight trips.

Search and rescue resources are very limited.

Air travel

The safety record of domestic airlines is not available. There is no data about how well local planes are maintained. This lack of transparency raises concerns about airline safety.

Airlines operating in Myanmar sometimes use aircraft from outside their own fleet. When this happens, passengers are not told in advance.

DFAT doesn’t provide information on the safety of individual commercial airlines or flight paths.

Check Myanmar’s air safety profile with the Aviation Safety Network.

More information:

Read the original advice at SmartTraveller.gov.au by Australian Government